Dominions War

The **Dominions War** was a war in 533 A.U. fought between the Serene Duchy of Aeldrum, Shantine Empire, Alusian Empire, Brass Cities, and Fialta Imperium on one side, and the Veiled Dominions on the other. It ended with the destruction of the Dominions and deaths of the Veiled Masters, followed by a partitioning of Dominion space into various Mandates overseen by the Imperial powers.

## Background

With their involvement in occult visions during the Marivan Conference on Weapons of Mass Destruction and their alleged role in the death of Empress Leandra I Kataph, tensions between the Veiled Dominions and the various Imperial powers ran high in the year 533 A.U. Though Dominion concession of the Adarnum Bastions and the demilitarization of the Lower Gates were able to stave off conflict temporarily, a final grand display by the Masters and their agent Jotu Shomen excited the paranoia of the Imperial powers to the point of a preemptive declaration of war.

During a conflict in the Middle Kingdom's Civil War, the Masters unveiled a weapon that was able to disable all ships and weaponry in the immediate area. The Knights of Leandra were able to recover samples from the conflict and were able to identify the cause as a demonic super-virus that was able to infest any and all etheric technology.

Considering this virus to be a weapon of mass destruction and incredible security risk, the Imperial Powers immediately moved to invade the Dominions and eliminate the threat. In response, the Veiled Masters threatened immediate release of the virus into Imperial Space.

## Theaters and Battles

### The Stitch

The Serene Duchy of Aeldrum invaded the Stitch and were met with heavy resistance; due to coordination issues between the Parliamentary Navy and the Dragoons, the Dominion forces were able to break the Aeldman line before eventually being surrounded and destroyed. After being further stalled in ground engagements at the Gate, the Dominion resistance was broken by a swift ground assault by the Brass Cities. Civilian casualties in Brass Cities controlled areas were astronomically high.

Aeldman Casualties: 110k KIA and 190k WIA Dragoons; 40k KIA and 150k WIA Parliamentary Navy

Brass Cities Casualties: 50k combat drones destroyed

Dominion Casualties: 1.3 million KIA, 350k WIA/Captured; Civilian deaths estimated >3M, Tens of millions encircled by BCs

### Lower Gates

Because of the demilitarization of the Lower Gates from the Treaty of Antenil, Shantine naval forces were able to enter the Lower Gates with minimal resistance, wiping out the Veiled Dominions navy anchored closer to the gateworlds. Though they were able to easily take hold of the vast majority of hinterworlds and Foreign Quarter territories, the Dominion was able to hold fast at the final gateworlds for a time before being overwhelmed by a concerted Shantine assault.

Shantine Casualties: 80k KIA, 110k WIA

Dominion Casualties: 480k KIA, 230k WIA/Captured; Civilian deaths estimated <50k

### Upper Gates

The Fialta Imperium was able to make a surprise assault on the Upper Gates and Dominion capital world via a seemingly "impossible angle", raining swift devastation on the Dominion main fleet. They were able to evade deployment of the demon virus by bombing etheric nodes in the various developed worlds, quickly taking hold of the theater. Though met with some heroic resistance at the gates themselves, overwhelming force won the day and the Imperium took hold of the Veiled Palace.

Fialta Casualties: 285k KIA, 860k WIA

Dominion Casualties: 2.9M KIA, 2.1M WIA/captured; 1.3M civilians KIA, est. 10M wounded/missing

### Imperial Space

Simultaneously with the assault on Dominion space, the Veiled Masters were able to deploy their demon virus along with a crop-destroying parasite in Shantine, Aeldman, Alusian, and Imperium territory. Though the former three were able to minimize the deployment through countermeasures, the Imperium infrastructure was devastated by a viral mutation that surpassed their defenses. In response, Emperor Leutarus and his Lion Club made a divine intercession to all five Pentacle gods - immolating themselves in sacrifice. The five summoned angels were able to counteract the virus, removing it from critical Imperium systems.

Aeldman Casualties: 1000 Civilian Deaths

Shantine Casualties: 1000 Civilian Deaths

Imperium Casualties: 700,000 Civilian Deaths

Alusian Casualties: 1500 Civilian Deaths

## Conclusion

The Dominions War officially ended the sovereign state of the Veiled Dominions, and after its end saw the death of the mysterious Veiled Masters. Though they nearly escaped capture from the Fialta Imperium via a convincing double-fake suicide, the real Masters were apprehended and executed by agents of the Knights of Leandra. The former Dominion territories were divvied by the G4 into various "mandates" with provisional governments.

It also saw the death of the Fialta Emperor, leading to the rise of Emperor Neptos II after a brief and controversial succession crisis.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the demon virus released by the Veiled Masters was able to gain sentience through a quirk of mutation when interacting with the countermeasures deployed by the G4. Now self-aware, this virus-AI-demon claimed to be Baradun reborn- and claimed dominion over the Brass Cities before being thwarted by a conventional Brass Cities - Fialta Navy and then hunted down and destroyed using null bombs by the Alusian Deadhand Fleet.