The Somm War

## Overview

The Somm War was a pivotal conflict that spanned from the year 217C to 222C, involving the major governments the Mission, the Union, and the Red Mission. The war was a major historical event and reshaped the balance of power in the galactic scene, and its ramifications are still felt in the current political landscape.

The main legacy of this war was a shift in Mission policy into being less aggressive and more mindful of public scrutiny. Grand Ambassador Corteal has taken great pains to try to undue the damage to her image her involvement in this war caused. Because the Sora live for so long, she is one of the few leaders still active who was directly involved in the Somm War.

## Prelude to War

The roots of the Somm War lay in the clandestine activities of the Mission, which operated secret research facilities within contested territories near the Union's border. These labs were involved in controversial practices like the development of advanced technologies aimed at subjugating and uplifting primitive worlds. One facility in particular—located on the planet Somm in an uninhabited system—focused on the research of the Gift, violating a core taboo of the Ledev D'sahn. They were conducting research on Ledev criminals skilled in the use of the Gift who were believed to be dead.

The Red Mission discovered the existence of some these secret facilities and managed to capture a high-ranking scientist along with critical research data. They then leaked the information to the Union but blatantly allowed the Union to be seen as the instigator of the initial reconnaissance missions, leading to a diplomatic crisis.

Soon after the Union began looking into the claims of secret research facilities, the Somm facility was discovered, leading to an unprecedented fiery backlash from the Ledev against the Mission.

## Major Powers

### The Mission

Headed by Grand Ambassador Corteal, the Mission was the main aggressor in the conflict. Despite public denial, it later became clear that Corteal was aware of the controversial research facilities. The Mission's activities were primarily aimed at expanding its influence by incorporating primitive worlds into its domain.

### The Red Mission

The Red Mission played a crucial role in instigating the conflict. By exposing the Mission's secret facilities and instigating the Union to investigate further, the Red Mission maneuvered to undermine the Mission's authority and control. However, this strategy eventually led to a deterioration of diplomatic relations with the Union when the Red Mission's role was revealed.

### The Union

The Union became a major player in the conflict, initially as a manipulated party and later as a determined combatant. Their aggressive reconnaissance missions, fueled by the intelligence provided by the Red Mission, led to the discovery of the Mission's taboo research on the Gift on Somm, escalating tensions and sparking the war.

## Course of the War

After the deterioration of diplomacy between the Union and the Red Mission following the discovery of the Red Mission's role in the early stages of the conflict, the war quickly became a three-way conflict, with the Union, the Red Mission, and the Mission engaged in a prolonged battle that caused significant casualties and strained supply chains.

Rumors of the Mission's development of a powerful weapon which was said to spread lab-grown diseases using an infrastructure typically reserved for reconstruction bombardments heightened tensions and further deteriorated diplomatic relations.

An unexpected intervention came from the Frex, a typically neutral party. The Frex threatened to offer advanced war tech to the Union, an announcement that gave the Mission pause. The Frex had never offered to share something of this nature with the Union before, and much debate has been made as to what exactly led to this shocking decision.

The Frex then offered to withhold their advanced tech from the Union in return for a cessation of hostilities on the parts of the Mission and the Red Mission. This proposition, coupled with the alarming rumors of the Mission's new weapon, led to a reluctant agreement of ceasefire by all parties.

## The Grand Ambassador's Infamous Statement

In a moment that would later become a defining scandal of the Somm War, Grand Ambassador Corteal, visibly distraught, released a statement on the extranet that sparked controversy throughout the galactic scene. "It is now our hope that this war will end with the total subjugation of Red Mission and Union space," she declared, a sentiment vastly more aggressive than the Mission's usual posturing.

The immediate fallout was severe. Shock was expressed by many in the Mission itself, and both the Red Mission and the Union exploited the statement as proof of the Mission's presumed imperialistic goals. The Mission's PR teams scrambled to diffuse the situation, offering a flurry of clarifications and "what she really meant was" explanations, but the damage was already done. Despite Corteal's post-war apology and insistence that her words had been born from frustration rather than intent, the statement continues to be a recurrent point of criticism, shaping her subsequent rhetoric and the Mission's heightened concern for their public image. In modern times, war commentators consider this to be one of the Grand Ambassador's biggest missteps of the entire war.

## Aftermath

The Somm War ended with the signing of an accord that forced the Mission to dismantle its secret labs and prohibited further unethical research. They are especially barred from any research whatsoever into the Gift. The conflict's aftermath saw a significant shift in the galactic political landscape, leading to the Mission focusing more on diplomacy and public image, the Union seeking a more unified galactic scene, and the Red Mission harboring deeper resentment towards the Mission. The consequences of the war have had a lasting impact on the galactic scene.

Since the Somm War, the three main governments in the galactic scene have been engaged in something of a cold war, although the Red Mission and the Union have a somewhat friendlier relationship thanks to the Red Union's willingness to cooperate and compromise.

Grand Ambassador Corteal has taken great pains to try to undue the damage to her image her involvement in this war caused. Because the Sora live for so long, she is one of the few leaders still active who was directly involved in the Somm War.