Chapter 1: The Cosmic Era
In the year 2521, the Cosmic Era has seen humanity's expansion across the vast reaches of the universe, thanks to the discovery of hyperplanes and faster-than-light (FTL) travel. However, despite the incredible technological advances, the age-old nature of humankind remains unchanged. Mother Earth, once the cradle of humanity, is now overshadowed by its many colonies, and humanity finds itself fractured into warring factions, each vying for dominance in the cosmos.
Among these factions, two superpowers stand out: the Free Planets Alliance and the Neo-Terran Confederacy. For over 121 years, these two factions have been engaged in a brutal war that has led to untold suffering and loss of life across countless star systems.
The Free Planets Alliance is a progressive republic that encompasses numerous star systems in the southern part of the galaxy. It continues the democratic principles of the old Earth Alliance, upholding liberty and order in the galaxy, while staunchly opposing the authoritarian regimes that have arisen in the new era. Despite the toll that the war has taken, the Alliance remains committed to maintaining freedom and resisting tyranny.
On the other side stands the Neo-Terran Confederacy, a totalitarian technocratic regime that rejects the liberal ideas of the old Earth in Favor of a ruthless and oppressive system. They believe in technological supremacy, relying on exploitation, violence, and even technological slavery to maintain control over their territories. The Confederacy has grown powerful through the subjugation of smaller colonies and the establishment of a vast empire in the outer rim, ruled by three major kingdoms. These kingdoms have managed to hold onto power for over a century, but their dominance has been challenged by the Alliance's persistent resistance.
The war between the two factions has ravaged entire star systems, with devastating space battles that have claimed millions of lives. The Alliance has suffered immense losses, but the tide of war began to turn three years ago with the Battle of Platinum. In this pivotal conflict, the Alliance fleet, led by some of their finest commanders, decisively defeated the Neo-Terran forces, destroying a key research facility and crippling one of the Confederacy's most important economic Centers—Platinum, a planet at the heart of the Confederacy's vast resources.
This victory shifted the balance of power. Neo-Terran forces, weakened and pushed to the defensive, resorted to even more brutal measures to maintain their war effort. Exploitation of slaves and subjugated populations increased, but these desperate measures could not stem the tide of their defeat.
In response, the Confederacy turned to clandestine operations, deploying cutting-edge espionage technologies to attempt to regain the upper hand. While their initial successes gave them hope, the Alliance counterintelligence efforts soon adapted, effectively neutralizing many of the Confederacy's covert schemes.
Now, three years after the Battle of Platinum, the Free Planets Alliance is preparing for a decisive campaign. Their fleets are assembling, and the flagship of the Alliance, the mighty X-63 Goliath, a state-of-the-art cruiser of the Space Titans, is set to play a critical role in this upcoming mission. Commanded by one of the Alliance's most revered heroes, the Goliath has been recently reinforced with a fresh batch of recruits. The crew of the Goliath knows that this mission could be the final blow to the Neo-Terran war machine—but it's also their greatest challenge yet.
As tensions rise in the contested space between the two factions, the stakes couldn't be higher. The balance of power is in flux, and both sides are prepared to sacrifice everything in their struggle for dominance. The war that has lasted for over a century is far from over, and the X-63 Goliath, with its new crew and its legendary commander, will play a crucial part in deciding the future of the galaxy.