The Ascendancy, also known as the Ascended Order, or the Spirits of The Ascension is a group of ancient humans that claim to be the sole survivors of the fallen Human empire before its collapse, resulting int he near extinction of their civilisation. They had somehow evolved after many billions of years of evolution to a higher plane of existence, seeking to bring the remnants of the ancient humans and the evolved descendants into their fold to bring order and guidance. Despite the revival of humanity, the Ascended in the belief sees themselves as true humans while the rest as sub-species.
However, not all appear to agree with their goals and broke away to prevent the renegades from achieving power and disrupt the balance. The Ascendancy has been lying in waiting for countless eons, building their forces and observing major civilizations across the multiverses, studying and learning while seeking ancient relics and technologies from their age before anyone could get their hands on them.
History
Origins
The Second Human Civil War
The founding members of the Ascendancy started out during the remaining eons of the Second Human Civil War when they realise Humanity could be in the verge of self annihilation if the civil war continued, historical records almost of how it all started from millions of years of conflict between all factions fighting for dominance, their civilization was outcast and betrayed by both sides who refused to seek peace. Forced to flee using a gateway to another universe with the remaining records of their civilisation and empire when all was lost. Limited resources was precious and forced billions to enter stasis to escape possible extinction and awake to find a new habitable world. But when they woke up and discovered to have slept for trillions of years later, the once-great empire their civilization had built was destroyed and the remaining fragments of humanity was scattered when the war finally ended. others genetically seeded on new worlds to restart evolution.
The survivors saw themselves as the last remnants of the original humans, forced to survive and use resources they could find in a world to start over after narrowly escape the times of struggle. Without aid or protection of the Empire, the colonists had been forced to adapt and survive, one day, researchers found a way to enhance their evolution to escape the limits of their physical forms after theorizing that their species will not survive if they remain stagnant. Some believe this could provide them the key to bring humanity back into the fold and guide them to prevent the same mistakes their ancestors made.
Awakening
After achieving ascension and existed for millions of years, unable to find any signs If human life after the great destruction they learned of the Ottsel took the role to assist the recreation of several races once made extinct by previous conflicts, including humans.
Humans being trained by the Ascendancy To awaken their inherit abilities.
Over many eons, the Ascendancy observed other races and cultures who were both neutral, hostile, and uncertain of making contact. Cautious of making their presence known while scavenging for last remnants of their civilization's technologies and remnants to preserve their legacy, fighting one another and formed smaller nations on their own worlds. But many saw the young human cultures who evolved were nothing but barbaric creatures, discovering mutated strands of humans that survived the downfall of Humanity flourishing across their own universe and able mingle with others. Mainly aware of the existence of the Entities, a group of extraordinarily powerful beings which far, far, far predates the Precursors and dared not approach them, as the few that did seek them out discovered that not all of the entities were benevolent, most of all the Hunter, for whom they believed to be an unstoppable force of nature for as long as it remains distracted by its' enjoyment of the death, destruction, and chaos that has been occurring in the known multiverse for untold eons. They have encounter non-corporeal races such as the Q Continuum, or the Wioni, but made no aggression towards each other at times. However, the Spirits of the Ascendancy have some prejudice towards human Morts due to previous encounters of hostilities and abuse of power, considering them to be renagades and no better than those who served in the Civil War.
The Ascendancy had previous encountered primitive humans with strong psionic and magic abilities that proved there was some chances for this new species of humans to serve the Ascendancy, such as the elite guards for example which is considered a greatest honour, many took some under their wing to train and teach to fight alongside their masters, creating an order for gifted sentients to train future generations. They were surprise to encounter the ancient Alterans from the Eur'uui Universe and discovered their knowledge of ascending to a higher plane, however, most were somewhat disappointed in a way of how the Ancients chose to do little of the such potential they have and do nothing with it, while those who became the Ori became addicted to needing humans for power. The Ascendancy chose not to interact with the two for millions of years.
