Stellaris Wars: Legacy of the Imperium

[Arithmetician]

Most sapient beings in the galaxy cannot recall a time when the God-Empress did not reign over the galaxy. To them, it seems as if the Second Galactic Imperium has been around forever, though it is but a few centuries old. With further opportunities for expansion halted, at least until the God-Empress can divine a way to cross the gulf between galaxies, the Imperium has turned to ensuring the continued peace and prosperity of its citizens, while the God-Empress continues to divine the Shroud from her Celestial Throne.

The God-Empress is beloved and worshipped by most of her subjects, for it is clear that she truly cares for them, as best a goddess can care for mere mortals. The God-Empress does not have "heirs" in the usual sense, for she will never die, but she has designated emissaries, who carry some of the blood of the divine within them, known as the "Most Charitable Lords", who travel the galaxy on her behalf and see that the people's needs are met.

But the God-Empress is also a terrible and vengeful deity. This who dare to defy her authority are swiftly met with divine judgment in the form of the ultimate technological terror, though some say that its power is but a shadow of her own.

But even for those of a materialist bent, the Imperium's might is unassailable. A single Imperatrix-class Star Battleship is capable of subjugating most star systems, and the great precursor shipyards of Irassia are capable of producing a full battle group of two dozen Star Battleships in less than two years, each of which has more firepower than the entire navy of any of the Imperium's subject states. Yet the Imperatrix is merely the Imperium's most common warship. It is but a shadow of the Nemesis-class Star Dreadnoughts, or the true flagships of the fleet, the Mega Star Dreadnoughts, which serve as executors of the God-Empress' will.

There are some who say that the God-Empress is the most prolific mass-murderer in recent galactic history, a claim that she does not dispute. In the wars of the Second Galactic Imperium's ascendence, she personally ordered the destruction of dozens of planets, killing uncounted billions in the process. Other critics condemn her for the extermination of two entire species, though she notes that one of them would have gladly committed genocide against all other sapient species if given the chance, and co-existence with the other ultimately proved impossible.

But it should not be thought that the God-Empress despises xenos. The Second Galactic Imperium may not share in the optimism of more xenophilic societies, but it is not explicitly xenophobic, unlike the First Galactic Imperium, and one of the God-Empress' first acts in the new galactic era was said to be outlawing slavery for all species. Indeed, most governorships are held by xenos in the present day, any species that proves its value and loyalty to the Imperium may be awakened to its true transcendent gifts, and join their fellow Imperials as equals under the law.

While the truth is already starting to be shrouded in the myths and controversies that have surrounded her, it is generally agreed that the God Empress was once a mortal woman...

(Hi! Just wrapped up a Stellaris game that I started over the summer. Will see if I can actually complete this AAR in a more satisfactory fashion).

(Also, is there any way for someone to delete their own threads? Accidentally posted this in the general thread. Couldn't figure out how to delete the original there, so resorted to reporting my own post).

 

[Nikolai]

Yay, you're back!

(Also, is there any way for someone to delete their own threads? Accidentally posted this in the general thread. Couldn't figure out how to delete the original there, so resorted to reporting my own post).

PM a mod.

 

[stnylan]

One is always slightly suspicious of a title like "God-Empress"

 

[Arithmetician]

(Starting setup)

It is the dawn of a new age. The Imperium of Bastion sets out from the Terminus System, along the edge of the Outer Rim, with revanchist aspirations, determined to once again spread law and order to the entire galaxy.

The God-Empress was not always an immortal psionic being. Forty-four years old when the Imperium regained the secrets of hyperspatial travel, she already had a reputation for having no tolerance for disorder, but at the same time managed to be beloved by her people, who she appeared to genuinely care for, like a stern mother.

A ruined Strategic Coordination Center was discovered not far from Bastion. It was a clearly a remnant of the old Imperium, in its later years, but sadly we did not have the technology to repair it at the time. Still, it would eventually prove an invaluable asset.

Perhaps even more consequential was the discovery of the Irassians. The Empress resolved that the Imperium should make acquiring their ancient technology a top priority.

Soon, a sign of the Imperium's destiny appeared... shrines to old Gods... pursuing our spiritualist past would come to forever dominate our destiny.

