June 14, 2020
New Valletta, Capital city of the Theran Fortress World of Largo
One week after the declaration of war
The 16th Equestrian Volunteers; aka. The Thestral Hellfighters
“Battalion, form up!”
As the thestral ponies of the 16th Equestrian Volunteers assembled on the parade grounds standing to attention, Major Starlight Nightflyer, a female thestral with a swan Cutie Mark turned to salute her superior.
“Colonel Churchill, the 16th Equestrian Volunteers has returned from the front as ordered, sir!” she greeted as loud as she could with her thick thestral accent (for this context, slavic).
“Thera welcomes you back to Largo, Major Nightflyer.” said the human colonel, returning her salute, “At ease, Hellfighters. I had hoped to give you and your battalion a warmer reception, considering your achievements on the front with the Kalderin Swarm, but recent developments dictates the removal of such niceties.”
Nightflyer smirked, “Hmph, on the contrary, Colonel. Compared to the insanity from the front, a quiet welcome such as this could not have been more appropriate.”
While the colonel did return her mirth with a smile, she noticed uncertainty in his eyes.
“Is something wrong, Colonel?” she tilted her head as she asked.
Churchill gave a sigh. “Yes, there is plenty wrong. You Hellfighters are coming home to Thera; for reassignment.”
For a brief moment, a surprised joy was on the faces of the entire battalion before they heard, “reassignment”.
“Don’t tease us like that, Colonel,” the Major spoke in a playful tone, attempting to lighten the mood, “Getting our hopes up with what we would have normally thought for an early home leave, only to be recalled back home for reassignment. Shame on you.” Her mirth died after the colonel did not return her usual teasing with some sarcasm of his own and instead maintained his frown which she now noticed was full of regret and frustration. “So where exactly are we reassigned to, Colonel?” She asked in an attempt to focus on the task, “Is this about the growing marauder activity of the Rixian Corsairs? Please tell me we’re not taken from the front against the Kalderins only to deal with those raiders, not when our forces are finally pushing them back to their core worlds.”
Rubbing the bridge of his nose, Churchill gave another long drawn sigh and passed the thestral a newspaper. “No, Major; it’s worse.”
Nightflyer took one look at the headlines and her eyes widened in shock. “WHAT?!”
“Something wrong, Major?” one of her soldiers braved to ask out of the ranks.
“I’m afraid so,” her voice gave a quiver before turning to her battalion and reading out the report;
“Last week on Friday, June the fifth, due to escalations of committed crimes against Humanity and other sentient life by the Conversion Bureau of Equestria and a failure to meet the demands listed by the League, The League of Nations of Thera has declared war on the Kingdom of Equestria. No sooner was this declaration announced, Equestria launched an invasion force of 700,000 across the continent of Asia with at least a million more in reserve, meaning they have prepared for this conflict for quite some time. Volunteers from across all fronts are to be recalled immediately to defend the Homeworld, with the exceptions of fronts such as the Avalon sector and the Cybrex sector.”
The Battalion erupted with reactions.
“We’re at war with Equestria?!”
“That’s crazy!! How did this happen?”
“What does that mean for us?”
“Are we being decommissioned?”
“Decommissioned?! I’ve spent four years serving the Volunteers, I’m not getting kicked out just one more year before me and my family’s Citizenship!”
“Is that going to matter? They’ll probably kick out the entire pony population out of Thera!”
“They wouldn’t do that, would they? My family has nowhere else to go, and there is no way in Hell we’ll be welcomed back to Equestria!”
“We weren’t welcomed there to begin with, even with Princess Luna back! Why would any of them want us back after our service to Thera?”
“But… I have brothers in the Night Guard. You can’t expect me to fight them for-”
“ENOUGH!!!”
Major Nightflyer screeched out her best impression of the Royal Canterlot voice, silencing the Hellfighters. Once they settled down, she turned back to the colonel with an apologetic gesture. “My apologies, Colonel, but can I have a moment alone with my troops?”
“Of course, Major,” he curtly nodded, “Take all the time you need. I’ll meet you and your staff in the briefing room in 17:00 hours.” He gave a salute that Nightflyer returned with her own and left the parade grounds.
Major Nightflyer turned to the entire Battalion with the most baleful glare, causing some of the newer Volunteers to shrink from her gaze. She inhaled a deep breath and spoke softly but clearly with her thick thestral accent, “You listen clearly, all of you. It doesn't matter who we are fighting against, it is what we are fighting for. Equestria does not matter to us. Not anymore. We may have been born there but it is no longer home. Thera is our home now, and it has been these past years serving in her Volunteer Army. And by God, I could never be prouder to serve her.
