The Scourge

*"If wars can be started by **lies**, they can be stopped by **truth**."*

*"You hold too much faith that you'd conform in living with such a **truth**."*

*- (1st) High Chancellor Thalmar and (2nd) Ambassador Malacos, during the pivotal Galactic Council meeting that led to the conflict -*

The Scourge was a prominent war between the **Three Great Races** in the galaxy, starting in the year 3766: the **Athalmar Empire** fought against the combined efforts of the **High Kingdom of Eldarus** and the **The Haldros of Hierarchy**. This was the largest conflict in the galaxy since the **Solicistania's Reckoning**, centuries before. The conflict originated mainly from the Athalmar's claim to **galactic hegemony**, through the defeat of the other two great races within it. There are other considerations to the war however. Some believe that it was in fact the Haldros **provocations** towards the Athalmar that initiated a war based on the humiliation of the other party, with the Eldurasi stepping in to preserve their **historical ally** and prevent the rise of **Athalmar tyranny**.

## **Background**

### The Newcomer

Ever since the ascension of the Athalmar as a Great Race in 3539, all nations in the galaxy watched with **interest** or **annoyance** as the upstart empire annexed what is now known as the **Dismo's Protectorate**. Immediately afterwards, the Athalmar officially introduced themselves to the galactic community, projecting their power and declaring their interests and common goals.

Some, like the **Elithians**, approached the eastern nation with cordial intent, whilst others, like the **Xanar Empire** and the **Photecian Accord**, denounced the acts of the expansionist newcomers. The cunning diplomacy presented by the Athalmar, during their first years within the **Galactic Council**, diverted the need for containment of Athalmar borders. The Eldurasi, in particular, welcomed the Athalmar, recognising their intellect and the need of adding more members to the galactic economy.

Truly, the addition of both the Athalmar Empire and the Haldros Hierarchy (who had officially designated treaty ports at its borders and exited isolationism, after assisting in the war against **Khan Beravar**) gave the galaxy another set of goods and industries that would come to replace or support many damaged economies around the galaxy.

Whilst the **Haldros** had reached a status of self sustenance hundreds of years ago, the Athalmar became greatly dependent on international trade organisations, such as the **Compact** and other minor structures, in order to sustain its ever growing population, industry and expansion. Their recent conquests had left the Athalmar unrivalled in the eastern regions of the galaxy, at the cost of social decline and financial hindrance. Their newly acquired worlds consisted mostly of lower citizenship tier alien populations, lacking either the unity, intellect or prowess of the Athalmar species. Some within the Empire wished to either purge or displace these populations from the most affluent worlds, allowing room for Athalmar colonists. Others suggested selling them to the highest bidder among the slave trading empires. The final decision, however, was to inline the Athalmar economy with that of the wider galaxy, restructuring society and industry to accommodate the new workforce and consumers.

Investing greatly in the integration of these new civilizations, the Athalmar ruthlessly enforced strict rationing, regulated social mobility and abolished civil rights to the populations of these worlds, relying on great amounts of exportation to break a profit with international markets, whilst creating dependencies on other nation's economies that required Athalmar industry to sustain their competitive growth against their rivals.

### Contendors

The Athalmar presented the exploitation of these peoples as a necessary sacrifice to rebuild and maintain the galactic economy and trade. This was objected by the **Velutan Union**, who, in 3572, denounced the **Athalmar Empire** of subjugating and enslaving two sovereign nations for their own benefit, later using these populations to fuel more tyrannical acts upon the galaxy. This statement was backed by the Eldurasi, but failed to garner sufficient support from the other galactic members. Kingdoms, republics and trade organisations alike had witnessed a rise to their gross production output and standards of living. Slaver empires and consortiums backed the Athalmar to assure the continuance of their traditional practice, whilst more militant nations now bargained heavily for Athalmar designs and doctrines, all of which the Athalmar made sure to only provide with profit and power mongering in mind.

The other Great Race in the galaxy, the **Haldros**, were beseeched by the **Eldurasi** to intervene. Their might and industry alone would sway sufficient influence to either allow Eldurasi diplomats to engage in their craft or outright denounce the Athalmar successfully. The Haldros, having assisted the **Galaxy** against the **Great Wastelanders**, opted to remain neutral and isolated upon this debate, content with the partial introduction of their economy into the galactic community.

