|
The ancient Vasari Empire once ruled over
countless worlds. Beginning at the galactic core, the empire
expanded uniformly, brought hundreds of alien races under
its control, and showed no signs of slowing down.
Most species encountered were young enough
to be subjugated peacefully, although, some resisted and were
harshly enslaved. Those who had expanded into space were quickly
exterminated. Once conquered, most species were integrated
into the Vasari social structure as “valued citizens”.
The Vasari locked each planet down and ruled from vast orbital
structures, finding a minimal surface presence more effective
for both production and the minimization of rebellion.
When the first of the inner planets fell,
analysts initially assumed that the local species had somehow
managed to rebel. They immediately requested a wing of the
Dark Fleet to restore order but no status reports were ever
received. Instead, three more planets dropped from the communications
grid. The probability of multiple, simultaneous, and successful
rebellions was exceptionally remote. Internal Intelligence
concluded that a renegade force from within the Vasari engineered
a revolt. As deliberations proceeded on how best to deal with
the traitorous acts, another series of planets were lost,
including their world of origin. The unknown enemy’s
rate of expansion far exceeded even that of the entire Dark
Fleet. As a last resort, the Dark Fleet Veerr brought the
bulk of their forces back from the expansionary frontier and
massed for a blind assault on whatever was eating its way
out from the central worlds.
The inhabitants of a perimeter planet were
surprised when a single warship of the Dark Fleet appeared
out of Phase Space bearing signs of heavy damage. Their curiosity
and confusion quickly gave way to fear when they boarded the
ship and found the crew apparently mad with terror.
In a rare act of autonomy, the colony decided it would be
best to take precautions and temporarily evacuate to a system
far from the Empire.
The refugees waited for signs of a safe
return but instead, the signal from their warning beacons
ceased. The lifetimes of the warning beacons were used to
estimate the speed of the threat. It would not be long before
their current position would be compromised. Additional beacons
were placed at their current location and the group moved
on to a considerably further destination.
Settling for a time, the refugees started
to build colonies, construct new ships, and extract resources.
Ultimately, their goal was to uncover the nature of the threat,
to research technologies that might aid in its destruction,
and to restore the rule of the Empire.
For the next ten thousand years this pattern
would repeat - the growing Vasari Exodus Fleet only ever a
generation ahead of the relentless, unknown enemy.
When the Vasari arrived in Trader Space
ten years ago, they were confident in their ability to quickly
deal with the locals. Initially, the victories were painless
– the scouts alone procured the initial settlements
– but as time went on it became clear that the local
space-faring species would not be so easy to eliminate.
Now, the Vasari are caught in a stalemate,
and in some positions, on the verge of being pushed back.
A state of panic ensues. Already too entrenched in this disastrous
war, the Vasari are simply unable to withdraw without catastrophic
losses. Even worse, the conflict is consuming resources faster
than can be put into the reserve. They will not be able to
fuel the next phase of their exodus and time is running out.
| 