“Equestria has done nothing for me all my life. Not when I was denied by my family. Not when I was denied my dream. Not when I was abandoned by the bastard who I once called my lover. Not when I brought my son into the world. Not when I sold my body to the streets of Canterlot to support him. Nothing. When that portal opened that day, I was one of the first to enter a world scarred and battered, but thriving. When I was offered to serve and protect their worlds from the terrors of their galaxy, I was guaranteed Citizenship for me and my son. And when the community I resided with heard from my son that I was serving the Volunteers, they treated us with more respect than I ever received in all my life. They may not have liked me or my son, alien that we are to them, but they respected us, just for being a sworn citizen for our host nation. The Therans have a saying, “Thera may not be the prettiest girl in the street, but she will make you feel welcome if you treat her right.” I could not think of a better world to call home. And I know for a fact that my story is no different from any of yours.”
She pointed to a post at the entrance to the base for all to see. “When you carved your name on that post, did you or did you not swear an oath to abandon the life you once had? To start anew?! I have taken that oath, I have abandoned the life I once had, even my calling from my Cutie Mark so that my son can live the life I never had. We sacrificed everything to get to where we are now because we chose this path. We chose this destiny. Not fate. Not the Princesses. Not the Therans. Us. We chose to fight for Thera because we chose to have a new life for ourselves and our chosen family. If any of you have second thoughts on the matter, you can leave and forget about everything you have accomplished to be where you are today.”
The murmurs among the ranks after her speech slowly died down as the battalion stood to attention. All uncertainty from their expressions were gone, replaced by resolve.
“Major,” one of the sergeants with a Canterlot accent called out, “we are not sitting this one out. Each of us has a mare, stallion, colt, filly and/or foal waiting for us home. I’ve a wife and foal back in Thera. I can’t back down now, not when they’re depending on me.”
“Damn right, we aren’t Sarge!” shouted out a mare, “We started this gig, might as well go all the way!”
“Amen to that,” another voice called out, this time a stallion, “We’re the Hellfighters; the finest pony Volunteers! We back down now, we’ll be the laughing stock of the Volunteers!”
The whole battalion gave a small hearty laugh at that comment.
“I am a Volunteer,” a private announced, reciting a creed, “I gave up my old home, creed and life to serve the Nations of Thera.”
“My past is forgotten,” another joined the recitation, “My home long abandoned. My beliefs I have forsaken. My sins are now pardoned.”
The rest of the battalion joined the creed.
“Beside me are my comrades. Behind are my Kin.
Before me are my enemies. Above me is my God.
Below me is now my home.
What lands I tread shall be Theran soil. The Lord who watches over me protects.
The foes I destroy are to be respected. The lives I save are the innocent.
And the soldiers beside me are my blood brothers.
From the edges of reality to the heart of Thera herself, I swear this oath: I will uphold the values of the nations under God’s Law; to abandon the life I left behind, to be the shield for the righteous, to be the sword against the wicked, and a beacon of virtue.
And in return, wherever the men of Thera treads, I shall be found wanted as will my chosen Kin.
Thera Invicta! Thera Victoria!”
That same day, within the barracks of the 1st Equestrian Volunteer Medical Brigade, aka, Valkari Brigade.
Dear Mom and Dad,
It’s been a while, huh? I’ve heard over the radio what just happened. I hope both of you and the girls are alright and that none of the neighbours are giving you trouble. The guys in our company told me that there is nothing for me to worry about. Aiden even joked that, “If the Volunteers could accept an ex-convict like Alejandre, you would have no problems with the rest of us.” He always was the cool one.
Our colonel did take some of us for questioning if we knew about the several ponies that disappeared just before the war broke out, which made me worry for the girls and their sweethearts. I know the two of you didn’t exactly approve of their relationships with different species, but this is a new life we’ll have to adapt to and I hope you’ll at least respect their choices in life; as for mine.
I know you weren’t thrilled when I didn’t make it to the Wonderbolts and that I messed up spectacularly. Believe me, these last few years made me realise how much of a featherbrain I was. I couldn’t thank you all enough when you recommended that I join the IUVA. At first I thought you were all crazy; that you did it to get rid of me for being an embarrassment to the family. I never really told you how much of a surprise it was when you accepted my invitation to move the whole family to Thera. For the longest time I thought you’d never give me a chance to fix my mistakes. For that, I couldn’t be more grateful.