With this diplomatic victory, the Athalmar effectively won in their dash for the **Great Race** title, plucking it from the Velutans' clutch. The Eldurasi would continue to support the Union, relaxing tariffs and other commercial rulings in order to strengthen the Velutans' influence. Despite this, in the next hundred years, the western borders of the galaxy would begin to unravel, as the Athalmar, now economically capable, would intervene (directly or indirectly) in conflicts surrounding the western regions, financing and supporting their favoured interests. This effectively displaced the status quo within the galaxy, as international rulings, long respected, were being fringed upon. The nations of the galaxy demonstrated a need for more worlds and more industry to surpass their rivals. Nations with ideological contrasts reopened old wounds and great uprisings began spurring out, in the form of cries of freedom among slave empires, cutthroat politics within crime syndicates and purges in the more radical sects of existing nations.

During this time:

* The **Avendgaar Appropriators** and their allies, the **Tuvarian Covenant**, seized territory from the **Photecian Union**, to their west, ensuring their own equality to the Union's might and control over the **Garinsian Straight**, in the year 3607.
* The **Atrion People's Republic** secured their independence from their **Xanar overlords**, in 3592, as well as the **Yinarim** and **Vanak** from the hegemonic **Thelvannu**, in 3633.
* The **Atakai Combine** emerged from their slumbering machine world, in 3648, accidentally awakened by the **Velutan Union**, after an exploratory breakthrough into their nebula. The resulting encounter extended for years, causing the death of millions of Velutan citizens and expenditure of numerous resources to contain the fierce machine hordes. The Atakai successfully pushed back the Velutans from their Creator's worlds, incorporating hundreds of thousands into their great biological reactors, named ***The Gardens of Dismay*** by the Velutans.
* In 3651, the **Straights of Apostifica** were colonised and fortified by the **Alalarih Clans**.
* The **Haldros** expanded their exclusion zone.
* The **Morlocons** were expelled from their homeworlds by the **Elithians**, in 3652, now residing in the western most reaches of the Galaxy as a nomadic people.
* The **Gruthunggian Hegemony** broke out of isolationism in 3666, with the intent on capitalising on Xanar decadency and the Atrion's war exhaustion.
* In 3689, a three way war sparked a great genocidal conflict between the **Hesulkor Empire**, the **Meccuran Communion** and the **Yarakir Continuance**.
* The **Forloren State** became known to the wider galaxy, in 3692.
* In 3701, a great number of law enforcement throughout the galaxy performed raids on countless worlds and stations, seizing assets and imprisoning individuals and groups suspect of working for a higher organisation. Many of these groups, successfully evaded capture. A year later, the birth of the **Black Crescent Consortium** was proclaimed.
* In 3713, an Eldurasi-Haldros joint expedition made contact with the **Imdar Pact**, the last known species of the **Ancients**.

## Prelude

At the beginning of the 38th century, certain western nations, who had barely recovered from the war against the **Great Wastelanders**, were either assimilated or eradicated by their neighbours, whilst others merely shifted borders and territories.

With the ensued disorder, the **Athalmar** expanded their borders, industry and military might in great scale. Their political, cultural and societal doctrines had all been reformed, in an utilitarian manner, to accommodate new additions to their empire. Their economy and fleets became the strongest in the galaxy, rivalled only by the combined might of the **Haldros** and **Eldurasi**.

The Athalmar began overstepping their bounds in international affairs. Funding the continuation of the **Atrion's Peoples Republic's** struggle against the **Xanar**, effectively closing the Haldros western-most treaty port (by influencing the **Thelvannu**), recognising **Vanak** sovereignty and establishing the Ranthan Enclave, to their northern border. With great prejudice, the Athalmar continued exploitation of **the Compact**, aligning the nations to their north, making them economically and diplomatically dependent on the Athalmar Executive Council.

Competition grew between the ruthless **Athalors** of **Ataros** and the benevolent and influential **Elder** **King** of **Eldarus**. In this game of spheres of influence, the Athalmar and Eldurasi reach out to nation's military and economic interests, having them **side with either the Athalmar's power or Eldurasi cooperation**. This turbulent competition grew tensions, as both sides perpetually attempted to outmanoeuvre and overcome the other.

