Аscension

Sometime in the 23rd century, World War III left the Earth as a barren wasteland. Seeds for the formation of the Empire began to grow about 500 years into this period, known simply as the Desolation, when the Latter Prophet Cicero Anacharsis discovered evidence of an alien technology on Earth.

Anacharsis walked the wastes of the Earth, preaching his new extraterrestrial philosophy that combined faith with science and offered hope to the few survivors on the planet. Through his teachings, the people of Earth were able to grow and prosper, though not without bloodshed between the followers of Anacharsis and the nonbelievers.

By around 3300, long after the death of Anacharsis, the alien technology had allowed humans to terraform patches of the planet into lush, green, livable environments. The Earth Empire was officially established around 3500 and Cleric Hythe Byssmur was named the first Emperor of Earth in the year 0 EE (Earth Empire Era).

A few hundred years after the formation of the Earth Empire, their technology allowed them to expand throughout the galaxy, establishing colonies on the moon and later Mars, with outposts even further out into our solar system. As the moon colonies began to grow and prosper, they became the hub of commerce between Earth and the rest of her colonies and outposts.

Though the moon was first colonized as a research colony and later became a trade hub, most of its citizens migrated there for political reasons, disagreeing with the extreme direction the Empire was taking the use of its technology. It should come as no surprise then that an ideological rift began to grow between the two.

Around 800 EE the Moon Wars were fought resulting in the destruction of the Moon colonies. However, many of the colonists escaped and fled to the mining colonies of Mars. Though they were forced to begrudgingly bow to the Empire, the twelve wealthiest families began to use their influence to secretly form the Dagda, the new Martian government. The three most powerful families formed the Triskelion which represented the highest level of Martian leadership.

Around 1100 EE the leader of the Triskelion, Shale Von Nesson, declared Mars a free and independent planet. The Martian Declaration of Independence was signed by the members of the Dagda, creating the Sovereign Interplanetary Alliance. This document is still not recognized by the Empire.

To understand the origins of the Kj’hal, one must understand the origins of the universe itself. This race can trace its history back billions of years but is no mindless swarm. Though they can and do function as a hive mind-a great asset in war-they have the ability to sever or reconnect their connection at will and are fully independent, intelligent thinkers.

The Kj’hal don’t pilot their ships as much as they become them. Their strange technology combines biomass and metal, creating living, thinking vessels. Everything about the Kj’hal, even down to their missiles and bombs, has some sort of biological component and to some degree, consciousness and free will.

Their purpose in our sector of the universe is as of yet unknown. All the Empire and the Colonists know is that their timing could not be any worse. The last thing either faction wants is a third party interfering in their civil war.