Anyway, we’re being shipped off within this week and in a few months we’ll be making our way home. Hope to see you all then.
Your awesome daughter,
Lightning Dust.
July 1, 2020
Konstantinople, Capital of the Byzantine Empire, Thera
Three weeks after the declaration of war
Military Bar “Ignis in Foraminis”
Sandbar
Gallus, is that you?
Gallus
Sandbar!! You son of a mule! Long time no see! (Clasps a talon to Sandbar’s forehoof, followed by an embrace)
Sandbar
What are you doing here, you featherbrain?
Gallus
Oh, I’m part of the Volunteers. Can’t you see the uniform?
Sandbar
No way! For how long?
Gallus
Oh, two years. I was stationed with the infamous 49th Light Infantry.
Sandbar
Horseapples! You’re with those guys? Weren’t they on the front months ago?
Gallus
Yeah, we were. Saw those fungus zombies up close. Picked up a souvenir on the way back. (Taps an automail inplace of his left talon)
Sandbar
Dude, I’m sorry to-
Gallus
Hey, none of that. You didn’t lop it off so there’s nothing to be sorry about. Besides, I get to have this sweet robot arm in exchange. Only downside is it itches now and then. I mean seriously, how does that happen? It’s mechanical!
(The two of them shared a laugh.)
Radio Broadcaster
We interrupt this program with a newsflash. The capital city of the Kingdom of Jerusalem has fallen into Equestrian hands as the city’s garrison of the 21st Templar Guards were defeated in an attempted counterattack. While most of the city’s population were evacuated, less than ten thousand citizens were still trapped inside once the Capital was occupied by the invading Equestrians, along with several Christian, Jewish and Zoroastrian holy relics left within the temple mount. The Knights Templars’ Grandmaster Joseph Enrico made no comment on this disaster.
In other news, the borders with the Rixian Corsairs exploded with activity when-
Bar Patron 1
Bloody four-legged xeno bastards! Why can’t we just Exterminatus their damned planet?
(Gallus gives a snarl and attempts to approach the patron)
Sandbar
(Stops Gallus) It’s not worth it Gallus. Let them be.
Gallus
Let them be? That was my home too, y’know! Besides, you of all creatures in this bar ought to give them a piece of your mind.
Sandbar
Have you seen the front against Equestria? I have. I was there in Persepolis while we were evacuating the city. It was messed up Gallus; their airships blew up half the city to Hell. Their heavy infantry tore through our fortified positions. I was part of a squad sent to evacuate a town. When we got there, all we found were stacks of bodies. And that was just a portion of the town. We found out most of them were shipped in carts to Equestria, like livestock. (Takes a drink)
Gallus
Damn. I mean, we heard the stories of the Unconquered Sun, but damn, never thought they were real.
Sandbar
How do you think I feel about it? I joined this outfit to see the worlds beyond Equestria. Brought my folks along the road to show off the stars. When the whole Conversion Bureau got exposed, my folks were torn of either making it back to Equestria or staying here.
Gallus
What did they choose?
Sandbar
When word got out of all the abductions of mares with relationships with humans across Thera, they chose to stay. They couldn’t believe it. Hell, I couldn’t believe it! Luckily, our neighbours were supportive enough to stop a mob from attacking them.
Gallus
Galahad. Have you heard from the old gang before all this happened?
Sandbar
Hmph, I was flattened on my ass by Yona when I joined the Volunteers, remember? Everypony thought it was the break up of the century. I couldn’t exactly write to everyone when I caused one of us to cry like I just tore her heart out. Which makes me curious, why did you join the Volunteers?
Gallus
Ah, so you didn’t hear what happened after all.
Sandbar
What happened?
Gallus
Chancellor Neighsay shut the school down; under Princess Twilight’s orders.
Sandbar
Bullshit!
Gallus
Yeah, I couldn't believe it either. I mean, who sets up a school to teach friendship for all creatures in Equestria only to do a complete 180 when a human tries to sign up. This was a year after you left by the way. Seriously, that Princess has been acting all weird ever since that portal to this planet opened.
Anyway, a few months after the school shut down, Ocellus applied for an internship with the Kaldivians and left for their planet, Yona went back to Yakyakistan, Smolder disappeared leaving a note saying she found something big with author A.K. Yearling, and Silver… We… We split up.
Sandbar
(Does a spit take) WHAT!? How? You guys were like Pinkie and cupcakes!! You two were inseparable!