The **Galactic Council**, put into emergency session by the Eldurasi, sought out to denounce and weaken the Athalmar government. In an historical occurrence, a Haldros ambassador made his debut among the many seats, an occasion that had only been repeated over a hundred and fifty years ago. The negotiations lasted for several weeks, with both sides denouncing the other for past broken treaties, tyrannical conduct, moribund transcendence and lacking strength to uphold their demands.

These confrontations came with elegant swaying and cunning responses. Both Athalmar and Eldurasi, supporters and backers, even those attuned to neutrality, engaged through international politics with great care and restraint, getting a sensation for the room's will and desires.

The Haldros, however, who had spent their isolation in blissful ignorance of galactic politics and diplomatic conduct, misplaced words and accusations. The cold, calculating temperament of the Athalmar was checked by Haldros insults and show of strength. The Eldurasi, during these engagements, set themselves aside diplomatically, which only allowed the Athalmar to utilise the Haldros' lack of diplomatic fibre to make gains amidst the orator's floor.

The debate culminated in the **Haldros**' questioning of Athalmar sovereignty, directives and morality. The Athalmar ambassador, the future **Athalor**, **Malacos Ulveth**, having secured neutrality or support from the other political parties present, stated that if reason would not be understood by their opponents, then they could break out of isolation and stop the Empire's spread and influence. In this moment of hesitation by the Haldros, the Eldurasi ambassador, **Thalmar**, stepped forward in support of their historical ally, urging the Athalmar to stand down, naming their pretences to hegemony an unnecessary lie for war, leading to the famous quote:

In the year 3766, amidst the 4th day of the 7th segment, the great war, known later as the **Scourge**, was declared by **High Chancellor Thalmar**. Himself then, to all present's dismay, leaving with the Eldurasi Guard that had protected all within the Council for so long, now leaving it defenceless for the first since its conception. The **Galactic Council** was suspended. International trade stagnated in replacement of supply lines and suspicious eyes, watchful of their neighbours and enemies. Though this was mostly in the western theatre. In the East, the **Athalmar** mobilised for the conflict, with their northern enemies preparing defences to repel them.

## **The Conflict**

### Opening Moves

The **Haldros** would shake the very foundations of its society, quickly revoking conditions and privileges that allowed its people to enjoy a near utopian lifestyle. The inward perfectionism was replaced with conscription quotas and the arming of civilian vessels to supplement their fleets. This necessity for new vessels was extended beyond its borders, with offers being made to the rich Core states for vessels and materials to sustain the rapidly growing military. Not all of these requests were accepted, as both the **Thelvannu Hegemony** and the **Hesulkor Empire** refused the propositions outright, with reports reaching the Haldros, via Eldurasi agents, that these nations were, in fact, themselves mobilising. Their purpose unknown, but it was assumed they were readying an intervention against their long rivals. Thankfully for the Haldros, both of these states were interlocked in either internal struggles or in grief competition with their neighbours.

The **High Kingdom of Eldarus** would find itself in confusion and in great debate for the first few weeks, until a grand media announcement occurred. Led by the Elder King, who presents a grand speech that clarifies why the war has started and why they must fight. For the survival of their way of life, for the sake of friends and allies, but, more importantly, to fight against the ever encroaching reach of **Ataros**. For if **Eldarus** does not fight the foe of today, who says tomorrow it will not have a far worse enemy. The tyrannical rule of the Athalmar must be broken, so that billions may be spared of their cruelty and that the plan left by their **Heralds** would not be thwarted. After this, the many peoples of Eldarus slowly, but ever so increasingly, answer the call to arms, as pilots, soldiers, engineers, medics and whatever else the realm needs. An exception to this, were the five expeditions that would later be formed to seek refuge on the vast corners of the galaxy, less the situation aggravates itself further. A few weeks after the announcement, another is held by the Elder King, who there formally grants all military commands to **High Admiral Galather**, and grants his generals, admirals and commanders all the resources of Eldarus to bear for the grand cause of defence, defiance, and freedom.