The First Multiverse War
The Kromagg Conflict
The Kroma
In the rise of power with their order already occupied sizable territories in several universes from outside known powers, they received reports from their forces of outside invaders using small portals, launching a retaliation, and fought the invaders and captured many of their soldiers. The species was revealed to be known as Kromaggs, a species from a parallel Earth in an unknown universe whose species evolved differently or fought against humans for dominance. The Ascendancy learned about their psionic abilities and no match for the Ascended's abilities, extracted information through torment and scanning their minds; and discovered they had acquired the technology of 'sliding' through parallel earths.
With the knowledge they obtained, the Ascendancy could not let such an upstart race use this power and threaten their goals, launching a fullscale assault on the Kromagg controlled worlds to annex and exterminate all those who resist; human or Kromagg alike to strip them the ability to cross through barriers between universes, taken advantage of their limit to travel to parallel Earths and lack of space travel only allowed the Ascendancy to use against them. The conflict lasted for about 2 years until they found the Kromagg Homeworld and isolated their forces from a dozen Earths to weaken the enemy: Kromaggs, Homaggs and human loyalists with psionic abilities who surrendered, were given two choices: swear their loyalty or be stripped of their psionic powers to prevent any chances of their attempt to retaliate. This gave conflict with the Kromagg and the later discovery of an outside intervention to travel between realities further proved their belief that the lesser species with the ability to travel between dimensions pose a greater threat and must be dealt with.
An order was issued to find these ‘sliders’ for capture.
Another species they discovered referred as the Sphere Builders caused devastation upon many universes forced the Ascended to step in to prevent their chances of further chaos along with an unknown individual named the Envoy.
The Ascendancy Fleet launch a surprise attack on the Axis
Studying them from afar and collected samples, the more technologically advanced cultures could pose a threat to them, convinced they were nothing like the Si'con Hamo Imp'lik, more commonly translated as the so-called Second Human Empire. Sending agents under their command to the several worlds to learn and watch from the shadows to perhaps use for their own gain.
At the time of the First Multiverse War, the Ascendancy took interest to study the gates of each verse and gather those under their fold in the promise of order in the chaotic times, using the resources given to build their armies and study the strengths and weaknesses of their potential foes. With many races now able to travel between universes, the Ascendancy sees this as a disruption of the balance of the natural order after witnessing the First War. Factions such as the Tyranids, the Borg and the Dark Collective as examples to which they could contaminate many worlds, using their superior capablities to disrupt the chances of travelling between dimensions, they see to it to limit the connections for them, but decided to use more tactical approach by developing a powerful anti-virus to attack them from within, infecting many species and planets likely to be targeted for assimilation.
The Ascendancy may not see themselves as allies to others, but even they could not let such dangerous threats be left uncheck. Attacking the unsuspecting Axis under Combine leadership by inflicting small riots, civil wars and conflict to plant the seeds of hostilities between each other and even the Horde, a chance to both study and learn of their reactions while taking note that the Axis is not as strong and powerful without the guidance of the Combine and even sent agents to do the same in the guise of rebel Kilominitic factions be the cause of it.
In 1452 N.E., an Ascended travelled to the Bab'lonin Universe which by their year is 2257, observing the awareness of older races stirring and a sudden rise of sapient beings with enhanced psionic powers when it felt a strong powerful psionic burst from a human named Jason Ironheart who was part of a project by an organisation run by psionic humans called Psi Corps of creating powerful telepaths. Secretly observing and helping Ironheart when discovering he was on the brink of advancing to the next stage of human evolution.
Another machine species such as the Necrons and their C'Tan creators awakening, they saw the C'Tan as a threat until they were now bound to the race of machines they created to serve. The Ascendancy was strong enough to fight their ancient enemy known as the Molkrel, a race of highly aggressive cyborgs that have begun their invasions to other universes for power, only for their limited understanding of dimensional travel and spreading their numbers allowed the Ascendancy the advantage with their servitor races and armies to push them and trapped within their own dimension for a few thousand years, given themselves time and prevent further distruction to the multiverse for a while to proceed with their plans to use the ancient technology.
