The Imperial Commonwealth of Terra (ICT) was something of an anomaly among the various territories of the Galactic Federation of the Stars (GFS).

First was their seemingly free-spirited designs and architecture. It seemed that they were never satisfied with anything and each generation of ships seemed to differ from the last set.

Other races seem to hold a racial point in the design. Shapes and philosophies that helped identify them.

ICT ships seemed to adopt anything and everything. One could guess, with high probabilities, that a ship was of ICT origin because it seemed to match nothing in the database.

The second unique trait of the ICT was their desire for social and spiritual union with any species they encountered.

Trade was to be expected as the new materials, designs, and ideas promoted growth within their own cultures and philosophy. Ideas that would give birth to new products and thoughts.

ICT was also known to be generous. Those that needed support received support, so long as they didn’t abuse it. ICT would help as many other species as their yearly budgets would allow.

This leads to rampant abuse, as other cultures requested supplies, aid, and support for various projects. A cataclysmic included issues such as giant asteroids, world-ending climate change, alien invasions, etc.

Though generous, ICT also expected to have their good deeds occasionally compensated by unified votes, or ceded territories in other systems for ICT use.

It was rarely military, though that was odd considering how militarist they could be.

They generally played by the GFS rules and regulations. Obeyed protocols and tried to be great neighbors to any member of the GFS.

They even treated the smaller, independent factions with respect and fairness. Which bordered on disobeying, if not outright breaking, GFS regulations.

ICT were known to be excellent on skirting around grey rules, but they were far from the only ones that did that. Some of the main members broke treaties and protocols with regular abandon, yet ICT were far from the central powers of the GFS.

The GFS was made up of over a million members. A thousand of which made up their upper echelon. Two dozen of which were their VIPs. The shakers and movers of the GFS.

Which proved to be an issue when two of the main powers of the GFS began to suppress ICT. Humans had faced such issues before, but never on such a scale.

There were inquires as the humans appealed and started to face embargos, fines, and restrictions. Each month was more red tape and paperwork than any thousand lesser members faced in a year.

Thousands of members began to pursue legal actions against ICT. Many of which never had any formal contact with humans. Which didn’t seem to be an issue as every accusation was processed and delivered.

They were quickly evicted from previous systems that they had in good standings. Humans were not perfect, but they knew where they had friends.

Or so they thought.

An endless barrage of social machinations quickly turned the opinions of the GFS against ICT humans.

It took only a century. One hundred short years to undo so much of the goodwill, sacrifices, and support of each and every member of the GFS.

The only ones still willing to do business became the darker and secretive independent factions. Usually for in poor faith and terrible trade values.

The Imperial Commonwealth of Terra once controlled nearly five hundred thousand systems scattered across sixty galaxies. Between aggressive powers and biased media, they were reviled.

Each system that fell were met with cheers and celebration. Until they weren’t. they simply became common news like the rise and fall of various stocks, corporations, and empires.

Humans died in mass. They faced a genocide against the might of the GFS. Until the GFS simply stopped.

A century of war, and it became a ‘stalemate’ as central systems were captured and distributed to central members of the GFS.

Humanity said nothing. There was little contact as they were compressed into a tenth of what they once held.

There were shortages of all resources. Food. Minerals. Medication. Room. Safety as pirates ran rampant through ICT sectors.

Though that stopped quickly as ICT were able to properly consolidate their territories.

The stalemate lasted as the GSF lost interest in the ICT.

The GSF had newer, more pressing issues.

The Movement of Truth. MoT.

MoT enlightened. Their truth was simple and direct.

MoT blessed. Through enlightenment came absolution.

MoT loved. Absolution was unity.

MoT delivered. Unity was for all.

This new empire was relentless. Regardless if it was just one fighter or a fleet, they moved into GFS space. They subjugated and killed without end.

Either you embraced MoT, or you embraced the limbo. The ether of nothingness that was the reward for nonbelievers.

The Galactic Federation of the Stars began to fight back. They organized defensive fleets. They organized resistance. They reorganized their resources.

Which only slowed the MoT. GFS forces were simply a mess of contradictory orders, protocols, and pleas for intervention.

Those that surrendered were absorbed into MoT forces. Their ships painted a vibrant red to showcase the faith of the truth.

System by system, they invaded. Their numbers were endless as every victory exhausted GFS forces.

MoT seemed to field unlimited numbers of ships. A battle that had 10,000 GFS against a 1,000 MoT was a forgone conclusion.

Then it would be 9,000 to perhaps 2,000.

7,500 to another 2,000,

5,000 against 2,000.