Along these efforts, Eldurasi diplomats were sent to all the nations of the northern regions. The relations fostered with their neighbours over the last thousands of years taught and enlightened the nations around them, from primitives to space faring peoples, even if their ideals and ethics do not always associate with that of Eldarus. Nevertheless, the Eldurasi would view these nations around them as children that needed to be raised and protected. But then, in the beginning of the Scourge, their diplomats reached out to them with a call to arms, stating that if **Eldarus** and **Havollus Cora** fall, the whole of the north shall be consumed by the slaving empire of the South. Additionally, they would contact the other powers of the galaxy, especially the corporation governments of the core, with the goal of procuring materials, vessels, warriors and allies for the war. The High Chancellor, **Thalmar**, would be sent to the **Belcamor State**, as well as military advisers, in order to secure the main passage into the north.

The **Athalmar** also began preparations for war. However, unlike their northern neighbours, the Athalmar predispose of a martial society, who's military institutions are never too distant from their counterparts. The executive powers of its government shifted major assets towards the mobilisation and improvement of its belligerent forces. Nine individual fleets were dispatched to the North of the empire, performing scouting, escort and recruitment initiatives, as well as expanding the local military infrastructure to accommodate for such numbers. Although the Athalmar lost the valuable trade routes with the Eldurasi, they did sustain those which connected to the Core and the Southern Regions of the **Galaxy**, enabling them to make use of the profits originated by such routes, whilst preventing the Northern Alliance from doing the same.

They would also attempt to hamper Eldurasi diplomatic operations among other possible enemies or allies, maintaining relations with the peoples of the Eastern Route (**Fassan Settlement** and the **Rethulian Republic**), the Core nations, as well as the **Elithian Empire**, who openly declared their support for the Athalmar. Finally, the Athalmar made leverage of past favours and deals with distant nations, ensuring that the escalation of conflicts and crisis would occupy foreign resources that may otherwise intervene in the war, expertedly executed by the current leader of the Athalmar, **Athalor Rhalus**. He would face his match in **Thalmar**, the centuries experienced Eldurasi statesman.

### The Southern Coalition

In response to the start of the war and **Athalmar** expansionism, the **Eldurasi** help finalise the creation of the Bastramor Coalition, creating a new mantle of defiance against the **Athalmar Empire**. This effective defensive alliance, which would later evolve into the **Bastramor Confederation**, would check the Athalmar's influence in the Southern Regions, as well as in the Core. This Confederation was a joint movement composed of the states known as the **Stratull Leadership, Alvothari Transsellar, Zatuu Ascendency** and the **U.C.N**., safeguarding and assimilating the goals and interests of each nation with united purpose. In particular irony, both the Alvothari and the Zatuu were once members of the Athalmar led economic bloc, known as **The Compact**. This creation would eventually show its thorns when, in 3768, the Confederate fleet would trespass into Athalmar claimed territory, being detected by the ***Unbroken Fury***, an Imperial fleet stationed in the sector's core shipyards.

The engagement lasted for several months, as the overwhelmed Athalmar suffered their first defeat of the war. Confederate forces beat the Athalmar fleet back again, and again, as the Imperial forces fought to provide the Empire time to summon a relieve force. As critical worlds and stations of the sector became targets of relentless confederate sieges, the ***Unbroken Fury***, now along side its reinforcements, the newly formed ***Abysssal Clutch***, would strike a decisive blow and drive the Confederation's efforts out of Athalmar territory, with the belligerent border settling close to that of the start of the war. This conflict would last until the end of the Scourge. However, with both sides unable to make a decisive push into the other, both began fortifying and expanding the borders to the adjacent regions of the set front line. This prolonged conflict would be known as the **The Broken Fury Offensive**.

It would be due to this aggression that the Confederation would become the leading figure against **Athalmar** hegemony, always challenging them and the **Elithians** in territory, resources and allies, as it would secretly host the creation of two new states within its borders, created from **Haldros** and **Eldurasi** refugees, from the North.

### The Years of *Ensanguination*

These are an understatement of the amount of suffering that the **Galaxy**, as a whole, was subject to. These represent the first 8 years of the Scourge, where the battles fought in the North and South Regions were of little comparison to the casualties that the consequences of the war would bring. The suspension of the **Galactic Council** left foreign policy of other nations belligerent and with no oversight, sparking conflicts of smaller scale across the Eastern half of the galaxy.

