Origin:
Spoiler!
Although Ratai first encountered the Darkness over 500 years ago, even to this date, very little of this specie is known, and most knowledge Ratai have are simply speculations based on limited information available. The first contact with Darkness was made in year 6032 (Ratai calendar) at the edge of Ratai control zone Tuva II - corner of space beyond wich Ratai had not really found anything worth interest. This part of space was basically the galactic edge, only few small, isolated stars scattering the sector withing several hundred light years.
This area was widely unmapped, due to low importance of systems, and only few vessels ever made jump this far. The initial contact was made by freighter hired for scientific purposes, observing rogue planet (an planet without star system) flying through this sector. The planet was tought to be dead by all means of logic, but to surprise of Ratai, certain level of activity was detected both in surface and orbit. At first Ratai believed the planet had number of small asteroid moons, and the heat signatures on planet were work of volcanic activity, but closer observations proved otherwise. The planet was buzzling with machines, like ant nest would be with ants, and the "asteroids" in orbit proved to be grude space ships.
All the sudden, this dead unimportant corner of space became rather interesting for Ratai, and withing days more scientific vessels joined the study, to begin determing the origin and purpose of the strange automatons withing the planet. At first everything went without incident and for many days Ratai vessels were ignored by the machines. Initially Ratai observings suggested the machines were not even self aware, but simply following some pre set program, for their actions seemed functions seemed highly limited. It was determined that the machines upon the planet were gathering resources at staggering rate, but seemed not to make any use of it. Instead enormous piles of refined medals and high value minerals laid in huge fields that covered large percentage of the planet. It was calculated that the machines would strip mine the planet from all of its resources withing just decade.
It did not take long before it was concidered possibility to use the resources gathered by machines for Ratai's own end. It seemed these things were some tools with pre set mining program installed, and left to work on their own. Several attempts to contact were made, but no reply was ever recieved. It was deemed unlikely the machines would even notice if resources were taken. This was where Ratai were wrong.
When first cargo hauler landed on the planet and took its cargo, behaviour of the machines changed dramatically, both withing surface and in orbit. The hauler was approached upon its departure from the planet, by several ships that previously had remained mostly dormant, but the freighter easily destroyed them before any of them got close.
Upon the planet the machines had began to suddenly increase in numbers, taking the resources they had gathered into use. No further attempts to land were mady by Ratai for every approach towards the planet was met by approaching machine ships. Instead Ratai decided to wait and watch from distance. Withing 12 hours, the machines had alrady tripled their numebers (now in billions), and new variants were detected. Ratai became increasingly concerned when the ships in orbit began to group, and then approach the Ratai vessels.
14 hours from when the freighter had landed and took the cargo, remote Ratai military outpost at Tuva IV recieved first distress call from the scientific vessels. This remained as last message sent by the said ships...
This area was widely unmapped, due to low importance of systems, and only few vessels ever made jump this far. The initial contact was made by freighter hired for scientific purposes, observing rogue planet (an planet without star system) flying through this sector. The planet was tought to be dead by all means of logic, but to surprise of Ratai, certain level of activity was detected both in surface and orbit. At first Ratai believed the planet had number of small asteroid moons, and the heat signatures on planet were work of volcanic activity, but closer observations proved otherwise. The planet was buzzling with machines, like ant nest would be with ants, and the "asteroids" in orbit proved to be grude space ships.
All the sudden, this dead unimportant corner of space became rather interesting for Ratai, and withing days more scientific vessels joined the study, to begin determing the origin and purpose of the strange automatons withing the planet. At first everything went without incident and for many days Ratai vessels were ignored by the machines. Initially Ratai observings suggested the machines were not even self aware, but simply following some pre set program, for their actions seemed functions seemed highly limited. It was determined that the machines upon the planet were gathering resources at staggering rate, but seemed not to make any use of it. Instead enormous piles of refined medals and high value minerals laid in huge fields that covered large percentage of the planet. It was calculated that the machines would strip mine the planet from all of its resources withing just decade.
