During the months that followed, several events happened. Firstly, Humanity and Earth became the last bastion of defense, with people of various races fleeing different worlds attacked by the Url'Esh. Almost on a weekly basis, a god would appear to Allan and Aly, begging for sanctuary from them and from humanity. Allan would direct them to the council of races that had been created to help manage the influx of requirements that each race had and figure out how everyone could assist in the war effort.

The second thing happened rather quickly and surprised both Allan and Xulgra. A young author by the name of Allan Torren had requested an interview with Allan, and he had granted it, telling him everything that had led to the situation they were all in. The young man had then interviewed Aly, Jalla, Tillia, and anyone who would sit down with him. Roughly a month after the first interview with Allan, a news story, as well as a biographical recounting of the adventures Allan and Aly had been on, were released. In the news story, one of the focuses was the fact that Xulgra had created the Earth. After a rough couple of weeks of religious debates, someone finally got the idea to ask Xulgra to be present for one of the debates. Xulgra thought this was hilarious, as he was being asked to listen to a debate on gods that he knew for a fact did not exist. The result ended up being that Xulgra made it abundantly clear in the debate that he had no desire to usurp any of humanity's feelings. The shocking result was that rather quickly, Xulgra found himself added to many religions, and Allan followed shortly after. This was even more pronounced in the military communities, who almost unilaterally all began to worship Allan and Xulgra exclusively.

The third most important thing that happened was the news that the core worlds had fallen. The gods of the core world species had decided to take a stand with their people as the most powerful races; they assumed that the Url'Esh would not stand against the might of their military powers. Especially with their gods standing alongside them. Ten species had stood together with ten gods, and ten gods had died. The last remaining scraps of the ten peoples who had stood with their gods and failed were saved by Eddy and Hilx'Nit. With these remnants came knowledge and technologies that would have taken humanity eons to develop or centuries to earn enough to buy them. But after watching human soldiers put the Url'Esh to the proverbial scythe in their rescue, the people of the former core worlds were more than happy to share their secrets.

[Earth one month after Allan Ascened]

Allan gazed across the structural fabrication yard that covered several hundred acres on the moon. "It really is amazing to see," he gestured to the people working.

"What?" Aly asked, looking up from where she was meditating.

"All of these people, all from different species, different backgrounds, different perceptions, all working together for one goal."

"Admittedly, that goal is a rather bloody affair," Aly said with little emotion. She was still furious over what had happened to her homeworld.

" Yes," Allan sighed, "admittedly, it is the goal of war. I find myself hating myself day by day. How am I any different from the very goddess you replaced? I once berated her for not acting, for standing by while her children tried to eugenics each other. If I do nothing, then that will be what happens to the Url'Esh. How am I any different than any god?"

Aly sighed; she had argued this with him a dozen times in the last few months since they had become divinities. "I don't know, Allan. Unfortunately, this is something that you will have to figure out yourself. I know you don't like it, but I am unsure if the Url'Esh have a place in this galaxy."

Allan smiled at her; despite their disagreement and the changes they had both undergone, they still loved each other. He leaned down to kiss her and hopefully lead her to their sleeping pit when Eddy burst into the room.

"Allan! Aly! Oh... I am sorry, but you must both come quickly. A new group of refugees has arrived, and they bring bad news." Eddy said apologetically.

Allan and Aly nodded before following him out of the observation deck where they had been relaxing and down to the teleportation room of the Solstice. After hopscotching between many ships to relay their teleportation, they arrived at the platform built next to the Jumpgate. They stopped and looked at who it was.

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Allan stepped forward. "High Queen Kallanna of the Jeglithin, you are welcome here. Are you alright?"

Aly looked at the woman she had somewhat befriended and saw tears. Kallanna spoke, "I am well, Allan, though I doubt I am High Queen anymore; I watched three of my sisters die today and thousands of my people."

"Oh, Kallanna," Aly said, hugging the woman close despite her protests.

"It is fine," Kallanna said stiffly, not in the headspace to confront her reality. "Allan, I know that Earth is doing much already and that many of my people have fled here, but I must ask for more. I have another three million of my people waiting to gate in; they just need power."

Allan nodded, "Consider it done," he snapped his fingers, and the Jumpgate sprung to life, holding open a portal for a flow of ships to come through. He had figured out this trick not long ago and wished he did not need to use it to evacuate people.

