Mass Effect: Empire

War has followed Mankind since the beginning, from the bloodshed of Cain and Abel to the gas-filled battlefields of the First World War. The Second World War proved how close humanity could come to annihilation, claiming over 73 million lives.

That lesson was forgotten. In 2029, the Third World War began, driven by resource shortage as nation took from nation. It ended in 2034, leaving entire regions uninhabitable and erasing countries through devastation and nuclear fire. Humanity had nearly destroyed itself for the third time. In the aftermath, one belief took hold: a divided world could not survive. There could be only one nation, one people, one civilization.

For a time, it seemed true. With the invention of the Jump Drive, humanity spread amongst the stars in the 2080s and 2100s, and war appeared to fade into history.

It did not.

In 2159, a scant 60 years later, the Interplanetary Wars erupted. Over 11 years, the conflict devastated settled space and killed over 22 billion people. The war ended with the victory of the colonies and the collapse of the old order.

From that ruin rose the Terran Empire.

Founded in 2170, the Empire was established as a monarchy under the Imperator. It would rule humanity for 300 years, enduring to the present day.

February 9th, 2485.