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Andromeda Galaxy

Note: Monet47's fiction is in bold, TheImperios' fiction is in italics, Hachi's fiction is underlined.
Locations
Characters
Galactic events
The New Dawn rises.
The Shattering

For the past six years, the Andromeda Galaxy experienced a period of prosperity that catapulted galactic society to new heights of technology, relations and unity. What was largely unknown was that in the depts of Segmentum Exterioris, a conspiracy was unfolding as two onceprominent figures engaged in a low-profile rivalry and a secret war for superiority over the other. It was by the actions of the crew of the Andromedan Reclaimation Service vessel The New Dawn that this plan was unfolded. Its crew, made up of the best and brightest from the ranks of Andromeda's military, discovered that the Draconid Imperium's chancellor had for years been obsessed with harnessing the power of The Artifacts, relics that predated the oldest races of galactic histery and promising untold power.

Not wanting a galaxy held within the Draconis chancellor's ash-grey claws, the crew made a decision to destroy the artifacts and the terrible weapon that had been built around it by The Brotherhood. The ensuing destruction triggered an explosion of cataclysmic proportions. But its destruction near Karnatgah was not the end, and now a shockwave sweeps though hyperspace, severing it in numerous places as though the galaxy's fabric were cracked earth. Yet the devestation would not stop there as the entire galaxy groaned in pain.

Introduction: As They Rise, So They Fall[]

It is said that the history of Andromeda is cyclical in nature. Empires rise, develop to their technological peak, and dominate the galaxy - only to destroy themselves, victims of their own hubris. The Venhokwe achieved the highest degree of technological and cultural development, yet, having failed to cultivate their martial skill, fell to the mechanical horrors. The mysterious Nar Ascendants which succeeded them reached even greater heights - but even as they ascended to godhood, conflicts of philosophy sundered their order. Then came the Four Ancients - Tertamians, Rades, Melfoge and Ur-Grox - who destroyed themselves in the fires of war; the arrogant First Realm of the Artharons, victim of its own hedonism; the enigmatic First Dynasty of the Draconis, and many, many more.

The pattern has repeated itself time and time again, on larger and smaller scales, so that no great civilisation survived in Andromeda for long. And at this pattern's heart - a red thread coursing through it - were the Artifacts. It was these mysterious objects of power, it is said, that the Sanktanaars of old channeled to elevate the Nar to godhood; and these very same objects, after many eons, were used by the Tertamians and their foes to fuel their cataclysmic weapons of war. It was if this source of power was granted to the Andromedans on purpose, a sort of guardian of the pattern. The galaxy's civilisations would use it to propel their own advancement, and hasten their own doom.

In the 28th century, the pattern would repeat itself once more.

Unlike in previous times, the cycle of ascension and collapse came faster, in the matter of several decades, and was perhaps among the most devastating in history. The chaos of the Annihilation caused two powerful nations, the Divinarium and the Brood of War to migrate into Andromeda, thus alarming the galaxy’s old hegemon, the Draconid Imperium. The clash between these three powers, coinciding with the Artifacts’ reappearance, sparked the great Andromeda War. The conflict, through devastating, eventually led to peace - the warring powers united to form the Commonwealth, and the Artifacts were combined and studied.

The now-united galaxy experienced a period of unprecedented progress. The Highlords of Andromeda now possessed the uncovered knowledge of the ancients, and the greatest source of power in the universe - what could stop this New Dawn from shining forever over their galaxy?

Prologue: The Gilded New Dawn[]

In truth, the golden age of Andromeda was always a lie. Though they achieved unity and prosperity, the nations of the Commonwealth remained, fundamentally, the same as they were before the war, and carried in themselves their old sicknesses. The Imperium was still ruled by a decadent, arrogant aristocracy; the Brood was still torn apart by squabbling warlords; the Divinarium was still a totalitarian machine where having the wrong religious views was punishable by death. The new flow of wealth and technological advancements would only deepen the rifts that divided the galaxy.

Worse yet, the Commonwealth’s leadership had not come to any agreement on what to do with the Artifacts. Officially, the three Highlords had agreed not to share them and never use their potential for military purposes; secretly, each empire had factions plotting to utilise the power for their own selfish needs. The legend of Adaru, the god-machine which destroyed the old Tertamians, was well-known in Andromeda - but while most recoiled at the thought of such a terrible weapon, there were some who dreamed of recreating it. Worse yet, they had somehow recovered the machine’s blueprints.

To this day, no-one knows how exactly the Artifacts were stolen from the Commonwealth. Some say the mysterious Brotherhood, which is said to have done the deed, was aided by desperate scientists who wanted to prevent the relics from being abused by the Highlords. Others say it had agents in the galaxy’s governments, or that it was allowed to steal the Artifacts, so that these governments could experiment on them freely outside the galaxy’s sight.

Whatever the truth is, the consequences of these events are known to all. The Artifacts, stolen by the Brotherhood, were used by it to rebuild Adaru, and though the brave crew of the New Dawn foiled its machinations, the damage had been done.

The god-machine’s weapons of death were unleashed. The Shattering began.

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