Being forced to surrender our population to the Enigmatic Observers was far less auspicious, but the Empress was patient. The Imperium's borders were expansing, several systems had been colonized, and technology advanced apace. And now the Imperium's drive to dominate the galaxy was bolstered by religious conviction.

To the Galactic west, an mysterious gateway to a small satellite galaxy dubbed the L-Cluster was discovered in the Tunari Vortex. The Empress ordered scientists to be on the lookout for any discoveries that might yield insights into the mysteries of the nanotechnology that went into the L-Gate.

The Irassians were long dead and gone, but their enormous orbital shipyards would prove a crucial military asset in the years ahead, allowing the Imperium to rapidly produce warships at an unparalleled rate. On the edge of the Outer Rim and with only a single hyperlane leading into the system, Irassia was also a highly secure location, and access to it would remain tightly regulated by the Imperial Navy.

(The Precursor Shipyards add +6 shipyards to the starbase plus a discount on ships, which is extremely powerful, but I think it's a lot better balanced than in previous versions of the Planet Modifiers mod, in that it costs Minor Artifacts to build the necessary uplink now, plus a hefty upkeep of 5 alloys a month, so it was actually a while until I actually did so, unlike previous games.).

But of even more immediate importance was the excavation of a massive Titan-class vessel, called the "Grand Herald" by its creators. Promptly renamed "Executrix", it would allow the Imperium to impose the Empress's will upon lesser star nations.

The pieces were in place. The Imperium's reconquest of the galaxy could finally begin in earnest.

(Sorry that I don't have an opening crawl this time... my schedule is still a lot busier than it used to be. Also didn't want to specifically "force" things into a trilogy scheme. But hopefully this more succinct style is still something you can enjoy).

 

[stnylan]

And we're off

Though I do wonder if we might segue into the Imperium of Man at some point given the God-Empress.

 

[Nikolai]

So the first post were present, as it were, and now we start from the beginning. Is that so?

 

[Arithmetician]

Admiral Ulric Otto was put in command of the newly-constituted Death Squadron, with the Executrix as its flagship, the first of many talented officers whom the Empress seemed to have an eye for finding. He would lead the fleet on a series of conquests and quickly become one of its most distinguished admirals. War was declared against the Freehold of Utholla, which was populated by hydra-like creatures, who already distrusted the Imperium for its authoritarian tendencies. They were no match for the firepower of the Executrix.

At this point, the Executrix accounted for the overwhelming majority of the Imperium's fleet power. The Empress had initially prioritized technological development over military production, much of it occurring on the small ruined world of Taris, but as it expanded the Imperium would start to begin to build its military in earnest.

The war against the Freehold progressed swiftly. In the meantime, exotic living metal lakes were discovered in the Kluvord System, near the borders of one of the Fallen Empires. The Imperium lacked the technology to work the metal effectively, but it swiftly moved to claim the system so that it could control the precious resource in the future.

The Freehold was conquered. By this time, Imperial surveys had reached the outer edge of the galactic core. A ruined world, that appeared to have formerly been a vast planetwide eucmenopolis, was discovered. Could this have been the First Imperium's legendary former capital, Courstran? Whether true or not, the Empress swiftly advanced the theory, declaring it to be the Imperium's ancestral home, and ordered that the system be taken with all possible speed.

Pretenders to the Imperial Throne! The so-called Fel Empire seemed to be a splinter group of the First Imperium, which had retreated to their own Bastion on the other side of the galaxy. However, they had embraced materialism, turning their eyes from the truth, something that the true Imperium would pointedly remind them of.

(Apparently when you use the Legacy Imperial Ships mod, the Fel are force-spawned in if you don't play as them yourselves).

One of the Imperium's leading scientists, who had worked for the Empress since the start of the new galactic era, treasonously founded the so-called "Citizen Self-Determination Party", urging egalitarian reforms, influenced by the neighboring Star Parliament of Quentikind and the more distant Assembled Parliament of Jaggo, who styled themselves "Aspiring Precursors". The only things that kept the Empress from ordering his prompt execution was that he still remained obedient in his duties, and the fact that doing so would embolden like-minded individuals to take his place and call for more drastic actions. The egalitarians had little power, and could be safely ignored... for now.