Gallus
Believe me, I wanted to know why myself. The night before the break up, she came into my room crying like it was the end of the world. We… We spent that night together. Then the next morning I found a note telling me that she’s sorry and that our relationship just couldn’t work. Last I heard from her was that she moved to Canterlot.
With the school closed, the gang split up, couldn’t stay in Equestria and I didn’t want to go back to Griffinstone; I figured, “what the hell?” I bought a ticket to Thera, made for the closest Recruitment Office and joined the Volunteers. Served in the front against the Kalderin Swarm, lost an arm, got shipped back here to receive this sweet robo-claw in exchange, then the whole damn war with Equestria happened.
Sandbar
Jesus. That’s rough buddy.
Gallus
Tell me about it. Hmph, at least I wasn’t pounded into a pulp in my break up.
Sandbar
(He lets out a small laugh) Can’t argue with that. (Holds out a glass) Here’s to another broken heart.
Gallus
(Clinks his glass to Sandbar’s) Sounds like there’s a story to that toast.
Sandbar
Oh yeah, I didn’t tell you my station. I’m part of-
Home Guard 1
Oi Jackass. What the hell are you doing in our bar? Shouldn’t you be in a stable somewhere?
(The two looks back to see a small group of Home Guard crowding around them)
Gallus
Hey, piss off lackwit. Can’t you see the outfit? (Points to Sandbar’s dress uniform)
Home Guard 2
Oh sure, give a damned xeno a Volunteer uniform and suddenly it makes everything right. We know what you are, you four-legged bastards. Eating our food, drinking our gin. What next, taking our sweethearts from us?
Sandbar
Gallus, it’s not worth it. Let’s just leave.
(The two made for the exit but are blocked by a third)
Home Guard 3
Oi, who said you two faggots can bugger off like that? We’re not done here.
(The group inch, surrounding them)
Sandbar
Look, I don’t want any trouble, okay. And I’d rather not start a fight here.
Home Guard 1
Well, that’s too bad, Jackass. You’ve already started one just by being here.
(A Volunteer named Bernard approaches the group)
Bernard
Excuse me gentlemen, but would you mind backing off from our comrades?
Home Guard 1
Piss off, Hornswoggler, unless you want us to clobber your xeno-loving arse with these two.
Home Guard 3
(Eyes widened after noticing the chevrons) Reese, shut it! He’s an officer!
Home Guard 1
Like we give a damn! You Volunteers are nothing but xeno-loving poofters, taking advantage of our planet’s hospitality! Our ancestors spilled their blood defending this rock from the likes of those xenos, while you lot go off galavanting into some far off reality from nowhere, wasting valuable taxpayer’s money!
(A Zangland Volunteer named Yurulek walked in)
Yurulek
You will hold your tongue, boy. And show respect to the rank and uniform.
(The Home Guards look around to see that they are surrounded by Volunteers)
Bernard
Name. Rank. Now.
Home Guard 1
Reese Lockland. Private. 53rd South African Home Guard.
Bernard
How long have you been in the army, Private?
Home Guard 1
S-seven month ago, sir.
Bernard
Seven months. Private Sandbar, how long have you served?
Sandbar
Four years, Captain.
Bernard
You, bird-cat. What’s your name?
Gallus
Gallus. Just Gallus, sir. Private first class.
Bernard
Gallus, a fine name. How long have you served, son?
Gallus
Two years, sir. Three in a couple of months.
Bernard
Two years. Yurulek, how long have you served for Thera?
Yurulek
Sixteen years, Captain.
Bernard
Sixteen years. (Leans closer to the Home Guards) Every Volunteer here has served longer than you have. Every one of us shed blood for the defence of this planet and its interests. Everyone of us here knows of one who has fought, bled and died for the defence of this rock, longer than you have donned that uniform.
But I’m not here just to berate you on your lack of experience, boy. Every last one of us gave up the lives we once knew for every citizen under the banner of the League of Nations. As the good book says, “Whoever is not against us is for us.” We signed up to hold the very gates of Hell from breaking loose to harm everything we stand for. If you can’t tell the difference between our brothers in arms and our enemies, then take those uniforms off gentlemen, because you are dishonouring everything that uniform stands for!
(Home Guardsmen lower their heads in shame.)
Home Guard Reese
My apologies, sir.
Bernard
Apology accepted, private. Now that you’ve cooled your heads down, how about you get better acquainted with these two? I’m sure if you ask where they served, you’ll be thoroughly impressed.
Home Guard 2
Um, where have you two served?
