Corpo Wars

The Corporate wars, frequently shortened to "Corpo Wars" was a military conflict fought between the Imperium Astorum Empire and the Free Corporations of Tyregnus a loose alliance of outlands corporations in the year: 0000 to the year: 0000. The war was easily the most recent large scale conflict in imperial history and saw vast changes to the imperium in the aftermath both militarily, economically, and societally.

Overall the conflict would end with the Free corporations being virtually wiped out, and their leaders arrested. Though not before they would inflict massive casualties on the imperial military. This conflict would see the near complete banning of AI usage within the Imperium, the introduction of the Navy branch to its military and a near complete restructuring of its ground forces and the way they operate.

## Summary

The conflicts origins can be found in the passing of the: "Robotics Limitation Bill" in 0000. A Bill which would significantly impact the production of AI and robotics in general. Seeking to ensure automation would not cause a massive economic depression. The bill was objected to by several relevant corporations, which claimed the law to be overreaching and overbearing. These objections though were met with scorn by Imperial official's, who demanded the corporations abide by the new regulations and laws that had been put in place. Several of these corporations, would on the surface, claim initially to be complying despite their objections. Though in the next few months would create secret research and development labs to continue pushing research illegally. It is to this day unknown what the purpose of these actions were. Some historians speculate that: The corporations planned to better perfect their products, before appealing to the imperial government for a change in law. Others claim the corporations planned to sell their technology not to the empire but rather to Outland Micronations. Whatever the purpose, eventually one of these labs would be discovered by accident in an anti competition probe. Summarily the Imperium senate issued an order that all companies relevant to the Robotics Limitation Bill, or that had raised formal objections. Would submit to an audit of their personnel, and facilities. Some complied with the order and received large fines, though none involved received prison sentences. However, several other companies, instead chose to destroy their lab's and attempt to delete any evidence of their activities. This clumsy action did not go unnoticed, and the imperium issued warrants for those involved in the research. However by this time the experts working at the labs had already been evacuated to the outlands regions. Infuriated the Imperium issued further warrants for the heads of these corporations, demanding they testify to their actions in the senate. But they had too also fled into the outland's beyond imperial reach.

They would eventually be tracked down to five worlds in the outlands now having rebranded themselves as the "Free corporations of Tyregnus" (F.C.T), an independent federation of planets. This only further infuriated the Imperium. Which demanded the companies surrender the world's and their facilities, hand over their staff, and turn over all their assets immediately. Demands which would be refused quickly, and the imperial military was swiftly summoned to exact the order by force in response. The imperial military of the time deployed several dozen warships, along with 12 full legions and 5 millenniums of praetorians. They were met on the first of the corporate worlds. With several armies of autonomous drone weapons, commanded by corporate mercenaries and officials in a new type of power armor. The imperial fleet was also confronted by never before seen drone warships. Who specialized in a type of long range warfare, using guided railgun shells and long range nuclear ordnance. These ships directly countered the imperial ships of the Legio Navalis. Who employed close range tactics in their naval fighting a doctrine still followed to this day. Finally the corporations had also begun construction on a massive planetary shield, around their "Capital world" Tyregnus. The shield encased the planet in a huge energy barrier which would burn anything trying to enter to ash. Though this shield would only enter operation by the 3rd year of the war.

A long drawn out war would be fought for nearly 5 years as the Imperium struggled to gain any ground and was frequently rebuffed by the FCT's autonomous armies and ships. However through sheer force of numbers 1 of the 5 worlds the FCT controlled would be conquered by the Imperial Legion after 1 and a half years of bloody fighting. It was at this point that a new Grand Prefect of the Armorium: "Septimus Amedeus" would enter office and make several radical changes to the Imperial military. The first being the introduction of a new major branch: "The Imperial Navy", and several new classes of warships suited to fighting at long to medium distances, and with far heavier weapons than traditionally employed. The first of these new vessels would be the I.N.S.S Ultimatum the first of the Vulcan Class Super Battleship line. The battleship's introduction severely changed the conflict, as while the FCT's drone warships were well suited to range they had not had time to be well armored, and faired poorly in extended battles. upon entering combat the new classes of warships designated: "Superiority Ships" served exceptionally well and proved more than a match for the FCT's drone ships. However the new imperial ships were not enough to end the conflict as the autonomous ground armies and Tyregnus planetary shield remained a thorn for the imperial military.

