Story Universe
IV. The Laendänl
Pleiades Star Cluster
Founding of the “Union of Light"
It was in the midst of adjustment to life in the physical dimensions of Space that Humans from the group of star systems we know as the Pleiades Cluster decided to establish a union of mutual sharing among their worlds. This union quickly attracted the attention of other Human civilizations and of many among the others of the Young Races. And thus, from a common agreement between Humans and Amethen, the the multi-galactic Union known as the Laendänl, or “Union of Light”, was founded to forge bonds of friendship and mutual support among diverse peoples.
The founding of the Union marked the beginning of a new era. Its headquarters since then have been in the star system known to us as Alcyone of the Pleiades. It has became a dominant factor in the lives of many of the Young Races — still it is today, with the participation of more than 24,000 federations of civilizations and leagues of star systems from seven of the galaxies in La’Aït.
It still amazes historians how swiftly the Union expanded to include federations and leagues of worlds from seven of the galaxies of the Local Group. Yet, this doesn’t mean that all civilization in our galaxies are members of the Union. Researchers from the Union estimate that, although the membership of the Union is about half Humans, half Amethen, it represents 80% of the known Human civilizations and 38% of the Amethen. Many others are friends and observers. Still others chose to travel their paths alone. And there are a few, not many, who are antagonistic to the Union.
The Others
Among those non-human races which aren’t members of the Union, it is common to find them forming small alliances of their own. One such alliance was established early on after the Union became known. It is named by the peculiar expression, “The Others” — or ‘Uk-takh’ in the language of its founders, meaning ‘not them’.
The Others are a small coalition of mixed groups of races whose home star systems are in the three main galaxies — Alaïs, Laïs and Cealaïs. The common bond for their mismatched races, cultures and levels of development is their hatred of Humans and a life-path dedicated to gain control of others and to exploit to their advantage the resources of Space.
They have an unusual thirst for conquest and domination that most others of the sentient races don’t have. But though an alliance, among themselves The Others aren’t unified, respecting only the conquered territories that the various groups among them grab from Space — territories which are called “dominions”, each ruled by an Overlord.
In spite of their bravado and hawkishness, The Others have never been a true menace to the Union since the Overlords dedicate themselves to expand their dominions mostly among the non-alined civilizations in the three galaxies. The Union also has the advantage of having a science and technology that The Others have never been able to match, and this serves as a deterrent to the ambitions of the Overlords. The Union is nonetheless called many times to help non-alined worlds about to be conquered by The Others, and this has forced the Union to come up with non-violent deterrent means.
At various times armistices and treaties have been agreed between the Union and the Overlords of The Others. Invariably, however, they have been broken when the Overlords’ thirst for more territory overtakes them.
Armistice of Adhara
The latest of the peace treaties between the Union and The Others was signed about 900,620 years ago. It was brokered by one of the most advanced of the Human civilizations — the Thelians, from the planet Thel of the Eir System (Eta Cassiopeia). The peace conference took place on the planet Adhara of the Lïs System, in the Laïs Galaxy (the Milky Way).
The Armistice of Adhara resulted in the cessation of hostilities between the Union and The Others by establishing protocols of respect for the areas of Space each party claimed control of. It included rules of engagement and a system of notification of each party’s intentions. It secured the respect of star systems with planets already members of the Union. The result, although it wasn’t a perfect peace, marked a major turning point in the history of the Young Races since both parties had a clear system to talk about disagreements and to let the other know of their intentions.
The Armistice of Adhara, however, was put to test with the discovery by the Union of the Sol System, and more particularly, with the discovery of planet Earth.
Our Story Begins…
Our stories from Tales of the Horizon begin 900,000 years ago, when events in our Sol System first attracted the attention of Galactic Humans. The discovery of Earth, with its unusual bio-sphere and soul-sphere, reignites the hopes of many to solve the mystery of Human origins and our way back to ‘a place’ called ‘Home’.
The Union, however, is uncertain what to do with discovery. The archenemies of Humans, the alliance of The Others, arrived first in the Sol System. Claiming control of the planet risks renewed conflict with them. And something ominous from the ancient past appears to be happening in the system. Will Earth’s mystery be ignored and the planet left to its fate?