It did not take long before it was concidered possibility to use the resources gathered by machines for Ratai's own end. It seemed these things were some tools with pre set mining program installed, and left to work on their own. Several attempts to contact were made, but no reply was ever recieved. It was deemed unlikely the machines would even notice if resources were taken. This was where Ratai were wrong.
When first cargo hauler landed on the planet and took its cargo, behaviour of the machines changed dramatically, both withing surface and in orbit. The hauler was approached upon its departure from the planet, by several ships that previously had remained mostly dormant, but the freighter easily destroyed them before any of them got close.
Upon the planet the machines had began to suddenly increase in numbers, taking the resources they had gathered into use. No further attempts to land were mady by Ratai for every approach towards the planet was met by approaching machine ships. Instead Ratai decided to wait and watch from distance. Withing 12 hours, the machines had alrady tripled their numebers (now in billions), and new variants were detected. Ratai became increasingly concerned when the ships in orbit began to group, and then approach the Ratai vessels.
14 hours from when the freighter had landed and took the cargo, remote Ratai military outpost at Tuva IV recieved first distress call from the scientific vessels. This remained as last message sent by the said ships...
Spoiler!
In a early years what would be known as Ratai - Darkness war, it very much seemed like Darkness (still called machines on that time) were just simple mining drones that for reason or another had major glitch when Ratai interrupted them. The ships built by this entity posed no actual threat to Ratai military ships - wich on that time were vastly more powerful than current day Ratai ships. Two destroyers for example that responded to the distress call of scientific vessels first attacked could easily wipe the several hundred ships meeting them over the orbit of planet. The Ratai deemed Machines to be malfunctioning AI, and decided to destroy it. Several days later, several Ratai fleets began massive orbital bombardment, systematically wiping the entire planet clean sector by sector. Obviously something failed, for when dust settled, the machines had already rebuilt much of what had been lost. The durability of Machines was what would eventually turn the tide of this war - for no matter how much Ratai would destroy them, they could always rebuild - faster than Ratai could cover their losses.
For next several years Ratai and the Machine fleets clashed withing the system, Ratai still scoring most of the victories, and regularly bombarding the planet. The system was isolated and massive fortress stations were constructed to protect the jump node - building projects wich were no big deal for empire that had over million warships and 6018 planets under its influence. It was perhaps the distance of the threat and sheer size of empire that made Ratai leaders too slow to respond to the machine issue properly.
Six years after the contact, Ratai decleared the system "lost" and pulled off their fleets to guard the jump node instead. On that time Darkness ships had not been recorded to have any jump capability, which effectively would limit the spread to only sublight speed. With how isolated the location was, Ratai decided the Machines would not pose a threat to other Ratai worlds. Even if Darkness could construct jump capable ships, the jump node would be the only access to Ratai space, which was protected by massive fortifications. The "war" now entered into more silent phase, Ratai having no contact with Darkness for years. On a tenth year, the fleet guarding the node was disbanded, leaving the guard duty of node to the fortress stations and their support craft only. It was not until 19 years of silence when Darkness came again. By that time Ratai had already forgotten the threat and thus were very slow to reply. The fortress stations did vaporize whatever the Darkness could throw at them by ease, but since the last engagement, Darkness had developed quite deal of new tricks - one which eventually would give name for them, the "Darkness".
During the brief engagement with Darkness ship getting very close to the battlestation, the fortress reported system failure and then went dark, the station dying by itself. The crew soon reported that they had been boarded and in matter of minutes, last contact with the station was lost. It was not recorded that Darkness would have boarded the station at any point, which great deal puzzled the military strategists of Ratai.
By the time the Ratai fleet responding to emercency call from the stations reporting "about to be overrun" arrhived, they found no ships - Ratai nor Darkness near the nobe. Just dead, dark stations sitting in their posts with not a single sould alive in any of them. When boarded, Ratai Marines found entire crew slaughtered, sometimes utterly torn apart and spread across the corridors, but no enemy.
