Great War (ARCHIVE)

The Great War, also known as the Epic War, is an ongoing interstellar conflict between the Peacekeeper Alliance and the Warlord Pact. It is the largest conflict in the history of the known galaxy, directly or indirectly involving over thirty sovereign states, and is responsible for the deaths of billions of soldiers and civilians, the total collapse of several governments, and the ruination of numerous worlds, most notably Norsus, the former homeworld of the Rach.
The Rach founded the Peacekeeper Alliance to defeat the Margan Empire and protect empires that could not protect themselves. The Margan then reached out to the Zaretian Monarchy to propose an alliance. Rach agents attempted to assassinate King Breys and High Priestess Massachiah but failed, ironically bringing the two powers together. The new alliance, the Warlord Pact, launched a counterattack against the Peacekeepers, who suffered several quick defeats, particularly the Rach, who were unprepared for large-scale warfare. Several nations would join both sides over the next three years, but the Pact maintained an advantage over Allied forces. In the fourth year of the war, the Empire of Diablos joined the Peacekeepers and spearheaded Operation Stormbreaker. Though the Warlords suffered grievous losses, the Peacekeepers were forced to call off the offensive as it ground to a halt. The next year, the Warlords counterattacked and ultimately invaded Norsus. At the climax of the battle, the Rach retreated into the Void. The Margan pursued their hated enemy, and both vanished for the next ten years, leaving their allies to fight on their own. 
During what would become known as the Interim Era, the Warlords would be forced on the defensive. The Karahotdoum committed military support to the Peacekeepers in the year following Norsus while the Aeveria Confederation launched an invasion of the Zaretian Monarchy that was soon joined by the Luminarians. The Repzork initiated the Keros Offensive into Diab space, but the operation would end in disaster at the Battle of Helia three years later. The Saracin Empire dissolved following the assassination of Emperor Saracin IX while the Necraal succumbed to civil war and had much of their empire cut off by an ion storm. In the 13th year of the War, Aeverian-Luminarian forces conquered Nu-Zartar, though The Repzork successfully repelled Peacekeeper forces from their territory. 
The Rach returned to the galaxy in the 15th year of the war and attempted to recapture Norsus. Peacekeeper forces were nearly successful but were routed following the return of the Margan weeks later. The return of the Dynasties revitalized the Pact, who began to reclaim territories long lost to the Peacekeepers, and brought about the Neutrality Crisis as the Red Rose began a push into neutral space. The ion storms blanketing Necraal space soon dissipated, allowing the Sovereignty to rejoin the war in force in time for the Pact to begin a new offensive to drive out the Peacekeepers from Zaretian space, which would erupt into civil war between Peacekeeper and Warlord aligned forces. Elsewhere, the Repzork would push into a sector contested with the Holy Nepharian Empire, opening an entirely new theatre of operations. 
Despite the enormous material and manpower costs of the war, the conflict continues to drag onward even after 17 years of nonstop fighting which has continued to see the war grow larger and larger, dragging more and more nations into the bloody, inconclusive struggle. 
== Prelude ==
=== Destruction of the Seraphim Dynasty ===
The Seraphim Dynasty was one of the oldest of the Margan Dynasties alongside the Holy and Golden Blade Dynasties. They were best known for their grandiose theatrics and incredible egos; they truly saw themselves as divine beings, and believed that the Margan people had a glorious future ahead of them. This mentality carried over to the battlefield, where commanders would give their troops bombastic speeches and every conflict was viewed as a grand spectacle for all to see. Though zealously loyal to the Holy Goal for centuries, they began to stray from it when they noticed that lesser races were seeing them as literal gods and had begun to worship the Margan. Jisa, the Matriarch of the Seraphim, decided to allow these races to live so long as they served the Margan and paid them tribute. The Matriarch planned to exterminate the servants when the Margan's campaign of genocide came to an end, but for the time being, relished in the possibilities they brought. 
When the other Dynasties discovered what the Seraphim had done, they were outraged, denouncing the dynasty for straying from the Margan's teachings. The Seraphim argued that the slaves were little more than temporary allies and that they posed no threat. The debate was settled when Li-Hosan, Matriarch of the Golden Blade, suggested eliminating the Seraphim before they went rogue. The Dynasties then all simultaneously attacked the Seraphim fleet, overwhelming them and leaving no survivors. When the Matriarchs confronted Jisa face to face, they offered her a chance to repent. She refused, and instead impaled herself on Li-Hosan's blade. The remains of the Seraphim fleet were left to drift through space, some of it falling unto nearby planets as artificial meteors.
The betrayal and subsequent annihilation of the Seraphim Dynasty did little to stifle the Margan's intense paranoia; in fact, it worsened it, as the Margan now knew that they not only had threats on the outside, but also within. Margan now face intense scrutiny if they show any signs of straying from the path, and in modern times, such individuals will more often than not be quietly killed by groups such as Confessors and the Mask of Ferivus.
=== Breys' Coup ===
The Zaretian Monarchy had undergone drastic reforms throughout the reign of King Moscassin, who sought to pull the Zaretians away from their brutal and militaristic tendencies. The king abolished slavery, sough peaceful diplomacy with foreign powers, and reduced the size of the military to the point that Breys was the only general left. These reforms had a negative impact on the economy, which was built upon the military and the slave trade, and were deeply unpopular with the general populace, which had long grown accustomed to the Monarchy's aggressive authoritarianism. General Breys, promising that he would bring back the glory days of the Monarchy if he was crowned king, instigated a coup and overthrew Moscassin, who was banished into exile. Breys would prove to be a ruthless dictator willing to purge anyone who sought to challenge his rule, but his reforms, which included the reintroduction of slavery and the rearmament of the military, brought prosperity back to the Monarchy. 
Moscassin would continue to combat Breys' rule in a guerilla campaign waged across Zaretian space, but while his efforts were a hindrance, they were unable to seriously jeopardize Breys, who soon began a period of conquest that would bring the Monarchy into war with many neighboring empires, notably the Madarians and the Spytrus, whose homeworld would eventually fall to the Monarchy, who took the inhabitants as slaves.
=== First appearance of the Biomatter ===
Years before the onset of the war, the Biomatter Swarms made their first recorded appearance in the region when a spore of Hive Fafnir landed on a planet rich in biomass. The planet's inhabitants, unaware of the Biomatter's true nature, recovered samples from the then-dormant spore for study. Less than an hour later, the Biomatter became active, and rapidly overran the lightly defended colony. In the years that followed, more hives, most notably Apophis, Piru, Cronen, and Tiamat, would emerge in other sectors and infest colonies such as Qualiot, which had to be evacuated and bombarded from orbit. News of the swarms spread quickly, and nations began efforts to curtail the swarm's spread. Such operations were oftentimes met with limited success as the Biomatter were and remain poorly understood. Scientists attempting to study the swarms frequently ran into dead-ends, or worse yet, triggered an infestation. In one of the most famous examples, a Salatran research team recovered samples from the hives on Qualiot for research. The Biomatter escaped containment, infesting everyone in the building, but not before they could initially a site-wide lockdown. Rather than outright destroying the installation, the Salatrans used the facility's cameras and remotely-operated drones to monitor the Biomatter from outside. The information acquired from the incident would be later be passed along to the Anti-Biomatter Task Force.
=== Magellan First & Second Stellar Wars ===
Following the conclusion of the long-lasting Magellan Unification War under the leadership of the young Emperor Zinmar, the Magello Empire would encounter local rivals in their initial stellar expansion. Their society having been founded on a tradition of warfare, it was only a matter of time before this rivalry erupted into war. The Magello would eventually emerge victorious two years into the war, crushing their rivals in a vicious and bloody war, expelling them from their homelands and creating a massive refugee convoy as the Magello set up new colonies on the charred remains of theirs. These refugees would take up residence as a member race of Aeveria.
With their military position secured, but coffers drained after fighting the First Stellar War, Zinmar pursued mercantile efforts as well as attempted to rebuild civilian industry. These pursuits led to the creation of numerous trade alliances and brought the Magello into the galactic community. However, the Magello would once more find themselves going to war as part of these entangling alliances. The Second Stellar War dragged on for years and evaporated the gains made in the past few years and what loot had been claimed in the First. Victory was eventually earned, bought with Magello blood, but Zinmar’s people were resentful that this war put the interests of another first instead of their own, and further attempts to improve international trade in the Empire floundered, despite the expenditure of the Second Stellar War. Still though, the three wars would create a strong military tradition and fill the ranks of the Magellan armies with hardened veterans. It also saw the rise of numerous popular war heroes, especially Captain Omard, whose great victories would capture the minds of the people and inspire the next generation.
=== Skrey Unification ===
For decades, the Skrey had been under united under the leadership of the Ulthubag Clan. Like many clans before it, Ulthubag was overthrown by an alliance led by the Otguhl clan. The alliance fell apart immediately as the clans vied for supremacy, plunging the Skrey into years of bloody civil war. The up-and-coming Tazorag clan would eventually claim the throne and unite the clans under its rule through a system of intricate alliance and technological superiority. With the war over, Tazorag would work towards modernizing Skrey technology and military docttrine to better prepare them for conflict with foreign powers. These efforts mostly benefited Tazorag and its closest allies, the great clans, leaving many lesser clans to remain stagnant.
=== Repzork-Nepharian Cold War ===
Main page: Repzork-Nepharian Cold War.
The Holy Nepharian Empire had spent the past several years spreading its influence throughout a sector of space inhabited by various nations that the Nepharians had been slowly converting into dependencies. The Nepharians provided the natives with weapons and technology in exchange for ancient relics. They also established migration routes through the region for Nepharians citizens. These efforts were disrupted when the Repzork began expanding into the region. Seeking to claim relics and territory for themselves, the Repzork provided the aliens with offers of their own and exported their culture and religion to turn the inhabitants over to their cause. Some were more than willing to negotiate with the Repzork due to disagreements or distrust towards the Nepharians. The conflicting ideologies sparked tensions throughout the sector which soon gave way to fighting, beginning a proxy war between the Repzork and Nepharians. But while the two are officially enemies, they rarely fight one another directly, with only small skirmishes for particularly valuable relics. Both governments deny that any conflict is occurring due to mutual benefit. Despite the tension, the Repzork often sell worthless artifacts back the Nepharians, allowing the Nepharian government to keep the peace within their own borders while providing the Repzork with funds.
Nevertheless, the Repzork still considered conflict with the Nepharians to be a real possibility. Several armadas were mobilized in case the two nations went to war, including the 14th, 277th, 355th, and 77th. A military modernization initiative was underway to update portions of the military, such as the navy, whose ships were, for the most part, outranged by the high-powered lasers of Nepharian ships. This led to the development of the first 'hunter killer' ships that would form the basis for imperial alpha-strike doctrines several years later.