During this period, the **Xanar** extend slavery to two pre-space civilisations within their borders, who were now easy pickings for infamous slavers. The Atrion-Xanar truce would break down, 2 years before its intended termination, resulting in the **Atrion** committing acts of genocide, in retaliation for centuries of subjugation, known presently as '**The Lustrating Rights**'.

In the West Galactic Core, a Region with a highly active trade routes, rampant piracy and privateering began amongst its wealthiest members, leading the **Athalmar** to dispatch the ***Scourge's Malice*** in a punitive expedition against suspected assailants. This expedition would become known as the **Austere Pacification**, a dark prelude to the events of the end of the war. Some of these efforts would destitute small states from its space-faring capabilities, effectively reverting them back to a class of *primitive* states, in the eyes of the wider Galactic community. Others led to the complete annihilation of planets as they, although not part of a formal state, harboured groups of pirates who would intercept space faring convoys. This came at the cost of considerable collateral damage as, although not heavily populated, these planets held sparse population centers. These were, to a certain degree, fortified, giving the Athalmar the need to employ devastating orbital bombardments, given their lack of a proper invasion force. These pacified areas would be placed under the claimed territories of the more powerful states of the Core. These were bestowed by the **Athalmar** in regards of maintaining order across the region, and thus, the flow of valuable and needed trade. In exchange, these states would join the **Compact**.

In the Whispering Valey Region, the long stalemate between the **Vanak**, **Yinarim** and **Thelvannu** was broken, as the civil war reignited. It was resumed as soon as the Thelvannu-Athalmar supply lines were cut, emboldening the Vanak to begin raiding operations in the western reaches of the Hegemony's territory. The Yinarim and the Thelvannu would join their forces to defeat the Vanak, in the **Battle of the Shards**. The conflict would not end after this engagement, and for the rest of the Scourge and beyond, the Vanak would continue to displace the populations of their northern neighbours, making thralls of their ever raising war industry.

In the escalation of the galactic state of war, the **Photecian Accord** would undergo a famine that would do away with 30% of their population. This made them heavily isolated, as well as see the rise of radical parties within its government and people. The weakness of the Photecians allowed for **Tuvarian** advances and provocations across the border, with the **Elithian Empire** secretly supporting these advances and arming the neighbouring **Wastelanders** against its rival. These efforts would be countered by the **Alalarih Clans**, who, unable to engage the Elithians in belligerent action, would strike directly at their neighbouring wastelander clans, balancing out the scales.

The **Black Crescent** attempted a *coup* within the **Solzan Cleisthen**. This failed and pitted the two in a state of war, with the Black Crescent utilising mercenaries from both the **Nallen** and **Makrall's Host**. At this stage, the **Nkaran Autocracy** would experience a blight in one of their main sources of revenue, its livestock industry. This was perceived as a disease that would make members of a space whale herd go berserk and become cannibalistic towards their brethren. This assumption was ultimately false, as these were the early signs of the **Kelkrum Foregather** dig its way into the galactic outskirts.

### The Turnabout

By 3776, the 8th year of the ongoing war, little progress had been made to break through the front lines. Both sides found themselves in perpetual watchfulness towards their borders, as probing attacks, raids or decisive sieges would disrupt the balance within a sector for a short time. Inevitably, the main front was the important gateway known as the **Belmacor State**, where the **Eldurasi** and **Haldros** had elevated to a remarkable fortress who's defence safeguarded the main route to the **High Kingdom of Eldarus**. This route had infrastructure that could sustain the crossing of the **Athalmar battlegroups**, without exposing them to space anomalies or a lack of favourable deployment.

