Prologue

Ignorance is the harbinger of catastrophe!

The quest for intelligent life beyond our atmosphere began with humanity broadcasting signals into outer space. Veiled behind these so-called scientific experiments was our yearning and hope to find others like us. The thought that Earth might be the only cradle of intelligence in the vast cosmos was too lonely to bear.

Yet, sometimes solitude is a blessing, especially when you're unprepared for the arrival of a more formidable visitor.

The universe is not limited to a single galaxy.

And as humans had hoped, Earth was not the only planet blessed with intelligent life.

Two years after the Mayans' predicted apocalypse of 2012, in the lingering heat of an October on the West Coast of the United States, where bikinis and surfing still dominated the local scene, a little boy built a crude sandcastle on the beach at dusk.

He looked up with innocent pride, his young eyes catching the evening's fiery glow.

That's when he saw them.

Points of light appeared abruptly in the sky, near the crescent moon. The boy watched, puzzled, oblivious to the waves that toppled his sandcastle.

That night, NASA detected an unusual meteor shower. By noon the next day, the meteors entered Earth's atmosphere, supposedly destined for the Pacific Ocean. But as they breached the atmosphere, some changed course, striking capitals across the globe—Washington, Ottawa, London, Paris, Moscow, Beijing, Tokyo, Cairo, and more.

Their precision revealed this was no ordinary meteor shower, but a meticulously orchestrated military assault!

The invasion from outer space had begun.

When the "meteors" shed their rocky exteriors to reveal roaring steel bodies, menacing gun turrets, advanced weaponry, and the blue electric fire of their engines, Earth's wish for cosmic visitors was granted. But these guests did not come bearing olive branches of peace; they brought war.

War erupted globally that very day!

It was a clash of unequal civilizations, a cacophony of blood and gunfire.

Cities crumbled into ruins, millions perished overnight. The Earth groaned, rivers ran red, and bodies piled high. Governments had no chance to retaliate with nuclear arms before the battles ended. Survivors fled to the wilderness, seeking refuge in forests, as the world regressed to a primal era.

Two years passed before humanity learned the name of their conquerors.

The Nimians, from a distant galaxy known as Jotun.

This was Earth's dark age, with the Nimians ruling nearly 70% of land and sea. Humans were enslaved, toiling in scorching factories, extracting Earth's resources for the Nimians in an unrestrained plunder, with no regard for the planet's fate.

But where there is darkness, there is also light; where there is chaos, there is order.

In the third year of darkness, another cosmic faction entered the Milky Way, bringing hope to humanity.

The life force of cornered humans surged, mechanized golems powered by Cubic energy emerged, the first human with gene circuitry was etched, and a desperate, yet resolute counterattack ensued. Humans began to resist, pursuing light and freedom with their lives and blood!

It was a fierce collision between the planet's natives and their invaders, a collective outcry of millions of humans!

Ultimately, humanity triumphed. As the last of the Nimian fleet vanished from Earth's sky, a glimmer of dawn appeared on the eastern horizon. Scholars of later generations would call this "The Battle of Dawn."

The Battle of Dawn marked humanity's escape from colonization and their entry ticket into an era of advanced cosmic warfare. And for this, we owe our gratitude to the extraterrestrial beings who brought us hope.

They called themselves the Aedahwans!

The summer of 2031 heralded a new epoch for Earth. The survivors united to form the Earth Federal Government. This year also marked the first of the Dawn Era.

The story, however, was far from over. On the contrary, it was just beginning.