The Great War

The Great War, also known as the War, was a system-wide conflict that lasted from XIV Marrus, 3703 to IX Nocta, 4856, totaling approximately 1,153 years of sustained combat campaigns. Fighting mainly took place on Tavaari and Solstice, as well as on the moon Indelible and open space surrounding Calderia, Tavaari, Venrar, and Rhaegar. Combat during the early stages of the war were characterized by starship skirmishes, capital ship battles, planet-side ground strikes, and trench warfare. Towards the end of the war the tactics had shifted drastically to guerilla warfare, ambush tactics, scorched earth policies, and the system's first chemical weapons deployments. The Great War remains the deadliest conflict in Solanis history, with an estimate 24 trillion dead, 22 trillion wounded, and 7 million missing. This conflict also saw the death of Samuel, as well as the complete extinction of the Wokani.

The Elites

The Elites, first introduced to Solanis during the Siege of Rhaegar, were post-human descendants of the humans that left Old Earth on the Gen-Ships. During the roughly 1,500 years that the Gen-Ships cruised through open space, their inhabitants grew to scarcely resemble the humanity they originated from. Due to the seclusion of each Gen-Ship, the Elites that inhabited them differed from ship to ship. Many followed similar themes of seeking 'perfection' and performing experiments on themselves and the passengers aboard the ships. These experiments varied in acuity, ranging from slight DNA alterations to complete mutilation or replacement of biological mass. The variation in nature between Gen-Ship Elites also caused much strain on logistics throughout the conflict, as different strategies needed to be implemented for each iteration of Elite that entered combat.

3699 | First Gen-Ship Sighted

The human colonies of Rhaegar were the first to sight a Gen-Ship, a long-range telescope noticing movement on the edge of the system. Since the Rhaegarian colonies were not in good standing with Pangea at the time due to their succession, the warnings Rhaegar issued were widely ignored. The colonies of Rhaegar sent a ship to act as an envoy to the unidentified vessel, which went dark after making contact with the larger ship. This raised alarm across Rhaegar, though due to the planet not having any shipyards of its own it was only able to assemble a small defensive fleet.

3703 | Siege of Rhaegar

The Siege of Rhaegar is thought to be the first actual battle of the Great War. The previously sighted Gen-Ship, later identified as the "Größe", closed in on Rhaegar with its engines at full burn. The colonies of Rhaegar, working under an ad hoc unified command structure, fielded a total of 2 destroyers and a cruiser, which brought with it a complement of 8 fighters. The small fleet met the Gen-Ship just outside Rhaegarian atmosphere, after multiple attempts to establish communications with the ship to issue warnings against landing until identified. The Gen-Ship opened fire with a large-scale railgun style cannon, later nicknamed a hullbuster, which destroyed one of the destroyers. The complement of fighters moved to intercept fighters deployed by the Gen-Ship as the cruiser and surviving destroyer, named Camael and Matriel respectively, began a coordinated counter assault. The Rhaegarian fighters quickly fell back to defend their ships as they began losing superiority against what seemed to be more technologically advanced craft, with battle intelligence suggesting they were in fact unmanned drones. The Camael maneuvered into a position where it could bring all its turrets to bear on the Gen-Ship while the Matriel moved to target the enemy ship's engines. Even with the combined firepower of a full salvo from Camael and Matriel, the Größe remained in not just in the fight, but in motion. A second firing from the hullbuster crippled the Camael, forcing it to begin an emergency landing on the planet. The Größe continued its descent into Rhaegarian atmosphere, with the Matriel still in pursuit. Eventually the Matriel began a ramming maneuver but was disabled in-atmosphere from the focused cannons of the Größe. The Matriel crashed just outside of Elysium, the largest of the Rhaegarian colonies, with all hands onboard. The Größe continued its course, landing on Rhaegarian soil unopposed.

Archives from Samuel of the Größe that had left Old Earth did not match the current Größe that had entered Solanis space. Samuel hypothesized that in the millenia that the ship had been cruising, its inhabitants had modified the ship to an unrecognizable state as they themselves evolved. Combat footage from the colonies closest to the Größe's landing showed fighters that did not appear human. They moved in strange fashions and sported a completely different biological structure. These post-humans were then named 'Elites' and would be referred to as such for the duration of the war.

Of the 7 colonies around the area of the Größe's landing, 6 went completely silent within the first 24 hours. The last one continued to fight for three days before it too fell. The remaining colonies, not wanting to see the new enemy spread to their areas, sent whatever ships they had left to isolate the Größe. Armed with high-yeild ordinance, the Rhaegarian colonies performed a five-day bombardment of the area immediately surrounding the Größe. While not halting the progress of the Elites, it did slow them down and alter the terrain enough to provide the colonies enough time to prepare for an extended siege. By 3704, most Rhaegarian colonies had consolidated to Elysium and erected a large energy field around the city. 3705 marked the actual beginning of the Siege, with Elites surrounding Elysium and laying waste to any colony that had not joined.