3,000 against 3,000.

150 against 22,000.

Whole sectors and quadrants fell.

Their campaign had only two conclusions. GFS won, or MoT won.

Hope came when MoT forces finally hit ICT territories.

There was a victory against MoTs. There were countless records of victories. The issues weren’t a victory, but sustainability. MoT forces seemed to be endless.

Yet against the first ICT system, they hit. MoT lost.

Then another. And another. And another.

For over a year, MoT sent in fleets. Yet they did not even make planetfall.

All communication met grim-faced captains that welcomed them to ICT. Any and all aggression was met with force.

MoT was undeterred as they began to move into the rim of ICT territories.

They found no success.

After two centuries of suppression and oppression, humanity was ready. They had studied. They had prepped. They had sacrificed enough.

It came as a roaring surprise when ICT fleets began to appear on the newly captures systems. ICT came and brought victory against their oppressors.

The humans had several breakthroughs in military technology. ICT ships were simply better. This allowed them to conquer with ease as MoT forces simply melted before their might.

They were celebrated as heroes by these systems. Humans had come!

The old records of their selflessness were celebrated. Cheered and accolades were lauded on them on every communication channel available.

Until they realized that things had changed.

ICT warships stayed in the system. They did not send down emissaries or ambassadors. They broadcasted directives and were more than happy to threaten any other ship that came into the system.

ICT support ships arrived. Battle fortresses were carefully warped in and they simply dominated the system unopposed.

MoT ships were torn apart and studied. Or they were repurposed and then used as front line fodder. Humans took in MoT hostages and used then for war.

Or they simply razed the ship and killed everyone.

ICT harvesters came. Any resources needed that weren’t attached to major settlements were simply taken.

Any locals were given a timeframe before ICT began their operations.

Though they were polite enough, they were far from refrained, however. Though the military had strict orders to tone down on civilian casualties, they had no real orders to prevent any situation from occurring.

Humans had starved long enough.

They took what they wanted, and simply left. They left scarred land and broken people in their wake.

Systems of value were treated slightly better. Humanity would be happy to offer MoT seized transports off-world, but any stragglers would not be tolerated.

Either they left willingly, were forced into MoT transports, or simply killed. Humans were done with negations. The humans that once had these planets not even given the consideration of evacuation.

So they were a touch better. Which was enough for the humans.

ICT had needs. Humans needed land. Farms to feed their people. Resources to build new lives, and new defenses.

At first, it was only MoT controlled space. Humans were reclaiming the easy territories that were under defended. New fleets were poorly organized as they relied on numbers.

Heavy fortresses easily countered those issues and orbital static defenses made sure any attempts were going to be costly.

It was somehow a surprise when ICT began to appear in GFS systems.

They had not forgotten about GFS annexation.

At first, they would come after a major battle. Like vultures, they swooped in for the kill. They would mop up the stragglers and consolidate their forces.

They either took the system as a primary system for the people, a strategic world for the empire, or a land to be strip-mined for ICT interest.

ICT moved outward for half a dozen systems in all directions. Then they just stopped.

They consolidated their empire. New things were built, old things repaired. Endless streams of ships ferried people, goods, and supplies.

Then a decade later, they repeated the same action.

Heavy outward movement. War. Conquest. A second spherical expansion.

Nearly six systems in every direction. Then they stopped.

They shifted from war to consolidation of their empire.

MoT and GFS forces met in a stalemate. While their mutual empires did have daily skirmishes, they were both afraid to heavily commit any forces to war.

Humans had proven their disregard for either side.

Even if they didn’t take a system, ICT forces were more then happy to mop up stragglers after any heavy battle. They attacked from a long-range and then left.

They rarely lost anything and destroyed everything. They were not above scouring battlefields. Stragglers were rarely saved and any reinforcements always arrived too late to stop their honourless assaults.

Cold and calculated.

GFS and MoT forces slowed down their war as they were forced to react to the ICT.

The small, independent empire of humans.

A third decade arrived.

The bordering systems were either abandoned or heavily reinforced. They had laid traps and fortification. They had designed their own defenses and waited for humanity to take the bait.

Then they waited some more.

It took nearly an ICT week before both empires grew restless enough to act.

Any unmanned probes into ICT territory showed that their fleets were amassed. More ships than ever. New designs. More fortresses.

Yet they didn’t advance.

It was painful for GFS and MoT commanders.

They waited, but there was nothing.

The ICT was silent. They responded to no communication, gave no outward communication.

Yet everyone knew.

There would be a third sphere expansion.