| abstract | - Thus conditions became ripe for the Arachosian Empire, which held ambitions to extend herself into the inner regions of the galaxy and consolidate her position as the predominant force. Adad-nirari was already planning major military campaigns and offensives against the tottering Millian Empire, and already was organizing his military forces for such an offensive. The Emperor introduced conscription, expanded taxation, and began amassing garrisons along the border with the Millian Empire. Before he could implement his plans, however, Adad-nirari was assassinated (23 March 322), by one of his own bodyguards, leaving the throne to his 20-year old son, Sargon (r. 322-36). Sargon was an ambitious, intelligent, and energetic man, who was determined to continue the conquests of his predecessors and become “Master of the Galaxy”. Sargon continued to marshal Arachosian military resources, forming a powerful invasion fleet of nearly 200,000 destroyers, battleships, dreadnoughts, cruisers, and carriers; 1.4 million fighters, patrol ships, transports, and frigates; and 340,000 corvettes, gunships, and battle-cruisers. This was comprised of Arachosian, Kalbachan, Lavellan, Huntite, Cadarian, Benzite, Eutagan, Niss, Sassi-ruuk, and numerous other units from various conquered or vassalized peoples. He also crushed revolts by the Cadarians and Benzites, subdued the Kimanians, and secured Arachosian domination over Iego. Finally in 324, the Emperor launched his anticipated invasion, as Arachosian forces attacked Millian outposts and colonies in the Outer Borderlands and Middle Territories, while the main Arachosian armada under the command of Sargon himself advanced into the territory of the Millian Empire proper. Over the next eight years, Sargon and his vast forces lead the way in major campaigns and feints against the overstretched Millian Empire. Sargon's opponent, the last Millian Emperor Solai (r. 324-29), was a weak and ineffective figure who proved incompetent in commanding a military force. Sargon's first major military victory was at the Battle of Outpost K39 (8 May 324), in which he utterly decimated a force of various Millian satraps and regional military officers, capturing nearly 15,000 starships and destroying 10,000 others. This was followed by the seizure of the Cyrillian treasury, the decisive Siege of Halicarna, and the Raid on Shenandoah. He thus secured control of the Millian portions of the Kimanian Trade Run, following this up by advancing to the west, where Landa Umbtia, Dumbgwia, and Cyrus III were captured in major sieges, that lead to the capture of nearly 70,000 Millian vessels, a devastating loss for the Millian armed forces. At the same time, the Millian colony of Ipsus V in the Core Worlds was stormed by an Arachosian raiding expedition, providing an anchorage point for the eventual invasion and subjugation of the Core Regions. In the meantime, Sargon and his armada soon faced off with the forces of Solai, at the Battle of Grand Junction (5 November 325), which resulted in the rout of the main Millian naval armada and the destruction of three Millian Army Groups. Grand Junction was then taken and occupied by the Arachosians, from which Sargon advanced into the Roastafarian Kingdom, a Millian vassal. The Roastafarians quickly submitted to Sargon, saluting him as their new King, and recognized him as a divinity brought upon by their Gods. Now replenished with Roastafarian naval and army detachments, and after spending some time at Verdis, Sargon slammed to the north, defeating Solai a a second time at the Battle of Lars Planet (1 October 327), which resulted in the decimation of the Millian Vindicator Corps and the capture of nearly 56,000 starships, adding considerably to the Arachosian forces. Thereafter, the Millian world of Predosur was conquered by the Arachosians, while the Shenadoanans and Vickians, who supplied a large proportion of Solai's army and naval forces, submitted themselves to Arachosian rule. On 20 January 328, one of the Millian capital worlds, On'diriay, was attacked by the Arachosians. A garrison of 300 million men and a defense fleet comprised of 15,000 capital vessels and 20,000 other craft, commanded by one of Solai's leading generals, Arcades, put up a fierce resistance, but was ultimately outflanked and defeated by the Arachosian armada. On'diriay was sacked by the Arachosians, as its massive treasury was seized and the Millian Palace of Mortals was destroyed. Shortly after, another one of the Millian capital words, Par'say, was invaded, seized, and devastated. After this, Solai and his remaining forces fled to Way'tosk and the Millian Home Region, in order to make a final stand against the Arachosians. The Battle of Way'tosk commenced on 3 March 328, and dragged on for several months. Nearly 115,000 Millian capital vessels and 100,000 other craft faced off against 200,000 Arachosian capital vessels and 350,000 other craft. Eventually, Sargon's forces smashed the left-flank of the Millian capital fleet, rushing forward and crippling Way'tosk's orbital defenses. The Millian armada then scattered, with nearly 80% of the ships being destroyed, captured, or damaged by the Arachosians. The Arachosians then destroyed Way'tosk's shield generator, and Arachosian armies advanced onto the world. Way'tosk's capital city, Dinai, was sacked by Arachosian forces on 3 August 328, and the world was devastated. Nearly 500 billion Millians were killed in the battle, and the world was left largely depopulated. Solai himself managed to flee the Battle of Way'tosk, retreating to one of the final Millian possessions, Bor'say, but was betrayed and assassinated by one of his own commanders, Bessus. This took place on 8 January 329. Bessus then proclaimed himself Millian Emperor, but this was recognized