This is Forever Zero.
It is the year AC 260...
Three months have passed since the Xedearan Invasion, and now humanity unwittingly stands on the brink of oblivion.
Armageddon for Humanity
In the spring of AC 260, years of relative peace came to a grinding halt with the arrival of the first Xedearan attack squadrons from beyond the solar system. Traveling in vessels capable of faster-than-light travel, these then-faceless foes immediately began to obliterate anyone and everything that came across their path. Attempts to communicate, to beg for mercy, seemed to fall on deaf ears as their armada grew and sliced its way through the very bastions of prosperity that humankind had been so proud of mere weeks before.
The Earth Sphere United Alliance (ESUA) was almost paralyzed. Its powerful military, the United Alliace Armed Forces (UAAF), had only emerged from its late infancy after decades of disarray. Even though they had the most sophisticated technology ever developed by humanity at their disposal, many of these poor soldiers had never seen an actual battlefield. They were caught completely unprepared for the realities and rigors of war. At the disasterous Battle of Saturn Point, thousands of terrified young men and women were cut to pieces by a foe that seemed totally unstoppable.
Yet, as time passed, the beleaguered UAAF found itself joined by other defenders. Freebooting mercenaries and self-described heroes lept at the challenge. Even the most despicable bandits and outlaws were able to put aside their identities to lend a hand. Weeks of fighting dragged on out into months, with the death tolls escalating from the thousands to the millions. In time, revelations around the Xedearans human origins urged some of these aliens to switch sides, while the magnetism of some individuals motivated many to keep fighting for their very existence.
Time revealed the truth behind many of the invasion's mysteries. The Xedearans, goaded by exaggerated misinformation, had come to Earth in search of a divine, psychic Oracle. Discovering that no such thing existed, the deific psychic consciousness that guided these aliens attempted to stop its cloned "children" from continuing to fight. At least one leader, Xi Kaenon, refused this command. Eager to pursue his own agenda, the deraged alien general destroyed his creator, proclaiming himself the supreme being of his race. Under Kaenon, the invasion suddenly shifted gears, changing into an outright campaign of genocide against humanity. The conflict grew even more savage.
Events brought the entire war into a final showdown over the skies of both North and South America. Though his armies were severely beaten, and unable to replenish their ranks with cloned troops, Kaenon continued to fight. In the end, it took no less than has own brother, and fellow general, Xi Taxiohn, to finally defeat him, though at the cost of his own life. With both of their leaders dead, the remaining Xedearan clones went into a panic, many losing their direction, and surrendering.
Reconstruction Blues
Though the invasion was over, the ESUA still faced several difficulties. The most obvious has come from the destruction brought by the conflict, which has claimed every single colony and research centre between the Earth Sphere and Neptune. All that is left are the original Lagrange Point colonies, the scattered space station, and the bustling settlements on Mars. The UAAF is in complete disorder, with over 50% of their personnel either dead or unable to return to active duty. The ESUA had survived the onslaught, but the price was unbelievable.
To make matters worse, shortly before the invasion was stopped, the Mars settlements declared their independence from the ESUA. Having been left totally untouched by the Xedearan invaders, it had become a new home for millions of evacuated colony dwellers, many of whom were bitter with their government. On top of this, the invasion's end left the ESUA with several hundred thousand Xedearan survivors, all of whom were immediately seen as potential security risks.
Unable to deal with the Mars problem, the ESUA turned to handling these stranded aliens. Revealed to have been the product of genetic experiments on human DNA, the Xedearans were seen as an abomination by some, but welcomed as kin by others. The ESUA leaned towards the harsher view, however, and soon set to work registering and herding as many of these alien clones as possible. Most have been placed in restricted camps and settlements, called "Xed-towns" by the public. They have been made to feel like second-class citizens, and have not been given any rights under Earth law. These actions, the ESUA claims, are for the best, until it can determine which aliens are and are not a threat to society.
Not everyone agrees.
In an isolated colony, the denizens of mankind's own genetic tinkering, the Arikales, have begun a revolution. Feeling empathy towards the aliens' plight, and tired of the repeated injustices of the ESUA, this independent army has decreed that it is time for change. Seeking no less than the total disbanding of the Alliance government, they are willing to go to war with the ESUA for the sake of equality. They are joined by allies from all walks of life, each eager to bring about the Arikales' dream of a new utopian order for all peoples of the Earth Sphere.
Now, just as the Earth Sphere attempts to crawl away from the invasion, it faces the threat of a totally new conflict. However, unlike the last, the cause is not a marauding army of outsiders, but human beings whose questionable acts hold a noble purpose.
But is there justice in war?
Will collapsing order save us all?
The Alliance. The Revolutionaries. A conflict that will divide friends and families, severing ties that run generations deep, and awakening allegiances that seemed impossible in days past. Life, death, honor, deceit, loyalty, treachery. Yesterday's villains will become champions, while heroes will be dubbed outlaws. Wisdom will echo with lies, and the ravings of madmen will gain true clarity. And against it all, an enemy sleeps, awaiting the coming time of its own ascension.
The calling is heard...