Gallus
I served with the 49th Light Infantry. I was in the frontline against the Kalderins and was stationed in Fort Arthur in the Avalon Sector.
Home Guard 3
Wait, Fort Arthur? Wasn’t that the Habitat station that was hammered by those monsters?
Gallus
Eeyup. I was there when they besieged the place. Thought I was a goner til the Iron Fleet came to lift the siege. That’s how I got this. (Taps his automail)
Home Guard 2
You actually survived that God-forsaken siege? Well, damn. Now I’m impressed. (Turns to Sandbar) What about you?
Sandbar
(Smirked and pointed to the rest of the Volunteers) See these guys? I served with them. We're from the 52nd Heavy Infantry.
(The Home Guardsmen stared at the group dumbfounded)
Home Guard Reese
The 52nd?! (Turns to Major Bernard in recognition) Bloody Hell, you’re Captain Bernard Falkner! Other known as Grampa Falkner. You lot are the infamous Heartbreak Company, aren’t you? The most experienced unit of the IUVA!
Bernard
So, our reputation precedes us.
Home Guard 3
They barely do you justice! You were one of the first formed units after the Great War, and the first to engage the Starcatchers in Verdun. You were also one of the first to travel across dimensions such as that reality locked in a Galaxy-wide civil war.
How are you here? I thought you were still stationed in our Protectorate in Toril.
Sandbar
Oh, we were actually. We were stationed on this ship called a Spelljammer patrolling the Sword Coast, holding off an Illithid invasion. It was wild. We were relieved and recalled here after tensions escalated with Thera and Equestria.
When the war broke out we were in Persepolis, assisting the evacuation.
(Idol chatter spreads across the bar as other patrons join in the conversation. Drinks are passed around, followed by laughter and singing)
Radio Broadcaster
We return to your radio broadcast with a live performance from the 2nd Mount Aris Volunteers aboard the Cruiser Damascus.
Ulm system
Battle Group, Copper Fleet
Asteroid-class Cruiser, IUVAS Damascus
“Captain, please? Can’t we sing it one more time?”
Captain Zhou Chen frowned at the young sea-green maned hippogriff Volunteer in front of him. “Private Terramar, this is the third time your company requested that song today. Either pick another song or make your way back to the barracks.”
“Please Captain? You know how catchy it is and it really does wonders for morale.” Terramar begged with his best puppy-dog eyes, with the rest of his company offering the same look.
The Captain winced, avoiding looking at them in their pleading gaze. He sighed inwardly and made for his communications officer. “Let me contact the Admiral and ask his permission.”
Damn those eyes. They should be illegal.
An hour later, broadcasted across IUVA Radio
We return to your radio broadcast with a live performance from the 2nd Mount Aris Volunteers aboard the Cruiser Damascus. As a gesture of commitment that not all Equestrians support Celestia’s war, these brave hippogriff Volunteers have offered to perform the old Space Shanty, “Fish from the Sea.”
(Verse 1)
Come all you young spacefarers, listen to me
I’ll sing you a song of our fish from the sea
(Chorus)
And its windy weather, boys, stormy weather
When the wind blows then were all together, boys
Blow ye winds fringeward, hey! Blow ye winds blow!
Out to the galaxy steady she goes
(Verse 2)
Up come the solar winds taking us far
All through the space lanes and out through the stars
(Chorus)
And its windy weather, boys, stormy weather
When the wind blows then were all together, boys
Blow ye winds fringeward, hey! Blow ye winds blow!
Out to the galaxy steady she goes
(Verse 3)
Up comes the great dragon in search of our home
Through space to a place that's beneath wave and foam
(Chorus)
And its windy weather, boys, stormy weather
When the wind blows then were all together, boys
Blow ye winds fringeward, hey! Blow ye winds blow!
Out to the galaxy steady she goes
(Verse 4)
Up comes the Tiyanki the king of deep space
Racing our ships in a hyperspace chase
(Chorus)
And its windy weather, boys, stormy weather
When the wind blows then were all together, boys
Blow ye winds fringeward, hey! Blow ye winds blow!
Out to the galaxy steady she goes
(Verse 5)
Up come the leviathan tentacles grasp
Choking our ship as we shiver and gasp
(Chorus)
And its windy weather, boys, stormy weather
When the wind blows then were all together, boys
Blow ye winds fringeward, hey! Blow ye winds blow!
Out to the galaxy steady she goes
(Verse 6)
Up comes the lithoid, all hewn from their stone
Those boulders are bolder when they’re not alone!