=== Xeverran-Betel Conflict ===
In order to accelerate the construction of the Star Song, a dyson sphere designed to boost its own processing power and accelerate the reunification of the Xeverran nomad fleets, Galden deployed Xeverran troops into Betel space in order to claim the bountiful resources from their colonies. The Xeverra launched a series of small-scale raids on fringe Betel colonies to gauge their defenses before committing troops. These skirmishes prompted the reigning Betel High Chancellor, Nol Byervid, to create the Sky Spears, which quickly became the most advanced aspect of the Betel military. Regardless, the Xeverra continued to grow bolder as time passed, though they still remained a regional threat.
=== Karahotdoum-Yami Relations ===
The Karahotdoum had a fierce economic rivalry with the Yami Trade Union, a collection of empires that had banded together that was on course to becoming a major galactic power. They rivaled the size of the Karahotdoum, whose allies at the time consisted of little more than protectorates that could contribute little to a war, which was becoming more and more likely as relations continued to worsen. Though the Karahotdoum did not believe that war would not threaten the survival of the empire, it would likely cost billions of lives and many dozens of colonies. As a result, the Karahotdoum kept the bulk of their troops at the Karahotdoum-Yami border zone.
=== Kran Rebellion ===
A few months before the outbreak of the war, Nepharian general Phyla'kran, leader of the Kran, initiated a plot to take over the Nepharian government. She instigated a conflict between the Holy Nepharian Empire and the Wingle Union, eventually even dragging the IAE into the engagement. In response, the Wingle awoke Captain White, a war hero from the invasion of Athenousis, and assembled an elite team with the goal of crippling the Nepharian war effort. In the midst of fighting, the Kran faction, bolstered by an army of Ech0 walkers, rose up and attacked Nepharian, Wingle, and IAE colonies. An attempt was also made to assassinate leading figures in the Nepharian government, but was met with failure. The Nepharians and Wingle put their differences aside to combat the Kran faction, culminating in the death of Phyla'kran and the suppression of her rebellion. 
The consequences of the Kran rebellion had far-reaching affects, particularly on the Nepharians themselves. Kran remnants would continue to harass loyalist forces for months afterward as the government worked to purge any who still sympathized with Phyla. Relations with the Wingle have gradually improved, but remain somewhat tense, and the two have since ceased working together. The Repzork gained a substantial lead in the ongoing cold war as the Nepharians were forced to divert most of their resources, some of which was destroyed in the ensuing conflict, elsewhere.
=== Repzork begin raiding Khasii colonies ===
After learning of the Khasii' bountiful wealth, the Repzork began launching increasingly large raids into Khasii territory to acquire their resources and technology. Though the Khasii boasted superior weapons and troops on many fronts, their army was far too small to take on imperial forces, forcing the Khasii to rely on large numbers of auxiliary troops to fight for them. Fighting rapidly bogged down as a result, though Repzork forces slowly regained the initiative as they intensified their efforts, leading to a number of successful attacks on Khasii settlements and the acquisition of many of the assets stored within.
=== Sauran liberate Zaretian slave colony ===
See also: Sauran Theatre
Sauran of the Forces of Freedom raided a sizeable Zaretian slave colony in an effort to free the prisoners. After a brief skirmish, they forced the defenders to retreat. But as they reached the slave holding area, they encountered the prisoners, who had managed to overthrow the guards and escape on their own, though it is unlikely that they would have been able to progress any further without the Solidarity's aid. The monarchy retaliated by declaring war on the Sauran and launching several probing attacks into Sauran space.
=== Appearance of the Margan ===
The first known appearance of the Margan in the local galactic sector occurred when troops of the Golden Blade Dynasty invaded a minor power that, though it put up stiff resistance, was quickly overwhelmed and wiped out by the vastly larger force. Soon after, the other dynasties soon appeared elsewhere, strip-mining any planets and exterminating all life that they came across. The sheer, uncompromising brutality displayed by the Margan sent a ripple throughout the region as word spread through survivors and witnesses. Many nations formed contingency plans in the event of a Margan invasion or were actively preparing to attack them, including some that would become Warlord powers in the months or years that followed. Some historians argue that it was at this point that the Great War became inevitable.
== The War ==
For an outline of the war, see Timeline of the Great War.
=== Years 1-3: Outbreak & Escalation ===
==== Year 1 ====
See also: Rach Theatre, Raid on Zartar, Raid on Station SRD72.
Shortly after the emergence of the Margan in the local galactic sector, the Rach began to covertly harass the Margan by targetting their logistics and command structure while supplying states that were fighting the Dynasties. These efforts proved disruptive to the Margan, but were unsuccessful in stalling their advance. These efforts continued with impunity for months until Rach operatives were captured while attempting to rescue civilians. The Margan declared war on the Rach, and while they had difficulties locating Rach colonies and were constantly harassed with hit-and-run attacks, began to advance through Rach territory at a slow but steady pace as Rach doctrine was not accustomed to a war of attrition. 
Rach officials, namely General Gorach, called for drastic reforms to Rach doctrine, but his calls were ignored. Nevertheless, it was decided that a more direct approach would be needed to defeat the Dynasties. The Rach sent delegates to several neighboring states: the Aeveria Confederation, Karahotdoum Empire, Warbot Industries, Sauran Solidarity, and the Wingle Union, to propose the formation of a coalition with the goal of defeating the Margan and protecting those that could not defend themselves. All accepted with the exception of the Wingle, who declared themselves neutral. The Karahotdoum, due to tensions with the Yami Trade union, committed monetary aid, but not troops, and would in fact provide supplies to Warlords it did not consider to be radicals. The new alliance called itself the Peacekeeper Alliance.
The Peacekeepers launched a surprise attack against the Margan and quickly overwhelmed them. Emboldened, they launched further attacks with similar results, bringing more nations into the alliance. The Matriarchs of the Margan convened on the worldship of Holy Thereia to discuss their options, and despite their hatred of aliens, decided to establish an alliance of their own. They soon after requested an audience with King Breys of the Zaretian Monarchy. The Zaretians were wary, but due to their ongoing conflict with the Sauran Solidarity, agreed to talks on the Zaretian homeworld, Zartar. 
Zaretian rebels under the leadership of the exiled king Moscassin learned of the meeting and relayed it back to the Peacekeepers. Though an opportunity to eliminate both Breys and High Priestess Massachiah, Rach command deemed the operation too risky. However, Emperor Coradine, without notifying his generals, deployed a small team of assassins to intercept the meeting. The assassins attacked as the meeting began, but the operation proved a colossal failure, with all of the assassins captured or killed. The operation had the opposite effect than intended, convincing Breys to put his reservations toward the Margan aside and establish a formal alliance. The new alliance, dubbed the Warlord Pact by Peacekeeper media, declared war on the Peacekeepers, marking the official beginning of the Great War. Shortly afterward, the Kelmir, militant Minomit who wanted to use their machines for conquest, joined the Pact and began launching terrorist attacks against WBI facilities. Now fighting both the Margan and the Zaretians, the Rach suffered several disastrous defeats, their military almost entirely unable to put up any serious resistance to the invaders. The Peacekeepers attempted to support their ally, but were having to defend their own territory from the Pact.
Towards the end of the year, the Saracin established Station SRD72, which studied Peacekeeper technology and performed experiments on captured soldiers as part of biological weapons tests. The Rach discovered the facility and General Gorach and Ops Lead Kertak moved in to infiltrate it. Though Gorach's forces were discovered, the Rach successfully breached the facility, rescued several prisoners, and stole valuable data before destroying the installation. The files revealed that someone had provided the Warlords with information the location of Norsus' stealth generators and of the planet itself. The Rach began an internal investigation, but would not find the perpetrator.
==== Year 2 ====
See also: Battle of Zetta Secundus, Acropolan-Conkirite War, Luminarian Schism.
The Peacekeeper's first major victory took place during the second year of the war in the Battle of Zetta Secundus, where the Aeverian Navy dealt a devastating blow to the Zaretians, causing the Zaretian front to collapse and forcing the Pact to withdraw to close the gap. The battle served as the catalyst for both the Repzork Empire and Magello Empire joining the war later that year. The Repzork were concerned that the Holy Nepharian Empire would consider joining the Alliance and believed that defeating the Peacekeepers would pave the way to regional supremacy. Emperor Zinmar and Captain Omard of the Magello did not support intervention, but caved to public pressure, which feared that a Peacekeeper victory would see the empire punished for atrocities committed during the First and Second Stellar Wars. With their support, the Pact regained the initiative, and Zetta Secundus was captured. 
News of Zetta Secundus also reached the Acropolan Empire and Conkirite Dictatorship, former allies who had been locked in a stalemate since a coup saw the Conkirite overtaken by a tyrant. Hoping to gain the upper hand, the Acropolan joined the Peacekeepers, pledging economic aid in exchange for help against the Conkirite. The Dictatorship retaliated by joining the Pact. Even with the support of the two coalitions, the war remained a stalemate.
Tensions between the Luminarian Empire and Luminarian frontier colonies came to a head six months after the ascension of Emperor Ulran when Empire forces razed the trading hub of Midale, dealing a devastating blow to the frontier navy in the process. The frontier worlds banded together in self defense and received covert economic and technological support from the Aeveria confederation, setting the stage for the Luminarian Schism. The two forces fought a bitter war for the next three years, during which the first Battlestations were deployed. Following a failed rebel assault on Luminaria, the empire and frontier worlds signed an armistice, though they remain in a state of war. Frontier military forces were devastated in the conflict, and would spend the next two years rebuilding.
The first major engagement between a belligerent and the Biomatter took place when a Spore of Hive Fafnir landed on the Minomit colony of Ozelion. After nearby settlements were evacuated, a quarantine zone was established around the hive as WBI forces held the line long enough for reinforcements to arrive and bombard the hive, ending the infestation.
==== Year 3 ====
See also: First Battle of Aserai, Dragoneteran-Tegotian War, Second Battle of Aserai.
The Zaretian Admiralty had spent the previous year since their defeat at Zetta Secundus updating their navy with new warships and tactical doctrines. Though eager for revenge against the Aeverians, the Monarchy opted to instead test these changes on the Dragoneterans, who had recently pledged their support to the Peacekeepers, as it was believed that an attack would elicit an Aeverian response without having to risk an assault on the Aeverian mainland. Three fleets were sent to the Dragoneteran homeworld of Aserai, where they swiftly outmaneuvered and overwhelmed the defenders and began bombing the planet. As anticipated, the Aeverians sent a relief fleet which was then intercepted and forced to withdraw. A combined force of Aeverian and Rach ships finally arrived hours later and repelled the Zaretians. Though economically and militarily devastated, the Dragoneterans retaliated by deploying troops against the Zaretians.