3712 | The Coalition Forms

In response to the siege on Rhaegar, Pangea began organizing its current relatively small standing army into a larger fighting force. A portion of the standing Pangean army, renamed the Pangean Expeditionary Corps, deployed its first military assets to Rhaegar in 3714. The 11th Armored Division and 12th Infantry Division landed on Rhaegar in 2714, each consisting of 3 Brigade Combat Units (BCUs). Each BCU contained 3 infantry battalions (or mechanized battalions for the 11th), 2 mechanized squadrons (or infantry squadrons for the 11th), 1 artillery battalion, 1 engineer battalion, and 1 support battalion. The organization of each BCU ensured they were self-sustaining when separated from the larger force. The 12th landed just outside Elysium, beginning a counter assault of the Elite's siege lines. The ensuing battle, later named the First Battle of Elysium, saw the complete slaughter of the 12th Infantry Division, to the man. This would cause much of Solanis to adopt the war-cry "Remember the 12th!" or "For the 12th!".

Pangea began fielding its newly formed army a year later in 2716, with the 13th, 17th, 18th and 20th Infantry Divisions joined by the 14th and 19th Armored divisions forming the Pangean Expeditionary Corps. Meanwhile, those not under Pangea began amassing their own armies. The colonies on Venrar and Tavaari formed a combined force named the Coalition, following a similar structure to Pangea's army. The colony of Cheyenne, on Solstice, also joined the Coalition and supplied troops to the army. This is also seen as the beginning of the corporation Kilo8, which began production of mechanized units and ships for the Coalition's war effort.

3731 | More Gen-Ships arrive

As war raged on the surface of Rhaegar, where the fighting had turned to a standstill of trench-based battles of attrition, other ships had been sighted coming into the system. In response to these sightings, the Calderian based corporation of Tatska Corp began as a means of producing more equipment for the Pangean Army. Tatska, alongside Kilo8, became the largest manufacturers of military-grade combat vessels. In addition, Tatska also began introducing models of armor and exosuits designed for every race in Solanis. Shortly after reaching a point where production requirements were easily met, Tatska turned to servicing the general public as well, making them the first large-scale corporation to do so.

A second Gen-Ship landed on Rhaegar in late 3731, forcing the defending army to fight on two fronts to avoid an open flank. A second Gen-Ship attempted to land on Solstice but was shot down and crash-landed instead. Inspection of the wreckage showed signs of life, and so the wreckage was targeted for a directed orbital bombardment. Subsequent scans yielded no more signs of life, and inspection of the dead Elites showed that variant to have genetically engineered themselves to possess two extra appendages and a bone structure similar to that of an Old Earth Orangutan.

3819 | Landing on Solstice and Indelible

The worst fears of both the Coalition and Pangea were realized in 2819, when an entire fleet of Gen-Ships arrived in Solanis space alongside other non-affiliated ships. Having left Old Earth at the same time, many of these ships reached the system at roughly the same time frame without ever meeting each other, but a series of five had formed an organized fleet to better utilize resources. Despite the Coalition and Pangea not working under the same banners, a fleet of vessels from both armies was dispatched to halt the progress of the Elite Fleet consisting of 12 Destroyers, 3 Cruisers, 4 Battleships, 3 Carriers (each with three complements of 20 fighters), and the first ever Dreadnought, PNF Indominable. The space-battle itself lasted a total of seven weeks, with near constant fighting and maneuvering between both sides. In the early days of the battle, named the Last Stand of the Indominable, a single Gen-Ship disabled 3 Destroyers and a Battleship before being severely damaged and force to retreat behind battlelines. By this point in the war not only had the scale grown, but the technology had greatly improved. Many vessels now had resolved the issues of a reactor entering meltdown and detonating when taking serious damage and would instead shut down and go adrift if too much damage was taken. Detonation was still a threat, as one of the destroyers had cooked off and damaged a nearby carrier during the battle but was far less common than the opening days of the war. Though the battle ended with the Elite Fleet routed, the PNF Indominable was damaged beyond repair. The crew scuttled and abandoned the ship, having the automated systems pursue the fleeting ship before causing a meltdown and detonation. This would be the beginning of a near constant struggle between the Elite Fleet attempting to break through the Solanis Fleet to gain entry into Solanis space.

