Chronicles of the Alterran Colonies
First Settlers
Hundreds of generations ago the first settlers came to this star cluster. They were looking for a new and free world. In the Old World, there was a very authoritarian system, restrictive in possibilities. The long trip was a big risk and the colonization's first years were hard. But together they developed a new and free society. In turn the settlers colonized all habitable planets in the cluster and a period of prosperity and cultural development began.
Attached to the Old Empire
But the prosperity had not gone unnoticed. The rulers of the ancient world came with an armada of warships and within a few weeks all colonies were subdued. Then, the colonies were divided into eight zones, each governed by a vicar of the Empire. In these zones the vicars could act at their own discretion, as long as the regular shipments to the Old World were carried out sufficiently.
Years of Submission
The next hundreds of years the zones more or less developed independently of each other, but with one constant: the domination by the machinery of the Empire. Here and there were scattered resistance, especially if a vicar proceeded in an unusually cruel manner against the population. But the troops of the Empire would brutally crush even the smallest protest.
The Last Drop
But then came the day when all shipments somehow vanished in hyperspace and never arrived in the Old World. Any transport between the old world and the colonies was interrupted due to serious disruptions in hyperspace. The lost shipments were ordered to be replaced. But the colonists were not ready to do this, nor were they able.
The narrow-mindedness of the vicars and the persistence of the Empire on the delivery led to an uprising in all colonies. Because of the blockade of the hyper space time was favorable and the resistance realized this. The troops of the Empire were surprised and within a very short time most ships and facilities were in the hands of the colonists. There were only minor casualties and many thought they had already won.
Destruction followed
However, the Empire sent more troops and the hyper space disruptions were only temporary and therefore no perfect protection. As soon as hyper space disruptions were fewer and thus the risk for the fleets reduced, thousands of ships came to put down the uprising. The troops of the Empire focused on destroying infrastructure on every single planet. The destruction was enormous. Every attack wave was a challenge for the resistance of each planet.
A fragile Victory
The clashes lasted several months and every planet of the colonies was run over by attack waves one after the another. Only when the colonists established a common fleet with the remaining ships and stood united against the onslaught of the Empire, the tide turned.
The long and bloody war against the oppression of the Empire was won with joined forces of all colonies. The Empire was driven out of the star cluster. The people were freed and celebrated the end of oppression and the long and painful war.
It was a time of joy and hope for a new era of peace and cooperation of all colonies in the cluster. But it wasn't long until the new-found freedom was again on the brink. Former allies quarreled over trifles, and within a few months the fronts were so hardened that they broke off all contact.
The vacuum, the vicars and the Empire left behind, could not yet be filled. The people continue to suffer, the infrastructure was still not rebuilt and the Empire could emerge at any time.
Time to write history!
Unite the colonies, give the people a new perspective, and keep the Empire at bay! Join now and accept the challenge.
