2898 AU
Some three years after the Rape of Isos, galactic events seemed stabilized – save the renewed Nebulan conquests in the northern Fringe. Despite humanitarian outcry, the League proved powerless to stop the conquests and killing due to loopholes in the League charter. The conflict intensified drastically over the years, absorbing even Terran Fringe colonies in the north such as Ferrith in 2898. Finally and quite unexpectedly, a representative from beyond the Fringe offered to meet with the League to discuss diplomatic solutions. The representative was called Lord Ronin, who claimed to speak for a civilized state to galactic north. Calling them the Metron, Ronin gave the League an ultimatum: to withdraw from designated Metron space, and cease all hostile actions against member worlds.
Once more, loopholes struck down peaceful designs. Without proper diplomatic channels in place, or being a member of the League, the council could do nothing to halt Nebulan aggression. Ronin left the League council in disgust, stating that the Metron and League were enemies henceforth.
A raid occurred on a hardened Nebulan base on Tynda soon after, in which there were no survivors. In response, Admiral Targis Bulloc and General Cabal Raegen embarked on an unofficial operation to investigate a supposed Metron facility along the Nebulan-Metron border. Their research uncovered a massive factory for cybernetic infantry units – units far more advanced than anything in the League, even those used in the Durson War. Bulloc’s attempts to raise the alarm failed when Nebulan listening posts were systematically destroyed by Metron forces. He and his ship Nautilus nearly managed to save the Nebulan Hsor Station, but it too fell despite a valiant defense. In the darkness came the first strike.
An enormous Metron fleet attacked Aquias, the League’s capital world, and caused terrible destruction. Led by Ronin, they overwhelmed the defense and sunk the city by bombardment. Raegen and Selidrex, military leader of Terra Nova, both put up a staunch defense on the ground, despite their ill-prepared position; High Admiral Luculus led the fleet defense admirably until Bulloc arrived and took the battle to the Metron, destroying Ronin’s flagship – though he himself survived.
The Battle of Aquias ended in disaster in spite of all efforts; Metron forces decimated the city and began their withdrawal from the system. Terra Nova’s home defense fleet responded too late to partake in the defense of the planet, but instead moved to intercept the Metron at the system’s edge – near the Epsilon Nebula.