Encounter with Voyager
The USS Voyager
In the year 1519 N.E., a base within the remote region of the satellite galaxy of the Filo Skyriver was set up by the Ascendancy to study and gather research of the native species, along with gathering ancient Celestial technology, along with the discovery of the ancient Gree Hypergate as the possible link to early interstellar travel before the current races. Believing to use it to gain an advantage over the Republic and the Confederacy, but their base was inadvertently discovered by the Starfleet USS Voyager. Going to certain lengths to conceal their existence, the Ascendancy send one of their Servitor Races, Talu’zhannon to destroy both Voyager and the Confederacy fleet that followed them for an attempted ambush. The Droid forces easily destroyed by their surprise firepower and advance technology, Voyager put up a fight and learned they are an entirely unknown force,Kathryn Janeway tried to make contact with the Talu’zhannon that they were peaceful, but unable to translate their language and alerted by the Jedi with them that these visitors appear more hostile as they were in uncharted space. The data they acquired caused some hostilities but managed to convince them that the hyoergate’s presence would bring more than they realise then just the Confederacy, the awareness of the Combine for that matter and decided by orders to destroy the base with limited knowledge of the Hypergate technology to prevent it falling into anyone’s hands such as the Confederacy, the Axis, or the Ssi-ruuvi Imperium. However, their actions have drawn the attention of the Ascendancy when they discover the origin of Voyager from the Duyi'zu Universe and became more curious of how it crossed over to this universe, the council send out agents to track them down and observe their every actions in the Skyriver Galaxy after losing the Gree Hypergate to their interference.
Some time after the incident, Q, a member of the Continuum would later appear before the Voyager Crew and advised Kathryn Janeway to give the others a warning not to draw too much attention for their own good after the stunt they pulled.
The Ascendancy observed the events of the conflict within the Filo Skyriver Galaxy, their agents have found intriguing intel upon the a lone Troopers they found have a chip inside their minds. Carefully extracted several from the deceased clones and developed an idea for their future plans, Reeah’Dooha shared her plans with the rest that knowing they cannot defeat the Combine Empire with the backing of their allies until they have served their purpose in the war, she proposed creating sleeper agents to infiltrate into the Axis, Horde, and Alliance to learn their secrets from within and stir up a few minor conflicts within the Axis territories to distract the Combine for their plans. Initiating a subliminal order only they will say to activate the sleeper agents within a certain location.
Rings of the Builders
The Ascendency discovered relics of the Ring Builders, an extinct race from the Euuo'kilopa universe when they were wiped out by the Unknown Aggressors and sent some of their forces available to prevent the humans that discovered the rings from reactivating them again sometime around the late 1550s N.E. While the human factions fight amongst each other.
Day the Multiverse Burned
Operation Downfall
Agents of the Ascendancy used their knowledge of the Combine to further weaken their grip on their territories to use a virus on the enemy their ancestors fought in the Human-Kilominitic Wars, targeting selected strategic locations that could force them into the defensive and steal the data of the universes they visited ad.
At the time of the Combine-Chimera Alliance's betrayal to the Axis of Empires, the Ascendancy took advantage to claim some of their territories, though not enough to warrant raise alarm and manipulated the existing mistrust and outright hatred that existing among various Axis factions and indirectly lead to the Wars of the Axis. This approved to the Ascended Order to weaken one of the major powers of the Multiverse, especially the Combine from.
Zi'Kil Campaign
The Ascendancy discovered the universe of Zi'ki by following the signal of possible Edanians in a remote galaxy, determined to obtain not only an advantage over the Combine but to bring more humans and Edanians under their fold, but the stellar power known as the Semerian Commonwealth, ruled by ape-desecended creatures known as Semerians were an agressive expanionsist and not only subjugate and enslave primitaive humans but their creator race as well. The Ascended considered them nothing but brutal savage beasts, but perhaps useful for other courses if they be willing to submit, but doubted.
