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***UPDATED FULL DESCRIPTION!***

            The year is 2021, and technology has increased in massive leaps since 2010. New developments in space-travel have been brought about by the creation of an agreement reached between the space agencies of the United States and Russia. Their knowledge and financial resources pooled, the Russian-American Space Agreement developed new methods of space-travel, more efficient rockets that burn less fuel and travel farther and faster. By 2018, astronauts have penetrated the bounds of our own solar system. From this point, their technological advances only continue getting better and better. The newest space-travel machine, developed in the summer of 2020, contained a new system of travel that astounded everyone on Earth. This rocket contained two different engine types; one highly-efficient combustion engine, for travelling within a solar system, and a second engine, made for jumping between the vast spaces that separates solar systems from one another. The first mission ever to another solar system, this one simply code-named System-A, ended in complete success, the astronauts arriving back at home in an unbelievable 6 months. Two more missions to System-A were carried out, all completely successful. But on the third and last mission, astronauts landing on a rocky planet resembling our Moon discovered a device, attached to what was later discovered to be a satellite transmitter. What it was transmitting to, no one could find out. The technology was vastly foreign, the design of the machinery completely incomparable to our own. Scientists from almost every major scientific group in the world spent extensive hours picking the machine apart in an attempt to understand the technology. Their efforts were completely in vain, though, as the machinery proved to be far too advanced for human comprehension. Even so, the teams researching it carefully recorded everything about it, so as to better humankind’s own technology.

            At the time of this discovery, the government leaders of every developed nation in the world met to discuss what should be done. The machine was quite obviously “alien” technology, and the world leaders knew that something had to be done about it. The decision was made to prepare for contact with an alien civilization, and the possibility of war. All over the world, preparations sprang into action. In Russia, new types of space transport, huge war ships that were capable of carrying thousands of soldiers, were researched and manufactured. Recruits for the newly formed “United Nations Space Military” flooded in from every corner of the globe. Within a year from the first discovery of the alien transmitter, 800 ships had been launched, with over two million soldiers aboard them.

            Travel to System-A was slower this time, given the size and weight of the new ships. It took four months for all of the ships to arrive and dock around the planet where the transmitter was found. Once there, orders direct from the home-base at Earth were received to scan the area for any alien life and not to fire on any unless fired upon first. Scout pods were deployed, combing the surrounding solar system for any signs of aliens. Three more transmitters were found, each placed on small, rocky planets, like the first. The first contact made with an alien presence occurred two days from their time of arrival. One of the scout pods discovered a ship nestled in a shallow crater of a moon, with a shelter set up beside it. The scout pod had obviously been spotted, as the alien ship below sprang up and raced away. Both sides were now well aware of each other’s existence. Within minutes, several larger ships appeared, stopping several kilometers away. A broadcast suddenly came through on every speaker of every one of the human ships. A deep, almost robotic voice spoke through them. The dialogue is as follows:

“We have decoded your language, making communication possible between us. You must tell us now why you are here. If you want war, we will crush you. If your intention is peace, our leaders may negotiate peace treaties. Speak.”

            The humans replied, asking for peace. Soon after, the United Nations was put through to the lead ship’s communications device. The conversation between the U.N. and the alien leader was silenced from being heard on all of the human radios, and after an hour, the two sides came to an agreement.

            Both sides agreed to have a meeting on Earth, to discuss an alliance. Several alien ships were escorted back to Earth, where a conference had been set up. The aliens introduced themselves as Kar’killan, only one civilization from another galaxy. They said that this other galaxy was densely populated by thousands of different species. The Kar’killan had conquered eighty-five solar systems in that galaxy, and had not yet met a civilization as technologically advanced as Earth. According to them, the Kar’killan and the human civilizations were the most advanced in their entire galaxy. Being the most advanced, they both badly wanted a permanent alliance.

            At the time this conference was taking place, word began to spread throughout the world of the guests on their planet. Soon after the conference went public, huge riots broke out. People everywhere clamored to put an end to cooperating with ‘aliens’ and that they should be killed off. The Kar’killan were amazed at the fact that the government let their citizens run loose like this, and could not control them. They pointed out that this was a great weakness, that Earth was flawed.

“This is a great flaw in your society. You cannot have an advanced civilization if only parts of it are truly advanced. This is a weakness. A weakness we will exploit. You have two choices now, humans. Either agree to be ruled by us, or be forced to. If you agree, only your criminals will die. Do not put your own lives and the lives of your innocents in danger. If you decline such a gracious offer, you declare war on us. Make your choice.”

            The leaders of Earth do not think that the Earth should succumb to the dominating force of the Kar’killan, and that they will remain independent people. The alien leaders depart in their ships, but once safely out of Earth’s atmosphere; the human leaders order them to be shot down. The Kar’killan leaders are all killed, and here the war begins.

This is where the main character, Marshall "Desseus" Carter, begins his journey.