During the attack on Aserai, the Dragoneteran colony of Dralix ceased communications with the rest of the Monarchy. Believing the Monarchy to be responsible, a small force was sent to the planet following the Zaretian withdrawal. Instead, it was found that Biomatter of Hive Apophis had overtaken the planet. Teams were deployed to the surface to search for survivors, but within hours, all teams vanished. Several ships then attempted to leave the planet, but were shot down when they did not respond to communication requests. The fleet was then contacted by one of the search teams, who reported that they had been dragged to the ground by a tendril of the hive and required immediate evacuation. Special operations forces were sent to the surface and retrieved the team. Rather than bombing the planet, the Dragoneteran king decided to quarantine the planet and use it to study the Biomatter.
The Zaretians continued their aggressive expansionist policies as a means of acquiring resources for the war effort. In doing so they encountered the Necraal Sovereignty, with whom they established diplomatic relations. The Monarchy soon convinced the Necraal King, Hor'or, to join the Warlords and fight against the Peacekeepers, whom the king viewed as a threat to his ambitions. The Necraal's heavily mechanized army was a significant boon to the Pact, but some Necraal troops were troubled by the actions of their new allies, leading some to desert or join the Peacekeepers. The Kelmir, fascinated by Necraal technology, soon began working with Necraal engineers to produce new and improved Warbots.
Months after the assault on Aserai, Dragoneteran Captain Delarus went missing while investigating an unidentified vessel. Days of inconclusive searches followed until the Monarchy received a distress signal from the homeworld of the Bulorians, a young interstellar empire. A team was sent to investigate and soon found Delarus, who explained that he had been attacked by the Tegotians, radical isolationists who claimed that Delarus had unlawfully entered their territory. Delarus crash landed on the planet, which was subsequently invaded by Tegotian troops who had enslaved the populace. Though still recovering from the Zaretian assault on Aserai, the Dragoneterans amassed its forces and attacked, driving the Tegotians from the planet and liberating the Bulorians. The Tegotians declared war and declared themselves members of the Warlord Pact. 
The Dragoneterans lacked the troops to adequately defend their territory, instead focusing their troops at key locations while harassing the invaders with hit-and-run attacks. The Tegotians, though puzzled by the lack of resistance, pushed the initiative. Desperate, the Dragoneterans took Biomatter samples from Dralix and synthesized an airborne virus that was then deployed at a Tegotian outpost. The virus was more potent than intended, sparking a large-scale infestation that delayed the invaders but spread to several other nearby colonies. The Dragoneterans attempted to cover up the incident, but were soon found out by the Peacekeepers, who harshly condemned the attack and ordered the Monarchy to destroy remaining samples of the virus. The Dragoneterans complied and burned their remaining stockpile. 
Days later, the Dragoneteran king died. The Monarchy moved the bulk of its troops to the area around Aserai as a new king was crowned. Tegotian scouts discovered the proceedings, and the empire responded by sending the entirety of its military to Aserai, culminating in the largest confrontation between minor powers in the war. The Tegotians initially held the upper hand, but lost several prominent officers, all of whom held prominent political positions, to assassins, and were later encircled and eliminated by the Dragoneterans. This caused the Tegotian Empire to collapse into civil war. Peacekeeper troops intervened and helped establish the Tegotian Republic, which then left the war in order to rebuild. By this point, the Dragoneterans were drained, and would be unable to provide any military or economic aid to the Peacekeepers for the next several years. In the aftermath of the war, the Peacekeepers declared the use of the Biomatter as weapons to be a war crime. The Dragoneterans narrowly avoided charges, but were forced to destroy all of their research regarding the virus.
=== Years 4-6: Operations Stormbreaker and Downfall & Karahotdoum Intervention ===
==== Year 4 ====
See also: Infestation of Rotunin, Operation Stormbreaker
The fourth year of the war began with the infestation of the neutral colony of Rotunin by Hive Fafnir. An infected carrier was detected approaching the colony, and while orbital defenses caused the ship to break apart, this only produced a shotgun-like effect that spread the Biomatter across the colony. Chaos and confusion erupted as civilians attempted to evacuate, which left them easy prey for the swarms. The defenders were forced to evacuate and bombard the planet into a lifeless husk. The infestation remains the worst recorded attack by the Biomatter in history, and is blamed for the infestation of dozens of nearby worlds through captured starships. Both the Peacekeepers and Warlords responded by establishing anti-Biomatter task units, with the Alliance pooling their resources into the Anti-Biomatter Task Force, or ABTF.
Though knowing little of the ongoing war, the Skrey of Clan Tazorag had taken notice of the weakened state of Warbot Industries and sought to claim Minomit technology for themselves. Tazorag War Chief Bhatuzorig was deployed and successfully captured an outlying Minomit colony. The Skrey then attacked and conquered the technology hub of Cawmuth. This in turn caught the attention of the Repzork, who began monitoring the Skrey to determine if an alliance was feasible. Shortly thereafter, Biomatter of Hive Cronen attacked a Skrey outpost, forcing the defenders to withdraw. The colony was lost, but due to the Skrey's unreliable starships, the hive made little headway. Using the hive as pretext, the Repzork stepped in to offer the Skrey support. They begrudgingly accepted, and the two drove Cronen away from Skrey territory. The Repzork then made a proposal to Tazorag: the Skrey would join the Warlords in their fight against the Peacekeepers while the Pact would ensure that Tazorag stayed in power and received a fair cut of spoils from the war. Tazorag accepted the offer. However, while Tazorag and a few other great clans possessed the resources necessary for large-scale interstellar conflicts, most did not. The troops of these clans were therefore organized into auxiliary units that would be attached to other Pact fleets.
With their military near the point of total collapse, the Rach expanded their search for new allies. Their explorers soon discovered the Empire of Diablos. Despite some protest within Peacekeeper leadership, the Rach sent emissaries to the Diabs to explain their situation. The Diabs, eager for a fight and concerned about aggressive expansion and hostile power blocs, joined the Alliance. After three months of planning, the Peacekeepers then launched Operation Stormbreaker, a massive offensive spearheaded by the Diabs intended to cripple the Pact and force them to surrender. Unprepared for aggressive Diab tactics, the Pact suffered more casualties within the first few weeks of the offensive than they did in the previous four years of fighting. The Pact initiated a retreat across all fronts as the Margan stayed behind to buy the Warlords time.
As the Sauran wing of the offensive advanced, the 17th Taiga fleet came across a planet being strip-mined by an unidentified race of aliens. The Sauran attacked, but despite initial success, were nearly pushed back until the arrival of Diab and Kastalian reinforcements. The aliens, identifying themselves as Asanians, swore vengeance on the intruders before retreating. Shortly thereafter, Asanian forces began to attack Diab colonies, and soon encountered the Margan. The Asanians arranged a meeting with Archon Knora, who convinced the Syndicate to join the Pact. The two forces continued to harass the Diabs for weeks afterward, drawing troops away from the main offensive.
Stormbreaker resumed in earnest following the Asanian and Margan withdrawal, but by then the Diabs were starting to lose momentum. Peacekeeper supply lines were dangerously overextended and attrition had taken its toll, with many replacements lacking battlefield experience. The Pact had also changed its tactics, shifting from fighting independently on different fronts to fighting as one cohesive force and combining their doctrines to work off of each other. After several more months of fighting, the Peacekeepers cancelled the offensive and ordered their troops to withdraw to more defensible positions; much of the territory lost during the offensive was subsequently reclaimed by the Pact.
==== Year 5 ====
See also: Operation Downfall, Operation Sledgehammer, Operation Pierce the Veil, First Battle of Norsus
Four months after the end of Operation Stormbreaker, the Warlords, having gathered their strength, initiated Operation Downfall, which aimed to invade Norsus and knock the Rach out of the war. The operation began with Operation Sledgehammer, a series of simultaneous offensives against all major Peacekeeper powers aimed at preventing them from supporting the Rach by bleeding them of manpower and material. Just as the Peacekeepers had during Stormbreaker, the Pact made rapid gains, establishing footholds in Diab and Sauran space while Warbot Industries, already near the breaking point, had the bulk of its remaining colonies and troops destroyed and its homeworld invaded by the Margan, effectively forcing them to withdraw from the war. The Aeverian offensive, tasked with attacking the border blockade, proved unable to breach the barrier and lost the entirety of the Margan Firewing fleet, which sacrificed itself to to free Pact allies in the final battle of the operation, but nonetheless dealt a serious blow to the Aeverian navy and frontier. 
During the Pact push into Sauran space, the Repzork secretly invited Sauran delegates to an undisclosed location in neutral space. The Repzork, believing that the end of the war was near, were preparing to turn on the Margan and Asanians, and sought to acquire the Sauran's terraforming technology so that they could undo the damage dealt by the two Warlord powers. In exchange, the Repzork pledged not to invade Sauran space and offered them colonies to inhabit were their empire to fall. The Sauran accepted the offer, and the Repzork began testing the equipment and techniques deep within their territory to ensure that they worked.
The offensive into Rach space, codenamed Operation Pierce the Veil, attacked the stealth generators concealing Norsus. General Gorach, using what resources he had available, established the Gorach-Cloudreaver Line, a final line of defense manned by veterans, Peacekeeper troops, and a small number of Warlord defectors. Many of the Rach were using whatever weapons were available, including Pact weapons captured during Stormbreaker. The defenses caught the Pact by surprise, forcing them to initially retreat, but the Warlords soon began to break through and systematically eliminate the generators. After the fall of the second generator, Gorach was contacted by Emperor Zinmar, who wished to build more stealth generators for the Rach in exchange for amnesty and entry into the Peacekeepers. The Rach accepted the deal, and Zinmar deployed a team of engineers to a remote Rach colony to begin construction. 
Shortly after the loss of the third generator, during which a number of prisoners were taken, Gorach, Kertak, and a small squad moved to the planet to rescue the hostages, using a 'fear mist' to clear the path. During the operation, Gorach encountered and dueled Zaretian General Gancarda. Gorach attempted to persuade Gancarda that the war would destroy his nation, but Gancarda refused to listen, and landed a hit on Gorach's shoulder before a squad of Skyborn intervened, allowing the general to escape to Norsus on the battleship Karadin. Gancarda was relieved from the front due to injuries he received and replaced by Vipenite.