The fleet took a position near the node...
Now, Ratai - Darkness war lasted for nearly 300 years, Ratai time after time underestimating their enemy in early years. It was not before Darkness had invaded several systems from Ratai when this colossal empire realized they were actually facing enemy to be concidered real threat. Darkness continued to adapt and amaze Ratai time after time, adopting new strategies, tactics and improving engagement after engagement. In 30 years, Darkness had caught up with Ratai in terms of technology and firepower, now evening odds great deal for its ships. This showed in battle of Oruos II, a key planet in the far reach space of Ratai and also regional capital Ratai wanted not to let fall to their enemy. The Ratai deployed their largest fleet yet to the battle, over 400000 ships strong to protect the planet. Darkness deployed less, which presented rare scene in this war - Ratai for once outnumbering their enemy. The fleet battle in orbit of Oruos II lasted for 8 days and eventually resulted in victory for Ratai. It was costly victory however, and counting the fact that Darkness could cover their losses in matter of weeks, while it would take years for Ratai, it was as much of a defeat. Oruos II was lost just several months later, as conciderably larger and more upgraded Darkness fleet took over the planet, destorying much of the already battered "grand fleet" of Ratai. Remaining ships retreated to the edges of central systems.
The battle of Oruos II was the turning point of war, where Ratai began to loose more than win, and the destruction of empire began to seem more and more real. Attempts to communicate with Darkness were made, but only replies were uploaded virus into systems. Ratai turned into defensive, bunkering up jump nodes under their control, trying to protect the remaining 5000+ worlds they still had under control, and epspecially the central worlds. It effectively took remaining two hundred years for Darkness to eat Ratai empire bit by bit and crack through each of the bottlenecks constructed to defend worlds of Ratai. One great example was the siege of Ratai homeworld, the planet resisting attacks for over seven years. Ratai had hauled every single god killer cannon from every corner of their empire to protect the world, and it indeed seemed like impossible to penetrate such fierce defences. This was in fact only time in war when Darkness did not directly comfort the defenders, but isolated the world, leaving it alone and continued their conquest. It is likely Ratai homeworld lasted way longer than 7 years against Darkness invasion, but as it was cut from rest of the empire, it remains uncertainty.
289 years to the war, and final Ratai controlled moon fell to Darkness. Orbiting this moon were the "hope" shipyards, which had constructed sleeper ships for over 30 years for journey Ratai knew were ahead of them. More than billion Ratai took off in their ships and fled way before the moon fell to the enemy, to begin journey they still continue this very day. On that time, the fleet had near hundred thousand ships, most civilian, but Darkness have cut the numbers whenever possible.
It is uncertain why Darkness continue to chase Ratai even after all this time. Machines most likely do not feel hatred, so whatever function elimination of specie serves.. remains up to speculations. It is to be said however that any contact with Darkness, whatever specie it was, will certainly not lead into anything good...
For next several years Ratai and the Machine fleets clashed withing the system, Ratai still scoring most of the victories, and regularly bombarding the planet. The system was isolated and massive fortress stations were constructed to protect the jump node - building projects wich were no big deal for empire that had over million warships and 6018 planets under its influence. It was perhaps the distance of the threat and sheer size of empire that made Ratai leaders too slow to respond to the machine issue properly.
Six years after the contact, Ratai decleared the system "lost" and pulled off their fleets to guard the jump node instead. On that time Darkness ships had not been recorded to have any jump capability, which effectively would limit the spread to only sublight speed. With how isolated the location was, Ratai decided the Machines would not pose a threat to other Ratai worlds. Even if Darkness could construct jump capable ships, the jump node would be the only access to Ratai space, which was protected by massive fortifications. The "war" now entered into more silent phase, Ratai having no contact with Darkness for years. On a tenth year, the fleet guarding the node was disbanded, leaving the guard duty of node to the fortress stations and their support craft only. It was not until 19 years of silence when Darkness came again. By that time Ratai had already forgotten the threat and thus were very slow to reply. The fortress stations did vaporize whatever the Darkness could throw at them by ease, but since the last engagement, Darkness had developed quite deal of new tricks - one which eventually would give name for them, the "Darkness".