(Chorus)
And its windy weather, boys, stormy weather
When the wind blows then were all together, boys
Blow ye winds fringeward, hey! Blow ye winds blow!
Out to the galaxy steady she goes
(Verse 7)
Up comes the necroids, all fearsome and great
You can't kill them mateys, they'll reanimate!
(Chorus)
And its windy weather, boys, stormy weather
When the wind blows then were all together, boys
Blow ye winds fringeward, hey! Blow ye winds blow!
Out to the galaxy steady she goes
(Verse 8)
Up comes swarms of robots, get ready to run
Fight one, ten, a dozen, 1101
(Chorus)
And its windy weather, boys, stormy weather
When the wind blows then were all together, boys
Blow ye winds fringeward, hey! Blow ye winds blow!
Out to the galaxy steady she goes
(Verse 9)
We rose from the ocean and reached for the sky
We’re building an empire that never will die!
(Chorus)
And its windy weather, boys, stormy weather
When the wind blows then were all together, boys
Blow ye winds fringeward, hey! Blow ye winds blow!
Out to the galaxy steady she goes
Volunteer reinforcements ETA: Five months.
Well, at least the non-pony races are doing better...for now. This chapter has me thinking about the 442nd Infantry Regiment from WW2. A unit made up of Japanese Americans. Replace them with those who feel more at home on Thera than on Equestria...
(Hmmm... it's starting to look like there's a bit more to this than meets the eye. Twilight's one-eighty, distinctly noted as having occurred after the portal opened, her willingness to turn on all her friends earlier... Silver, saying they couldn't be together and disappearing without explanation. There's plenty that can be explained by Celestia's tyranny and abandoning of morals, and maybe this to... but we already know there are clandestine factions in operation.
It could be simple evil and desperation in a changed world, goodness knows it's clear that Celestia's armies have already crossed that line. Or it could be that Twilight is not in her right mind... or not Twilight. And it could also be that Silver is involved in the moving of organizations behind the veil... In any case, a bit more intrigue into this story. Very nice.
Also, thank you for the introduction to the sci-fi sea shanty. Very catchy.)
11400601
My pleasure
11400599
I actually took inspiration from them. The 52nd are based on them but decided to change the number to a deck of cards.
Edit: I know, they're not exactly full of Equestrian Volunteers, but their veterancy and experience is what I counted on.
Is equestria using fire arms, or medieval weaponry?
11400877
Bit of both. They've developed prototype tanks and airships in attempt to catch up with their Theran counterparts, but most use magical items as makeshift firearms. While they cannot cast magic in Thera without consequences, they managed to bypass that with their magic armour and weapons.
Most of their armaments however are salvaged, borrowed or stolen.
who will win?
-racist pones who probably magicked their problems away
-monkes that has been in constant warfare for survival for the last few thousand years
11400904
Someone, anyone, please make a meme out of that.
11400817
Ironic then. Because that is the nickname given to the 369th Infantry Regiment of the New York Army National Guard by the Imperial German Army. Very respected by its enemies and allies (they were attached to the French army due to American bigotry), but treated like crap by their fellows.
11401682
Wait, Are you talking about the Harlem Hellfighters from WWI?
11401740
Yep
huh... this is an ALT HISTORY scenario... where humanity was visited by alliens either before, during or after WW1?
11402710
Yes.
The aliens contacted the clandestine organisation of the NWO and used the Great War as the opportunity to invade. The plan was; let humanity kill each other by extending the war for a hundred years then swoop in as saviours and stop their war. That didn't happen when a group of deserters encountered an inter-dimensional portal and found out the truth through the help of their own third party of aliens. Said deserters with the help of their very own aliens revealed the truth to the soldiers across the battlefields of the war and led The Armies' Revolt planet wide against their respective leaders who prolonged the war (most connected to the NWO). When the war ended along with the hunt for the traitors (whom most escaped through a series of their own dimensional portals), the League of Nations was established to prepare for the inevitable invasion of the aliens who kept the war going.
11402795
ahhh. COOL!
11402795
Hmm.
My primary Stellaris faction (human) is one with the traits military, egalitarianism (as in opposite of authoritarian, and spiritual). Somehow I always turn out the Terran Confederacy (which is what I've consistently named the faction) as a military commissariat, when it's supposed to represent American values (God, Freedom, military to defend the Confederacy). It's still elective, but I wish I could rename the government type, because rule by the military isn't supposed to be it.
