The skies above Okrir lit up a fiery red in the night sky.
The war between the Republic of Humanity and the Vurean Council had dragged on. An ancient ship, powerful in design and advanced in technology, had been influencing the field of battle for the Vurean side. The Republic's massive industrial capacity and population, on the other hand, more than made up for it. Though the Vureans had more colonies, the Republic's colonies were far higher-quality, particularly New Terra, the Republic's homeworld.
It had been years since the war had first began. Fleets and strike forces traded ships, the debris of war floating, orbiting planets throughout the two empires. Now, in a stroke of bold madness, the Republic sought to crush the Vureans' fighting spirit. The 6th and the 15th fleets, assisted by two strike groups, had jumped into orbit around the Vurean homeworld. The massive defensive installations, stations dedicated solely to firepower, massive power plants firing up just to power the laser batteries and missile racks, fighter bays launching countless Ackdarian fighters.
The losses were heavy. Cruisers, torn apart by the blistering fire as their shields failed. Republic carriers launched scores of interceptors and torpedo bombers, but it seemed not enough.
Then, the shields failed on one installation. Explosions wracked its hull. In a massive explosion, metal and flesh was thrown out violently. Then the second base fell. Finally the third.
The ships of the republic moved closer to their main target: the massive Space Port, an orbital installation allowing for millions of tons of cargo to be shipped on and off-world, the center of trade for the Vurean Council. They showed no mercy.
For a month, the ships of the Republic watched over Vurean. No troops landed: the massive defensive fortifications dug by the hundreds of thousands of Ackdarian forces meant that there was no way to assault the planet's surface. The Republic waited. For a month, no cargo made it on to Okrir: it was cut off from the galaxy.
Then the Republic ships left. The war dragged on for another few months, and the Republic managed to steal a system from the Vureans. A cease-fire was called. The Vureans had paid dearly, though. Their industrial capacity was greatly weakened: Their once glorious space port, a hub of trade, twisted metal stained with the blood of innocent civilians.
The Republic of Humanity, however, had experienced a great shift: their great victory had shown the might of the empire, especially since Ackdarian admirals had headed some of the fleets. Soon, with massive popular support, the Republic was no more. It was reborn, the Federation of Human Planets. Tired of war, they realized it was better to live in peace, and have equality for all.
Now, it is the year 2773. The Federation is boxed in by the Vureans towards the Galactic Core, and the Sluken Conformity towards the Rim. They have powerful allies in the Free Kiadia Alliance, the only other empire in the galaxy with similar power. Only time will tell how the Federation grows in the future.
Distant Worlds: Legends. As the Humans, had a massive war with neighboring Ackdarians and managed to their homeworld's station up. Wrecked their GDP, probably put it back permanently behind the other races.