During the brief engagement with Darkness ship getting very close to the battlestation, the fortress reported system failure and then went dark, the station dying by itself. The crew soon reported that they had been boarded and in matter of minutes, last contact with the station was lost. It was not recorded that Darkness would have boarded the station at any point, which great deal puzzled the military strategists of Ratai.
By the time the Ratai fleet responding to emercency call from the stations reporting "about to be overrun" arrhived, they found no ships - Ratai nor Darkness near the nobe. Just dead, dark stations sitting in their posts with not a single sould alive in any of them. When boarded, Ratai Marines found entire crew slaughtered, sometimes utterly torn apart and spread across the corridors, but no enemy.
The fleet took a position near the node...
Now, Ratai - Darkness war lasted for nearly 300 years, Ratai time after time underestimating their enemy in early years. It was not before Darkness had invaded several systems from Ratai when this colossal empire realized they were actually facing enemy to be concidered real threat. Darkness continued to adapt and amaze Ratai time after time, adopting new strategies, tactics and improving engagement after engagement. In 30 years, Darkness had caught up with Ratai in terms of technology and firepower, now evening odds great deal for its ships. This showed in battle of Oruos II, a key planet in the far reach space of Ratai and also regional capital Ratai wanted not to let fall to their enemy. The Ratai deployed their largest fleet yet to the battle, over 400000 ships strong to protect the planet. Darkness deployed less, which presented rare scene in this war - Ratai for once outnumbering their enemy. The fleet battle in orbit of Oruos II lasted for 8 days and eventually resulted in victory for Ratai. It was costly victory however, and counting the fact that Darkness could cover their losses in matter of weeks, while it would take years for Ratai, it was as much of a defeat. Oruos II was lost just several months later, as conciderably larger and more upgraded Darkness fleet took over the planet, destorying much of the already battered "grand fleet" of Ratai. Remaining ships retreated to the edges of central systems.
The battle of Oruos II was the turning point of war, where Ratai began to loose more than win, and the destruction of empire began to seem more and more real. Attempts to communicate with Darkness were made, but only replies were uploaded virus into systems. Ratai turned into defensive, bunkering up jump nodes under their control, trying to protect the remaining 5000+ worlds they still had under control, and epspecially the central worlds. It effectively took remaining two hundred years for Darkness to eat Ratai empire bit by bit and crack through each of the bottlenecks constructed to defend worlds of Ratai. One great example was the siege of Ratai homeworld, the planet resisting attacks for over seven years. Ratai had hauled every single god killer cannon from every corner of their empire to protect the world, and it indeed seemed like impossible to penetrate such fierce defences. This was in fact only time in war when Darkness did not directly comfort the defenders, but isolated the world, leaving it alone and continued their conquest. It is likely Ratai homeworld lasted way longer than 7 years against Darkness invasion, but as it was cut from rest of the empire, it remains uncertainty.
289 years to the war, and final Ratai controlled moon fell to Darkness. Orbiting this moon were the "hope" shipyards, which had constructed sleeper ships for over 30 years for journey Ratai knew were ahead of them. More than billion Ratai took off in their ships and fled way before the moon fell to the enemy, to begin journey they still continue this very day. On that time, the fleet had near hundred thousand ships, most civilian, but Darkness have cut the numbers whenever possible.
It is uncertain why Darkness continue to chase Ratai even after all this time. Machines most likely do not feel hatred, so whatever function elimination of specie serves.. remains up to speculations. It is to be said however that any contact with Darkness, whatever specie it was, will certainly not lead into anything good...
Ships removed. Dedicated community however has made few very good examples. Just scroll down along the thread.