My idea for it is that humanity united in a loose union (hence the "Confederacy" part) and took to the stars with individual nations working together. Sadly, it's not as worked out of your Thera.
Question, though; Surely, before WWI (Or the Great War in the Thera-verse), the planet was called Earth; where did the name change come from, and how (not a negative question) did most/all nations convert to Christianity (and which version of it) without enforcing that religious unity (like by force or through prejudiced laws)?
Also, second question; is Thera based on the game IronStorm/World War Zero, by any means, where WWI goes on until at least 1964 (with no end in sight and a Syndicate running things)?
11410733
To answer the first part of your first question, The planet's name never changed. Earth (which is another word for soil, land, ground, dirt, etc.) has the same meaning but not used for the name of the planet. Thera I thought sounded closer to Terra which is the *Latin name for our planet (*correct me if I'm wrong here) and Thera sounded closer to that. In my Thera-verse as you put it, "Thera" was another translation for "Terra" which also serves as a not-so-clever anagram for "Earth".
As for the second part, History wise, the Byzantium Empire exists in this timeline which was due to the efforts of Tsarina Catharine the Great in 1750 and the French Empire's invasion of Egypt and Anatolia which led to the Balkan rebellion in 1815 that inevitably crumbled the Ottomans. I should also mention here that the First Crusade proved as a success and the Zoroastrian uprising of Assyria limited Islam to Saudi Arabia, Anatolia and the Steppes til the 18th century. The Great Schism between the Western Catholic Faith and the Eastern Orthodoxy and the Hussite rebellion still happens, but Luther's calls for reformation was taken into massive consideration by the Catholic Church, hence the Great Reformation which also resulted in Luther voted as Pope. Due to that sadly, The United States never came into being and are merely Colonies across the Eastern Coast of the continent. This however did create the Iroquoian Protectorate states, which eventually formed the Iroqui-Cherokee Confederation that overtook the rest of the Northern Continent. Their semi-Democratic system inspired the French Revolution (mostly due to a lot of the French Colonies' exposure to the Confederation as well as other factors in our timeline).
The Evangelisation in Africa through the Kingdom of Kongo by the Portuguese and the Abyssinians' Coptic Faith led to a wide spread Christianisation of Africa preventing the Scramble for Africa. To the East, thanks to Oda Nobunaga's acceptance of Catholic missionaries as his counter to the Buddhists who impede his efforts to unify the country was widely popular to the common people; which proved successful due to a larger manpower pool, a more zealous populi, and an enormous supply of Western Weaponry and Gunpowder (Curtesy from the Church). However, they ended up as their own Eastern Schism of Christianity with their Emperor as the Head of the Church and ordained by God (similar to England's Anglican Faith).
Faiths however slowly died down as Rationalisation grew more prominent in the 19th Century and was made worse by the Great War. That's not to say that the core tenants of Christianity (The Ten Commandments) have diminished from their values. That all changed however. After the Great War, the exposure of other realities and the Revelation by the Holy Order of Sabak that Humanity bares the image of the Great Creator, Religious fervour spread like wildfire.
The League of Nations of Thera is not a centralised World Governing body but a collection of Allied Nations in interest of protecting the planet. They are Egalitarian in function but not in spirit. It is an Oligarchical collective with each senator a representative of each nation, colony and protectorate that votes one above all nations as representative for the Galactic Community (The Minister General). The ones truly in power however are the IUVA (Inter-Universal Volunteer Army). Although they act as a separate entity from the Governing Nations, The IUVA can overwrite directives, edicts and laws when the League is in a state of War. To prevent them from going too far however, Civilian firearms are mandatory to ensure the IUVA remains in their function to protect the League and their interests.
While Religion may be prominent across Thera, there is a clear line between church and state. Not to say the church can't support or influence the state, but the state must not use the church.
To Answer your second Question: None of them. Thera was uniquely my own creation with inspirations from Civ5's Empire of Smokey Skies, Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends, Stellaris steampunk mods before they become obsolete, and the Fiechters' Dark Steampunk music album.
Cool that the Byzantines/Eastern Roman Empire was restored in this time line.
Well, I would never have guessed that would happen, Luther being Pope.
Awwwww...
I doubt the Shinto were happy about the latter.
How did the Great War start in this timeline, without the Entente and Central Powers as we know them? And with the Ottomans out of the picture entirely by this time? Was Archduke Ferdinand still assassinated, or did something else happen?
Kind of like my Terran Confederacy.
Oh.
Huh. Because the clues all reminded me of Iron Storm.