The Ascendancy launched a full scale attack when their defenses were down during the growing signs of rebellion by their sleeper agents infiltrating all of the Commonwealth. The member of the Ascended, Thr'shann, approached the leaders in their weakened state to listen to their demands. Knowing their Coalition allies occupied in the war against the Chimera and Combine, and growing rebellion of the enslaved races in their galaxy they had no hope.
However, most of the Semerian military officers chose to strike back when they demanded the entirety of the Edanians and any civilized humans released into their care and believed they were members of the Axis of Empires or the Alliance, but the Ascendancy were independant and easily wiped out the maturity of their soldiers and bombard the major cities of their capital planet to show their superior power. Wiped out many who knew of the Edanian outposts and ancient records of a lost empire before them, further weakening the Commonwealth to a point where they would be forced to abandon many of their colonies to fend for themselves.
Worlds under their control was slowly brought to stability, although some did not agree with the brutality towards the enemy but some such as Dr'thorrin believed it was necessary to prevent further chaos.
Eai'eei Conflict
A Wizard with a swarm of Thralls
They discovered the Eai'eeil Universe and found the planet with many races from different worlds until they found out about a costruct called "The Gate", the Ascended found the continent called Falmart with the majority under the control of the Saderan Empire, which hardly interested to them until something drawn their attention to a remote place and discovered one of the creatures called the Hive began attacking remote cities and decide to use this as an opputunity to gain the inhabitants' trust, apearing as 'mages' with powerful magic. They approached the emperor and forced him into cooporating with them, while searching for the knowledge of the gate and prevent the Empire's intentions of using it for invasions. Emperor Molt in secret while keeping them in power to protect from the 'demons'.
However, their pressence on the continent brought the attention of a group of beings the natives thought to be gods and made contact with the Ascendancy, demanding them to leave thinking they were gods from other worlds but the Ascendancy ignored their 'threats' until they recieved reports of attacks from their soldiers and learned the true nature of the 'gods' who were in fact augmented humans descended from the supersolders of an ancient faction long gone and now took over the continent with power and see themselves above all. Learning more of the Gate's potential dangerous side effects if mishandled by younger races and in the control of a foolish female with no course, if left open too long could cause both sides. This hardly considered their problem, but further discoverd it to be too dangerous and will do more damage than both worlds. Ascendancy made it their goal to destroy all records of the portal from the mages and even the Saderans from using it until they have gained full control of the portal, or destroy it if neccessary along with the worlds to sacrifice to prevent further devastation.
Arrival on Falmart
The Ascendancy launched an attack to keep them from intervening with their plans to find what they believed could be outmost important to the Ascendancy, or dangerous enough to draw the attention of the Hive and the Falmartian pantheon to keep hidden long ago. They discovered a military group from the Alliance of Nations entered the universe in the year 2409 N.E., hardly considered them a threat but send a force while they focus on the Hive under the command of the Taken King, the Ascendacy send a few of their servitors to observe and attack if they come near any of their outposts and occupied territories.
To their annoyance and anger, the Empire despite their pact to not use the gate somehow opened it and sent an army through while they have just begun their operations on the planet, aware of the world the Saderans had invaded but another invading army could cause them problems. R'sverr begun his research and discovered whatever this device they uncovered while still digging appears to have some field around the continent and none of the native inhabitants appear to have nanites at all upon their arrival, further intrigued to find what it is and possible use for their advantage. He reported back to the council to identify the invaders, revealed to be humans from an Earth of the same universe possibly, and may consider them dangerous if they begun to tamper with the gate for the knowledge of dimensional travel.
Ancient vault beneath the planet's surface
To their annoyance, the empire 'requested' their help to fight alongside their vassals to stop the invaders, Dr'thorrin mocked them, knowing their intentions and declined their offer as they have their own work. The Ascendancy decided to let the Hive keep both the JSDF and the Alliance now on Falmart occupied, even by means sacrificing the Saderan Empire for breaking their agreements after opening the Gate. Finally uncovered a device and built a fort to keep outsiders out, they found a passage way through the ancient temple but were attacked by one of the Falmartian Gods’ Apostles, however they captured the Apostle but escaped. Proving to the Ascendancy’s theory the Gods of this world do don’t want them to find anything. The researchers found startling evidence of a previous civilisation far more advance than the current inhabitants, however they sensed the tectonic plates of the planet shift in the Falmart region with signs of the link between the two worlds becoming more unstable and made their appearance before the Imperial Throne room, making first official contact with the representatives of the Alliance of Nations and to the JSDF of the Eai’eei Earth.
