Interstellar Age

Decades passed in the blink of an eye. Frankly, it was hard to really tell how much time since this war had begun that threatened to engulf the entirety of the galaxy. Hell, it was hard to tell how long it had been since Erich first entered the academy all those years ago in his first life.

Had it been a hundred years if he considered the two lives he had lived, and how vastly differently they had turned out? And yet he did not look a day over thirty. His body aged slower than a normal person with the nineties in his bloodstream, working overtime to keep age, disease, and wounds at bay that would normally be the end of any other man.

The war had engulfed the galaxy, and everything had gone in accordance with the plans Erich had made. Even the mighty Alfheim Dominion and Svartalfheim Federation had not remained unaffected. By now, most of Erich’s allies were a remnant of what they had been.

The only reasons the few worlds that remained in their control had not been thoroughly devastated by famine and disease was because of the constant aid they received by the Germanic Star-Empire whose borders had not moved an inch since the moment the war began.

Despite doing “everything within his power” to stem the Naraku tide, the Galaxy had ultimately resulted in a sorry and pitiful state. Hope was beginning to fall across those civilizations that had remained somewhat intact.

And yet, the Germanic Star-Empire had functioned without any difficulty whatsoever. Truthfully speaking, preparations were being made to evacuate the other major powers of the Galaxy who were now a shadow of their former glory to the territory of the Milky Way that remained entirely unmolested by the ravenous jaws of the Naraku invaders.

However, before they could do so, Erich stepped before the cameras once more. The video of the speech he was about to make was being broadcasted to what remained of the galactic network. He stood there, not in his gilded power armor, but in his military uniform, looking sternly upon legions of soldiers clad in grey power armor as he declared that the time for his counter offensive had finally begun.

“For decades our people have fought alongside our allies, bleeding with each passing day as we tried to stem the tide of the Naraku menace from devouring us all…. Each day our losses were insurmountable, and yet through perseverance, and sheer force of will, we have defended our borders, so well I might add, that not a single kilometer of Germanic space has been lost to the enemy.

Brothers… Sisters… Your sacrifices over the years of this harrowing conflict have not been in vain! The blood you have spilt, the tears you have shed, the price of which you have all paid has bought us time. Time is necessary to prepare for this day!

What is this day, I might add? Today is the day that the full might of the Germanic Military embarks on a new offensive campaign! To drive this alien menace which seeks to devour us all from the Milky Way Galaxy, and to reclaim the many worlds which have fallen in the flames of war.

Today we fight! Not just for humanity and its borders, but for the entire galaxy! Today, our legions shall push forth and obliterate the bugs wherever they may find them. Whether in the borders of our galaxy, or all those who neighbor us. Today I, Erich Jaeger, the Emperor of the Germanic Star-Empire, and the human race, announce our Eternal Crusade. From this day, until the end of days, we shall go forth throughout the universe and conquer! Long live the Empire, long live Germania!”

The soldiers gathered below immediately held up their salutes to their emperor, repeating his words back to them as they prepared to embark on their Eternal Crusade. Erich’s words, of course, were not welcomed by his allies who now, after decades of being manipulated by the man realized that they had been played.

Erich had maintained a small portion of his military strength to help fight their war, their losses insurmountable, and incapable of being restored unlike that of the Germanic Star-Empire. To put it simply, Erich had allowed the galaxy to burn so that he could be king of the ashes.

And now that nobody left remaining was strong enough to challenge his aggression he had unleashed the legions that had hid in the shadows, and waited for decades. So that they may claim victory, and dominion over all.

History would remember on this day that the Germanic Star-Empire would be rebranded as the Eternal Empire of Sol. Named after the system in which the species of humanity originated. As for the Germanic forces? Their strength after being accumulated for near 100 years, and with an advanced artificial intelligence at the helm of their industry, had gone beyond the Naraku’s calculations.

The Milky Way Crusade as it would become known, as the first of many Crusades throughout the universe had begun. The forces of humanity had begun to march to the drum of war. Spreading across the Universe as they fought to purge the Naraku Menace, and subjugate any species which they happened to come across.

But for now, they would simply begin the advance across the galaxy. First through the borders of the Alfheim Dominion, and then through the Borders of the Svartalfheim Federation, followed by the space that had once belonged to the Asuran Cabal and finally the territory of the Ennead Theocracy.

The fundamental balance of power had been undone by the Naraku throughout these decades. And now the time for galactic conquest was ripe. After all, very few intelligent life forms had managed to survive the devouring swarm, which had by now consumed 90% of the Galaxy outside of the fifth of it, which belonged to the GSE.

Those that remained would kneel before Erich and recognize him as their emperor, or face extinction by the hands of his soldiers.