There were another two routes that the **Athalmar** could take: one being through the **Meccurans** and **Hesulkor**, but this route possessed little in the way of foundations for such a large fleet to pass through, as well as the lack of regular stations to protect and sustain the battlegroup's supply lines. As such, **Athalmar High Command** chose an unorthodox route. In this case, that one that led around the **Belmacor** fortifications, through the Ranthan Enclave. This Athalmar vassal possessed little in the way of advanced infrastructure, but it was a nation that had no choice but to obey Athalmar Military and fulfil its quotas. In 3771, the Athalmar began the rapid development of the Ranthan state, so it could sustain supply lines to its North, later being named the **Ranthan Route**. From the chokepoint to its close north, the Athalmar built outposts of their own, to protect their new investments, as well as subdue the **Evidoll Pthum**, to its West, to protect its flank. This later action alerted the **Eldurasi** to the plans of **Ataros**. The Athalmar's project was being led by one of the **Athalor's** most trusted subordinates and greatest administrators, **Malacos Ulveth**, at the time a member of Rhalus' own Diplomatic Corps.

At this stage, 6 battlegroups were engaged in general operations around the **Belmacor State** and the western theatre of the war, 1 oversaw the development of the **Ranthan Route**, 1 was held in reserve in the Uthary Protectorate and another 2 battlegroups to the South, engaging the **Bastramor Confederation**. Given the headway made in the quickly developing eastern theatre, the reserve battlegroup was split and one of its fleets called upon to reinforce **Malacos**' position. The **Ranthan Route** was designed to be a staging ground for future Athalmar operations, necessitating facilities that would accommodate fleets and supply lines deep into the northern expanse. A flotilla carrying military cargo was dispatched to the Route, consisting of one of the greatest logistical endeavours carried out by the Empire. Pre-built structures, personnel, supplies and a gigantic proportion of rocket propelled missiles, deemed best to confront the enemy's tactical superiority.

During this time, the **Bastramor** had to contend with increase **Elithian** incursions. Following **Athalmar doctrine** of taking the strategic initiative, this culminated at the Battle on the Ice, where the Elithian Emperor, **Galius IV Aelithianus**, defeated a **Bastramor** battlegroup and successfully killed the legendary (yet recently out of retirement) High Admiral **Ignysoul** during a major engagement, where, despite of this great victory, resulted in the Elithians taking such massive losses that they could not press their advantage. The death of **Ignysoul**, a long friend and mentor to **Galather**, would have an impact on the leader of the **Sentinels**.

The arrival of both the relief fleet and the military supplies were quickly undermined by the **Eldurasi**. During a scouting and mapping operation, the **Athalmar** relief fleet was routed, with the majority of its ships being either crippled or outright destroyed, expertly ambushed by **High Admiral Galather**. This victory was quickly exploited, and as the remaining Athalmar vessels returned to the defensive line of the Route, **Malacos**, the leading officer at such time, applied all available defensive counter measures and deployed the remaining battlegroup. The Eldurasi arrived with force, speed and precision, outnumbering the Athalmar forces. The likely victory was replaced by a mass retreat of Eldurasi forces, as Malacos ordered the ignition of the massive missile payload within the fortress's warehouses, with the remnants of the Athalmar fleet moving to flank the thinly spread Eldurasi assault. This strategy prevailed in crippling much of the Eldurasi Navy, with Athalmar ships piercing the Eldurasi lines and artillery platforms incapacitating the bulk of their forces, as well as destroying one of the prized and limited Eldurasi Jump Drive Carriers. **Galather** was in retreat, securing a military victory for the Athalmar, but more importantly, the influence necessary for the eventual rise of **Malacos** as **Athalor** of the **Empire**. His position would be secured by the end of 3776. **Eldurasi** expedition efforts would be created to safeguard the life of those that seek exile from the war. Such examples were the **Eastern Expedition**, the **1st Western Expedition** and the **2nd Western Expedition**.

### The Gamble

With both the ascension of **Malacos** as **Athalor** and the routing of **Galather's** fleet, the **Ranthan Route** would now fulfil its purpose. Both the **Fassan Settlement** and the **Rethulian Republic** would fall quickly, securing the next major passage, which led into the outskirts of **Eldurasi** core territory. 5 battlegroups were transferred from the **Belmacor** front, adding up to 6 active military forces that would strike into the heart of the northern allies. This, however, was not the case. Athalmar High Command redirected the fleet westwards, to flank the Belmacor fortresses. With the **Eldurasi** out of position, **Haldros** forces retreated northwards to regroup with **Galather**, without his consent or knowledge. With their major ally retreating, the Eldurasi were forced to regroup at their own fortress lines, far north of the Belmacor positions. Lacking the strength to fend off the pride of the Athalmar's navy, as well as lacking the resources and manpower to man their fortress line - of which the Belmacor relied heaviliy from, now cut off, Eldurasi supply lines - the Belmacor capitulated, 2 weeks into the encircling blockade, after **Malacos** threaten to destroy their civilization:

With minimal losses taken, the Athalmar resupplied and ventured north. The six active battlegroups in this operation were led by **Nautarchos Leutherios**, the Admiral of the infamous fleet, ****The Scourge's Malice**.** Their orders were to punch through the enemy defensive lines at the edge of the ****Iranassian Mandate**** and force the Allies to choose between protecting **Eldurasi** or **Haldros** homeworlds. These operations were interrupted by the partial reinstitution of the **Galactic Council**. Due the Galaxy's chaotic state, known as the years of *Ensanguination*, many prominent leaders of the Council proposed to hold peace talks between the two belligerent sides. Both sides were, at this stage, waned by the prolonged conflict. The Athalmar agreed to this arrangement and dispatched an envoy. The meeting would be mediated by the Federation President of the **Velutan Union**, then lead by, the very gifted statesman, **Narlas A'val**. Other members consisted of ambassadors from the **Atrion People's Republic**, **Photecian Accord**, **Tuvarian Covenant** and the **Avendgaar Appropriators**. Despite these, the Eldurasi and Haldros hesitated. Firstly, the Haldros did not wish for peace. Secondly, because the Eldurasi were highly suspicious of the Athalmar's intentions, given their influence within many of the members within the council, as well as the lack of international conduct by many nations at this time.

The meeting would take place in the early first quarter of 3777, with all but the **Haldros** and **Eldurasi***attending. The hesitation presented by the two leading belligerents in the war shocked the attending. This shock would turn into dread as yet another surprise was unveiled. The presence of **Malacos** as the leading ambassador of the **Athlamar** had not been expected. The meeting was postponed for 17 days. On the 18th, Malacos arrested the other five representatives present, with the rest having been let go willingly or pre-emptively leaving in fear, remarking on how this arrangement was a ploy to hinder the Athalmar's advance with no true intent for peace. This event, known as the **'**Bristly Peace*', raised tensions within the Athalmar and the afflicted members. This, however, would give the **Athalmar** the necessary causes to actively support those nation's enemies, militarily or economically, leading to further conflict or destruction, directly supported by the Athalmar and leading to a further destabilized galaxy. The Athalmar came out on top, as it separated the rest of the galaxy further from their goals of the war. It is unclear if Malacos intended for such events to take place or if it was simply a reaction to the **Eldurasi** and **Haldros**' lacking presence in the peace talks. Regardless, **Malacos** would make his intentions for the coming years clear. As the **Athalor** of the **Empire**, he stated:

On the 20th day, **Narlas A'val**, president of the **Velutan Union**, was killed. His execution was personally undertaken by **Malacos**, who hanged him and later ejected his body into the vacuum of space. This action quacked the **Velutan Union**. With its reformist leader dead, many of its splintered factions moved to fill the power gap that now layed at the very top of the Velutan hierarchy, removing one major hinderance from the Athalmar's path to hegemony. This marked the first time an envoy of a nation was killed under the neutral grounds of the **Galactic Council**, as well as demonstrate the Athalmar's prideful temper. As the other ambassadors remained in custody as hostages, Malacos returned to **Ataros** and the war resumed.

The six battlegroups, who had been stationed on the **Belmacor State** due to the occurring peace talks, were now free to enter enemy borders once more. High Admiral **Nautarchos Leutherios** was given full strategic autonomy in the region by the Athalmar Executive Council. Being regarded as the best military leader within the Empire, **Nautarchos** moved his formation northwards, securing a few enemy outposts on his way. The decision was made to give meaning to the words of the **Athalor** and advance on the Haldros homeworlds from their eastern entrance. With the strategy approved by **High Command** and **Malacos**, the attack force moved to harry their enemies core worlds. This effort was intercepted by a large allied force, within a nebula named Helix, led by **High Admiral Galather** and **Admiral Sar'Tul Warrock**. Despite being ambushed, the Athalmar's victory, masterminded by **Nautarchos** , would mark the beginning of the end for the War, as **Athalmar** forces were now free to travel to the heart of the Hierarchy’s territory, and deliver their gruesome and conclusive message to the **Haldros** people, and the galaxy. The battle at the nebula would then be known as **The Helix's Gamble**.