Although the Elite Fleet was halted in its progress, many of the unaffiliated Gen-Ships made it past the currently engaged defensive Solanis Fleet. The first of these ships landed on Solstice, bringing the war to its soil in 3820. The Elite variant that landed had replaced much of their original organic bodies with mechanical 'upgrades', altering how they moved and fought. The inhabitants of Solstice, already far from the governance of Pangea or the Coalition, turned to illegal munitions for support. High penetration rounds and high-yield explosives saw near global usage, with black markets making such weapons readily available. The native fighting style of the Solstice inhabitants seemed to counter the Elites, with skirmishing tactics and emphasis on speed and individuality in movement. The Cheyenne Rangers were founded shortly after the Elites landed, making them the closest thing to a law-enforcement force on the planet. Often compared to the western cowboys of Old Earth, the Rangers relied on small groups and hit-and-run tactics to keep the Elites engaged and expending resources. This resulted in the Elites' progress being severely hindered, and the mix of high-firepower and overall 'rough and ready' attitude of the Solstice inhabitants as a whole led to the planet needing very little in the way of reinforcement.

The Calderian moon Indelible also saw the landing of a Gen-Ship after a small Pangean fleet forced it off course from Calderia in 3822. Indelible had become the site of Pangea's largest military training base, Ultima 2, in the early years of the war. The military school, which up to that point had been the largest supplier of troops, found itself under siege. The Elites that had surrounded the compound evolved to have excellent night vision and senses of smell, also heavily augmenting their bodies to complement any genetic modifications in what was presumed to be an effort to make them apex hunters. The current class of trainees, roughly 400,000 strong with 5,000 teaching staff, became the only available fighters in the area as the siege commenced. Though relatively short, lasting only a few weeks, the fighting was often seen as one of the most gruesome engagements of the conflict. The besieged defenders learned through grotesque firsthand experience that the Elites they fought had found cannibalism to be the best method of sustainment and continued the practice even on those who fell in battle. Of the 405,000 who began the fight, only 150 people survived. These 150 individuals would be the origin of the Ultima Centurions.

3997 | Fall of Venrar

As the Solanis Fleet continued to repel the Elite Fleet's attempts to enter Solanis space, more and more individual ships broke through. Most were met by fleets in Solanis space and subsequently shot down, but a total of three landed on Venrar. These Elites, evolving to replace their entire bio-structure save for the brain with quadrupedal cybernetic bodies that only vaguely resembled human shapes, swept over the rough mountainous terrain of Venrar with alarming speed. The mining colonies of Venrar retreated into their mines and sealed the entrances, denying the Elites access to the materials they were mining. Surprisingly, the colonists of Venrar adapted well to the subterranean lifestyle. Bases and mines were expanded and fortified to near impregnability, with the only form of entry being well armored and well controlled landing bays. The occupation of Venrar's surface did however cause stress to the logistics of both the Coalition and Pangea as material supply slowed to a trickle while Venrari adapted to their new situations.

4025 | Tavaari jungle warfare

A Gen-Ship did not land on Tavaari until 4025, most having either been successfully turned away or shot down. Upon landing, the Tavaarian quickly organised a defensive force largely populated by the Quiori. The Elites who landed deployed heavy mechanized infantry and atmospheric aircraft but were almost immediately halted by the guerrilla tactics of the Quiori. Most battles took place in the thick jungles of the planet, where the Elites could be easily surrounded and engaged using the terrain for concealment. Though the landed Elites would remain on the planet for the duration of the war, they sustained brutal casualties. The successes of the Quiori against the invading force was a much-needed morale boost for the rest of the system, with almost the entirety of Solanis now actively engaged with the Elites.

4100 | Total War

4100 marked the year even the pacifist Wokani entered into engagement with the Elites and the first Elites landed on Calderia. By this point each planet had become its own theater of war, each with its own style of combat. This era of the Great War is often cited as the point where ground-fighting was at its height.

Rhaegarian Theater - With Elysium still under seige, the Rhaegarians did little on the system-wide front. While the city itself was capable of self-sustainment, they were not able to replenish combat ready vehicles or equipment. The seige had slowed to a standstill, with the Elites unable to penetrate the other's defenses while Elyians remained unable to properly fend off their attackers. The Pangean Expeditionary Core had been mostly pulled away by this time, with only the 11th Armored Division and 13th Infantry remaining to hold their entrenched positions, joined later by the reformed 12th Infantry Division. It is noted that the 12th Infantry was made up of a majority of the old 12th's relatives, and their enthusiasm to enter direct combat with Elite forces was abnormally high. Additionally, the skirmishes the 12th ended up engaging in were primarily trench night raids. Historians still study the overwhelming brutality exhibited by the 12th, who credit their effectiveness with a dogged desire to "Pay them Back" (LT. Col. Mansen, 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 12th Infantry Division).