Kallanna was shocked, but she quickly regained her composure. "Thank you. Now, I must deliver bad news. One of the last things we were able to learn before having to abandon our homeworld was their next step. The Url'Esh have figured out where Earth is, I don't know how, but they will be here within five weeks.

Everyone who had been milling around the room suddenly froze. Looks of shock were plastered across their faces; only four people were the exceptions: Kallanna, who had delivered the news; Aly, who simply looked angry; and Allan and Eddy, who had manic grins of a strange mix of pleasure and anticipation plastered across their faces.

Allan turned to Eddy. "General, send out the signal, being preparations."

Eddy saluted smartly, "Of course."

As Eddy walked to a comms panel, Allan turned back to Kallanna, "Please, Kallanna, rest, be with your people, and do not hesitate to ask if you need something; we will deal with this."

After one more hug, Allan disappeared, and Aly vanished, Leaving Kallanna to ponder what kind of monster Allan and humanity had become that they longed to face the Url'Esh.

[Around the Earth Jumpgate, 29 days later]

Gary Vandrose was a young man who wanted to see the stars, and when all this strange shit had kicked off, he had seen an application for "Jump Gate Controller" with a company he had never heard of. The pay was insane, and it got him off of Earth, so he had applied. After an incredibly streamlined application process, he needed up as the night shift Gate Watch.

"Welp, night thirty of watching this damn thing do nothing," Gary said, more to himself than to the Quillinar man who was his watch partner.

"Be grateful, Gary. Every day is a day we are better prepared." Pliklith Jixnaths said.

"I know, I know, Plik," Gary said, waving his hand at the fish man, "but it's really hard for me to sit here doing nothing."

"I understand, but it is better than a labor job, is it not."

"True, very true." Gary smiled and leaned back, "So I know that you said you weren't interested, but I still think you would like DND. I..."

Plik sighed and turned to his co-worker, ready to politely refuse his request to play the strange game this human was obsessed with again. When he saw Gary's face, Plik's head snapped to the gate, which had lit up, indicating it was charging. Gary finally spoke, "Plik, please tell me this is scheduled."

"I'm Checking now," Plik said, quickly rolling his chair over to the paper schedule they printed at the start of every shift. It is... not scheduled."

Plik's voice was faint, but Gary suddenly flew into action. "Plik, send the message. Do it now; I'm waking the military guys on the station."

"Okay," Plik said, happy to forgo any decision-making.

Several hours later, Plik, Gary, four military people, a divine general, and not less than three gods. Plik leaned over to Gary and said, "I hope we were right; otherwise, we will be in deep trouble."

Gary, who had given up control of anything when he woke the military guys, leaned back and shrugged, "Hey, if we were wrong, we were wrong. We just followed the rules they gave us."

Plik was about to respond when they heard The God of War, Allan, speak. "It is time, Eddy; we have sixteen hours before the gate opens to get everything moving and in place."

"Understood," Eddy said to Allan before being teleported off the platform and to his new warship with a button tap on his wristband.

Allan nodded to the military members on the platform. "Good work, all of you, and you two, Pliklith and Gary, you have done fantastic work, but it is time to make your way to Earth. All non-military folk will be evacuated."

Gary nodded, giving Allan a thumbs up, and Pliklith nodded as well. Then, another of the Gods spoke to Pliklith, causing him to fall to his knees. "Good work, Pliklith, and you as well, Gary," Aly said.

"Thank you, my Goddess," Pliklith said, nearly unable to look at the woman before him.

Aly smiled and touched Plik's shoulder gently before turning to Allan, "Shall we go, my love?"

Allan nodded, "Sixteen hours; we must ensure the other gods are clear on their assignments."

They vanished, and Xulgra, who had said nothing, nodded to everyone and vanished.

As Plik and Gary walked down the hall to the room that served as the end point of the teleport chain of ships that would get to Earth, what had just happened dawned on Gary.

"It's really happening," Gary said quietly to himself; he spoke up for the next few words, "Sixteen hours, and it begins."

"What begins?" Plik asked, still marveling over the fact that he had directly been touched by his goddess.

Plik was brought back down from his emotional high as Gary uttered one word in a cold tone, "War."