The snail-like Endurga fell to the power of Death Squadron and the Executrix next, and were forced to pay monthly tribute to the Imperium. To the Empress' displeasure, the Freehold managed to secure the Galactic Market for themselves, but she contented herself that tribute continued to flow from them

Ironically, the Imperium enjoyed good relations with the cyclopean Star Congress of Quentikind, and the avian Assembled Parliament of Jaggo. They were naturally friendly, and the Empress had offered generous gifts to them to ensure that they would look the other way while the Imperium consolidated its conquests and built up its military. That the Imperium did not engage in slavery also helped to build a good opinion of the Empress in the xeno's minds, and since they were on such good terms with the Imperium, any Quenti or Jaggo who migrated to the Imperium were granted full citizenship rights.

So strong were the good feelings between the Imperium and the Jaggo that a defensive pact was signed between the two, who should have been ideological enemies. The Empress honored this alliance when the fanatically militaristic Laachax Republican Systems (who claimed to be an offshoot of a forgotten species called the Blorg who had adapted to colder climates) and the Kel-Azam Republic declared war on the Parliament. While the Imperium was unable to make significant territorial gains in the war, it largely maintained the territorial integrity of its ally, which negotiated a status quo end to hostilities after Executrix smashed several enemy fleets.

The Great Awakening. The Empress, awoke to her psychic powers, as did all Imperials of Bastion. Loyal Quenti and Jaggo citizens were awakened to their own psionic abilities as well.

By now, many through the Imperium had formed a cult dedicated to the Empress' worship, and the she embraced this notion, officially styling herself the God-Empress, though she was still mortal. Whether a god or not, she continued to maintain her popularity with the people, establishing Imperial control over many industries, ensuring sufficient consumer good production to meet the needs of the people (even as the economy remained largely militarized), which in turn motivated them to slightly increase production of both basic resources and specialized outputs. It was at this point that her heir, Ruwan Trantor, took on the title of the "Most Charitable Lord".

The Egalitarian faction continued to grow in strength as Quenti and Jaggo freely immigrated into the Empire, hailing it as a prosperous, secure, and technologically-advanced star nation. They grumbled a bit that the Imperial government remained authoritarian, but by the immigrant's account, the Empress was rather benevolent as despots went. Soon, enough xenos had immigrated into the Empire to found a faction of their own, led by Scientist Jesslura. Outwardly, she appeared to be an Imperial, but she was actually of an unknown species. Most think the Xenoists chose Jesslura as their spokewomen in the belief that she would help them gain greater acceptance in Imperial society as a whole. That she had become a personal friend of the Empress, and had contributed greatly to the Imperium's technical advancement also eliminated any doubts as to her loyalties.

War came again, this time against the plantlike Ganvius, who shared a border with the Imperium's eastern frontier and with Jaggo, to the Parliament's south. It took some time for the Imperium to redeploy its forces to the front, but ultimately the Ganvius were of little threat by themselves, and the Imperium continued to enjoy good relations with its neighbors.

Outside of Imperial High Command, few suspected the scale of the devastation that would soon be unleashed upon the galaxy.

 

[Arithmetician]

Contact was established with an alternate version of the Imperium in another dimension, which was fighting a fierce war against the "Warp Beasts". Meanwhile, Death Squadron had expanded to included multiple Dominion-class cruisers, as well as a powerful Nanite Interdictor, which appeared to be connected to the L-Cluster, had had appeared after a mysterious 42-year countdown.

Alarmed by the Imperium's growing economic, and technological, and military might, three militaristic empires: the Laachax, the Kel-Azam, and the Fel federated to present a united front against the Imperium. The democratic Laachax and Kel-Azam disagreed with the Fel's own authoritarianism, but saw them as a lesser evil.

Making use of recently-developed technology to traverse wormholes, the Imperium began colonizing systems further in the galactic west. the Ispyria System, which was soon renamed "Hoth" was home to three frozen worlds, at two of them with vast systems of caverns with their own ecosystems under the ice, and a fourth world that was a tomb world. The Hoth System occupied a strategic hyperspatial chokepoint, so the worlds under the ice were transformed into fortress worlds, as any armies concealed there would be all but impervious to orbital bombardment, while intensive research efforts began on the ruins of the civilization that had perished on the tomb world, the infrastructure of which was remarkably intact and advanced.

