Collectivist Wars
Previous Context
This story is narrated in the Star History appendix of the first volume of Legends of the Black Sun: The Star Tomb.
The collectivist wars originated in a period of human expansion known as the Age of the Late Colonies, when humanity had conquered a vast portion of the known universe, establishing fragile interstellar alliances and divided political systems. In this period, the Collective emerged, a technocratic faction led by Lux Koth, which promoted the unification of human systems under a centralized and authoritarian regime, arguing that this was the only way to protect humanity from external threats, such as the Axia, and guarantee survival in the cosmos.
The Collective grew stronger on planets with strategic resources and used advanced technology, inherited from Exo research, to develop biological weapons and expand its influence. Its rise to power was seen as a direct threat by free human nations, leading to a prolonged and devastating conflict.
Main Protagonists
Leaders of the Collective
- Lux Koth: Renegade mana master and chief architect of the Collective. He was responsible for the development of the exorkun, biological weapons that caused massive devastation.
- Utta Lumat: Renegade Andalore assassin master who served as Koth’s military arm, leading key raids in Alliance systems.
Resistance Leaders
- Jorah Kheb: General of the First Alliance and chief strategist in the fight against the Collective. Son of Isabella Kheb, Jorah played a key role in the war and used his prestige to found the dynasty of the Emperors Lineage after the conflict. His leadership was essential in unifying the systems in the nascent Empire.
- Jonah Kheb: Jorah’s brother, also the son of Isabella Kheb, and defender of the Jofan system. Jonah was a symbol of hope thanks to his mastery of the Exo staff, an inheritance of his lineage. After the war, he founded the Kheb sect, a spiritual organization that promoted the preservation of Exo technologies and values to protect humanity.
Isabella Kheb: The Maternal Legacy
Isabella Kheb, commander of the Interstellar Geographic Society, was the mother of Jorah and Jonah. Her discovery of the Star Tomb maps and her escape from the Covenant’s counterparts was key to ensuring the survival of her children and the resistance against the Collective. Her lineage became the basis of the Lineage dynasty, which ruled for centuries after the end of the conflict.
Development of the Conflict
Start: 998 CE
The conflict began with the attack by the Collective on Ulma Sang, a strategically important moon that was annihilated by the exorkun. This event marked the beginning of the war, demonstrating the destructive power of the new biological weapons developed by Lux Koth.
Important Events During the Conflict
- The invasion of Jofan (1012 ED): The Collective launched a massive offensive using exorkun-laden capsules to invade Jofan, the home planet of Jonah and Jorah Kheb. The defense led by the two brothers stopped the attack, becoming a turning point in the war.
- Battle of the Theros Nebula (1017 AE): One of the biggest space battles of the war, where the forces of the First Alliance destroyed a large part of the Collective’s fleet. This event considerably weakened Lux Koth and his followers.
- Operation “Mordus Exodus”: The Mordus Mana Masters, initially neutral allies, joined the First Alliance after the Collective attempted to invade Kalaran. Their knowledge of cloning and genetic tactics proved crucial in countering the Exorkun.
- Final assault on Dakara (1021 AE): Jorah Kheb led the final offensive against the Collective’s headquarters on Dakara, using captured Exo technology. The victory marked the end of the conflict and the disappearance of Lux Koth.
Consequences of the Conflict
For the Protagonists
- Jorah Kheb: After the war, he used his prestige to establish the Empire, unifying the systems under his command. This act gave rise to the Lineage dynasty, which marked a new era of political centralization and military power. However, his authoritarian regime led to future tensions and internal conflicts.
- Jonah Kheb: He withdrew from military service to dedicate himself to the defense of his home planet and the preservation of his legacy. He founded the Kheb sect, which became an influential spiritual organization focused on the responsible use of Exo technology.
- Lux Koth: He disappeared after the fall of Dakara. He is presumed dead, but his legacy persisted in the form of the Collective’s residual weapons and technology.
- Utta Lumat: Captured and executed for war crimes, he became a symbol of the terror caused by the Collective.
For the Affected Nations
- First Alliance: Temporarily strengthened, but tensions between its members led to eventual fragmentation and the rise of the Jorah Kheb Empire.
- Mordus State: Gained influence as a key ally of the Alliance, but its genetic experiments continued to be the subject of controversy.
- Free Planets: Many independent systems suffered irreparable losses in infrastructure and population, leaving deep scars that would last for centuries.
The Weapons of the Conflict
- Exorkun: Biological weapons created through the genetic manipulation of Exo material. They were monstrous creatures with lethal claws, immune to traditional weapons and controlled by sonic emitters.
- Exo-staves: Weapons used by Jorah and Jonah Kheb, capable of channeling energy and neutralizing exorkun.
- Collectivist Fleet: This included advanced ships, many of them equipped with alien technology.
- Exoarmor: Combat suits used by Alliance forces to resist the Collective’s biological and chemical attacks.
Final Analysis
The Collectivist Wars represented one of the most devastating conflicts in the history of humanity in the Exodus. Although the victory of the First Alliance put an end to the threat of the Collective, it also left a legacy of destruction and distrust between the star systems. The rise of the Jorah Kheb Empire as a direct result of the conflict marked the beginning of a new era of centralization of power, albeit at the expense of individual freedoms.
On the other hand, biological weapons such as the exorkun demonstrated the inherent danger of advanced technology when used without ethical restraint. The war also highlighted the importance of interstellar cooperation, although this quickly fragmented after the victory.
Ultimately, the collectivist wars were a reminder of humanity’s destructive potential and resilience in the face of existential threats. Their impact was felt for centuries, shaping politics, alliances and power structures in the Exodus galaxy.
This story is told in the Star History appendix of the first volume of Legends of the Black Sun: The Star Tomb.
