Prologue
The Oldblood Junta's influence is waning, their once iron clad rule has peaked and fallen as a new generation of young leaders has emerged. A long and prosperous peace has left Dragonsreach united, but has left its warriors without an outlet. With tensions at a boiling point, the successful discovery of the hyperlane routes has sated the hatchling's thirst with a new promise of exploration and glory among the stars. It may have saved the aging Junta from the claws edging at their tails for the moment, however, it is only a matter of time before these fledgling commanders return home, seasoned and ambitious.
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Part 1 - Humble Beginnings
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Chapter I - The Great Expanse
Our empire spreads ever more as our colony ships seek out new worlds to call home. We are quick to learn that a race of weak willed fungoids lurk to our West, cutting off our hyperlanes in that direction. There are few signals readable to our South, hinting at vast uninhabited systems and from the North are coming strange readings our scientists are unable to decipher.
Meanwhile, our fleet began to encounter various primordial creatures that roam these empty systems, some dangerous and others harmless. They hardly put up a fight worthy of notice.
Before long, breaking news overtakes Dragonsreach as Scientists surveying the Northern systems come across what many call a perfect world, the atmosphere and continents more habitable and beautiful than the canyons of the homeworld itself. Natural hallucinogens pollute the air, oddly infusing additional motivation to the scientific minds on the planet.
Their scales better not become soft with this constant frolicking.
It was not long in our colonization efforts on the newly baptized Tyrannus Prime that another discovery was made. The source of the strange readings in the Northern sectors was in fact a strange looking ancient race who title themselves the Forerunners.
A sleeping beast in the shadows. Well, more of a slug.
Their structures and weapons are unlike anything our scientists could fathom, and they bid us but one warning:
Stay away.
We do not know why they hide on the fringes of the galaxy, out of frailty or perhaps, there are no foes worth their notice. But by the Old Ones, one day we shall be worthy and the wars that will erupt in consequence shall be told in legends for millenia to come. But much must yet be done before we challenge the enemies outside our borders, for many still lie within.
Chapter 2 - Traitor Scum!
Our unity flickered when it was revealed that a renegade Clan had infiltrated deep within the military complex and seized control of a fleet stationed on the homeworld’s moon. Upon discovery, these traitors, labeling themselves as the Penitent Ones, fled across the stars and into Jhoolian territory for asylum. In response, the fleet was mobilised under the command of Admiral "Trickster" Cabroxi, a daring commander known for his bold tactics. His first mission was tracking one of the three fleet fragments of traitorous Kraythians that had not vanished into Jhoolian sectors.
His efforts led him to a system to the South infested with crystalline creatures, where the Battlefleet soon after exiting hyperspace was ambushed. After a short but dynamic exchange of fire, the traitor fleet was left floating in its own wreckage and then boarded. After some aggressive questioning, the surviving heretic crew released the locations of the last remaining Penitent strongholds.
The interrogations revealed they had hid in the Birana and Rippagaur systems. After learning of this, the Junta demanded the Children of Jhool extradite these traitors to be tried for their crimes on Dragonsreach.
They refused.
With our warfleet under repairs, it was time to turn to other matters before dealing with the insolent Jhool. Our exploration dived us further into the South where our fleet encountered a creature with what can only be described as a bowl on its head. Do they eat out of it I wonder.
These filthy materialists are far enough away from our sectors, but the open space between us begs for a colonization race. Our interaction is minimal, but plans are set in motion to claim what worlds we can before the Goid. All the while, for pacifists, the Jhoolians seem keen on insulting our people and continue to hide our fugitives. Word suddenly spreads that an unknown coalition declared war on those pathetic Jhoolians.
One can only wonder who beat us to it.
Chapter 3 - A New Contact
Suddenly, our isolation with the rest of the galaxy is undone. Our first contact is with a penguin creature, puny and irritating with their constant attempts to trade, ally and befriend us. It turns out their small alliance are the ones responsible for attacking the Children of Jhool. Nothing came of their war, but it's commendable in its own way.
Months of continuous gifts and compliments begin to irritate the Oldblood council, yet one can't help but take a liking to those penguin creatures, though I can't say the same for their allies yet. They seem to be friends with winged creatures called Hralga and a Xanadon Hierarchy, a fellow reptillian race.
The harassing penguins want us in an alliance, but we have yet to deem them worthy. First, a test is in order. If they can prove their mettle in battle, we will join with them in their little alliance. Gathering our fleets, we drive deep into Jhoolian territory from every angle and utterly decimate their fleet and defenses.
These allies aren't on par with our own warriors, but they hold their own.
The war ends with the Jhoolians ripped apart, a planet for each of the victors. It was ensured none survived the orbital bombardment of their capital world, and it was soon renamed Razor, to be the next Kraythian colony.
Chapter 4 - The Heretics Strike Back
After the partition, it's revealed that the traitor Penitent Ones had survived the war and ambushed several civilian ships belonging to the Hope of Hralga. Suddenly it is clear why Admiral Cabroxi was so motivated on crushing these heretics. No other than his brother was among their leadership.
The fleet is rerouted to return to end this threat once and for all, the Admiral has proven his loyalty this far, all that remains is a final test of his resolve.
With the galaxy open, communications have increased tenfold. We are bombarded by a constant attempt to trade our star charts with pathetic nations we care little about. Returning attention to our own affairs, we were ready for more battle, and it seems these penguins aren't as feeble as originally thought.
They are feisty creatures.
They want to take on another empire that has boxed them in, naming themselves the Kraken Collective. One can only hope they put up more of a challenge than the Jhoolians.