Death Squadron's numbers continued to grow. The old Dominator Star Cruisers were superseded by the first Imperatrix-class Star Battleships, produced at the shipyards at Irassia, now fully operational. The Imperatrix was armed with a heavy ion cannon to quickly take down enemy shields, linked pulse cannons to tear through the hull once the shields were down, and two fighter wings. Soon, the Imperatrix design was an axial superlaser, which had been first developed as a prototype for a far more fearsome weapon...

Since Ion cannons were relatively common among hostile empires, the Imperatrix's defenses largely focused on its hull, which was fortified with Crystal-Infused Plating, though it had some shielding and armored alloys as well.

Once again led by Admiral Otto and Death Squadron, the Executrix and the new Imperatrix Star Battleships crushed all Ganvius opposition, securing a tributary far richer than either Utholla or Endurga.

Approaching an unfathomably vast psionic entity in the shroud, the Empress made a pact with the Composer of Strands. While the benefits to the Imperium clearly outweighed the drawbacks, some suspected that the Empress was primarily motivated by prolonging her own lifespan. She was already 145, but was determined to personally see the next phase of her plans come to fruition. Already, she had used genetic therapy to give herself (and all Imperial citizens) a more enduring lifespan, adding twenty years on average.

The ancient capital of Corustran was restored as a fully-functioning (though severely depopulated) ecumenopolis. Ordering massive new foundry arcologies to be brought online as quickly as possible, the Empress began a program of forced resettlement so that the Imperium's industrial capacity could increase as rapidly as possible. Some thought that she would move the Empire's capital to Corustran, but it was deemed too remote from centers of trade and the rest of the Imperium's core worlds, which were densely clustered around Bastion.

Finally, the Imperium had the technology to initiate the Empress's master plan for galactic domination: the Colossus Project. For over a century, she had carefully bided her time, but once completed, the project would bring about a weapon that would spell certain doom for any who dared to oppose the Imperium.

And equally portentous, Imperial Scientists were in the final stages of breaking the feedback loop on the L-Gate. The bulk of the combined Imperial Navy, Death Squadron included, had gathered in the Tunari Vortex, ready to invade the L-Cluster and claim whatever riches lay within for the Imperium...

 

[Vilhelm]

Ah, an Arithmetician AAR. I've missed these!

 

[Arithmetician]

But the L-Cluster was ready to fight back. No, an armada of Nanite ships, much like the Interdictor that the Imperium had found earlier, lay in wait on the other side, ready to launch an invasion of the galaxy. Death Squadron entered a pitched battle with the Gray Tempest, as the threat was called in the emergency transmissions left to the Imperium, warning it too late not to open the L-Cluster. In the fighting, Executrix was lost, though Admiral Otto managed to evacuate his command crew on an escape pod and lead the damaged fleet back to a safe port to repair. Immediately, titanic new Star Dreadnoughts, inaccurately called Super Star Destroyers began construction to replace the loss, although the first of these Star Dreadnoughts was but a shadow of what Executrix had been. The loss of much of Executrix's elite crew, tested and hardened over decades of service, was a particular loss to the Imperial Navy.

The engineers of the Colossus Project had finally finished drawing up blueprints for both the superstructure of the Imperium's ultimate armored space station, which would be the size of a small moon, and its main weapon, a superlaser capable of cracking entire planets. Construction began at once in the shipyards of Irassia, under the utmost secrecy.

However, the fleet had taken heavy losses fighting the Gray Tempest, and construction of the Colossus, code-named the Death Star, had depleted the Imperium's alloy reserves. A new program of rapid industrialization began across the empire. Wherever there was the space to construct new alloy foundries and the population to work them, they rose.

In the meantime, scientists continued to probe the L-Cluster, plotting a route for the navy toward the factory that was said to be the source of the Gray Tempest, but it was an exceedingly dangerous assignment, given to the newest and most reckless science officers. Several lost their lives in the effort.

But at last, the moment had arrived.

An armada of warships surrounded the Death Star as its superlaser dish was lowered into position. The weapon had two modes. A single-reactor ignition was theoretically capable of destroying most warships and heavily damaging staircases, while at full-power it was capable of destroying a planet in a month, though the main reactor would then need three months to recharge.