The answer to the former problem though would come unexpectedly. As after one fierce battle with a corporate autonomous division the command power armor failed to self detonate, and was recovered by imperial forces. R&D into the suit was instantly started and after only a few short months prototypes of the powerful ANVIL II armor system would be first fielded by Imperial Ground forces. The new heavy power armor helped turned the tide significantly, though what would truly change things would be the use of a new more rapid battle doctrine emphasizing disorganization in enemy forces. This doctrine helped isolate FCT command units from each other forcing corporate mercenaries to act on their own and without information from their greater force. As well as cutting off their continuous supply of new units. This change in doctrine quickly yielded the desired results as corporate field commanders began losing battles frequently. The isolation strategy also ensured that their command armor or operators could not be recovered by the FCT. Shortly the FCT would be at such a deficit of field command units that much of its autonomous army was rendered utterly useless. In addition the frequent death of their mercenary operators made it increasingly difficult for the FCT to find new operators further compounding the problem.

After 4 years the FCT would be ultimately pushed all the way back to Tyregnus. While many improvement's had been made in the imperial military a resolution to the massive planetary shield was still not possible. And with the Imperial military facing increasing pressure to end the conflict. A do or die praetorian drop was initiated to bypass the shield. Taking advantage of a periodic opening of the shield to allow drone ships to exit out into space the praetorians would lose huge amounts of personnel but would ultimately gain control of the shield and allow imperial forces through. Afterwards a brutal, year long bloody campaign across Tyregnus would finally see the end of the conflict with the leadership of the FCT being captured attempting to leave the system in a unmarked ship. They would be summarily brought all the way back to Terra to face trial in the imperial senate. ultimately ending with all members either imprisoned for life or executed.

## Aftermath

In the aftermath of the war the Senate would pass several extremely harsh anti AI laws that would make use of AI in the Imperium outlawed under virtually all circumstances. Few exceptions were made for the imperial military however most if not all AI use had now been completely outlawed.

Though the conflict is now well behind the Imperium there are still several lasting effects felt amongst its population in regards to it as well as consequence's left over.

### AI Phobia

While many imperial citizens were able to avoid the conflict its nature has resulted in a significant phobia of AI across imperial territory. Though ultimately it was the corporate use of AI that had truly caused the massive bloodshed. Few in the Imperium could separate that from the horror stories returning from the frontline. The general phobia surrounding artificial intelligence has grown so much. That even imperial sanctioned use of the technology is met with an underlying fear from the general public.

Since the conflict Imperial media enterprises have taken advantage of the phobia to create several horror films and stories featuring the automaton's in the conflict or machines that look similar. Which tend to frighten the imperial public who watch them. Such enterprises are occasionally berated by imperial official's. Accused of profiting from a well founded public fear.

### Autonomous Armies

While the FCT was defeated, its technology would end up ultimately outliving them. As some periphery nations would be found using autonomous armies (Though far less complex and effective) to either police their citizenry or impose their will on other periphery micronations. While imperial tactics and technology have now well outstripped their capabilities. Often imperial soldiers will go out of their way to destroy these machines even when not necessary, and on occasion its even been found that their designers are executed without orders.

### Military Restructuring

In the aftermath of the war, the imperial military underwent a significant number of reforms, including the complete integration of the Imperial Navy as a major military branch. Having proven their efficacy during the conflict, Superiority ships were also ordered in large numbers and their numbers would swell massively in the coming years. New naval academy's would open throughout Imperial space including the famous Europa Naval Academy which was counted amongst the first to begin inducting new cadets.

Anvil II armor would also become standardized and deployed amongst the Imperial Legion and even into the Praetorian forces. forming new Anvil Squads and vastly augmenting their standard infantry battle doctrine.

The aftermath of the war would most crucially witness the introduction of Fortress Doctrine and Fortress Worlds to the Imperium. With the concept for such worlds being taken from the FCT's capital world. These worlds would be designed as essentially massive military and naval bases overseeing the defense and military responsibilities of an entire sector.