by few. Sargon's forces destroyed the final Millian weapons caches and colonial holdouts throughout 329, and on 5 January 330, Bessus was captured and executed by orders of Sargon, as Bor'say was attacked and annexed by the Arachosians. With the defeat of Bessus, and then the capture of the final remaining Millian holdout, Bacturis Invictius (18 February 330), the Millian Empire, which had existed for nearly five centuries, had been destroyed. Sargon now was the helm of a massive empire which engrossed the Galactic Borderlands, most of the Wild Marshes, the southern/eastern Outer Borderlands, alongside large parts of the Middle and Inner Territories. The fall of the Millian Empire now heralded disaster for the Stellar Republic and for other worlds or world nation-states of the Industrialized Borderlands, Outer Core, and Core Worlds. Sargon, being the ambitious figure that he was, now wished to extend his realm “to the very center of the galaxy” and mark himself as the greatest conqueror in the history of the Caladarian Galaxy. Sargon, however, spent the remainder of 330 reorganizing his military forces, consolidating his Millian conquests, and stamping out any rebellions or uprisings by the vanquished Millians against their new-found Arachosian masters. Using the vast Millian financial revenues and the resources confiscated by his armada, Sargon prepared for a further strike into the Galactic Core. In February 331, he demanded that the rulers of the Laurasian states, Briannia, Courdina V, Gordasis, Horacia, Rebecca, Neustroni, Venasia Prime, Podrac, Hammenor, and Bristalai submit themselves to Arachosian rule. While the grand prince of Bristalai and the magnate of Hammenor quickly submitted themselves before the Emperor, the other rulers refused and instead established a coalition, intent on maintaining their independence. Sargon mustered his forces, taking direct command of the Arachosian clawcraft and battleship squadrons, intending on bringing his full force to bear against the insolent “Core Worlders”. From July 331, the Arachosians fell upon Podrac, the predominant state in the Sliced Industrialized Borderlands, alongside the minor powers of Vindictoria, Organis, Mariana, and Hannis. Sargon crushed King Hu-hac of Podrac at the decisive Battle of Archon's Bow, eventually capturing Podrac in November 331 and laying waste to the colonies of the Organis and Vindictorians. In the meantime, Sargon's generals Ashurbanipal and Shalameneser, who had been instrumental in many of the offensives against the Millians, launched devastating raids on Venasia Prime, penetrating the Steamy Mist and scattering the Venasian fleet of Battle Dragons at the decisive Battle of Chulrua (1 January 332). The Venasian Queen Kennatha (r. 319-32), was killed in this battle. After Mariana Secondary was plundered by the Arachosians and Hannis was devastated in the Battle of Hannis, the Marianians and Hannsi surrendered to Sargon (21 February 332). Lightning quick attacks on Neustroni and Briannia, launched from Ipsus V, quickly subdued those states and brought them under the Arachosian grip (March-May 332), while Nathaniel was sacked (3 June 332) by an Arachosian expedition, conducted by General Ashurbanipal, while the main armada under Sargon's command clashed with the Zygnian, Zesian, Horacian, Brothi, and Mennite fleets at the Battle of New Nosauria (18-25 August 332), which resulted in a decisive Arachosian victory, the plunder of New Nosauria, and the capture of the Horacian Royal Council. The Zygnians, Zestians, and Brothi were attacked and subjugated during the last part of 332, bringing most of the remaining Outer Core under Arachosian dominion, with the Mennites being subdued at the Siege of Rithos (9 March-3 May 333). Besides this, Venasia was captured by the Arachosians (23 March 333) while Rebecca was plundered (12 April 333) and a espionage operation at Courdina V sabotaged that world's shields, leaving it exposed to a swift Arachosian army conquest (5 May 333). While a Arachosian battle-fleet surrounded and bombarded Gordasis, eventually forcing its surrender on 18 June 333, other forces under the command of Ashurbanipal, Ishme-Dagan, and Sargon himself, pushed across the colonial boundaries and assaulted the territories of the Laurasian Stellar Republic, beginning on 1 June 333. Arachosian expeditions swiftly reduced the Laurasian colonies at Kalaria, Ney, Ux-dey, Darcia, and Clackimaris. A Laurasian battle-fleet under the command of Fleet Admiral Antipater Drucilius (273-337) was crushed by Sargon and Ashurbanipal decisively at the Battle of Cron's Drift (17 June 333). Thereafter, the Laurasian colony of Charasia was attacked and devastated (24 June 333), while a espionage force led by Ishme-Dagan plundered the Neuron Plantita Station above Laurasia (28 June 333). Eventually, the Laurasian Star System fell under a full-scale Arachosian assault, commanded by Sargon (3 July 333). The final remaining Laurasian task force, commanded again by General Drucilius (who had evaded capture after Cron's Drift), was heavily outnumbered, comprised of only 25,000 capital starships and 100,000 fighters, while Sargon's force comprised of nearly 130,000 capital starships and 250,000 fighters. The decisive Battle of Laurasia Prime (5 July 333), resulted in a crushing Arachosian victory, as Sargon's forces decimated the fighter squadrons of the Laurasian force and overran Laurasia's four moons, heavily bombarding the world from above. After nearly a billion Laurasians had died from the orbital assault, Drucilius and the Laurasian Government submitted to Sargon, and his forces took up occupation of the world. Seventy nine years of foreign rule had commenced, bringing the First Laurasian Space Age to an end.
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