The Imperial Navy continued to build its strength, even as it continued to skirmish with the Tempest. Although naval logistics was severely strained, there was no alternative, as the L Cluster's central factory was exceptionally well-defended. However, it was a truly auspicious omen when the Tomb of Zarqlan was discovered and his head recovered. The Holy Guardians declared the Imperials to be Zarqlan's chosen. It was clear to the Empress that the time had come to strike back against the Tempest, and then for her to assume her rightful place as the ruler of the galaxy.

Thus, the entire Imperial Navy, save the Death Star and a few warships defending it at Irassia, as it was deemed to valuable to risk against the Tempest, massed in the L-Cluster and prepared to assault the factory. The fleet was lead by three Nemesis-class Star Dreadnoughts, eight Imperatrix-class Star Battleships and seven Dominator-class Star Cruisers. It was supported by seventy Destroyers of the Ardent and Valorous classes, and one-hundred and sixty seven corvettes, along with multiple small mercenary fleets that had been hired specifically for the occasion.

Admiral Otto was the overall leader and most experienced admiral of the Armada, the largest the Imperium had ever assembled, eager to avenge his earlier defeat against the Tempest. He also had very clear orders from the Empress. Retreat would be considered an act of treason. Every man in the armada was expected to fight to the death if necessary to defeat the Tempest once and for all.

"Enemy fleets, dead ahead!"

Green lasers lanced from the Nanite Motherships, instantly vaporizing several warships, though thankfully most of the losses were Corvettes. They were intended to act as a sacrificial screen as the Dreadnoughts and other large capital ships advanced on the factory.

"Enemy fighters, coming in!"

"Engage!"

Twenty-three squadrons of TIE Neutralizers launched from the Battleships and Cruisers. The brave Imperial pilots were badly outnumbered by the swarm of Nanite fighters, but the destroyers did much to tear through the enemy strike craft, helping clear a path forward, even as the battle entered broadside range. Meanwhile, Admiral Otto's Star Dreadnought made its way toward the central factory, drawing heavy enemy fire.

"Yes, I said closer! Engage at point blank range! Intensify the forward batteries, and concentrate all firepower on that factory!"

At last, the the Nanite Factory exploded under the armada's assault, and the threat of the Tempest was ended forever. The armada had taken significant casualties, but its bulk remained intact, a fleet more powerful than any outside of the fallen empires.

A fleet that would now turn to conquer the galaxy that it had just saved.

 

[Arithmetician]

"The God-Empress requires a test of the Death Star's destructive power, so that none will oppose the Imperium."

The natural target was the Mandasura Star Hunters, fanatic purifiers who had declared war on the Spuxulac, a xenophobic star nation that had allied itself with the Imperium.

And so, making use of the L-Gates, the Death Star arrived at Mandas, the purifier's home system, doing so without warning by use of a Psi Jump Drive. The Death Star disabled Mandas' istarbase with its superlaser, and slowly began approaching the doomed Mandasura capital, a large moon orbiting a gas giant.

The Mandasura were unable to scramble any further defenses, let alone a squadron of fighters, against the Death Star.

"The enemy capital is in range."

"Fire when ready."

"Commence primary ignition."

Billions of Mandasurans cried out in terror as their world entered its final tremors... and were suddenly silenced.

The Empress gave the order for the Death Star to move on to destroy the Mandasuran planet of Fugatium.

From there, the Death Star continued to move from Mandasuran world to Mandasuran world, cracking each in turn, escorted by Death Squadron. No quarter was offered to the Mandasurans. If given the chance to rebuild, they would merely continue their crusade to exterminate all other sapient life. They could not be permitted to continue to exist. The orders came from the God-Empress herself. Every single Mandasuran was to be wiped off the face of the galaxy. Wherever Death Squadron appeared, the Death Star soon followed, bringing destruction in its wake.

Jaggo had surrendered its sovereignty to the Imperium, but they, and all of the other nations of the galaxy were horrified by the Imperium's actions. Well, everyone expect the Spuxluac. As haughty supremacists, they didn't very much care if the planets of xenos were being destroyed, so long as their own were left untouched. Them and the Norgrilla Unity. As a hive mind, they couldn't truly grasp the enormity of billions of unique individuals perishing.

