During the Era of Stability, the Old Romans were experimenting with a technology that had the power to destroy worlds. It was classified level Pho. They were test firing it on some asteroids, large ones, when a control malfunctioned and the laser missed the asteroid by several feet. The beam was meant to falloff after a few hundred KM, but they underestimated the power level's capacity. It was set to 9001 at the time, the max being 91849183047. Although a small miss is no problem on a planet, in space it's disastrous. The beam hit the planet Graunch, a population of 15 Billion, and the planet threw itself apart as the molecules burst apart (Think Doctor Device from Enders Game). As news spread on the attack, several governments severly questioned Old Rome's intentions and morals. They denied any affliation with the incident. The provincial government of the Beta Aquile system announced that it has broken away and formed a new empire, due to the atrocious actions of the National Government. On the day they fell the Old Roman flag and raised the new one, the Super-Weapon fired again, aimed directly at Beta Aquile's star. The star went Nova, killing some 29 Billion Souls on assorted planets in the system.
Things escalated quickly after that. Many systems revolted against the Empire, and the Romans kept destroying planets until the weapon was destroyed by rebelling officers aboard the station. The sides were drawn, people were drafted, and the Civil War began. The Loyalists fielded some 5 fleets of about 121 warships each to attack the five main Rebel Outposts. Badly outnumbered and outgunned, the Rebels formed 4 Rag-Tag fleets from captured ships. The first fleet, the The Beta Aquile Revenge was made up of survivors of the Beta Aquile destruction. Their flagship was the Ragnarov, the very same ship Emperor Fenway now commands. They used hit and run tactics, surrounding enemy fleets then escaping before they could muster a counter-attack. They also relied on human error, such as blockading a planet with hulks of unfinished or useless ships to fool the enemy.
The Loyalists attacked Talrim first, cutting through the weak defenses like a hot knife through butter. Once in orbit around the planet, they demanded the rebels to stand down or be destroyed. They refused. The Marlin, the flagship of the Loyalist Fleet, ordered Nuclear Bombardment of the planet. Ships began fleeing in droves, miners, civilians, ex-military, anyone in danger. The loyalists picked off every single one. The Proton Pixel Rebel fleet warped in as the second planet was bombarded and quickly engaged the Loyalists. With their attention focused on the fleet, the inhabitants of the planet were able to escape to another system. It was the bloodiest battle of the war. Nearly 300 Loyalist ships, including two dreadnaughts, engaged about 200 outdated Rebel ships. Neither side won, but it was a major blow to the Loyalists. Seeing the Rebel's suppsoed victory and weakness of the Loyalists, several other neutral systems revolted and began the full-scale war against the Empire. The Civil War had really begun.
Timeline:
March 21, Year 1
Fatal accident at super-weapon destroys Graunch in the Nyar System
March 29. Year 1
Beta Aquile raises new flag and the system is subsequently destroyed.
March 30, Year 1
Lazuli, Talrim, and Sanrin revolt. Loyalist fleets move to attack Talrim, beginning with Orbital Bombardment. Battle of Talrim, bloodiest battle in war. Our ancestors, the future Tellrim; escaped in this engagement.
....WIP...
