Mankind on Earth was threatened with extinction, so it expanded to other planets to make itself invincible. This only brought more perils of itās own.
You see, human greed is the worst violator of all. As planets were colonized, new governments arose. New powers were formed. New technologies were developed. But the same threat always loomed.
Neptune arose as the power of the century. Itās roiling oceans allowed for hydropower on a scale never before seen, allowing the planetās factories and agriculture to thrive.
Over the years, decadence fattened the once hardy people of Neptune. They became content with little responsibility, giving it away for pleasure. They became obsessed with war, having no purpose, and thus, no peace.
The government used this newfound power to expand its empire. The people were ecstatic, unaware of war and itās toils. Unaware of itās true cost.
One by one, the planets fell. Uranus. Saturn. Jupiterās Moons. Finally, little Mars stood in the face of the Neptunian Dread Force 9, a deadly fleet of destroyers and frigates, specialized in heavy planetary assaults.
But Mars was not alone.
Mercury had boomed in the last century. Itās solar power was on par with Neptuneās hydropower. It was very much Neptuneās equal. Mercuryās 11th Shield Fleet was deployed to Mars to help stop the oncoming war tide in itās tracks.
Even as the 11th was entering Marās atmosphere, Neptune detonated itās megaton bombs planted in Mercuryās core. The planet was ash within an hour.
The 11th became the 4th Martian Vanguard, and pledged to help fight for Mars against the Neptunians.
As old as Mars colonization was, the planet was not a powerful one. It had no natural water, and little power supply. It was, as Oldspeak would have it, a sitting duck.
But, for all its flaws, Mars was a clever planet. It deployed operation Depth Charge. It was a human enhancement program, designed to increase focus, reflex, and learning abilities. One hundred of these super humans were made. Known as Aces, they manned single-seat fighters and were skilled enough to destroy entire enemy formations alone.
Their creation was a turning point in the war. After they defeated the Dread Force 9 on Mars, the Solar System saw the use of the Aces, and their effectiveness.
The Martian Space Force continued to route Neptunian forces until their eventual victory over Neptune itself one year later.
The war was over, and it had taken a heavy toll on the Aces. Just 14 remained afterwards.
Mars made a second generation of Aces, named Bug Eyeās, who specialized in reconnaissance and scouting missions. These would be used until there devastation 20 years laterā¦
-Ace Vanguard, History of the First Solar War.
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