But the God-Empress didn't care about their petty objections. She had gone easy on the galaxy for a century. But now with the Death Star and a massive fleet, there was no reason for her not to tighten her iron grip.

The Death Star fired on the former Caloc homeworld, which had been long since conquered by the Mandasura. None of the original inhabitants survived.

If any still survived against all odds, they were granted a merciful death compared to what the Mandasura would have inflicted upon them.

The Mandasura knew that they were doomed, but remained defiant to the end.

Only one Mandasura world remained.

The Death Star fired.

(This screenshot occurred because some transports appeared around the planet, causing the Death Star's fighters to enter combat mode and for the Death Star to move away from the planet - but it still continued firing its planet cracker!)

It was done.

In less than five years, an entire species, save for a few scattered refuges, had been exterminated, and their empire, seven planets in all, utterly annihilated.

Only a vast region of lawless space remained where the Mandasura Star Hunters had been, and the Imperium was ready to move in to claim it.

It was truly a glorious day.

 

[stnylan]

Moving long at a fair pace

 

[Nikolai]

Those planets could have been conqered, the inhabitants slaughtered and Neo-High Imperials settled!

 

[Arithmetician]

Since the enemy federation of the Fel and Laachax foolishly refused to submit to the Imperium after witnessing the fate of the Mandasura, the God-Empress ordered that they should be made witness to a closer demonstration of the Death Star's power (the Laachax had been forced to submit to the Imperium in an earlier war). Death Squadron had merged with the "Coruscant First Fleet", but it was still commanded by Admiral Otto, who led ten capital ships deep into enemy territory. While outnumbered by more agile enemy vessels, they could not match the firepower and range of the Imperium's warships, and were routed easily.

The Death Star first arrived at the Kel-Azam homeworld. Concurrently, a detachment of the Imperial Navy seized a ruined Science Nexus in a nearby system.

Azak was blasted into stardust, its inhabitants paying the price for defying the Imperium.

While several other Kel-Azam planets paid the price for their continued defiance, the planet Lowick was singled out to be spared. The rare radioactive elements in its mantle made it an ideal site for manufacturing advanced alloys, and the Empress ordered the planet be taken relatively intact so that it could become part of the Imperial war machine. Its governor was one of the few surviving Mandasura, from a world that the Kel-Azam had previously conquered, and tried to rally a spirited resistance, but Clone and Psionic legions of Jogowolla Superior, a species that had become a willing subject to the Imperium, noted for its immense strength, crushed them.

The pretenders to the Imperium were put down next.

In one swift stroke, the Fel central government was decapitated with the destruction of their capital. The last federation holdouts in Munnilist and Jaemus were conquered a few short years later, falling to Imperial legions. Muunilist was taken intact so that the Imperium could benefit from its lucrative trade, and the orbital ring of the Jaemus shipyards was a valuable strategic asset for producing ships closer to the front.

(Muunilist and Jaemus are two systems that spawn near the prescripted Fel Empire in the mod. Muunilist gives +40% trade value, among other bonuses, with an Intergalactic Banking Clan modifier, and the Jaemus Orbital Ring gives a +25% bonus to alloy production).

But another threat emerged, one that was that would be a greater threat to the Imperium than the Fel had ever been.

 

[Arithmetician]

The Ziiran hailed from lawless space in the Outer Rim, in the western reaches of the space under the Imperium's direct control. They had long been ignored, and the Empress had even made use of them in the Gray Tempest war. However, now they had taken up arms in open rebellion against the Imperium. The Death Star was also all but useless against them, as they lacked planets to call their own.

Their fleets were, individually, hardly a match for the Imperium. However, they emerged when the bulk of the fleet was mopping up the remnants of the Kel-Azam on the other side of the galaxy, and near several relatively undefended planets, immediately opening a new front.

The newly appointed Admiral Dayun, fresh from the Fleet Academy at Irassia, jumped into battle against the Great Khan. While untested in battle, he had a Star Dreadnought, multiple Imperatrix Star Battleships, and four advanced warships manned by pilgrims from the Qvefoz Watchers.

Following Admiral Otto's example from the Battle of Tau Canis against the Gray Tempest, the doctrine of No Retreat was now standard throughout the Imperium, and Admiral Dayun followed the war hero's example. What need was there to retreat when the Imperium had superior fleets to any enemy it might face outside of the Fallen Empires? The Great Khan's vaunted military genius was little use in the face of such overwhelming firepower, and much of the Khan's fleet was annihilated before it could enter combat range.

