Long after the Boreal Cascadians, the Bentusi, the Galactic Council, the Kushan Exile, the Heresy Wars, the Hyperdrive rediscovery, the Journey to Hiigara, Planetfall and Pacification: Heaven Spiral came a long way for the past thousands to billions of years.
More was learned from the Boreal Cascadians, such as following Linda's ascension to goddess, the Boreal Cascadians in the Wastelands, isolated themselves from their home region, preventing their own people from being ruled over. The fate for the Boreal Cascadians was inevitably sealed, buried beneath the sands of time.
The Taiidan Republic found an inhabitable world in the Animus Arm: Naltha. And upon first contact, they made peace with them with the Kalan. Though, unbeknownst to the two, the Nalthor are another member race of the Galactic Council, having already existed long before the two. Still, they're welcomed within their Kingdom.
Both Bentusi and T'Mat, decided to stay within Heaven Spiral, keeping trade routes flowing, including the Wastelands, now called The Western Sea, in reference to Boreal Cascadia referred to as the Eastern Sea.
Connections with Kharak was reestablished, and the Kushan returned there to pay their tributes to the loss of such a world they were exiled to. Though the Scaffold was scrapped by the Kadeshi, as found out, a replica was built in its place. Same for the Garden of Kadesh, as a heritage site for their brethren.
Though things looked peaceful for the rest of the galaxy, the Kushan Daiamid is once again faced with another crisis.
Kiith Soban, having fed up with Naabal's prominence over certain resources and control on Hiigara, started a feud with them. And it gets worse as Paktu cuts off all production on Great Stuff, a valuable commodity for all Kushan, resulting in rising prices and scarcity. Both Somtaaw and Khaaneph tried to de-escalate things, but Naabal accused Somtaaw due to their rejection and demanding independence, though also calling them hypocrites for absorbing Siidim into their ranks. Kiith S'Jet were already conducting projects on the Angel Moon and thusly weren't present during the debates back on Hiigara.
Once again, the former mothership orbits high above Hiigara, but is now faced with higher operating costs and outdated technology. Despite continuous upgrades and new ships being built, it's future remains fateful. Worse still with the Kiith feud down below, meaning the shipyard could fall into any Kiith.
The Kushan tried to keep this all a secret as to prevent any race, including the Bentusi, from sending out an ambassador ship over to de-escalate, them seeing it as an interference. However, a Kiithling from Soban of all Kiithid, called The Kalan about the crisis and requesting them to de-escalate things.
For the next few days, the Kalan Ambassador ship enters Hiigaran Space. And as feared, Kiith LiirHra destroys the Ambassador ship with it's missile platform, killing the ambassador inside. This came to a shock from the public as this could spell yet another exile to another planet in Heaven Spiral.
The people panicked until Kiith S'Jet finally snapped and head back over to Hiigara to calm things down, having enough of all the chaos the Kiithid were causing. They don't like seeing themselves as heroes all the time as over the past generation they've spent on researching, developing and Karan integrated her whole consciousness with the Kushan Mothership.
Kiith Somtaaaw, also stepped in and told Naabal to tone down their power and control and share it with all other Kiithid.
With all this religious corruption and political turntables causing fatigue and frustration within the Kiithid and the Daiamid as a whole, Kiithid Manaan, Somtaaw, Khaaneph and S'Jet, decided to focus their attention somewhere else. With the Western Sea already occupied with trade routes of T'Mat & Bentusi, and both the Taiidan & Kalan enjoying their leisure in the Animus Arm with Nalthor, both Kadesh and Kharak serving as heritage sites, all what's left of interest for the four Kiithid is forgotten and unexplored Eastern Sea.
Understandable of the whole commotion with what happened recently, all other Kiithid agreed and shall look after Hiigara while the four depart as one exploration fleet: with Kushan's Heart as it's flagship. They also see it as an opportunity to find out what happened to the Boreal Cascadians prior to becoming the Vaygr under Queen Choj AKA Linda. Where did the Boreal Cascadians truly come from within that region? Has anyone like the T'Mat, Bentusi, Kalan, Taiidan or Nalthor ever been there before or now?
Well, that's why the people of the Kushan Exploration Fleet intend to find out.
Though before departing, the Kalan requests the crew to take a girl under their care, her father was the ambassador and thought it would make amends for both races following the accident.
The Kushan accepts, with Faith Khanneph, Joshua and Beatrice's Granddaughter befriending the Kalan girl, making her the first Non-Kushan crew member aboard an otherwise all-robot crew. While the Faal-Corum of the Yosemite-Class Command Ship serves as mining ship, Faith will be stationed aboard the Kuun-Lan, intent to fulfill it's command ship role along with the following ships of the fleet.
Terran S'Jet, Karan's apprentice, will take charge of R&D, given his expertise involving biology. He is also one of the crew members aboard the Kiith S'Jet research corvette; Clee-San.
Gabrielle Manaan, Daughter of both the Kalan Ambassador Corrigan & her adopted mother Cassandra, was already flying around in her prototype scout of Taiidan design, having exchanged designs, key systems, weapons, engines and other technologies to each other, which in turn gave the Taiidan Kushan designs.
She goes by the alias G.C. StarRunner given her freedom and adventurous taste into unknown territory. Just like her mother's. She's captain of her squadron aboard the Manaan Carrier Caal-Shto.
The Kuun-Lan arriving to pick up the Somtaaw Prospector-Class Harvesters and Purifier-Class Processors. Caal-Shto meeting up with the Kuun-Lan, as with the Clee-San before Kushan's Heart arrives with the assembled ships. And with everyone ready to make their first jump into the undiscovered country. They engage their hyperdrives into the Eastern Sea: Boreal Cascadia!
The irony of finding peace outside of their homeworld is delicious; as upon entering the region, there are no sights of hostile spacecraft great and small in the vicinity. Well, there are small spacecraft, but more inviting rather than aggressive. These craft are called Thoughtcraft and they warmly welcome the fleet. The fleet spoke before the ships with friendliness and permission to explore the region, which the Thoughtcraft accepts.
Seeing this as her greatest opportunity, Gabby goes out in her scout and fly out with the Thoughtcraft. She dances with them like a ballet or waltz, through the asteroids, ships and stations like flying through hoops, rock islands and blue seas. Her smile was open and eyes widened with glee and joy.
The crew of each ship are ready to learn more about this quaint and humble place. However, within the crew of the Kuun-Lan, a clandestine from the warring Kiith back on Hiigara, disguised as either Khaaneph or Somtaaw records what's going on within the scenes and informs their Kiith of a possible colonization of the Eastern Sea. Either to immigrate here or claim it based on their Kiith.
Back on Hiigara, the Kiithid tensions reversed back into conflict, if not all out war.
Tambuur attacked Paktu, Soban destroys The Daiamid after Naabal announcing them taking charge of the planet following the four Kiithid's departure. Kiith-Sas within Soban fighting amongst each other for either reason or control, and LiirHra suddenly absorbed into Sagald. And that's just to name a few.
Though the galaxy is still at peace, The Kiith War had begun...