Compendium: History

Fall of the Second Terran Empire

The fall of the Second Terran Empire was expected by many, but the method of its demise was predicted by none. The Silgean Expanse was a well known sector, albeit on the edge of Imperial space. Long known to humanity, this territory had been extensively surveyed, mined, and depleted. The region was governed by minor houses of no significant wealth or military strength. Even brigands and thieves avoided this zone, finding no economic purchase for their illicit activities.

Humanity had long ago given up its search for an equal, much less a superior, form of intelligence among the stars. Numerous intelligent species had been found, but their primitive technologies and limited cultures made their conquest trivial. It is not known when the first Dahak spore ship entered Terran space. The Ministry of Science concluded the ship was an automated stealth vessel traveling at sublight speed for millennia before it encountered humanity. Once this ship detected worlds with a suitable density of biomass, it signaled the Dahak homeworld. While waiting for its masters, the invader was not idle. Dropships were built, and an army of Dahak drones were grown.

When the Dahak command fleet arrived, it unleashed a coordinate attack against dozens of human planets. Calls for assistance were predictably ignored by the core worlds while the Dahak expanded their foothold. Over the centuries, the Imperium had become slothful and decadent, and the military response was lackluster at best. The Dahak devoured the Empire and humanity was on the verge of extinction. In an act of desperation, the Emperor rallied his remaining ships and prepared for a final engagement.

After an initial feint, the Imperial Navy retreated with the Dahak command fleet in quick pursuit. Lured to a prepared spot, the Emperor sprung his trap and detonated the network of navigation beacons and gates that held the Imperium together. The ether of hyperspace was ruptured and both the Imperial Navy and Dahak fleet were destroyed. Superluminal travel was no longer possible within Terran space. All that was left of a once glorious civilization were isolated islands of humanity entombed by a sea of mindless drones.

The location of the Dahak homeworld was never discovered, and many details of their invasion remain unknown since the Silgean Expanse remains impenetrable. Undoubtedly, the Dahak have remained vigilant, probing the maelstrom of hyperspace and eagerly awaiting the chance to retrieve their sentient children scattered across the ruins of the Imperium.

Rise of the Third Terran Empire

As the Dahak ravaged the Imperium, it became evident that humanity would fall, but the question was how far? Life in the cave or in the stars hinged on preserving our knowledge so painstakingly learned over the millennia. While the Emperor travelled to destroy the Second Terran Empire, the scholars scrambled to establish archives in the few hidden sanctuaries the remained. With the either of hyperspace in shreds and superluminal travel no longer possible, each archive was isolated.

Recovery from the rending was always uncertain. Even the best case extrapolations projected that large segments of the Imperium would never recover.

Humanity must race against

Other archives exist, only a remnant of knowledge remains.

Fate and path to Earth is unknown