The Shattering

The Shattering is the mark of the end of The First Era of Humanity.
The course of the Human-Turunz war led to extreme devastation throughout Human space. This, ending with the first bombardment of Earth, created a shock through the Express. The rifts froze and access to the Express was made impossible for anyone within Human space. The effects of this were extreme, as now communication and trade between different Human systems could only be accomplished via sub-luminal means. The Turunz fleet, recognizing that they were cut off from their homeland, opted to return- though it would take much longer. Barring possible reinforcements which may be needed to subdue or destroy a planet as well-defended as Earth, the admiralty on location decided to negotiate with the Humans. They established a King over Earth and demanded that Sol restrain its expansion, although that was now what the realty demanded.
The shattering caused the great fracturing of Humanity which would decide its future over the next several thousand years. It ended the First era and closed out the Space Age, leading into the Regnum Lucis in Sol.