However, Admiral Dayun became overconfident as he moved to destroy the Horde's Void Dwellings, and met an ignominious defeat soon thereafter. At that moment, the Khan returned with a new armada. With Dayun's fleet scattered, the Imperium was suddenly on the defensive, and found itself fighting pitched battles against the Horde.

"All batteries fire, fire!"

The Khan took advantage of the confusion, and seized Walzirin Prime, the first Imperial planet to fall under the control of a foreign power.

Walzirin was promptly retaken, but the Khan took the agricultural world of Lothal shortly thereafter, and declared it his new capital.

Several other systems fell to the Khan in short order, carving a chunk out of the Imperium. The God-Empress was livid.

Replacing the disgraced Admiral Dayun, Admiral Donassius led the fleet into the final confrontation with the Khan in the Yeedixa System. Swiftly dispatching the Khan's escorts, TIE Neutralizers descended on the Khan's flagship.

The Khan accepted the inevitable. Soon thereafter, her throne was retrieved from the wreckage, and became the God-Empress' own throne.

The horde did not disintegrate with the Khan's death, and formed a short Khanate. However, it was short lived, as it was promptly invaded by multiple Imperial fleets, which reconquered the systems that the Khan had taken.

The Khan's insurrection was put down, and the remains of the Kel Azam were now fully absorbed into the Imperium. Now controlling most of the the southwestern quadrant of the galaxy and significant holdings elsewhere, the Empress decreed that the name "Imperium of Bastion" was to be abolished, as it no longer accurately reflected the Imperium. Henceforth, it would simply be known as the Galactic Imperium.

 

[Arithmetician]

Unfortunately, the Khan had emboldened many separatist groups throughout the Imperium's subjects to declare their independence. They would be put down most harshly.

The rebels in the Aventia System were unusually well-equipped, and had somehow amassed a sizable navy, comparable with most other lesser star nations.

But they were no match for the might Imperium. The Empress' justice was swift and just.

The Imperium also began to exterminate the leviathans that remained in the galaxy. Admiral Donassius won particular fame for slaying the Ether Drake. Combined with his victory of the Great Khan, he was the new hero of the Imperium, though he had nothing but respect for Admiral Otto.

But maintaining such a large navy required enormous sums of energy credits. To this end, the Imperium began construction on a Dyson Sphere, a project even more ambitious than the Death Star.

War broke out with the Quenti, who were plotting with the Imperium's enemies. They were punished for their treachery.

The Empress had long hoped to bring the Norgrilla Unity into the Imperium without necessary bloodshed, but when they sided with the Quenti, there was only one recourse left to her.

One by one, Nogrilla planets fell to invasion or the Death Star's judgment. Soon, the Hive Mind was extinct. There was no way they could have been peacefully integrated into the Imperium at that point.

Admiral Otto continued to distinguish himself, forcing the Dimensional Horror in the Meria System to return from whence it came. The battle also serves as an apt example of new Imperial fleet doctrine. Production of smaller capital ships all but ceased. From this point on, most Imperial fleets would be comprised solely of Star Battleships and Star Dreadnoughts, focusing on overwhelming the enemy with alpha strike artillery tactics.

In fifteen years, the Imperium's territory had grown tremendously. Besides the Quenti and Nogrilla conquests, the Spuxulac had voluntarily submitted to the Imperium as its protectorate, and proved to be one of the Imperium's few loyal subjects, staunchly supporting the Empress. The others barely hid their contempt of the Imperium, but fear of the Death Star and the Imperial Navy kept them from engaging in open rebellion.

The remaining free star nations of the galactic north were now throughly convinced that the Imperium's expansion was a far greater crisis than the Gray Tempest had ever been. Yes, the Tempest had consumed a few planets, but the Death Star had destroyed over two dozen, murdering countless billions as part of the Empress' reign of terror. And so they banded together, to make a last stand against the Imperium.

They had only signed their death sentences.

That was the price for defying the galaxy's god and rightful ruler.

 

[Arithmetician]

The remaining free nations threw their fleets against the Imperium, but to no avail.

