From the Author:
Hello, and welcome to my first attempt at a Writathon submission. This chapter is intended to set some background up for the Writathon story.
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Foreword:
This story is something that has been floating around my head for a while now.
It started as a bit of a meme when a friend asked me, "What would the Roman Empire look like if it had become a space-age empire?"
From there, it evolved from that discussion into a thought of "What would happen to a space-age commander known for being a monster on the battlefield if he became a dungeon core?"
As is natural, this went through many, many different iterations and adjustments.
It is also worth noting that this is my first foray into the Dungeon Core genera. So I hope you all enjoy it!
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2030: WAR BREAKS OUT AFTER FIRST CONTACT
Surprising no one.
2150: HUMANITY REJECTED FOR THE 14TH TIME FROM JOINING THE GALACTIC ALLIANCE. ALL HUMANS RETREAT TO HUMAN SPACE.
During this time, humanity decides that if it can not have allies, it needs to become so strong as to not need them.
2550: HUMANITY EMERGES FROM A SELF-IMPOSED ISOLATION AS THE TERRAN SOLARIUM. THE SOLARIUM MARINES ARE THE MOST TERRIFYING THINGS THE GALACTIC ALLIANCE HAS EVER SEEN.
Thanks to the collective efforts of every asset the world can bring to bear, as well as technologies taken from stranded or invading ships, as well as DNA from plant flora and fauna on other worlds. Humans can rather freely manipulate their bodies via genetic engineering.
2575: GA LAUNCHES A PLANET BUSTER AT EVERY SINGLE HUMAN WORLD WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR POLITICAL NEGATIONS. THE SOLARIUM RESPONDS BY SENDING A SINGLE LEGION TO THE GA COREWORLDS.
Humanity, being humanity, simply nuked the missiles before they could land.
The legion they sent decimated the supposed 'ultimate force' of the GA and executed the diplomats who had voted to launch the planet busters.
2600: AFTER 25 SHORT YEARS OF BATTLE, THE SOLARIUM WELCOMES 127 NEW SPECIES INTO THE SOLARIUM AFTER DISCOVERING TWO OR THREE RACES IN THE GA, ESSENTIALLY ENSLAVING ALL THE OTHERS.
It was found that the three strongest species in the GA were some of the most vile creatures humanity had ever faced, using mind-washing and other horrible methods to ensure that none who could threaten them would ever step foot in the galaxy as a member of the GA.
3127: AFTER HALF A MILLENNIA OF PEACE AND MINOR WARFARE WITH SLAVER SPECIES. THE SOLARIUM ENCOUNTERS THE SWARM.
The swarm was monstrous, having the appearance of giant cockroaches with a shark's teeth and temperament. Even still, The Solarium tried to broker peace with The Swarm.
3135: AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF FAILED NEGOTIATIONS AND BEST-EFFORT POLITICAL MANEUVERS. THE SWARM'S QUEEN UNEQUIVOCALLY STATES THAT THE RACES OF THE SOLARIUM ARE ONLY GOOD TO BE USED AS FOOD.
This was not pleasant, but it was also not unexpected.
3140: THE SOLARIUM DECLARES TOTAL WAR ON THE SWARM, AND MARCUS TERNO IS BORN TO LEGATUS MAXIMUS VI TERNO AND HIS WIFE, SENATOR CLARA PULCHRITUDO TERNO
It was at this point that the Solarium realized how massive the territory the Swarm occupied was. No matter how many they killed, two more would stand in their place.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
3160: THE WAR IS AT A STANDSTILL. NEITHER SIDE IS PROGRESSING. MARCUS GRADUATES FROM THE SOLARIUM WAR COLLEGE AND MARRIES HIS LONG-TIME GIRLFRIEND, NOW SENATORIAL AIDE, AURORA ASTERN.
A strange DMZ-type peace was reached, with both sides occasionally trading volleys with the other.
3163: MARCUS LEADS A GROUP OF CADETS FROM A NEARBY ACADEMY TO STOP A GROUP OF BLACK OPS FORCES FROM THE SWARM, GAINING HIM COMMAND OF THE FIRST SOLAR LEGION. LATER THAT YEAR, HIS DAUGHTER ADRI IS BORN.
In an effort to break the will of the Solarium Swarm, warriors snuck through the Solarium's territory to get nearly a thousand troops onto the Lunar surface where the Senate was meeting.
