Aurora's Frontier (Another Worldly Summons Sequel)

Interlude

This is just a pilot publication of the AWS NHS-fanfiction sequel of mine. Further refinements and potentially unpublishing will be put on the table.
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In the vast expanse of the Thravian Galactic Cluster, a mysterious and powerful civilization emerged from the shadows, determined to subjugate, annihilate, and enslave all independent and sovereign civilizations. In response to this aggression, resistance movements arose, alliances were forged, and a Coalition of Powers rallied in a desperate bid to counter the overwhelming threat. However, one by one, they fell, their technological advancements and military strategies rendered useless by an inexplicable force: magic. This power defied all known principles of physics, breaking the fundamental knowledge and laws that had governed the universe for millennia.

As the tidal wave of conquest spread, the entire Thravian Galactic Cluster was plunged into darkness. Countless trillions of souls were lost, their civilizations reduced to ruins and those left were subjugated. A few fortunate souls managed to escape, whispering tales of horror and despair that engulfed the people of Thravia. They spoke of an iron curtain that had descended over the galaxies, enforced by systematic anti-FTL jammers laid by conquerors. These devices made any attempt at faster-than-light travel futile, trapping those within and isolating them from broader intergalactic affairs.

To venture towards the Thravian Galactic Cluster now meant facing decades long of perilous space travel through treacherous no-man's land, a journey fraught with danger and uncertainty. The once-bright lights of the Thravian Galactic Cluster had slowly dying. Countless harvester ships roamed the stars, rounding up survivors, while their fleets raided nearby galaxies for more livestock. The remaining galactic civilizations were left in confusion, unable to understand the conquerors' intentions. One thing was certain: they never accepted negotiations.

As the remaining galaxies braced for yet another war that would engulf their systems, planets, and people, an unknown star zone appeared, seemingly transported out of existence. Later designated the Eixkar Star Zone, its name, taken from its natives, coincidentally meant "Worms crawling on the ground" and "Headless and wingless" in the galactic tongue. The Eixkarians wielded the same supernatural power that had capitulated Thravia—magic, though it would only be uncovered much later. They waged wars of unimaginable savagery, mirroring the conquerors of Thravia. They fired on space colonies, gassed them, and even forced them to crash into planetary surfaces with the people still inside. They had no qualms about orbital bombardments, displaying a barbarism marked by the unrestrained murder of sacred life.

Amidst the militarization and preparation for war, allied nations, coalitions, and unions convened to discuss strategies to contain and eliminate these threats while they were still confined within Eixkar. Plans were meticulously crafted, and efforts were made to eliminate the unripened menace. However, their attempts were abruptly interrupted as the invaders of Thravia, with their hundreds of thousands of ships, shoved through their frontiers of independent galactic powers, disrupting all forms of plans and initiatives as they poured their efforts thwarting invasions from Thravia. The surrounding powers on Eixkar were left in a state of disarray, forced to confront these unknown.

The Eixkar Star Zone was surrounded by four immediate neighbors, each with its unique characteristics and civilizations. To the north and in very close proximity to Eixkar lay the Xalorian Empire, an armored carapace, lizard-like species known for their militaristic prowess and backward technological advancements. To the southeast resided the Kethari Union, fish-like mammals who had adapted to both aquatic and terrestrial environments. To the south was the Mythrax Confederacy, cousins to the Xalorians but with thinner carapaces due to evolving in environments with lesser radiation. Though they shared a common ancestry, the Mythrax were distinct in their cultural and biological adaptations. All three species exhibited a high degree of humanoid characteristics, similar in size and weight to humans.