The Terran Hegemony was created out of a united need to fend off increasing alien incursions into many independent colonies’ space. Many of these colonies were raided or completely destroyed before the formation of the Colonial Confederation in 2286. This solidification of economic and military might proved to be the correct move as the CC set about fighting off raids/incursions before expanding at an even further rapid pace. However, as this expansion took place so did political maneuvering to funnel resources to certain sectors and more core colonies. Trust in the infant CC political bureaucracy was quick to fade as the original focus of fighting for survival soon turned into greed. By 2336 The CC had mostly stalled in its expansion and fractured once more into its previous independent colonies' status, only loosely tied together by a government that had no real authority. With most colonies maintaining their own fleets and military, it was hard to subject one colony to any of the other colonies’ will. Though the status quo of quiet independence despite being a unified front was preferred to that of civil war. This proved to be the CC’s downfall.
The alien threat long thought defeated or abated proved to rise up once more, though in full force this time. In 2351 an invasion of CC space began, however this time it wasn’t merely raiding of trade or the destruction of settlements, it was a total war of annihilation against the colonials and their entire existence. All the expansions that were made previously were quickly lost to complete bombardments and invasions. The CC was slow to unify to combat this threat, many colonies were scared to leave themselves defenseless to help one another with one exception, Nova Mars.
The planetary governor of the planet Nova Mars, Cornelius Bell, set out to hold up what he believed were the core foundations of the CC, by answering the call for help. At first, he only spared small detachments of ships and ground forces, this proved to be throwing men to the slaughter as no other colonies were giving assistance. It became obvious to him that in order to have a fighting chance he would have to fully commit the entirety of the Numartian’s military might, as small as it was. He was heavily advised to leave their system and planet so exposed, but he could not ignore the calls for help and was insulted by what he described as “The bottomless cowardice of you people.”
With such full force being brought to bear the CC saw some victories though at a heavy price. The heavy cost of life became apparent to many on Nova Mars who began to rise against such burdens to those who they thought would not reciprocate. Cornelius constantly fought against such dissidents, even going so far as to go with the reinforcement fleet personally to lend any help he could and to lead his fellows by example. By 2357, six years into the war, Cornelius had spent more time with the relief fleet and forces than he had back on Nova Mars, hailed as a hero by many in the colonies, though great resentment was beginning to brew back home. Cornelius had brokered a greater military alliance among the colonies through negotiation and threats to better unify themselves against the alien threat, once more rebirthing the CC’s military might in its original glory. This time however he had cemented himself as the paragon of a unified leadership. He referred to himself as a Terran brother to all, using the myth of Holy Terra long lost and the fear of humanity being wiped from existence.
The people of Nova Mars did not share in Cornelius’s shared destiny in the stars. Having now sent so many sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers to die on distant worlds for people they did not consider their neighbor. By the end of 2358, amidst a war against an alien threat, Nova Mars’ local governance revoked their place in the CC and instituted a coup to retake their Numartian materiel and forces to return to Nova Mars. Many trade routes were looted or destroyed. Large amounts of military arsenals were acquired in quick succession for the Numartians. Luckily for Cornelius, the primary Numartian Relief Fleet and Ground Forces were engaged at the defense of another colony, Vulcania. When news reached the fleet and the combined CC’s forces, suspicion and prejudice reached an all-time high. Something had to be done, or all of the colonies would be lost.
It was at this time that Cornelius gave what would be the founding speech of the Terran Hegemony. On the plains of Vulcania outside its capital city where a large portion of all the CC’s forces were gathered, he gave his address. It was with this address he bid the CC to leave behind their individual identity of colonists, to come together as a people, a Terran people, against what could be their total end. In a famous move, he bid the Numartians amongst the CC forces to strike him down if they felt all they had done and bled for was for naught. None responded. The crowd cheered at such a display of conviction and solidarity which led to the now famous chanted title of Cornelius Invicta.
After the defense of Vulcania was ended, Cornelius and the relief fleet returned to Nova Mars to be met with a hostile Numartian fleet waiting in orbit. They were heavily outnumbered and were given a choice to surrender or perish. Only a handful of ships actually opened fire before being overwhelmed. With the crisis in the skies of Nova Mars averted, Cornelius marched upon the capital building of Nova Roma, many of his soldiers following him in celebration. He had the military gather the entire assembly of representatives over the course of two days. On the third day during a “live” session of the assembly of the Nova Martian government, Cornelius proclaimed the representatives “redundant and not worthy of his contempt” and is quoted as saying “I do not seek revenge, but I am not the only one you betrayed.” before leaving the entire governance of Nova Mars to his loyal and now fanatic men.
