The Hearthian-Xeno War

The Hearthian-Xeno War is a conflict that started in 66 IE and ended in the same year. The conflict became one of the many reasons why the Grevian Empire wanted to expand as it tries to consume Hearth into an Imperial Colony.

The conflict started after several attacks were made to human settlements in the planet of Hearth. Responding to this, the Imperial Army sent forth a legion to stop any attacks from happening. In the retalition, an alien hive, known as Zara by researchers, was entirely destroyed following a battle atop the very hills of the hive.

### Background

During the subsequent Imperial Era, the Grevian Empire was increasingly expansive in its territories, with Rhodon, Farrador, and Tertius being colonized in subsequent years. Following the destructive Farradorian War, the Grevian Empire restarted their expansion northwards to try to connect with the isolated Magdorlandian Empire, with Hearth being targeted for colonization by the Senate as it was closer to the Magdorish Empire and could serve as a hub for trade and travel.

In 60 IE, the first Imperial settlers started to colonize the planet, building villages and towns while supplies was delivered from Farrador. By 65 IE, attacks upon isolated villages became a concern as the number of attacks increased as Imperial Settlers started to get close upon Zara Hill. For investigation, the Senate sent a team of researchers to Zara Hill and they reported that vast and massive underground hive was found deep beneath the grounds of Zara Hill. After the report, contact was lost with the research team just minutes after the report was sent.

It became clear to the Senate and the Imperial Army that a force was to be sent to try to find out what happened to the researches if there was a chance that they were alive and well. Thus a small Imperial platoon from Legio LVII was sent to find out what happened to the research team and if they could, salvage any research documents that they could find.

### Prelude

The small platoon, nicknamed “Hammer Platoon” arrived in Hearth a few weeks after they had departed from Rhodon. Following guidance from the local settlers and from the local government, Hammer Platoon arrived in Zara Hill on the 15th of March 65 IE. There following a few days of scouting they began to delve underground to search for the research station that was hidden underground. The platoon then discovered a vast underground cave network and it led them to the now abandoned and torn up research station. Hammer Platoon then started scouring to find any documents on the torn up research tents before they are suddenly attacked by a lone Zaran Xeno that lunged at one of the officers but was killed when the officer threw it off and ordered the men to open fire.

After the encounter, Hammer Platoon then began trying to climb out of the hive but was attacked by hundreds of xenos that killed several legionnaires with their sharp claws. Hammer Platoon then was miraculously saved when one of the colonial helicopters arrived to pick them up just as they were about to be overwhelmed. In the attack, nine legionnaires and two officers were killed in exchange for hundreds of xenos killed.

In the immediate skirmish, the Senate ordered the entire LVII Legion, consisting of around 20.000 enlisted and officers to depart Rhodon as fast as possible and to travel to Hearth.

### The War

The LVII Legion landed in Hearth’s Capital of Fountainhead and met up with the survivors of Hammer Platoon. There they rested for several days until they marched out of the gates, bound for Zara Hill. There on the slopes of Zara Hill, they gazed upon endless tides of Zarans. Half a million they numbered, but they were soon at a disadvantage when the LVII Legion charged down the slopes supported by tanks and around 40 aircraft.

The fighting down the slopes was a bloodbath for the Zarans as they were outgunned and outmatched by the highly disciplined and trained legionnaires of the LVII Legion. By the end of the fight that lasted for two hours, 30.000 Zarans were killed for the loss of 100 legionnaires. Following the victory, the legion laid siege upon Zara Hill and daily bombardment soon began to take its toll on the Zarans. The siege of Zara Hill only lasted until the LVII Legion poured water buckets down into the hive for three weeks until it had already filled up, then they closed it off to prevent any Zarans swimming up. During the siege, an additional 52 legionnaires were killed in several skirmishes near the hill.

The Zaran Hive was entirely destroyed in the end. Though no traces of a queen were found, it is theorized that the queen may have drowned during the end of the siege together with her entire brethren.

### Aftermath

The LVII Legion arrived in Rhodon following the end of the war victorious. After discussion, the Emperor supported by the Senate proclaimed that the LVII would have the title of “Peregrinus Caedis” meaning “Bug-Slayer”.