And at Irassia, even more powerful weapons, dwarfing even the Star Dreadnoughts that had came before them were under construction: the Super Star Dreadnoughts.

(The Buildable Executor mod is utterly hax. However, I had already snowballed so much at this point that I knew victory was inevitable, so I decided to have some fun with some ridiculously unnecessary firepower).

Rutharia, the capital of the Rational Directorate of Ruthor was destroyed.

Only two free star nations outside of the Fallen Empires remained.

Yet dissatisfaction with the Imperial government was growing. Some in the Egalitarian party were even starting to speak of seceding from the Imperium.

At last, the federation was crushed.

All that remained was to mop up some rebels...

... and compete the construction of a second and far more powerful Death Star, to solidify the God-Empress' iron grip on the galaxy.

 

[Arithmetician]

The Egaltiarians began making open demands of the Imperium. Emergency measures were immediately put in place to suppress them.

A war was also a good way to distract the citizens of the Empire and unite them against a common foe, and the Fallen Empires were the only possible targets.

Utapau was a stronghold of the separatist movement. The many caves in the karst-dominated terrain made it easy for them to hide their operations there.

The Battle of Cradle was a massive undertaking, and saw the death of Criden Tharkus, the Imperium's longest-serving general, though it all likelihood the drugs he took to cope with the stress of battle would have soon brought about his untimely death anyway.

To the God-Empress' fury, the separatist movement only seemed to be gaining strength. The Isolationists found common cause with the Egalitarians, joining their treacherous plotting.

The Lahtrepians awoke, alarmed by the fall of the Progenitors, but it was too little, too late from the decrepit fools.

And slowly, popular opinion started to turn against the separatists as propaganda efforts intensified.

At last, the Imperium's Dyson sphere was completed. A repaired Matter Decompressor from former Spuxulac space also greatly bolstered the economy.

The first Fallen Empire fell for good.

The Zero-Zero-One Continuance followed shortly after, surrendering after their navy was crushed and one of their Ring Sections conquered. They put up no resistance as they were disassembled.

The Imperial Navy turned to the Regulators next and bombarded the Font of Knowledge.

The Regulator fleet was the greatest in the galaxy outside of the Imperium, but still utterly no match for it. Soon after this victory, the separatist movement collapsed as well, though perhaps the appearance of a Super Star Dreadnought and the Death Star over Utapau cowed them into surrender before they could actually secede.

For his role in the separatist movement, Scientist Barret Motti was executed. His colleague, Aridnha Strage, the Imperium's foremost researcher, took over the Egalitarian faction, but promised to work within the Imperium's laws to pursue reforms. As a token peace offering between them, the Empress banned forced resettlement.

Still, there were other rebels from time to time on the fringes of the Imperium's subject nations. The Death Star took care of them.

 

[Arithmetician]

Only the Watchers remained independent.

Their capital, the Celestial Throne, was a paradise like none other. The God-Empress resolved that it would become her new throne world.

(Between the modifiers the planet had and my traditions, it could support up to 53 districts!!)

Countless Imperial legions descended to claim the throne.

The Empress's dominion was inevitable.

Glory to the Empire!

(Okay, technically I used the console to declare victory at this point and see my stats. But by the old metrics, I had an complete domination victory at this point, with no other independent star nations. Plus, as you can see from my fleet power [11x greater than the combined fleet power of all other surviving star nations], I would have curbstomped any crisis that might have showed up past that point. Let's face it... the Galactic Imperium WAS the Crisis.)

(I destroyed so many planets over the course of the game that I eventually lost count, but it was probably at least forty, if not fifty. This is probably a major factor in why I ended up with 75% of the galactic population despite having 43.7% of the systems in the galaxy under my direct control. On the plus side, I had very few crashes in the late game, and it still ran reasonably smoothly. So remember, genocide is the way to save the galaxy from slowing to a crawl! Also for the record, only 10% of my population ended as Neo-High Imperials. Most of the Imperium's citizens were xenos, somewhat more than half of which had full citizen rights, and the rest of which were in residence.)

(Have some ideas for my next campaign... a starship-manufacturing megacorp, peaceful agrarians, or maybe a criminal syndicate. Still, not committed to any yet. Anyways, hope you enjoyed this AAR!)

FIN

 

[Nikolai]

*applause*