The Empire started as a wealthy trade federation in the early years. I resorted to using my own mercenaries as security for the traders. As more of the people's confidence grew in my company, more traders came to affiliate themselves with me.
I started to develop my official army. Most of the Crescent Moons became commanders of their own Factions in the later year, but the first Faction was led by none other than BlackBurn. BlackBurn was my oldest human survivor that had been stored in my DNA data bank, in the Enigma Cruisers.
I came to alternate Earth through one of the Time Slips. The Time Slips were alternate realities and timelines that I found while trying to harness Time as a weapon against my many enemies. Unlike the Great Gap, I was able to find my way back to my own Timeline then.
BlackBurn was an excellent wargamer. We played with toy soldiers then, a common game played electronically. I thought myself as a pretty solid tactician in my own right, but with swift decisiveness and insight, BlackBurn crushed me easily even though I had superior technology and numbers. Knowing the battle was half the fight won, he told me. Even though I was clearly better, he knew the lay of the land better and how to harness the elements of the target planet.