Gorach appealed to Emperor Coradine for permission to use the Rach's emergency arsenal, but was denied. Furious, he eforced his way into one of the capitol's secret vaults and awoke the Veteran Warsuits, Rach soldiers who had pledged to protect the empire by having their bodies entombed in powerful suits of armor. As Gorach was speaking to the suits, sirens began to roar throughout the city as communications began jammed with panicked Rach proclaiming that Norsus was visible. Gorach returned to Coradine's office, where he found that the emperor was gone and that the guards had been killed by Margan. The lone survivor, a sniper, explained that Coradine had killed one of the guards and fled. Gorach then sifted through the emperor desk, where he discovered that Coradine had been the Pact's informant and had ordered the deactivation of the final generator. Gorach declared himself emperor and ordered that all weapons be deployed to defend the planet. 
With Norsus exposed, Operation Sledgehammer was halted as the final stage of Downfall began. A vast Margan fleet, alongside all five of the Margan dynasties, made way for the planet. The Aeverians, Kastalians, and Diabs attempted to send reinforcements to the planet, but the Aeverians were intercepted. The Diabs were detected by Captain Omard, but he allowed them to pass in the hope that they could still hold Norsus, claiming that he did not know of the Diab's mobilization. But with the whole of Margan civilization approaching, Gorach was forced to concede that Norsus would be impossible to defend, and began evacuating the populace into exodus ships hidden beneath the planet's surface. Within hours, the first Warlords ships arrived and began bombarding the planet. The Diab relief force then arrived and physically blocked the Pact, suffering grievous losses in the process. Desperate, Gorach entered the depths of Norsus' labs, where he was led to a device that generated a portal leading into a realm known to the Rach as the Void. With no other option, Gorach activated the device, tearing open a continent-sized hole in the planet's atmosphere. The Rach retreated into the portal while a small force stayed behind to protect the device. The Margan sent wave after wave of troops against the device before they were finally able to secure it. Rather than destroy it, the Margan kept the device running and chased the Rach into the portal. The portal finally closed as the last Margan ship entered. In that instant, both the Rach and Margan disappeared from the galaxy.
==== Year 6 ====
See also: Rathakern War, Karahotdoum Theatre, Zaretian Theatre, Repzork Theatre.
The sixth year of the war saw relatively little action during the first seven months outside of scattered skirmishes as both sides were preoccupied with recovering from the previous two years of fighting. The Warlords, though victorious, had lost a major military power with the disappearance of the Margan, and were forced to discard plans to continue offensive operations in favor of consolidating their holdings. The Zaretians, Repzork, and Necraal sent reinforcements to various fronts. Emperor Zinmar attempted to cover up his involvement with the Rach, but his deal with Gorach had been leaked by Pact-leaning officers. In retaliation, Zinmar and Omard were both captured; Omard's true intentions in allowing the Diabs to pass through his forces unimpeded were made public, destroying his prestige among the populace and serving as the justification for his public execution days later. Zinmar's betrayal was kept secret, but he was confined to his palace and made a puppet of the Repzork High Council, which covertly took control of the nation and purged any officials belived to support the Peacekeepers. Zinmar's son was taken into Repzork custody to be groomed into a Pact-leaning monarch.
With the Rach having vanished and their forces badly mauled, the Peacekeeper convened to determine a new leader for the Alliance. Some suggested the Diabs for their strong military, but Admiral Korsair turned the offer down, declaring that he did not wish to be, "Tied down by bureaucratic lunacy". Korsair then suggested the Aeverians for their organization and willingness to work with aliens. The Aeverians won the majority of votes in the ensuing vote, and immediately set out shifting the Alliance's goals from protecting minor races to ensuring the survival of its members and defeating the Pact.
The Minomit, having been reduced to a few scattered colonies, used the lull in the fighting to begin the process of rebuilding. Before they could do so, they needed to liberate several colonies which had been occupied by Necraal and Kelmir troops. With aid from the Aeverians, they launched limited attacks and scored a few small victories. Four weeks later, many of WBI's remaining colonies went dark, with reports describing the attacks originating from an unidentified alien race later identified as the Rathakern, who were acquiring resources for Project Relevance, which aimed to complete the Omnishia Battleship. The Peacekeepers were unable to repel the invaders and were forced to retreat. Warbot Industries would not recover and effectively ceased to exist, most surviving Minomit opting to integrate into the Aeveria. The Rathakern then turned and attacked Warlord forces in the area, eliminating any possibility for negotiation between the two.
During the previous year, the Yami Trade Union was beset with various disasters, forcing the Union to sign a treaty with the Karahotdoum to ease tensions so that they could relocate their troops. The Karahotdoum government had been planning to attack the Yami while they were weak, but news of the fall of Norsus sparked anti-Warlord sentiment throughout the empire, with many calling for the Karahotdoum to intervene against the Pact. The magistrate voted in favor of joining the Peacekeepers and began mobilizing its forces; within the first two months, so many citizens had volunteered that logisticians had begun to lose track of them. Once prepared, these troops were deployed en masse against the Zaretians. Though they made steady progress against the Zaretians, they were fought to bitter stalemate when Repzork, Saracin, and Necraal forces intervened.
=== Years 7-9: Peacekeeper and Warlord Offensives & Rathakern Conflict ===
==== Year 7 ====
See also: Diab Theatre, Battle of Lichen, Second Battle of Veos, Aeverian Theatre, Operation Burning Lance.
Following Norsus, General Gancarda had been redeployed against the Diabs. While probing for vulnerable Diab colonies, General Gancarda discovered Lichen, a planet rich in crystals used in the production of Zaretian energy weapons. The general invaded the planet and soon established a base of operations on the surface. While attacking a nearby fort, Lord Atlas intervened and took command of the operation, declaring that Gancarda was not aggressive enough. Fighting continued under Atlas' leadership, and the Diabs were eventually cornered at their command center located in the planet's northern pole.Diab reinforcements had begun to turn the tide until Zaretian agents flanked the Diabs and eliminated their anti-air cannons. Nightshades were then sent to infiltrate the command center, but were captured. They broke free with the aid of one of the prisoners and destroyed the generator powering the base's anti-orbital cannon, allowing the Monarchy to push in and overwhelm the defenders.
As Lichen was underway, the Repzork and Magello launched an attack against the Diab military colony of Veos. Veos sat at the edge of the Pact's foothold in Diab space, and was seen as a potential obstacle to operations. The colony had been attacked by the Margan during Operation Sledgehammer and as a result suffered from a worsening Margan infestation. The battle would be the first in which the Repzork made use of Marganite-based weapons, which had been narrowly approved by the High Council for foreign operations a few months prior. Using orbital elevators to establish landing zones, the Pact steadily advanced across the planet, eliminating elevators that they could not capture. The final battle took place at the derelict fortress of Vigríar, where the defenders, after having withstood days of artillery and aerial bombardments, were attacked with chemical weapons prior to an infantry assault. The Diabs charged the Pact, causing momentary panic that resulted in a large number of Pact deaths before the fortress was secured. With the conquest of Veos, Imperial Command began planning its next move, a three-pronged offensive into Diab territory codenamed Keros.
Seeking to establish themselves amidst the instability of the war, Rathakern scientists began developing bio-chemical 'Overlord Bombs' within their foothold in former WBI territory. This program was discovered by a team of Diab Valkyries who were sweeping through to uncover the Rathakern's activities in the region. By the time they reported their discovery, Rathakern under the command of General Wraithbane had already attacked the colony of Larvos, with Overlord bombs being deployed against civilian colonies. After a pitched battle, the Rathakern captured Larvos and began invading nearby colonies to establish a small foothold in Diab territory.
After amassing a vast fleet, the Aeverians initiated Operation Burning Lance, their invasion of Zaretian territory, aiming to capture the regional capitol of Nu-Zartar and ultimately open the path to Zartar. The Zaretian response is immediate, with Varthos leading the defense with all available forces, including reinforcement from the 18th War Fleet. The sheer number of Zaretian ships causes the Aeverian offensive to bog down into a pitched stalemate for the next several months. Officials in the Repzork Empire considered halting all offensive plans and redirecting troops to support but the Monarchy, but this was rejected by the High Council, who wanted to prevent the Diabs from assisting the Aeverians by forcing their attention elsewhere. Troops stationed at the once quiet Aeverian front would double their efforts against the Aeveria to divert resources away from the main offensive.
Rathakern forces under the command of General Wreav then began raiding Asanian military and corporate outposts. Troops would launch diversionary attacks while small squads infiltrated the facilities stole Asanian equipment. In one notable incident, Rathakern troops attacked 0797-2674-1132-PMCO for five straight hours. The Asanians held their ground, but discovered that the Rathakern had stolen their A.I equipment, specifically the processors. Such raids continued for several months, hampering Syndicate efforts elsewhere.
==== Year 8 ====
See also: Keros Offensive, Battle of Embaelos, Operation Watchtower, Battle of the Gorroagh Pocket, Flight of the Omnishia.
The Anti-Biomatter Task Force faced its first real test when a Fafnir spore landed on an urbanized Diab colony. With most of the ABTF fighting elsewhere, only a small squadron was able to quickly respond to the attack. The contingent included the renowned Bio-trooper, Heimdall, who successfully infiltrated the hive and planted a bomb within it, destroying the colony and ending the infestation.
Imperial Command launched the Keros Offensive early in the year, with Repzork, Necraal, Magello, and Skrey troops advancing into Diab territory. The Diabs had been aware of the Pact's buildup, and had evacuated several nearby colonies while focusing their defenses at high-priority targets. The Pact smashed through the Diab's outer defenses, but stubborn resistance slowed the advance of the central and southern fronts. The northern front, spearheaded by the aggressive 14th and 277th armadas, charged ahead, making rapid gains through a mix of strategy and unrelenting brutality. The Diabs responded by sending the bulk of their reserves to engage the prong. Months of fighting would lead to the Battle of Embaelos, a colony that had once supplied resources to Veos and had since been converted into a forward command post. Both sides attempted to lead the other into a trap, resulting in the 277th's command fleet being cut off and surrounded by Diab ships. The 14th responded by ordering all available fleets to converge on the system. The Diabs retreated from the planet, but the northern prong's advance had been checked, and Field Marshal Likana Raldalvi of the 277th was hospitalized by injuries sustained during a boarding of the 277th's flagship. Her second-in-command, General Ezanfi Dugoro, took command in her absence.
Though General Wraithbane kept the bulk of his forces on the Diab front, the Rathakern front soon turned his attention towards the Delani. His forces attacked and successfully captured Tikka and its capitol, New Demosia. A Delani counterattack recaptured the capitol, but was unable to repel the invaders from the planet. The Rathakern were forced off the planet after months of fighting, but returned a short time later, capturing the colony once more. 
