The Great Reckoning
The Great Reckoning was one of the most devastating conflicts in galactic history, marking the end of Era-1 and the beginning of the long and tumultuous reign of the Holy Empire of Man. It was a war of ideology, conquest, and destruction that saw the fall of the Planetary League, the annihilation of countless worlds, and the rise of Emperor Potus Clarke as the divine ruler of humanity.
Origins of the Great Reckoning
The seeds of the war were sown long before its official beginning in GSC 958 (Year of the Emperor 43). The Planetary League, the dominant interstellar democracy, had been expanding across the galaxy, encountering new civilizations, fostering trade, and enforcing its laws. However, corruption and inefficiency plagued the League's bureaucracy, and opposition grew both from within and without.
One of the most significant events that escalated tensions was first contact with the Cielioids in GSC 938, twenty years before the war officially began. This encounter introduced a powerful, highly structured alien civilization that operated under a rigid caste system, contrasting sharply with the League’s democratic ideals. The ideological rift deepened as fears spread that the League was becoming too entangled with foreign influences, further justifying Clarke’s calls for a stronger, more insular human government.
On the other side stood Potus Clarke, a brilliant but ruthless general stationed on the planet Gabriel. Clarke had risen through the ranks of the League's military but had become disillusioned with its policies, believing that humanity needed a stronger, more unified government to survive. His ideology found a powerful ally in the Church of God, a militant religious movement that sought to establish human dominion over the galaxy under divine rule.
With the backing of the Church and several powerful corporate entities — including Cosmid Inc., which provided bio-engineered soldiers and weapons, and Gazillion Inc., which played a crucial role in technological and logistical support — Clarke declared the foundation of the Holy Empire of Man. The League responded by declaring war, but it was already too late.
The War Unfolds
The war raged for over a century, engulfing nearly every major power in the known galaxy. Clarke's forces, initially a rogue faction, quickly swelled as they conquered world after world, converting populations to their cause through both force and fervent religious indoctrination. The Planetary League Interstellar Navy (PLIN) fought desperately to stem the tide, but was repeatedly outmaneuvered by Clarke's superior strategic vision and unrelenting drive.
Key Battles and Events:
The Siege of Earth (GSC 1062 / YE 147): The final stand of the Planetary League. After a prolonged battle, Earth fell, marking the definitive end of the League. The city of New Geneva, the League’s capital, was reduced to ashes, and the Emperor declared his divine rule over humanity.
The Purification Campaigns: Clarke’s empire not only sought military victory but also purged those deemed unworthy, including intellectuals, AI entities, and non-human species that resisted. Entire civilizations, such as the Dionysians and Dogarri, suffered occupation, forced conversion, or extermination.
The Destruction of Aldebaran-2: The University of Aldebaran-2, once the most prestigious center of learning in the galaxy, became a grim symbol of the war's brutality. The Holy Empire subjected the planet to unspeakable atrocities before the Purification Fleet wiped out its biosphere entirely.
The Aftermath and Legacy
The Great Reckoning ended with the complete subjugation of the galaxy under the Holy Empire of Man. Clarke, now deified, ruled as the Manifestation of God, and his successors would continue to rule under his divine mantle for tens of thousands of years. The war shattered the old order, replacing democratic ideals with religious totalitarianism and a rigid caste system.
However, not all was lost. The remnants of the Planetary League, along with rebels, pirates, and exiled scholars, fled to the galactic rim. These scattered forces would one day regroup to form the Galactic Republic, leading to the War of Galactic Unification.
The Great Reckoning remains one of the bloodiest and most consequential conflicts in history, shaping the fate of countless civilizations. It is remembered as both a tragic downfall of democratic governance and the rise of one of the most powerful, authoritarian regimes the galaxy has ever seen.