Rise of Nations; Rise of Legends was underrated, IMO. I loved the Vinci and their Steampunk/Victorian look.
11411206
Oddly enough, that actually almost happened in our timeline. After the Pope at the time (I can't remember his name) died, the cardinals and bishops wanted to placate the second schism through appeasement by putting Luther as Cardinal with the goal of making him Pope. That didn't happen of course due to his refusal and his marriage to a runaway nun.
The Archduke's assassination still happened but not in Serbia. Serbia was a Protectorate of the Byzantium at the time. No, The Archduke was assassinated on tour in Hungary by none other than the New World Order. The Agent who carried it out was a French citizen and made it clear he was aa French citizen. You know where this is going.
Thera's Great War had Prussia Confederation, Austria-Hungarian Empire, The allied Kingdoms of Britain, The Kingdom of Portugal, The Russian Empire, The Swedish Empire, The Kingdom of the Netherlands, and The Xing Empire (The Central Alliance) against The French Empire, The Byzantium Empire, The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, The Kingdom of Denmark, The Kingdom of Norway, The Kingdom of Italy, The Spanish Empire, The Iroqui-Cherokee Confederation, and the Nihon Empire (The Entente). The African Nations stayed Neutral until the next decade with Kongo and Mali siding with the Central Powers and Ethiopian-Arabian Empire on the side of the Entente.
Now this is the tricky bit; how this war lasted for a hundred years was due to one country after another dropping out of the war due to defeat, only to go back in a few years later. Essentially, this was Thera's Thirty Years War and the Great War rolled together. The only reprieve was the yearly armistice after the third decade of the war. For one year in a decade, all sides agreed to halt military actions to recover what they can only to start anew after. Civil unrest and Revolutions were common place and often just added more complications to the factions within the war. On several occasion, the war ended up being a three-way war and even a five-way war. This was planned of course. Much of the war was instigated by the NWO to make it as chaotic as possible, making it easier to control the war. By the time the war ended, the war had eight factions fighting each other, mostly from city-states, colonies and protectorates declaring independence and now had to fight any of the big Empires that attempts to swallow them whole. Several nations were lost in the conflict such as Norway, Denmark, The Netherlands, Venice, just to name a few.
11437828
OK but Will they have mid evil armor that makes them look like Knights?
11438062
You mean Medieval? Not exactly, more of a mix between Protoss Zealot esque armour from Starcraft and Elite Covenant battle armour from Halo.
11438118
Yes and sorry Auto correct fail and I didn't want to correct it but that sounds like a awesome combination of armor
11447616
What can I say? I loved that game to death and it's sequel was part of the inspiration for Thera.
11410733
The United State of America is a secular democratic republic —— ¡not a theocracy! People are allowed to worship however and whatever they like, as long as they do not harm others, but citizens and the state cannot impose their religious believes on others. As far as religion being kept out of the government, and the government staying out of religion, unless the government has a compelling interest (murder is illegal; so therefore, if a church would perform human sacrifices, the government would have a compelling interest to intervene, stop the human sacrifices, and arrest the sacrificers for murder), we have the term "Wall of Separation between Church and State".
Basically, the American values are freedom and military to defend. as part of freedom, people have the right to worship or not as they wish. The Constitution guarantees that atheists have equal rights, and can vote, sit of juries, run for office, et cetera.
11459085
It is NOT a theocracy. I did not claim it was.
11459094
You did claim that "God" is an American Value. It is not. Americans are free to believe or not believe as they please. Scores of millions of Americans are atheists. "God" is not a value for them.
11459101
Not to be rude, but I am not required to agree.
11459115
God is not an American Value. I certainly would not lay down my life to make the USA into the Republic of Gideon from the Handmaids' Tale; indeed, I would fight against that.
11459122
NOBODY brought stuff like that up before you did in this thread. And no, I have no intention of "turning the US into a handmaid's tale." I just want to stop the increasing spiral of atheism and secularism in our society, NOT, repeat, NOT establish a theocracy or dictatorship or radically change American laws (radically like banning the Bill of Rights or forcing religion onto other people).
11459127
I believe you mean "the upward spiral of atheism and secularism". "God" is not an American Value; "freedom to believe or not believe" is. The Founding Fathers certainly wanted a Secular Republic. Replacing "religious freedom" with "God" is UnAmerican". It is a slap in the face to all of the atheists who died in foxholes protecting this country.
I m curious what happened to islam?
11820346
Do you want the non-controversial version or the controversial version of this world?