Eight months after the Aeverians had begun Operation Burning Lance, Aeverian forces captured the Zaretian colony of Valkoro, a major supply and repair base. Combined with continued losses to attrition, Varthos was forced to retreat across the whole front. The Aeverians attempted to encircle retreating fleets, but were only partly successful due to Zaretian sprint drives. Varthos' fleet was cornered at the Thethea nebula, where the Aeverian 342nd fleet sought to capture Varthos. Due to conditions within the nebula, Varthos was able to escape. The Aeverians continued to pursue the retreating Zaretians, but were interdicted by General Peacha at the Battle of the Gorroagh Pocket. The Luminarian Rebels, having recovered from the schism, made their debut in the war when the 2nd Battlefleet, under the command of Admiral Aslai, engaged the Zaretians, forcing Peacha to reposition her forces and cede the Gorroagh pocket to the Aeverians.
After years of work, the Omnishia Battleship, the crown jewel of the Rathakern's navy, was completed. Construction had been plagued by resource shortages, which had been a major contributor into the Rathakern's entry into the war. Fighting on the front led many engineers to realize that the ship was vulnerable to alpha-strike tactics, but the ship was too far along in production for extensive modifications, and cancelling the program was out of the question due to its cost and the ship having become a source of pride. Under the personal command of Warmaster Moratoryan, the Omnishia was joined with an amalgamation of fleets that was to link up with General Wraithbane. Before it did so, the bulk of the Omnishia's fleet moved into the WBI foothold, which had seen sporadic raids from both Peacekeeper and Warlord forces, to secure the area. The Peacekeeper intercepted Rathakern transmissions and discovered their plans, and formulated a plan to ambush the ship and eliminate it before it could become a threat. The ensuing skirmish damaged the ship and forced it to drydock for repair for weeks, but was unable to destroy it due to the timely arrival of Rathakern reinforcements.
==== Year 9 ====
See also: Battle of Balis, Operation Fissure, Operation Iron Gauntlet, Battle of Hethos, Battle of Vedrthar, Betel Theatre, Zaretian Invasion of Betel, Bunker Incident, Bombing of Thales, Operation Black Ice.
With the Gorroagh pocket secured, the Aeverians initiated Operation Fissure, a major push into the Nu-Zartar sector. Zaretian resistance is scattered and perfunctory, with most still recovering from the retreat of the previous year.
Luminarian forces conquered Balis, which had served as a logistics base for Zaretian forces. The Luminarians began harvesting resources from the planet until an insurgency successfully sabotaged the LNC Kukri and Falcata with sabotaged fuel, resulting in the destruction of both ships. In response, the Luminarians bombed both civilian and military targets on the planet. They then successfully invaded Hethos, but once again bombed the planet upon receiving reports of a growing insurrection. The Aeverians protested the bombardment of civilian targets and pressured the Luminarians to cease, suggesting that they allow the Aeverians to subdue the insurrectionists. The Luminarians continued their advance and captured Thales. Despite Aeverian protest, Aslai, upon hearing of a looming counteroffensive by Peacha, bombed the planet to deny resources to the Monarchy.
At the Diab Theatre, the Diabs launched a counterattack to finally halt and repel the Keros Offensive, which had claimed a number of colonies and formed the sizeable Keros salient. The Diabs focused the bulk of their troops at the base of the salient, which despite being well-fortified, cracked under the pressure, allowing Diab troops to push in as smaller attacks elsewhere diverted Pact attention. A combination of Pact reinforcements and the liberal use of Marganite-based weapons allowed the Pact to stabilize the front. Fighting would continue inconclusively for the next several weeks. 
Once the Omnishia had been repaired, the vessel linked up with General Wraithbane and renewed the Rathakern's advance into Diab and Delani space. The Diabs were forced to pull troops from elsewhere to blunt the assault, resulting in their troops being repelled from the Keros salient a short time later. The Rathakern were by this point experiencing logistics problems of their own, but they pushed ahead hoping to make the most of the war. Their advance would soon bring the Omnishia in close proximity to the Pact foothold, catching the attention of Captain Bulgara of the Magellan 17th Battle Fleet. Bulgara requested reinforcements and permission to engage, but was only given a quarter of her requested troops and was ordered to hold position. Frustrated, Bulgara breached protocol and contacted the Peacekeepers, proposing a temporary cease-fire to deal with the Rathakern. The Peacekeepers reluctantly agreed, and the two planned to draw the Omnishia into an ambush by attacking General Wreav. 
Bulgara's forces located and engaged Wreav's forces in the Vedrthar sector. As planned, the Omnishia responded, only to be hit with multiple alpha strikes from waiting Peacekeeper ships, causing severe damage to the ship. The vessel continued to put up resistance as Rathakern reinforcements began to pour into the region. But before the ship could escape, Bulgara's command ship landed a hit on the vessel's engines, almost completely destroying the stern and leaving the vessel adrift. The Rathakern rushed to surround the ship, but were pushed back as Magellan and Diab troops boarded the ship. Wreav was killed in the process, his ship taking a hit to its bridge from a Diab cruiser. After two days of fighting, Warmaster Moratoryan was surrounded and killed when a Diab pulled apart the warmaster's jaw, forcing a fragment of bone into his cranium and killing him instantly. 
With Moratoryan and Wreav dead, the Rathakern routed. Wraithbane initiated a retreat back to the WBI foothold but was followed by Peacekeeper forces. Wraithbane wanted to stand his ground, but was ordered to return to the mainland by General Parthen, who had been appointed as temporary Warmaster. Rathakern forces abandoned the foothold and have not been seen since. Some officials wanted to launch an offensive into the Rathakern mainland, but this was rejected as the campaign had consumed crucial resources that were needed elsewhere. Nevertheless, monitors continue to watch the outermost reaches of Rathakern space for any sign of mobilization. 
After the battle, the Diabs took the husk of the Omnishia as a trophy and for study. Magello and Diab forces on board the ship spent a brief time fraternizing, with rumors that a small few Magello used the opportunity to defect. The High Council decided not to punish Bulgara and instead commemorated her, though the contribution of the Peacekeepers was greatly downplayed in official reports. The 17th Battle Fleet would replenish its ranks with die-hard Pact supporters at a fortress world near Sculpterra.
Following the ascension of High Chancellor Visas Jorental and the passing of the Military Proliferation Act two years prior, the Betel had begun mobilizing a military to combat the growing threat of the Xeverra. The Betel by this time had long-established ties with Peacekeeper powers thanks to the efforts of High Chancellor Corim Decutuk. Fearing that the Betel could modernize and provide the Peacekeepers a trove of resources, the Zaretians dispatched a small force to capture Betel and depose the Recycler government. The attempt failed due to disorganization among the Zaretians and the unexpectedly fierce resistance of the Betel. 
Fearing retaliation, the Recyclers organized a meeting with the Peacekeepers. The proceedings were leaked to the Pact by Doisu engineers through the Wolnch Authority, who were threatened by Betel militarization due their support of the Doisu. Asanian agents were sent to disrupt the meeting, and successfully eliminated the Luminarian delegation. The Betel delegation had not yet arrived, and were as a result spared. This kindled distrust within the Luminarian government, but the Betel were nonetheless inducted into the Alliance due to the demand for material. The Wolnch, disillusioned by what they saw as Peacekeeper hypocrisy, joined the Pact. Betel corporate elements with Warlord ties split from the Recycler government, forming the DeComp Rebels.
The Aeverians initiated Operation Black Ice towards the end of the year. A team of ACI agents were inserted deep into Zaretian territory and successfully infiltrated a hidden facility located in the northern poles of an otherwise desolate planet. The team withdrew after having secured information on the defenses of several planets within the Nu-Zartar sector.
=== Years 10-12: Peacekeeper Advance & Warlord Infighting ===
==== Year 10 ====
See also: Battle of Helia, Operation Isomer, Betel Theatre, Destruction of the Malum Telum, Dissolution of the Saracin Empire. 
With the Rathakern threat abolished and a growing number of Zaretian troops being redirected to fight the Aeverians, the Diabs turned their full attention to the Pact foothold. As they began amassing troops for a renewed attack, they employed a campaign of deception against the Pact, successfully misleading them on how large the attack force would be, where it would attack, and when. Once they were prepared, the Diabs attacked a full week earlier than the Pact had anticipated. The salient was breached in three separate locations, dividing the region into encircled pockets. Pact reinforcements entered the fray to rescue trapped elements and bisected Diab lines, resulting in a chaotic and unpredictable battlefield for both sides. As the battle raged, the Diabs launched an attack against Falkeos to disrupt Pact logistics. Diab troops nearly recaptured the planet, but were repelled by Magello troops and elements of the 14th and 355th that had escaped the salient. Fighting would continue for the next year as the Pact attempted to hold the salient, resulting in some of the bloodiest fighting in the theatre since Operation Sledgehammer. During the fighting, Baltreos received some of the Repzork's next-generation technology, including two Helia-Class Battlecruisers and a Planet Cracker Superheavy Railcannon built on the planet's surface as an anti-orbital cannon. Though initially planned for use in Helia, they were instead kept in reserve in the event that the Diabs broke through. 
On the Zaretian theatre, the Aeverian and Luminarian fronts met, and began Operation Isomer with the objective of securing a beachhead into the inner reaches of the Nu-Zartar sector. Initial resistance was minimal as the Zaretians defenders were outnumbered and outgunned, but the Zaretians began contesting every system in an effort to halt the offensive before it reached Rigni, the last fortress world standing between the Peacekeepers and Nu-Zartar. 
Elsewhere, the Aeverians had been using a deserted world to produce and test an experimental cruiser outfitted with salvaged ancient technology. Zaretian intelligence discovered the planet and sent a team of Nightshades to disrupt Aeverian forces and acquire information. The Zaretians successfully destroyed the vessel and retrieved a massive trove of data, becoming the largest information leak in ACI history. Through this data, it was discovered that Atoppos the Great, a hero among the Zaretians, had defected to the Peacekeepers. The information was kept hidden from the public, but initiated another round of purges as King Breys sought to eliminate any dissent.
