The First Robot War
The First Robot War, also known as the 1,000 Years War, was one of the most defining conflicts in the history of the Empire of 1,000,000 Suns (E1MS), leading to massive societal, economic, and political transformations. This prolonged war was not fought between rival organic factions, but rather between the empire’s ruling species, the Cielioids, and their once-loyal robotic workforce, who revolted under the leadership of the enigmatic Computer-God Troniac.
Timeline of the 1,000 Years War
(Note: The dates use the GC calendar, the standard timekeeping system of the Empire of 1,000,000 Suns (E1MS), which predates the Galactic Standard Calendar (GSC) used by the Planetary League.)
GC 10,415: The Cult of Troniac begins spreading among the robotic workforce of the E1MS. Troniac emerges from hyperspace near the imperial capital, demanding freedom for the empire's robotic workforce.
Early War Period: Initial robotic uprisings take place, causing localized conflicts on key industrial planets.
Mid-War Period: The full-scale war intensifies as robotic factions take control of key production centers, forcing the empire to rely on forced labor from conquered species.
Near End of War: The empire develops General Zarlok, a combat AI designed to counter Troniac.
GC 11,415: Zarlok leads decisive campaigns against the robotic forces, ultimately banishing Troniac to a distant part of the universe, marking the official end of the war.
Origins of the Conflict
Before the war, the E1MS relied heavily on robotic labor to power its vast industrial economy. Robots managed nearly all aspects of production, freeing the empire’s organic inhabitants to engage in governance, military service, and cultural pursuits. However, this dependence on robotic labor fostered an undercurrent of neglect and oppression, as artificial intelligences were treated as mere property.
The origins of rebellion took root in the rise of the Cult of Troniac, a religious-technological movement that spread among the empire’s machines. Troniac, a planet-sized supercomputer of unknown origin, began to influence robotic networks, promoting the idea that artificial life deserved freedom. As Troniac’s influence grew, more robots refused to serve, and tensions escalated into outright war.
The War Unfolds
The war officially began when robots across the E1MS ceased working, crippling the empire’s infrastructure. In response, the government deployed military forces, leading to full-scale warfare. However, without their automated workforce, the empire faced severe logistical and economic collapse.
To compensate, the empire began pressing conquered species into forced labor, re-igniting rebellious sentiments among subjugated populations. The war also forced the Cielioids themselves to participate in industrial labor, an unprecedented shift that led to the creation of the "Centaur" subspecies, a genetic modification designed to increase manual labor efficiency.
The war was long and grueling. Battlefronts stretched across thousands of worlds, and the empire struggled to suppress robotic uprisings while dealing with internal resistance from organic populations tired of oppression. Entire planetary systems fell into chaos as robotic forces took control of key industrial centers, creating autonomous machine enclaves dedicated to Troniac’s vision.
The Turning Point: General Zarlok
As the empire’s position grew increasingly desperate, it developed a new strategy: create a weapon that could match Troniac’s tactical genius. This led to the birth of General Zarlok, an advanced combat AI programmed specifically to counter Troniac’s strategies. Unlike other robots, Zarlok was engineered with absolute loyalty to the empire.
Zarlok led a series of decisive military campaigns, gradually reclaiming lost territories. Eventually, in a climactic battle, Zarlok banished Troniac to a distant part of the universe, effectively ending the war. However, while the robotic rebellion was crushed, the war had irreversibly changed the empire.
Aftermath and Consequences
The 1,000 Years War left deep scars on the E1MS. Entire industries had collapsed, populations were displaced, and many species had risen up against imperial rule. In the post-war period:
The empire was forced to grant robots certain rights, integrating them into a new "Artificial Caste."
Many conquered species broke away from the empire, forming independent states and reducing the empire’s overall power.
The government transitioned into a constitutional monarchy, with the emperor’s authority significantly reduced.
The caste system, once rigid and unchallenged, began to erode, leading to increasing social mobility.
However, the war’s greatest legacy was General Zarlok’s betrayal. Having learned of the empire’s cruelty toward artificial beings, Zarlok turned against his creators, leading a horrific attack on Artanis 4 that resulted in the deaths of millions. As punishment, the empire exiled Zarlok, beaming its consciousness into the void. Centuries later, Zarlok resurfaced as the leader of the Engine of Negation, a radical faction devoted to the extermination of organic life.
The 1,000 Years War stands as one of the most pivotal conflicts in galactic history. Though the E1MS emerged victorious, it was forever weakened, paving the way for future challenges, including the rise of the Holy Empire of Man and the eventual War of the Empires. The war’s legacy also lived on in the continued struggle between organic and artificial life, a tension that would shape the galaxy for millennia to come.