A full year before the Scourge invasion, an alien artefact known as the White Sphere crashed to Earth. An artificial intelligence beyond any witnessed before, it quickly took over control of the planet’scommunications, sending out a message to every person. It warned of a calamity from space, and encouraged humanity to flee, giving themselves to the White Sphere in exchange for technology they could only dream of, technology enough to save them. Literal days before the alien Scourge devastated humankind, those who heeded the White Sphere’s warning left Earth. Firing on their pursuers, the Abandonists jumped away into unknown space, following the AI’s directions. This act of rebellion forever tarnished them among those who remained. 150 years after their retreat, the Abandonists returned, changed beyond measure. Now known as the Post-Human Republic, they appeared with vastly superior technology, and a symbiotic relationship with their machines, protected in thick gleaming armour, and toting massive broadsides on their fleet.