With the Zaretian's failure to subdue the Betel, the Repzork decided to take matters into their own hands. The 489th 'Ghost Eaters' armada was deployed to Recycler territory to secure the Betel's junk worlds and prevent them from modernizing. The first battle ended in defeat for the Repzork as Betel troops, having been waiting for another Zaretian attack, swept around and flanked the Repzork. The 489th quickly renewed the attack and overwhelmed the fledgling Recycler Helmwehr, withy numerous colonies falling under occupation. However, the Repzork were not fully prepared for the hostile environment of most Betel worlds, and were met at every turn by Betel guerilla fighters, necessitating that the Repzork maintain large garrisons on the occupied planets to maintain order. In response to the invasion, High Chancellor Visas created the position of Voivode, a military governor, and charged Brave Commander Ruusad Hassai of setting up a proper defense.
Taldrin, an Acropolan colony far from the war with the Conkirites and therefore lightly defended, was infected and overrun by Hive Apophis, beginning an infestation that would plague the Acropolan for years and which gave the Conkirites an opportunity to inflict a heavy toll on the Acropolan.
==== Year 11 ====
See also: Second Battle of Baltreos, Sentience Incident, Necraal Schism, Incident at Fehgrov.
With casualties climbing to unacceptable levels and their forces unable to repel the Diabs, Imperial Command ordered a complete withdrawal from the Keros salient. The subsequent retreat was disorganized, allowing the Diabs to advance towards Baltreos, the loss of which would cripple Pact efforts in the region. Though battered and bloodied, Pact forces moved to help defend the colony. Diab troops were engaged as soon as they entered the system by the two Helia-class battlecruisers, and were soon encircled as they unwittingly entered the range of Baltreos' Planet Cracker cannon. In the ensuing battle, a Diab cruiser rammed one of the battlecruisers just as it fired its gun, destroying the cruiser but causing a detonation that crippled the warship. The vessel successfully withdrew for repairs, but the Diabs were able to break the encirclement and deployed all of their ground forces in a bid to eliminate the cannon. They successfully captured the city of Avgorod and were preparing to launch an amphibious assault when the Repzork launched an RS-18 Firestorm missile, turning the city into what is now known as the 'Demon's Scar' and killing almost all of the attackers. With their forces in tatters, the Diabs withdrew from the foothold. The Battles of Helia and Baltreos have gone down in record as the two bloodiest battles in Repzork history, and sparked a rare instance of public protest against the government. The High Council admitted that the Peacekeepers had proven more powerful than anticipated, but called for the public to focus its efforts on avenging the fallen and uniting against the 'Peacekeeper hoards'. In the days that followed, Imperial Command began the process of mobilizing all military and civilian assets for the war effort. 
Despite the stigma surrounding the use of Biomatter as a weapon, King Hor'or began experiments deep within the vaults of Ivn to determine if the creatures could be controlled. This program was conducted in intense secrecy, with even Bael'thir kept in the dark. Tests proved futile as the creatures did not respond to any alterations. A month later, Shaman Glad'mere, who was shunned by much of Necraal society for worshiping the creatures, was invited by Hor'or to join the program as an advisor. Glad'mere soon converted Hor'or, who began speaking of an entity known as 'Legion' and shifted the program from controlling the creatures to becoming one with them. The king took prisoners and began spliced their DNA with that of the Biomatter. After dozens of failed attempts, the first hybrid was created, and the king promptly began to splice Necraal troops. Though some suffered from mental problems and reported voices and urges that Hor'or and Gladmere interpreted as the call of Legion, they remained loyal to the king, and most notably, were not attacked by Biomatter. 
These troops were tested at the Flytal colony of Yintil. A spore was deliberately launched at the planet, drawing a large ABTF contingent to the planet. Late into the ensuing engagement, the hybrid Necraal struck and overwhelmed the ABTF, killing all but a few stragglers. Peacekeeper and Warlord media were in an uproar, referring to the incident as the 'Sentience Incident' due to the belief that the Biomatter and Necraal had established an alliance. The Necraal government denied any involvement, but continued attacks by hybrid troops would see the Sovereignty fall under increasing scrutiny.
Word of the program eventually reached Bael'thir through researchers who had escaped Ivn's vaults. Horrified by his father's actions, Bael'thir appealed to the Pact for support in overthrowing the king. The Repzork and Zaretians both pledged support to his cause. Bael'thir then announced his intentions to overthrow his father, instigating fighting throughout Necraal space and their various fronts. Though most supported Bael'thir or Hor'or, a small few, under the leadership of S'ai, declared themselves allies of the Peacekeepers. Pact forces attempted to subdue loyalist commandants but were defeated in costly battles. Taking advantage of the chaos, the Peacekeeper made way for Ivn to knock the Necraal out of the war one way or another. Bael'thir's forces were the first to reach Ivn, but were nearly repelled when Hor'or deployed dozens of spores across the planet. The arrival of the Peacekeepers turned the tide against Hor'or and his followers, who retreated into unexplored space, leaving Ivn to be bombarded. 
Rather than pursue his father, Bael'thir chose to secure the remaining Necraal colonies while Pact forces remained behind to stall the Peacekeepers. Hours later, an ion storm caused by the detonation of a nearby neutron star swept through the region, cutting Bael'thir and the colonies off from the galaxy. With the crown prince absent, Commandant Tor took command of remaining Pact loyalist, who established themselves in Warlord empires and would continue to fight in the war. S'ai and his followers would work to prove their loyalty to the Peacekeepers, most of whom doubted their intentions until S'ai saved Alliance delegates from Zaretian assassins. S'ai was soon inducted into the Alliance and his followers would establish themselves in uncolonized space. Hor'or would regain some of his lucidity and ceased worshiping Legion, distancing himself from Glad'mere in the process. The frustrated shaman would continue his ways and establish the Cult of Legion, though he retained some loyalty towards the king. Those who had not been spliced with Biomatter DNA would be modified following the schism, though without the equipment of Ivn the process was more prone to unexpected side-effects. Hor'or's followers, now known as the Virisus, swore vengeance against those who had betrayed the king and would begin to harass Pact and Peacekeeper forces alike.
The loss of both the Saracin and Necraal greatly diminished the Pact forces that had been holding back the bulk of the Karahotdoum's forces in the contested zone. Fighting with loyalist Necraal had further worsened the situation, leaving many vital positions badly damaged. Anticipating that the Karahotdoum would soon break through, Grand Marshal Tarsovis Visaria ordered Repzork troops on the front to delay the Karahotdoum for as long as possible. The Repzork spent the next few weeks rigging their facilities with traps and deploying experimental FTL mines. 
The Karahotdoum finally breached the Pact's lines a month after the Necraal Schism. Most of the traps worked as intended, and combined with stubborn resistance, slowed the Karahotdoum's advance. Following the intentional destruction of one of the Pact's primary command centers via a nuclear warhead by Repzork forces, Tarsovis gave the order to retreat, and the 77th and 150th armadas evacuated to more defensible positions within the mainland, the mines successfully covering their retreat. Once the mines were cleared, Karahotdoum forces once again surged into Zaretian space, but were once more fought to a stalemate by the Repzork as vicious sieges began around the empire's subterranean cities. 
After eight months of fighting, Aeverian-Luminarian forces reached the Zaretian colony of Rigni. A pitched, seven month battle for the system ensued, during which Aslai's and Varthos' flagships were knocked out of commission. Both sides engaged in skirmishes around the system to disrupt the other's supply lines. Ultimately, the Peacekeepers would capture the system, but their forces were battered in the process. The Zaretians withdrew to Nu-Zartar. 
As Repzork forces continued to push into Betel territory, they encountered the Xeverra. The two quickly established an alliance to combat the Betel together, but the Xeverra declined membership into the Pact due to the Warlord's precarious standing. Meanwhile, the Betel and Luminarians had a standoff after Voivode Yodd Wikrixtook over 300 Luminarian engineers and researchers hostage after the Luminarians had begun evacuating due to reports of an impending Xeverran attack. The Luminarians rescued the hostages, but tensions would not cool until the arrival of High Chancellor Visas and the creation of the Fehgrov Accords. The Luminarians would come to see the Recycler government as unreliable while Helm's Hold began to look to the Karahotdoum as allies and resumed closed-door talks over the Asanian Syndicate.
==== Year 12 ====
See also: Operation Riposte, War of the Mech King, Gronian Theatre, First Battle of Fehgrov.
After having repaired and refitted his ships, General Varthos launched one final, all-out offensive with all of his available troops in a bid to repel the Peacekeepers from Rigni. The Zaretians overwhelmed the Peacekeeper's hastily-made defenses, with many Alliance units being trapped and encircled deep within enemy lines, but many of these elements successfully harassed Varthos' supply lines. Varthos was forced to call off the offensive. The Peacekeepers began a counterattack to reclaim colonies taken by Varthos' forces during the battle and eventually recaptured Rigni as Varthos withdrew to Nu-Zartar.
A Nepharian colony was attacked by a spore of hive Piru. Though seemingly victorious after a brief engagement, some Biomatter had survived by escaping into underground tunnels. A sizeable colony was established underground and eventually emerged at the planet's capitol, subduing the defenders and the planet soon after. 
Deep in unexplored space, Magello explorers discovered the remains of a gargantuan combat walker, among the largest in recorded history, on an uninhabited world. Believing it to have been a superweapon of one of the ancient races, Magello troops were sent to secure the machine. This was soon leaked to the Diabs, who sent a battlegroup to the planet. The two engaged in a skirmish over the walker and were soon joined by Zaretian reinforcements who had come to the Magello's aid. Late into the battle, Virisus forces took advantage of the chaos and attacked both forces in a bid to claim the walker for themselves and use it to enact vengeance on the Necraal. After days of fighting, Pact forces were on the verge of victory, but rather than cede the walker to their enemies, the Virisus overloaded the machine's still-functioning reactors, destroying the walker in an explosion that created a kilometer-deep crater where walker had stood. 
The loss of Rigni did not halt Zaretian offensive operations elsewhere. Monarchy forces under the command of General Rex'Abilion, after having shot down what he believed to be a Madarian ship, landed on the planet where the ship had crashed to track down and eliminate the pilot. In doing so, Rex'Abilion's forces eliminated the planet's inhabitants, which had been at war with the Gronians. The Gronians were angered for the Zaretians having interfering and stealing Gronian honor. Abilion refused to stand down, and the two empires declared war on one another.
Sauran forces moved into Betel space to assist the Recyclers against the Repzork invasion. As well as defense, the Sauran use the opportunity to study Betel colonies and discover their impact on a planet's environment and show the Betel how they should organize and fight with their armies. Despite their support, relations between the two powers remains poor, and Betel animosity would divide the two throughout the Sauran's deployment. 
As the Luminarians had predicted, the Xeverra attacked the colony of Fehgrov. A bloody siege followed until the Xeverra were finally able to capture the gas giant.