The massacre of Nova Roma had a twofold effect. One was that it eliminated any real political opposition to Cornelius while simultaneously keeping his own hands free from the plot. Two it showed all the other colonies what the punishment for stepping out of line of what was perceived to be a voluntary unification. All the colonial governments loudly and repeatedly proclaimed loyalty, not to the Colonial Confederation, but to Cornelius Bell himself. With this newborn fanaticism the CC’s economy and military exploded with production and volunteers, the war that had been ongoing for nine years quickly ended soon after, the alien threat completely destroyed. Thus, the Terran Hegemony was born.
The alien threat long thought defeated or abated proved to rise up once more, though in full force this time. In 2351 an invasion of CC space began, however this time it wasn’t merely raiding of trade or the destruction of settlements, it was a total war of annihilation against the colonials and their entire existence. All the expansions that were made previously were quickly lost to complete bombardments and invasions. The CC was slow to unify to combat this threat, many colonies were scared to leave themselves defenseless to help one another with one exception, Nova Mars.
The planetary governor of the planet Nova Mars, Cornelius Bell, set out to hold up what he believed were the core foundations of the CC, by answering the call for help. At first, he only spared small detachments of ships and ground forces, this proved to be throwing men to the slaughter as no other colonies were giving assistance. It became obvious to him that in order to have a fighting chance he would have to fully commit the entirety of the Numartian’s military might, as small as it was. He was heavily advised to leave their system and planet so exposed, but he could not ignore the calls for help and was insulted by what he described as “The bottomless cowardice of you people.”
With such full force being brought to bear the CC saw some victories though at a heavy price. The heavy cost of life became apparent to many on Nova Mars who began to rise against such burdens to those who they thought would not reciprocate. Cornelius constantly fought against such dissidents, even going so far as to go with the reinforcement fleet personally to lend any help he could and to lead his fellows by example. By 2357, six years into the war, Cornelius had spent more time with the relief fleet and forces than he had back on Nova Mars, hailed as a hero by many in the colonies, though great resentment was beginning to brew back home. Cornelius had brokered a greater military alliance among the colonies through negotiation and threats to better unify themselves against the alien threat, once more rebirthing the CC’s military might in its original glory. This time however he had cemented himself as the paragon of a unified leadership. He referred to himself as a Terran brother to all, using the myth of Holy Terra long lost and the fear of humanity being wiped from existence.
The people of Nova Mars did not share in Cornelius’s shared destiny in the stars. Having now sent so many sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers to die on distant worlds for people they did not consider their neighbor. By the end of 2358, amidst a war against an alien threat, Nova Mars’ local governance revoked their place in the CC and instituted a coup to retake their Numartian materiel and forces to return to Nova Mars. Many trade routes were looted or destroyed. Large amounts of military arsenals were acquired in quick succession for the Numartians. Luckily for Cornelius, the primary Numartian Relief Fleet and Ground Forces were engaged at the defense of another colony, Vulcania. When news reached the fleet and the combined CC’s forces, suspicion and prejudice reached an all-time high. Something had to be done, or all of the colonies would be lost.
It was at this time that Cornelius gave what would be the founding speech of the Terran Hegemony. On the plains of Vulcania outside its capital city where a large portion of all the CC’s forces were gathered, he gave his address. It was with this address he bid the CC to leave behind their individual identity of colonists, to come together as a people, a Terran people, against what could be their total end. In a famous move, he bid the Numartians amongst the CC forces to strike him down if they felt all they had done and bled for was for naught. None responded. The crowd cheered at such a display of conviction and solidarity which led to the now famous chanted title of Cornelius Invicta.
After the defense of Vulcania was ended, Cornelius and the relief fleet returned to Nova Mars to be met with a hostile Numartian fleet waiting in orbit. They were heavily outnumbered and were given a choice to surrender or perish. Only a handful of ships actually opened fire before being overwhelmed. With the crisis in the skies of Nova Mars averted, Cornelius marched upon the capital building of Nova Roma, many of his soldiers following him in celebration. He had the military gather the entire assembly of representatives over the course of two days. On the third day during a “live” session of the assembly of the Nova Martian government, Cornelius proclaimed the representatives “redundant and not worthy of his contempt” and is quoted as saying “I do not seek revenge, but I am not the only one you betrayed.” before leaving the entire governance of Nova Mars to his loyal and now fanatic men.
The massacre of Nova Roma had a twofold effect. One was that it eliminated any real political opposition to Cornelius while simultaneously keeping his own hands free from the plot. Two it showed all the other colonies what the punishment for stepping out of line of what was perceived to be a voluntary unification. All the colonial governments loudly and repeatedly proclaimed loyalty, not to the Colonial Confederation, but to Cornelius Bell himself. With this newborn fanaticism the CC’s economy and military exploded with production and volunteers, the war that had been ongoing for nine years quickly ended soon after, the alien threat completely destroyed. Thus, the Terran Hegemony was born.