Armz Co is in a tight spot, losing one of their major exploration science vessels, is a blow to their company. Although they were powerful, ships were costly and crew invaluable. They had over thirty vessels, but one will always still be a majdastardly.
Now they had to delve into their contacts to go check the situation. That is often how these go, they contract a fleet and that fleet goes and gets information on why a vessel was deactivated. Then they follow up by either reporting if they can't handle it or leveling the poor bastard.
Armz Co is a low-tier government funded company. Often focusing more so on security contracts, small arms manufacturing, and since the past few years exploration contracts. They hadn't had much progress in exploration, or well findings that could be considered of great value, but they were surely to find something. Well aware of old rumors of ancient long dead civilizations that may have at one point surpassed the three interstellar empires in their prime, at one point.
It was merely a rumor, and nine parts false for all they knew, but it was worth a shot if found profitable. Hence their trying. Which led to their situation where funding from the government is low and even investors are few. Often. They would be taken out of their own pockets. Even stingy with themselves.
If they continue this then the Ascension Empire will be on their doorstep in less than a decade. Those funds even if considered 'small' is still a probing investment, failing would be harmful to their relationship and could harm a few of their higher end contracts.
Nobody wanted an empire sized IRS on their doorstep, nor the cruelty that came with being a government. Especially led by humans, you see the Ascension Empire is one of three.
Then there is the Voidian Oligarchy, and the Elysian Queendom. Whilst the corresponding races are. Human, Voidborne and Space elves. Or better yet as they are often more so referred to between themselves. Hemun, Elders and Elysians.
These three interstellar great nations are the strongest ones to date, surely there are others, undiscovered of course. However even then, they do not hold a candle to these three. Yet none amongst them are the strongest, starting with The Ascension Empire.
They are the human empire, the only human empire as of known to date. A powerful body of military might and experts of trade. With secrets abound and war crimes hidden for use should they be needed. Their motto is just as their name states. The Ascension Empire, to ascend to greater heights, to explore the unknown, and in turn to conquer it.
The Voidian Oligarchy is a strange nation. Often referred to as space whales for their size and how they treat the void almost similar to how whales would. Though when addressing them respectfully they are referred to as Elders, they are very ancient with even the youngest being centuries old. They are ruled by a council of the ancients. A primordial force, one that both humanity and Elysian's deeply respect but also fear in equal measure. Their people are nomadic within their 'lands', they do not need to breathe or be planet bound. They are creatures of space, they do share a sort of hive mind, but not quite. However, they are connected but not one mind.
Elysian Queendom may make you think of tall beautiful elves. That would not be the case here. The Elysian are ashen skinned, still tall, and perhaps darkly beautiful. They are a stro g people hailing from volcanic worlds, they are incredibly fire resistant, and resilient, even having a great deal of psychic abilities often used to interface with their technology and web ways. They have a queen, often seen as a god like immortal than one would think to believe. Unlike the Eldars and the Hemun, they are incredibly technologically ahead of their time. Heavily integrated with their own technology they could pose a great risk to any empire, alas one issue arises for them. Though their population is vast. It is not quite the originals and they hold great pride their original species holds great elite power akin to nobles. Whilst their citizens, grown by labs, cloned or amongst those lab and clones are not considered fully elven and therefore do not share the privileges of the higher class.
Back in the day the machines feared humans more than the other two. Despite their technology surpassing the latter they were hard pressed when trying to kill the warlike species. Humans thrive in war, if given the opportunity. Although it's finite, giving them time is a death sentence. The fall of the Prism Collective, after centuries of war proved that.
humanity is cunning, creative and a cosmic roach. They do not know defeat even when they are pushed that far. For that is what a human is, in a machine's own terms. Adaptive warmachines. Perhaps not the best but they are good at it, and that is saying something coming from ancient machines.
If Synthesis knew this, he would have never judged them so wantonly. In time he will know, after all. Taking his situation in account to these details will give him a glaring truth to Prism's Fall. They weren't the only troublesome but they certainly held priority..
Remember these Interstellar great nations well, we will see them quite a bit. Each powerful and vast, each with pros and cons. They are allies against the universe, the greatest rivals it. Each other but also of the machines and their influence is across the known galaxies. The challenges ahead are simply unfathomable!
Yet they shall be conquered in time for the Prism Collective will make a comeback centuries in the making and when it comes to light. Let the great nations bleed in despair at the wrath they had long forgotten!