Solstici Theater - The Elites that landed and fought on Solstice were more than 50% mechanical in terms of body structure, making them legally cyborgs. It is theorized that the Solstici superstitions around cyborgs originated from these invaders and stuck long after the war's end. While the rest of the galaxy remained largely at a standstill, Solstice seemed to be the only planet making progress. The Cheyenne Rangers operated in small teams, using drones to survey enemy forces and strike critical targets such as munitions depots, commanding officers, and other vital infrastructure. Frontier towns often fell victim to Elite raids, but were just as quickly pushed by the armed civilian populace. When needed, the Rangers would dispatch to reinforce any town that needed assistance. Gunslinging was common practice, and speed and accuracy were held in high regard on the planet, as opposed to many other forces standards of 'accuracy by volume'. This led to a large and unsettled portion of the planet being occupied by the Elites, which came to be known as the Wastes. Stories of the wastes, both real and mythical, carry on to this day.

Calderian Theater - While Calderia itself remained the only planet to deter Elites from landing on its surface, largely due to the large anti-ship batteries that dotted the now half-a-planet large city, its moon was not as lucky. Indelible remained a steady target for Elite attacks. The Elite Centurions, having been established in 3850, had grown to now form Ultima 4, a special-forces training facility. Often seen as the best of the best, the Centurions adopted a warrior mindset unlike the others currently active in the galaxy. Utilizing specialized equipment and intel, the Centurions operated in extremely high-risk missions and acted as the moon's QRF to protect the other Ultima facilities. The culture that grew around the Centurions lended well to their now near-constant wartime activities, as there was very little break between Elite incursions. The individuals that made up the Centurions adopted the motto 'Last Standing', and membership was seen as lifelong regardless of active military status.

Tavaarian Theater - The Elites that had landed on Tavaari quickly began to utilize electro-magnetic pulses (EMP) to disrupt the blasters and technology used by the Tavaarian fighters. In response to this, the fighters quickly adopted melee weaponry. The dense jungles of the planet remained a steady boon for its defenders, utilizing the terrain for brutal ambush tactics and forcing Elites to remain in open areas. The war on Tavaari came to a standstill when the Elites began using fire to burn down parts of the forest. The Tavaari-native Quiori, being tied to their planets ecosystem, slowed their ambushes to a trickle to minimize damage to the forests. This meant that while the Tavaarians couldn't advance on their foe, the Elites also refused to enter the jungles with any considerable number. The EMP technology scavenged off the Elites would however prove vital towards the end of the war.

Venrari Theater - The Venrari remained underground as the Elites attacked what they could from the surface. Around 4098, one Venrari manufacturing colony made a breakthrough in war-time technology by fielding the first Walker, utilizing its devastating firepower to destabilize the Elite foothold over the region. Though the original walker did end up being destroyed in combat, its design would become mass manufactured as the Walker M1. Venrar further developed combat ready droids to include heavily armored variants. These droid types would later be adopted by both the Ultima Centurions and the Biohazard Containment Corps.

Larvone Theater - Even the pacifist Wokani were not untouched by the Elites. While many monasteries were destroyed, those residing in the snowy mountains remained relatively untouched. While not fighting outright, the surviving Wokani did fortify their monastreries. When the harsh Larvone winters came, much of the Elite present succumbed to the cold temperatures and harsh winds. The Wokani utilized their relative safety to coordinate communications between the isolated defending forces through ansible radio. This technology, partially created with the help of Samuel, was shared by the Wokani so the other forces could better communicate over vast distances.

4315 | Chemical Attacks

200 years after the War came to a standstill and devolved into a battle of attrition, a new generation of horrors befell the system. Elites on the planet of Tavaari began utilizing nerve agent gas and other hazardous chemicals that had been manufactured aboard their vessel. This newfound advantage impacted the defending Tavaarians much faster than forest fires did, with twice the lethality. Gas became a common weapon within three years across Elite lines, hinting that they too had developed a means of interconnective communication. In response to this, and against the instruction of the Pangean government, Tatska Corp began manufacturing their own variants of chemical weapons. These weapons were sold to mercenary groups not beholden to the Pangean or Coalition leadership and readily deployed against the Elite forces on both Indelible and Tavaari. This escalation of atrocities only furthered as Elites began reportedly experimenting on prisoners of war and planetary wildlife. Genetically modified animals and mutated races soon took the field, turning any close quarters fighting to a nightmarish sight as previously thought to be unnatural entities fell upon the defenders. The Biohazard Containment Corps was officially formed in 4315 in a joint effort by Pangea and the Coalition.

4602 | Desolation of Larvone

THE desolation

4617 | Major Offensive

Revenge

4683 | FTL hack

The Elites hack Samuel

4720 | Samuel's Sacrifice

Deletes himself & knowledge

4820 | The Elites cornered on Rhaegar

First landing, last standing

4856 | Elite's Extinction

To the last. Fuck 'em