First Contact
With the series of fighting between all sides and the Saderan Empire caught in the middle, the Spirits of the Ascendancy finally made themselves known to the parties present in Molt’s throne room after witnessing the brutal beaten of prince Zorzel. Shedding their human forms and revealed their true forms to the Alliance who realised they were not human while the JSDF and the Imperials were utterly shocked of their non-corporeal forms. Zorzal’s remaining men, believing they be taking the side of the Alliance tempted capture them until they were obliterated, further showing the limitless power they hold and decided to leave.
The Ascendancy discovered hostile entities related to the Hive and what they were planning, they somehow able to capture some of the so-called Falmart gods and interrogated them about the gate. The representative of the Ascendancy offered both parties a ceasefire, return the captured inhabitants to the Japanese as a sign of good gesture, but also demanded they leave the planet and will close the gate. Negotiations were made with the Alliance after they bombarded most of the imperial city and questioned their role as ‘protectors and mentor to the young civilizations’. The Spirits of Ascendance see it as showing them how terrifying the universe can be and so small they are to the others.
Post Conflict
With the crisis averted after the defeat of the Horde of Remek of and the rifts in the Eai’eei Milky Way have closed on both Orbis and Earth, a peace treat was established as the Eai-Eei treaty was made between the Ascendancy, the Alliance, and the nations of the native universe. The Ascendancy withdrawn most star systems of the galaxy to the Alliance and with the Eai’eei Earth under the Alliance’s protection after annexation during their coup and almost started a war between two major powers. Withdrawing from the galaxy, proving the Alliance made good on their terms that the gate is no longer dangerous to prevent the same incident.
Thiian’grihh Informed the Alliance they will keep a close watch over them and advise them not to cross their territories, and wait for possible growth and ink prove ent within a few centuries or millennia. But while during so they fought against other Combine Remnant factions and annexed their territories.
The Ancients of the United Federation of Species were astonished to receive word that the Ascendancy were originally humans who survived the Civil War, some attempted to approach them to make relations, but advised against it by the Allies who learned the Spirits weren't so keen to meet them due to the history between their ancestors. The council aware of the remaining records if their extended history of what happened was terrible, and hoped to one day rekindle the relationship with them in the future.
The Vaai'zohl Accord
As decades passed by since making their presence known, until 2448 N.E., the Ascendancy received contact with their counterparts for the first time in decades wish to make a treaty with them, alongside the Empire of Athirat, a successor power of the fallen Empire of the Combine Race. To the surprise of many in the Alliance, the majority voted to make this treaty, knowing the three major powers of the Multiverse to come to a common ground and know the importance this meant.
The three delegates arranged this meeting in a neutral region, Vaai’zhol star system of the Rionn’dari Galaxy in an unconfirmed universe to ensure no one but few know. The Alliance were allowed a few of their high ranked members to support this, the three sides exchanged words and arguments, but as they came to a conclusion a sudden attempt to assassinate the members by renegades such as a Combine Remnant faction to instigate a war between them but failed upon being exposed. The Ascendancy proceeded and forged an accord known as the Vaai’zohl Accord.
Nationalist Wars
With the formation of the Multiversal Federation and plunged into an all out war with the seceded factions, the Ascendancy made no attempt to take part in the war, they chose to remain neutral and protect their borders. in 3796 NE, Members of the Nationalist Alliance made attempts to approach them for their support, Sylvanas Windrunner a member of the Nationalist Defense Council of the Forsaken and the Second Helghast Empire attempted to approach them, yet their fleets never reach them nor made any progress. When the general of the Helgahst fleet decided to provoke using force despite being warned by Windrunner, his armada was completely annihilated. Despite the Nationalists' attempts, they chose to withdraw and focus on the war.