An exodus expedition from the **Haldros Hierarchy** is formed after the **Athalmar** scorch earth policy in Haldros territory, leading to a massive refugee fleet to travel to the **Bastramor Confederation**, and officially create a new state represented within the confederacy, the **Voldrus Union**. Another exodus fleet of **Eldurasi** refugees, headed by the Horizon's Crescent (political faction), follows the steps of the **Voldrus Union** and settle in the **Bastramor Confederation**, being named **Horizon's Haven**.

### The Closing Years

3778 would be remembered as the *Harrying of the Haldros*. The **Athalmar** battlegroups had no complete ground invasion force within its ranks. The **Haldros** planets in the fleet's path were layed waste through orbital bombardment, crust cracking and atmosphere deprivation. The billions of lives, civilian or military, were burned from orbit in display to the whole galaxy to see. After the bombardment, the Athalmar descended with specialised task forces to root out and eliminate remaining pockets of resistance, where deemed necessary. Most were simply left to starve. By this point, the **Haldros Remnants**, as it would later be known, would flee their eastern territories *en masse*. The Haldros capital fell a few segments after the initial Athalmar assault, with its destruction then being known as the *Desolation of **Havollus Cora***, with many worlds surrounding it husks of their former splendour. The battlegroups were then turned on the Eldurasi, smashing through the **Iranassian Mandate** without much resistance.

Athalmar High Command demanded the capture of **Eldarus** itself before accepting any form of capitulation. This tenacious goal gave the Eldurasi Fleet time and space to relocate and hide within the reaches north of the Haldros' former territories. Led by **Galather**, under his own supposed directive, they would become a priority target for the Athalmar navy for years to come.

In 3779, the **Athalmar** invaded **Eldarus** itself. Its orbital stations were quickly disabled and the entire system placed under lockdown. A massive invasion force was landed, and the leaders of both states met face to face. The **Elder King** presented himself with iconic humility, as well as an expertly crafted noose on his hands, as he knelt before the **Athalor**. **Malacos**, ignoring this act of submission, then signalled his invasion force to begin capturing and transporting all non-Eldurasi present within the core worlds. Billions of individuals, throughout the coming year, would be cargo within the holds of military convoys. They would be taken far and wide across the Empire, to be settled as second or even third class citizens underneath their new sovereigns. Others, such as political enemies of foreign states, would be directly held under house arrest, sold or returned to their rivals, internationally. The **Athalmar** were also responsible for seizing large quantities of wealth and assets from both the now defeated **Eldurasi** State and its reigning elites, be them noble families or wealthy capitalists, effectively sacking the ruling class of **Eldarus** of its monetary and economic power. These would later be utilized to both fund the occupation of the Eldurasi and the funding of the Imperial displacement of the ten billion beings that were transported off the **High Kingdom**.

By 3780, the official end of the war was declared within the halls of the **Galactic Council**. The hostages held by the **Athalmar** were returned. The **Haldros Hierarchy** would cease to be recognized as a legitimate state and its people were banned from entering space controlled by the Athalmar's sphere of influence. The **High Kingdom of Eldarus** would become a vassal state of the Empire, relinquishing all embassies outside of its territory and only allowed to administer their own core worlds, under Athalmar supervision and military occupation. The **Evidol of Pthum**, the **Rethulian Republic**, the **Fassan Settlement**, the **Sypran Collective** and **Belmacor State** would all come under the direct administration of the **Athalmar** government. **Avendgaar Appropriators** ceased all business with the Athalmar, due to the annihilation of the **Haldros**' planets and humiliating peace terms. After the war, they would finance the **Tal-Kratt Senex** to harass Athalmar convoys. They would also secretly smuggle mercenaries to help the Haldros' struggle for survival, as well as gather all sorts of refugees that wished to escape the tyranny of the Athalmar.

Thus concluded the most recent bloodening of the Galaxy.