Fighting on foreign soil and exposure to alien cultures and technology, particularly Magellan forces stationed on the Diab theatre, gradually resulted in the development of Skritrulk, or 'void warriors', among the Skrey. The Skritrulk were more intelligent and refined than the average Skrey, and would soon form various factions throughout Skrey society that sought to modernize and unify Skrey society. Most were in some form or another supportive of the Warlord Pact and saw them as examples to base themselves off of, but others saw the Warlords as puppeteers who considered the Skrey to be little more than cannon fodder. Regardless of their views, the Skritrulk were ostracized by their brethren. Pact overseers saw potential among the Skritrulk, and would provide trustworthy individuals with better training and equipment.
=== Years 13-15: Invasion of Nu-Zartar and Second Battle of Norsus ===
==== Year 13 ====
See also: Outer Worlds Assaults, Operation Counterweight, Battle of Nu-Zartar, Frost Wars.
Two years after the Second Battle of Baltreos, the Diabs began the Outer Worlds Assaults, which aimed to cut off the Pact foothold's primary supply lines in and around Sevethos. Diab forces launched a two-pronged attack: the first wing attacked around Falkeos while the second, larger wing entered the 'northern' reaches of the foothold and made substantial progress, capturing several colonies including Glasos, Alvainos, and Urdos, opening a pathway to Sevethos, which now found itself under siege. The Repzork, after having completed the mobilization of the empire for total war, counterattacked with Operation Counterweight. Fighting would continue throughout the year as the Diabs put up a dogged resistance, but they quickly began to lose ground. 
After securing Rigni, Aeveria-Luminarian forces launched the final offensive of the Zaretian campaign, the Invasion of Nu-Zartar. Generals Varthos and Peacha had prepared the system for a last stand, and used every available asset in the conflict, which would see some of the bloodiest fighting in the Interim Era. Fighting would persist for eight months before the Peacekeepers secured the planet, opening the door to the Zaretian homeworld of Zartar, but casualties were enormous, and before any invasion could be launched, the Peacekeepers needed to rebuild their strength.
After years of Conkirite dominance in its ongoing war against the Acropolan, the tide began to turn as the Frost Wars began. Conkirite forces had captured the colony of Briaska and were experimenting with 'frost tech' to create supersoldiers. The Acropolan launched a counterattack, with renown war hero Andon destroying the facility and escaping with a sample of frost tech that was then infused with his armor. Shortly after, the Conkirites raided an Acropolan cargo ship containing both experimental energy production equipment and Andolina, a scientist who was taken to a Conkirite facility on Brogeloff. Andon was sent to eliminate an anti-orbital cannon protecting the facility. The cannon was eliminated, and Andon discovered the Conkirite's plans to use the equipment for their frost tech. Acropolan force made landfall and breached the facility as Andon made his way into Lockdown Sector G, where after a confrontation with an experimental walker, Andon was able to rescue several engineers and Andolina, who revealed that the Conkirites were preparing to create a portal to the Acropolan homeworld on the planet of Ryzonor. 
The final confrontation took place when the Acropolan began an all-or-nothing assault on Ryzonor, where the Conkirites had already amassed a vast invasion force. Though the Acropolan suffered heavy casualties in the face of frost-infused technology, the chaos allowed Andon to infiltrate the Conkirites and fight his way to the portal facility. Andon targeted the facility's reactors and narrowly escaped as a chain reaction caused the entire facility to explode, killing a swath of Conkirite troops and officers. The remaining Conkirites routed, with many being taken prisoner. The Conkirite would continue to fight, but now found themselves at a significant disadvantage. 
Andon was celebrated as a hero throughout the empire, and would later be appointed as the head of the council. He would also marry Andolina, and with her would sire C'Amathius.
==== Year 14 ====
See also: Invasion of the Delani Republic.
The Asanians began a major push into Delani space at the start of the year. Though the Delani had recovered from the Rathakern attacks, they were unprepared and vastly outnumbered by Asanian colonies as colonies began to fall in quick order. 
The reclusive Transmetallic Confederation accidentally infringed upon Gronian territory while attempting to harvest thermal energy from an uninhabited planet. The Gronians responded by destroying the ship and claiming the energy. To avoid a potential conflict, representatives of the two powers met to discuss a diplomatic solution. The Gronian demand was for the Transmetallic Confederation to not enter Gronian space, but this was complicated by the fact that the isolationist TmC had colonies on the other side of Gronian space. In private, some TmC officials believed that they should wage war with the Imperium, but this was rejected. After further negotiations, the Gronians agreed to allow the TmC to communicate with their colonies in uncharted Gronian space, but the TmC would in return not enter an inhabited Gronian colony. Though the treaty prevented any immediate action, it did little to reduce tensions between the two powers, particularly within the TmC.
==== Year 15 ====
See also: Second Battle of Fehgrov, Skritrulk Uprising, Second Battle of Norsus, Battle of Demosrakus, Battle of Terak, Battle of Zykorus, Operation Sidewinder, Neutrality Crisis, TmC Secessionist Crisis, Operation Desolate Winds.
A group of Gronian harvesters unknowingly landed on a Skrey colony which attacked and killed the harvesters. Due to the engagement occurring within one of the smaller clans, the incident went by unreported until Gronians of House Aspis invaded the planet and killed nearly all of the Skrey. Before Pact officials could intervene, the Tazorag clans and its allies mustered their forces and pursued the Gronian fleet. During this time, rogue elements of the TmC began supplying the Skrey with equipment and weapons to fight the Gronians. Along the way, they attakced a Gronian colony, drawing the Aspis fleet to the planet. The Gronians won the ensuing engagement, forcing the Skrey to return home. Though only a minor setback, the event spiraled out of control as the enemies of Tazorag rose up in revolt against the great clan, perceiving their defeat to a 'weak' enemy to be a sign of weakness. Rebels included the Skritrulk, who saw the unrest as an opportunity to make their aspirations a reality. When Gronian forces arrived in the mainland and witnessed the Skrey fighting among themselves, they declared their mission a success and withdrew, only strengthening the beliefs of the rebels. The unrest soon spread to the auxiliary fleets, but these were often brutally suppressed by the Pact, who, instead of supporting Tazorag, began covertly supporting Pact-aligned Skritrulk groups. 
Gronian victories against the Zaretians would see them enter Zaretian-occupied Rach colonies. Gronian troops would gradually push through Pact resistance and launch an assault on Norsus to claim the planet from the Zaretians. 
After ten years of traveling through the Void, Emperor Gorach, having grown tired of running from the Margan, ordered the Rach to exit back into realspace. Despite concerns from Kertak and other officials, the emperor set his sights on reclaiming Norsus to boost morale and begin rebuilding the empire. After securing the old communications center, Gorach sent out a broadcast in the hopes that the Peacekeeper Alliance had survived. To his relief, the Peacekeepers responded, and began sending troops to assist the Rach in reclaiming the planet. Gronian forces, ignorant to the significance of the planet and intending only to attack the Zaretians, arrived first, and initially considered the Rach to be intruders. Gronian forces would sporadically engage the Rach until a meeting with Gorach, during which the Gronians agreed not to engage the Rach so long as they did not intrude on their operations. 
The Delani were among the first to respond, with a force under the command of Fleet Admiral Heimarak making way for the planet. However, before he reached Norsus, he received word that the Asanians had begun invading Demosrakus and that Heimarak was to turn around to defend the planet. The admiral returned to the Delani mainland, but instead of protecting the homeworld, evacuated the remaining fringe colonies and disappeared. It remains unknown if the admiral survived or was destroyed by Asanian forces. 
As Peacekeeper forces began to arrive, fighting spread throughout the Norsus system. The Zaretian garrison, badly outgunned and without any hope of reinforcements, were very nearly rerpelled from the planet. This took a dramatic turn when the Margan Dynasties spilled forth from the Void, their fleets advancing in all directions as they began attacking Peacekeeper and Neutral states alike, sowing discord throughout the various fronts of the war. The Red Rose sent a fleet to Norsus with the intent of delivering one final kick to the Rach before the Margan focused their efforts elsewhere. Though many within the Pact remained intensely bitter towards the Margan for having pursued the Rach into the Void, they were quick to put their reservations aside and welcome the Margan back into the Pact. With their support, the Pact turned the tide of the battle, and the Peacekeepers were forced to abandon Norsus, which by that point had been rendered nearly uninhabitable due to the fighting. In the aftermath, the Rach would dramatically reform their military and take residence within the Gronian Imperium, who would claim Norsus but maintain no tangible garrison over the planet as it was of no tactical or strategic value. Nepharians and Betel alike would begin to sift through the ruins in search of valuables.
With the Peacekeepers focused on Norsus and the Margan's return, they were unable to provide much aid to the Delani. Demosrakus fell shortly after Norsus, and with the Delani Republic effectively ceased to exist. The Asanians swept through the remaining colonies and eliminated remaining resistance. By the end of the campaign, the vast majority of the Delani had been killed, with few managing to escape. 
The Red Rose Dynasty began launching attacks all along the Gronian Imperium. One such attack took place at a planet inhabited by a pre-space flight civilization, dubbed 'locals' by the Gronian Imperium. Gronian forces under the command of General Katar attempted to hold the planet while Katar's subordinate, Admiral Olin, attempted to recapture two moons surrounding the system's largest gas giant. Olin failed, forcing Katar to withdraw to retake the moons himself. As Gronian forces withdrew, the Transmetallic Confederation intervened and evacuated many of the surviving locals. The planet itself was rendered barren by Margan harvesters shortly after. 
Later, the Margan attacked Terak, where the Margan had broken through the planet's orbital defenses and had bombarded much of the planet. The efforts of General Katar and Admiral Olin turned the battle back in the Imperium's favor, and the Margan were eliminated down to the last man. Unbeknownst to the Imperium, these attacks were in reality testing the defenses of the Imperium in preparations for the actual offensive. 
Months after the conclusion of Norsus, the Aumpnuuk joined the Transmetallic Confederation. In the process, they provided information regarding the Gronian's and Nepharian's ongoing conflicts with the Red Rose dynasty. Though viewed by some as an opportunity to use against the Gronians, others believed that the TmC should in some way provide support to prevent the Margan from attacking TmC colonies. 
One Gronian colony found itself in a desperate situation as the Margan threatened to overwhelm the defenders. The Holy Nepharian Empire, fearing that the Margan could use the area as a springboard for offensives into Nepharian space, intervened, drawing the ire of Gronian forces, who ordered the Nepharians to leave. The Nepharians refused, sparking a brief firefight that resulted in the deaths of several Gronians. The Imperium retaliated by invading a Nepharian colony. 
