As representatives of the Dark Jedi Brotherhood and The Collective met with leaders of the Severian Principate, Collective forces disguised as an element of the Brotherhood launched a false-flag surprise attack on the Principate, hitting targets across the Lyra System. The Collective feigns shock and ignorance as the Brotherhood scrambles to contain the situation and the Principate stands poised on the brink of war. Out of this discord, new opportunities have presented themselves to the Clans, from salvaging diplomatic ties with a new ally, to securing new sources of power and profit for themselves.
Summary
A decisive blow has was struck in the ongoing fued between the Brotherhood and the Collective. With the death of the Technocratic Guild leader known as Daggo Mouk—and the loss of Meridian Space Station—the Collective have scaled back their harassment of the Brotherhood. Their withdrawal gave the Dark Council some much needed breathing room to reinforce their hold on their respective territories. The continued conflicts with the Collective—combined with meeting the material needs of the Dark Council's new home world, fleet, and personnel—stretched the Regent's coffers thin.
In the hopes of reaching a trade deal with a new partner, the Grand Master created an opportunity to meet with a new organization that could stand to be an invaluable partner for the Brotherhood. They call themselves the Severian Principate.
With the leadership of the Brotherhood shifting gears, Evant Taelyan was appointed Deputy Grand Master. His first task? Assemble a group of delegates from the seven respective Clans, and take them to the Lyra-3K-a system to meet with representatives from the Severian Principate.
[Prologue]
If you want peace, prepare for war...
The Deputy Grand Master has assembled his team of diplomats that represent each of the Brotherhood’s seven clans. Their destination? The Lyra-3K-a star system to meet with diplomats from the Severian Principate with the hope of forging a mutually beneficial alliance between the two powers. While the Iron Forces make their way towards the locations of interest, however, the Collective makes a bold move to disrupt diplomacy as discord looms on the horizon...
[Chapter One] Catalyst
"Opposition brings concord. Out of discord comes the fairest harmony.”
Just as the Brotherhood begins a historic diplomatic meeting with the Severian Principate, the Collective has made a hard move to sow discord and disrupt the potential alliance. Under the disguise of Iron Forces ships and pilots, they have launched multiple false-flag attacks on key locations in the Lyra-3K-a system. In a desperate attempt to prevent the deal from falling through, Deputy Grand Master Evant Taelyan has sent out an encrypted, coded message across the Advanced Inquisitorius Network (AIN) calling on all Brotherhood personal to lend aid. The fate of this potential alliance now hangs in the hands of the Seven Clans of the Brotherhood.
The Collective's false-flag attack on the Thuvis Imperial Shipyards
[Chapter Two] When Words Fail
"Truth is stranger than fiction because we don’t meet it as often.”
Although the Brotherhood has produced evidence of the Collective false-flag attack, the Severian Principate remains skeptical of the Brotherhood's motivations. To make matters worse, elements of the Principate 5th Fleet have taken up arms against the Brotherhood system-wide.
The Collective continues to feign innocence to the attacks.
[Finale]
"False dichotomies are often at the heart of discord."
For all their attempts at a peaceful resolution, three galactic powers had become entwined in a war for the truth behind the seeds of discord. The blurred line between truth and fiction had caught the loyal supporters of the Severian Principate in the crossfire of the Collective’s feud with the Dark Brotherhood. Across the Lyra-3K-a system, three theaters of war entered the final chapters of their respective battles and conflicts.
Lyra Colony under duress during the three-way conflict between the Brotherhood, Collective, and Principate.