3175: UNDER HIS COMMAND, THE PRIMAE LEGIO SOLARIS BECOMES THE BANE OF THE SWARM. MARCUS EARNS THE NICKNAMES OF 'GOD'S HAMMER' AND 'FIST OF THE SOLARIUM' IN THE FIRST THREE WEEKS OF THIS YEAR BY ELIMINATING MULTIPLE MILLIONS OF THE SWARM, ALLOWING THE SOLARIUM TO PUSH FORWARD, MAKING ACTUAL PROGRESS FOR THE FIRST TIME.
The blows he struck were thanks to his willingness to potentially end up dead from his plans.
3176: IN RETALIATION FOR HIS SLAYING OF HER PEOPLE, THE SWARM QUEEN HIRES ASSASSINS FROM A RACE UNKNOWN TO THE SOLARIUM. THEY MANAGE TO KILL ADRIANA AND AURORA. THIS ALMOST BREAKS MARCUS.
Marcus killed thousands by himself in sheer rage when he got the news. It took ten of his men to pull him off the lines and get him sedated for transport back to the Solarium.
In later years, this unknown species would petition the Solarium for mercy, begging to be accepted by the Solarium. Marcus demanded the ones who had killed his wife and daughter. He spent a week killing them in front of the others from their species.
Marcus left them with a message, "Do not confuse our mercy with weakness." They joined the Solarium.
3180: AFTER TAKING A FORCED BREAK FROM THE FRONT LINES, MARCUS RETURNS AND DEMANDS FUNDING AND COMMAND FOR A NEW PRIMAE LEGIO SOLARIS, THE LAST HAVING FALLEN IN BATTLE.
Marcus was determined. He had already known what he wanted to do, so he had spent the three years of forced R&R scouting out potential recruits.
3185: FIVE YEARS SPENT FINDING AND TRAINING THE PRIMAE LEGIO SOLARIS SHOWS ITS WORTH. IN THEIR FIRST ENGAGEMENT, THEY SUFFERED ZERO LOSSES, AND NOT A SINGLE ENEMY SURVIVED.
Primae Legio Solaris had eight requirements.
1. You must be the only surviving member of your family.
2. You must have had someone you love killed by the Swarm.
3. You must have done at least ten years of combat service.
4. You must be at least 6'3" tall.
5. You must be willing to undergo genetic modification.
6. You must be willing to Die for the Solarium.
7. You must be willing to follow the orders of Marcus Terno.
8. You must be willing to wipe the Swarm and all its Allies from the face of the galaxy. Killing Men, women, and children when needed.
What Marcus ended up with was a legion of giant sociopaths, genetically modified into super soldiers who had the skills, experience, and will to kill the enemy with extreme prejudice.
3186: THE SOLARIUM SENATE GIVES MARCUS FREE REIN TO ACT AS HE SEES FIT, AND HE TAKES TO THE STARS, CARVING A PATH THROUGH THE GALAXY, KILLING TRILLIONS OF THE SWARM.
After the effects of the Primae Legio Solaris are seen in their first battle, the Solarium Senate had put good thought into terminating all the marines in the Primae Legio Solaris. Marcus had convinced them that the only way to win a war against a brutal enemy was to be even more brutal.
3412: MARCUS IS SO CLOSE HE CAN FEEL IT. THE WAR THAT HE HAS BEEN FIGHTING FOR NEARLY THREE CENTURIES IS ALMOST OVER. MARCUS FINALLY FINDS INTEL ON WHERE THE SWARM AND ITS QUEEN CALL HOME.
Hundreds of years, and his anger still pushed him ever onward. The Primae Legio Solaris has grown from roughly 4,500 to nearly 90,000 in number and has gained funding from numerous sources, resulting in them being equipped to the point they could push farther and farther into the territory of the Swarm. Nearly 30% of the rest of the Solarium's military had converted into a support group for the Primae Legio Solaris, allowing them to push ever deeper and fight for weeks, sometimes months on end.
3413: OF THE THREE PLANETS IN THE SWARM'S HOME SYSTEM, MARCUS ONLY CLEARED ONE. ON THE SECOND, AFTER NEARLY THREE MONTHS OF PERPETUAL BATTLE, MARCUS'S EQUIPMENT FAILED HIM, LEADING TO HIS DEATH.
SEE FIRST CHAPTER.
END OF KNOWN HISTORY