Interstellar War

The Interstellar War was a nearly decade-long conflict between Humans and Amanth after both discovered the other at roughly the same time. The Amanth were responsible for both initiating and aborting hostilities. It began in 542 AE and ended in 551 AE with a white peace (neither side gained or lost anything).

The Conflict

Prelude

The war began almost immediately following first contact between the two sides. When the Amanth could not sense the humans with their telepathy, and mistook them for dumb animals. To the Amanth, the only thing that separated them from the beasts of their homeworld was their quantum organ, and they carried this misconception with them into the space age.

Battlefield

Fought along a front line approximately 120 light-years wide and 50 light-years deep.

The Engagement

After the nature of the war was revealed to both sides, reinforcements were hastily rushed to the conflict zone. The Amanth held the advantage in this regard, thanks to their communication advantage. The early stages of the war consisted of a fighting retreat as the humans worked to move as many starships as possible to the front lines and coordinate the national navies into one fighting force. After all the reserves were in play, the war began to stalemate in 545 AE.
The humans made a moderately successful counterattack in 547 AE and retook some of their lost territory. To their horror, the populations of the conquered worlds were entirely wiped out. This only galvanized human resistance when the second wave of Amanth war production hit the front like a tidal wave in 548 AE. The most brutal years of the war were fought, and saw a number of innovations tested such as the spinal-mount coilgun for the humans and the ultraviolet laser for the Amanth.
It was around this time when the Amanth began to question their first judgement of humans' sentience, after they successfully translated a captured computer and learned of human history and culture. In 550 AE, the first radio wave communication device was invented by the Amanth, and used to signal a human ship to discuss peace terms. Contacted ships were consistently in disbelief and fired upon the broadcasting vessel, but continued efforts to make contact resulted in a ceasefire and a final treaty in 551 AE.

Historical Significance

Legacy

The legacy of the Interstellar War cut deep to both species, even nine years later, and its impact will likely remain for decades. The disparate human factions were brought closer together in their resistance to an alien invader, and the Amanth's political establishment suffered a severe drop in prestige due to their role in beginning the crisis, while the scientific community was likewise elevated because of their efforts to end the war.

Included Conflicts

• Battle of Gamma Piscinas

Conflict Type

War

Battlefield Type

Space

Start Date

542 AE

Ending Date

551 AE

Conflict Result

White Peace

Belligerents

Human Alliance

Amanth Domain

Strength

Approximately 250 starships and 1000 sublight warships of varying designs and effectiveness.

Approximately 300 starships, 500 sublight warships and 8000 small craft of standardized designs.

Casualties

Approximately 70 starships were lost with all hands, and dozens more suffered crew casualties.

Approximately 50 starships were lost with all hands, and dozens more suffered crew casualties.

Objectives

Revenge for extermination of colonies

Extermination of opponents