A Different Type of Front

A Storm Arises

"We are all being led like sheep to the slaughter, yet some continue to follow the shepherd to the very end while some stray from the flock to escape."
-Unknown
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Goddamn, I'm excited for this chapter. It will introduce a new minor arc about a massive reveal of  a hidden, but massive cluster of alien empires, civilizations, with their own factions, threats, and alliances, spanning nearly ten thousand systems, allowing the Federation to expand much larger, perhaps even by a thousand systems when I'm done with it, but it will probably take a long time anyway, since this chapter is only like the starting point for the new arc.

Also, since I haven't planned to add new crossover arcs, the ones from the previous have been included in the standard arc, and more focus has been put on the standard arc itself.
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February 28, 2270
Perhaps there can come a time when the Galaxy shall fight and become one
And that time will come, but for now...
It remains divided.

The Alazuk Cluster is the collective designation for a collection of 10,000 systems wherein hundreds of alien empires, nations, alliances, corporations, and despots coexist, trade, enslave, and conquer each other due to the interconnection of their systems and the close proximity of their territories between them, allowing for greater communication despite the large size of the cluster, and the clear inherent hostilities between the dozens of hostile, xenophobic, religiously fanatic civilizations fighting for dominance and power.
Although there exists no dominant power within the cluster, there still exists many expansionist and fanatic empires ready to take any measure to forward their own race and nation, with morals and respect for other xenos nearly non-existent.
But still, there remains hope for Alazuk, as there also exist many xenophile and friendly alien civilizations, who respect xeno life and coexist with their neighbors be they willing to, and prepared to defend all sentient life, which they believe possesses equal value no matter species or race.

And all of it had been hidden by the Authority the whole time.
It was clear that they had been hiding something from the Alliance, yet it had taken months for their own intelligence agencies to finally obtain documents of the whole facade.
The Diamonds had known of such opportunities within the Cluster, and knew that if the Alliance found out, conflict and tensions could immediately arise, but also the potential of new allies and resources within the Alazuk Cluster to turn against the Stellar Allied Treaty Organization, and the United Terran Federation.

So of course, Allied intelligence agencies quickly rushed to at least obtain an interstellar map from one of the nations to establish a path of systems to establish contact, as a way of moving around the Authority, and avoid their ire.
It took some time, of course, but eventually, the Uigurian Federal Republic finally encountered one of the xeno nations within the Cluster, and were able to set up a conference and an exchange of information...

The Brulidean Stellar Republic was a xeno civilization ruled by a moderate democratic republic leading 80 Billion sentients across 50 systems and 339 planets into a fate influenced by their strong belief of egalitarianism, xenophilia, and pacifism.
As their first conference with the Uigurians resulted in an excellent relationship between the two growing nations, it was, of course, due time to introduce them to the Stellar Allied Treaty Organization.

Despite their disapproval of authoritarian regimes such as that of the Federation, the Directorate, and the Imperial Ascendant, upon their revelation of the massive trade and economic relations between the Zukraltan Republic, the United Terran Federation, the Nekeshanus Imperial Ascendant, the Klaxosaurian Directorate, the Nuskhrat-Ril Commonwealth, the Uigurian Federal Republic, the Qualdenorian Confederation, and the revitalized Xalavian People's Republic, the defeat of the xenophobic Viltrumite empire, the Sentient Rights Committee, and the seizing of the puppets, there were quite conflicted.
On one hand, the alliance had proved itself willing to go above and beyond to fight for the rights and equality of all xenos, prepared to protect any who were enslaved, or those who were being exterminated, but on the other hand, their authoritarian and militarist dominated ideologies proved them willing to take measures the Brulidean viewed as unnecessary and aggressive.