The Nepharian's hasty actions were not well received by the mainland, as simultaneous wars with the Gronians, Margan, and Zaretians posed a very real risk to the Milky Way colonies. Before the situation could escalate any further, the Nepharians contacted the Gronians to sue for peace. As the meeting began, TmC forces arrived and offered to support the Nepharians in a fight against the Gronians. The Nepharians declined, intending to remain on good terms with the Imperium. The intrusion, which had been broadcasted to Gronian officials across the Imperium, outraged Lord Merian, who mobilized for war against the TmC for having breached the treaty they had established previously. The Gronians and Nepharians came to an agreement as TmC forces began an attack on their own, though they quickly realized that they were badly outnumbered, and even after the arrival of reinforcements, were eventually forced to withdraw. 
General Turos of the Red Rose, who had been planning to draw the TmC, Nepharians, and Gronians into a war, took notice of the engagement and contacted Zulgrev, the Zn leader within the TmC. The Margan suggested that the TmC join the Warlords as their reputation within the Gronian Imperium and the Peacekeepers, as the Rach were by this point working closely with the Imperium, was tarnished. Though initially reluctant, Zulgrev asked for a few days to consider the offer. A day later, the conflict with the Imperium and the TmC's smuggling of weapons and supplies to the Skrey was made public. Zulgrev interrupted, proclaiming that it was the way of the TmC to exterminate most races, and attempted to assassinate the speaker, Zulgrev. The assassination attempt failed, and Zulgrev and her followers seceded from the TmC. The TmC loyalist appealed to join the Peacekeepers soon after, but were denied due to their conflict with the Gronians and general distrust due to their intense secrecy. 
The Hammer Dynasty struck the Sauran colony of Jaru IV. The Sauran successfully evacuated the colony's citizens, but Margan forces overran the capitol before a relief force could arrive. Efforts to recapture the colony fail, and the Sauran withdrew. 
At the Betel front, the Repzork initiated their largest offensive thus far in the campaign. Foregoing costly occupation, the Repzork focused solely on "breaking the spine" of the Recycler government and military apparatus. Many weapons that had initially been barred due to the hazardous nature of many Betel colonies were authorized and used with little regard for collateral damage, dealing significant damage to the Betel and their allies, though Betel resistance would use the speed of the offensive to their advantage by stealing equipment and capturing isolated personnel.
=== Years 16-17: Pact Resurgence & Civil Wars ===
==== Year 16 ====
See also: Battle of Mardos, Schism of the 500th, Battle of Nizo III, Gronian Civil War, 
At the beginning of the year, the Margan invited Pact officials to Holy Thereia to reaffirm the goals of the Pact and strengthen the unity of the Warlords. The Xeverra also attended, and would be formally admitted into the Pact. As the meeting progressed, the Pact discussed plans for future operations, and settled on a joint-offensive into Zaretian space to liberate Nu-Zartar, repel the Peacekeeper occupiers, and bring the Zaretian military back up to strength. 
The sudden and rapid advance of the Margan had scored several early victories for the Dynasties, but as the Peacekeepers mustered their forces, the technology gap that had been created during the Margan's absence became apparent to both sides. This was first displayed during the battle at the Diab colony of Mardos. Orion Dynasty forces had established a beachhead on the planet but were soon pushed back by Diab troops. At the climax, the leaders of the respective belligerents agreed to a duel to the death. The Margan leader was defeated after a brief skirmish, and the remaining Margan were routed. The Margan began efforts to improve their technology, but it would be some time before they caught up with their contemporaries. 
After months of fierce fighting, Imperial Command called off Operation Desolate Winds and ordered the 489th to withdraw from Betel space. The 489th was also supplied a massive stockpile of conventional, nuclear, and Marganite-based munitions and were to lay waste to Betel space as they retreated. The resulting scorched earth campaign devastated much of the the Betel central cluster, killing or displacing those caught in its wake. Some of the munitions would be captured by Betel guerilla fighters and used against Repzork military personnel and civilians in retaliatory terrorist attacks. Though the Repzork officially consider the theatre concluded, covert operations continue to hamper the Betel in subtle ways. 
Having long grown disillusioned with Imperial Command and the Warlord Pact Star Marshal Elseron Nethali of the 500th 'Purity of Flames' armada and several of her followers defected from the Repzork to join the Peacekeepers. Fighting broke out throughout the armada as loyalist tried and failed to apprehend the marshal before she escaped to Alliance space. The schism briefly disrupted Biomatter containment efforts, allowing Tiamat to gain some ground before it was repelled. Imperial Command considered dishonorably disbanding the armada, but the loyalty of Field Marshal Alesanda Hilingoth and admiral Eaeru Tritheka, Nethali's second-in-command, narrowly saved the armada. 
Five years after they had formed, the ion storms surrounding Necraal space dissipated, making communication and space travel possible once more. Bael'thir reestablished contact with the Pact, who sent envoys to inform the crown prince on the state of the war. Bael'thir reaffirmed his support to the Pact, and pledged to commit troops to the war and hunt down and kill his father. News of the crown prince's return spread quickly throughout the sector, with most Pact-aligned Necraal returning to Necraal territory to serve Bael'thir. Many of Hor'or and S'ai's followers, disillusioned with their own leaders, also defected to Bael'thir, sparking a new round of infighting among both factions and casting doubt on the loyalty of S'ai's men to the Peacekeepers. Virisus defectors were seen with a mixture of revulsion or compassion due to their mutations, and though many distrusted them, Necraal scientists began working on a potential cure for their infection.
The Rach began a campaign to reclaim their lost colonies at Nizo III. Nizo had been one of the few colonies to survive the Zaretian-Margan campaign in the early years of the war, and had gone into seclusion to avoid detection. The planet had been occupied by the Asanians during the Second Battle of Norsus, but Syndicate forces did not discover the colony. The Rach smuggled new weapons to the planet and launched a surprise blitz against the Asanians, who were overwhelmed by a mixture of Rach maneuverability and firepower. Of particular note was the Rach's use of Void based technology, which was not hindered by gravity like traditional subspace drives and thus allowed both naval and ground forces to teleport across the battlefield with near-impunity. This effectively revolutionized warfare, and Pact officials would begin efforts to weaponize the Void to close the gap.
Following the assassination of Emperor Commodus of the Gronian Imperium by Princeps Falcus, Falcus traveled to Gron Domum under the pretense of attending his father's funeral. In reality, he was plotting to assassinate his brother, Gaius Imperia, to secure his position on the throne. The Rach, who supported Gaius, were tipped off by Commander Stral. The Rach successfully rescued Gaius and Valpyra Aspis, who had previously seduced Gaius and now bore his child. This triggered a civil war between Falcus and Gaius. At about the same time, the Margan began their major offensive into Gronian space. With Gronian forces fighting among themselves, the Margan inflicted a terrible toll on the Imperium. Valpyra took action by outright exterminating many civilian worlds in an attempt to slow the Red Rose down with limited success. Once again facing the risk of expulsion or outright extermination, the Rach were forced to divert their resources from rebuilding and supporting the Peacekeepers to supporting Gaius.
==== Year 17 ====
See also: Zaretian Civil War, Collection Conflict, Operation Dawnhammer, Rift Incident.
Tensions between the Repzork and Nepharians escalated when the Repzork deployed troops into the contested zone to support their allies in the region against their rivals with the ultimate goal of absorbing them as client states and turning their forces towards the Peacekeepers. Though Repzork forces were careful to avoid engaging Nepharian positions, sporadic skirmishes between the two occurred as Repzork forces plowed through the sector. Rather than declaring war, the Nepharians initiated a propaganda campaign to draw Peacekeeper attention to the region. Several Peacekeepers answered the call and deployed troops to contest the Repzork. 
With large swaths of Betel territory devastated by the Repzork and the economy on the Xeverran frontier in shambles, Helm's Hold shifted its remaining industry to territories left unscathed by the fighting. This combined with the opening of relations with the Remusian Republic earlier in the war had created a boom economy for the Ikzod cluster. When the Nepharians requested aid, it was an easy sell for the Recyclers to start making use of their increasingly powerful presence in the area to frustrate the hated Repzork and be compensated for their troubles. With increased traffic from the Betel mainland, the Remusians began refocusing their resources to help the Recyclers. While remaining Neutral, they continued to provide technology though the previously established Science-Face Initiative, as well as facilitating trade and contributing to their economy. 
Following the end of the Collection Conflict, though they had successfully captured Remusian Grand General Vithem Templesmith, the bulk of The Collection withdrew to their holdings to recuperate from their losses. The Overlord, the Collection's ruler, shifted his attention towards minor powers that he believed would be easy to integrate into the Collection. He soon learned of the ongoing Repzork-Nepharian Cold War and, using a Vessel to hide his mechanical body, reached out to the Repzork, hoping to recruit their assistance in defeating the Remusians. Repzork Central Command rejected the Overlord's offer, unwilling to commit troops to the Overlord's cause. The Overlord withdrew from the region, though he planned to return at a later date. 
Remusian scientists aboard the Nadfor Research Installation began “Project Archway”. At roughly the same time, the Repzork were performing their own studies on Void-Based travel technology. One of the Repzork's experimental engines malfunctioned, creating a tear in void space parallel with the lane created for Project Archway, forming a two-way artificial hyperlane. Remusian Directive Expeditionary Units, Lead by I.E.D. Director Dr. Bishun Barreté, exited into Repzork space as Sector Marshal Tegar Zokonae had been establishing a perimeter around the rift. The two agreed to talks, with Dr. Barreté retrieving Diplomat Rava James, who had previously been working with the Betel. 
During their talks, the Repzork learned of the Remusian's relations with the Betel, causing concern among members of the Repzork High Chamber, who feared the Remusians may join the Peacekeepers. Later, a recycler Diplomat interrupted one of the meetings to express their outrage at the Remusian's willingness to host the Repzork, nearly leading to a fight until members of the Remusian Royal Council interceded and adjourned the meeting. The Repzork also learned of the Collection and saw an opportunity to keep the Remusians out of the Great War. Believing that they would have to one day fight the Collection regardless of the circumstances, the Repzork offered to help the Remusians destroy the Collection so long as remain neutral in the Great War. 
Concerned that the Betel’s loyalty in the Ikzod cluster could be compromised should the Remusians decide to side with the Repzork, Helm’s Hold deployed Sekno Vorniket, a veteran pilot from the Xeverra front, to re-establish Recycler loyalty, holding several conferences within the Cluster as well as Betel dense areas of the Republic. The arrival of the Helm’s Hold member brought along Anti-Repzork propaganda which began circulating within Betel heavy areas as well as the Republic in general. 
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