Third War
Organization
While not exactly a nation, the Ascendancy is made up of evolved humans from the ancient and long since defunct First Human Empire and the Second Human Republic, creating an order and organization from the surviving descendants of both Imperialists and Republicans that fought in the Second Civil War. They grew into a force to be able to construct artificial planets with sustainable atmospheres and habitats, divided into roles such as science for creating new breeds of humans or species suited for certain roles and also for using the knowledge of traveling between universes with ease. A military force using advance genetics and cloning technologies of their finest soldiers to create, along with weapons and vehicles repurposed from the Human Empire’s weaponry and also to maintain a political system which is run by the council known as the Ascended as the highest position for the evolved beings to control the Ascendancy.
when making contact with a new culture and if assimilated, they allow them to continue on, as usual, provided when under their dominion and ‘protection’ that culture is forbidden from knowing the knowledge of dimensional travels, interstellar technologies are limited provided they use for use of interest or to serve them. Since they can create their own materials if needed, they have no need for any tribute, unless of course for research on recent discoveries If it’s used, nor do they need the use of slaves but would assign them to certain roles of work.
If any laws on the agreement have been violated such as the discovery of traveling to another world or universe without their knowledge, that culture will severely be punished by sending their Servitors to that planet to decimate their military and confiscate all they have discovered to prevent possible chances of an open rebellion or other outside forces invading their territories.
The Ascendancy appears to tolerate different species and shows some respect to older and more advanced cultures, especially towards Edanians as their creators or parent-race. The primitive and pre-space faring worlds are treated as 2nd class, especially towards humans, hardly considered them the same as their ancestors no matter how similar they may be, spreading chaos wherever they go as the cause for their actions towards humanity.
Despite their quest to bring humanity and other near-human speeches under their rule, some truly believe they wanted to make the Ascendancy a better realm for all, to prevent them from following the same mistake as they did in the Second Human Civil War, while the others wanted to use fear and power onto the servitor races to maintain order.
Military
Technology
It is unknown the advancements of Ascendancy technology is, but few that have actually had a brief encounter their abilities can say that they are sufficiently advanced to allow the Ascendacy to travel and navigate throughout the Multiverse with ease, unsurprisingly considering they are descended from the advance humans of the First Human Empire’s era, gifted in all fields that have allowed them to stay hidden for countless eons, even from the ancient era of the Combine's force, cloaking their vessels and entire base to a large scale. Long before even the First Multiverse War, they have outpaced many younger species.
With the knowledge of genetic engineering, it is possible they have the ability to create life forms from other genetic materials and revive them such as the Talu’zhannon, but also have ways of altering their behaviours such as a hive of Tyranids into their feral state, or even extend a Vorcha natural lifespan
Their weapons are similar to phasers, but also displayed firing energy bolts depending on a type of weapon to handle the pressure, and even use armor that could withstand heavy hits with personal shielding and nanites to repair the damage to the soldiers and machines. It has proven that their vessels are capable of taking on warships such as the Imperial navy ships and the Star Destroyers.
However, while considerably more advance then the vast majority of the known civilizations of the Multiverse, possibly at the levels near the Combines and their non-Ascendant kin, the Ancient Humans of the Second Human Empire and their successor in terms of technology and advancements is yet to be determined, but clearly advanced enough so that the Ascendancy often have to actively hide their presence in order to avoid potential conflict with either groups for incredibly long periods of time until the Remnant Wars. Even so they used the ability to take advantage to confuse and manipulate their rivals without even realising it such as the civil conflicts.
Member Races
Territories
Foreign Relations
First Human Empire and Second Human Republic (long defunct)
The relations between the founding cultures of the Ascendancy and the First Human Empire was not so pleasant given hey were partly responsible for exiling the group who did not wish to partake in the Civil war, and since then, the descendants of the Ascendancy considers the Human Empire as an example of allowing corruption to bring the downfall of their civilization.
Second Human Empire
Alliance of Nations
Axis of Empires
Empire of Athirat
Gallery
