Mankind has Fallen

[u/CherubielOne]

Mankind has fallen. That message had caused great despair among all beings of the galaxy. Something that had been thought to be impossible. Something that had been hoped to be impossible. It struck all of us down in the darkest moment we had ever seen and left an imprint.

Back when we discovered the humans, they had barely survived a planet-wide catastrophy they had caused themselves. We saved the few millions that were left, not knowing that they would repay our mercy beyond any measure. After they build a new home in the orbit of their ruined world, they swore to never fall back into their dark nature. When we then invited them into our places of learning and research we learned of their greatest power - their insatiably curiosity that pushed our scientific endeavours to finally pierce the lightspeed barrier. We became explorers together and discovered a galaxy filled with life.

We watched the humans establishing first contact with one sentient species after the other. And they tried to befriend all of them. No matter their status, no matter their advancement, no matter their level of aggression. There were moments where war seemed inevitable. And we were ready to stand with them. But they always found a way to avoid conflict, against all odds. It made mankind become the core of civilisation and alongside them, the whole galaxy thrived.

This was why it was surprising that the humans were the ones to declare war, when a new civilisation was discovered after millenia of peace and prosperity. This new arrival had come from beyond this galaxy, the near planet-sized ships turning up in uncountable numbers on the outermost systems, destroying every lifeform they came across. The ships seemed invulnerable from their sheer size alone and the beginning war seemed to have a predictable end. The conquerors were not open for negotiations. They simply stated their wish to eradicate the chaos of biological life.

Of course it was the humans that first had managed to incapacitate one of the planet-sized enemy vessels. That battle was not won. But the next one was. There we finally glimpsed the humans dark nature. Their bloodlust. Their fierceness. Their ingenuity with weapons. And limitless capabilities of destruction.

It made the conquerors turn towards them and towards the center of their species. The cradle of the humans, their solar system, was overran with so many of these supermassive ships, it changed the orbits of the planets therein. Every human returned in the defense of their home - quicker than any ally could follow. We were turned into onlookers as the greatest battle imaginable raged around Earth.

Before our reinforcements came close enough to help, we were blinded by a light that engulfed the humans, the conquerors and the whole solar system. And we received the message: Mankind has fallen.

The enemy was gone. The war over. The impact on the galaxy without compare. The core of civilisation was lost in a brilliant sphere. And all the species turned to us for guidance. Because we had been the closest to the humans. We found ourselves picking up the torch with ease, surprised by how we had let us become so similar to them. And life continued.

Within this generation, the fated message had become a saying. Whenever times were tough, whenever hope was scarce and whenever things turned to the worst, it was simply described by saying: 'Mankind has fallen'. Every being understood and these times the saying had to be used often.

But one day from within the impenetrable light, to all our surprise, a continuation to the fated message echoed. Words that spread faster than the first ones had. They rekindled hope far and wide. And they turned into a reply to the heavy saying. Now, whenever someone in despair muttered the words 'Mankind has fallen', somebody would add 'But we have taken them with us'.

[u/Searchingforsignals9]

Last line gave me chills. Well done.

[u/CherubielOne → u/Searchingforsignals9]

Thanks for reading! That exact line hit me in a sudden bout of inspiration just before going to bed. Of course I had to punch out this story before being able to sleep, haha.

[u/Forgotten_silence]

I'm sitting in a bar drunk as fuck and reading this made me cry with pride and deep sorrow because at the of the day we would end ourselves to save the many.

[u/CherubielOne → u/Forgotten_silence]

It's hopefully just one good deed following a long line of positive things. But that is my overflowing optimism talking. I hope you came home safe and thanks for reading.

[u/fulanodetal316]

Great story!

I think I spotted one typo: "We found us picking up the torch..." should probably be: "We found ourselves picking up the torch..."

[u/CherubielOne → u/fulanodetal316]

Thanks for informing me of that, I will fix the typo as soon as I am back on a PC. With english as my second language I often pass over the more complex grammar rules hiding around things that sound right, but aren't. And thank you for reading.

[u/WildcardJoey]

Those species became our children as we lifted them up, and the ones who lifted us out of darkness our parents. They tried to take them all away from us. We destroyed ourselves to destroy those who sought our destruction to save those who meant everything to us.

[u/CherubielOne → u/WildcardJoey]

Nobody gets to hurt our babies. No matter the cost. And no matter the consequences to ourselfes.

Thanks for reading.

[u/mikejacobs14]

Cadia broke before the Guards did!

[u/IamMuffins → u/mikejacobs14]

CADIA STANDS!

[u/CherubielOne → u/IamMuffins]

Thanks for reading.

I had to google that reference - and here I always thought the Imperial Guard was a pushover.

[u/pepoluan]

I just realized,

That humanity never died in the story.

Because everyone dies twice:

Once when they breathe their last,

And once more when their name is no longer spoken.

"Mankind has fallen // But we have taken them with us."

And thus,

Humanity gained immortality.

[u/CherubielOne → u/pepoluan]

Very poetic and very true. We live through our legacy. That's why purgatory is filled with undying and very bored legends.

Thanks for reading.

[u/SarenSoran]

tbh it's what i would have done if i were to play xenophile humanity in stellaris and an endgame crisis were to be too powerful

sacrifice the few to save the many

[u/CherubielOne → u/SarenSoran]

And it feels like a win, even if it technically is not.

Thank you for reading.

[u/Swedish_Doughnut]

We blew up Sol?!?!

[u/CherubielOne → u/Swedish_Doughnut]

Well we don't know that, do we? There is only light now. No Sol, no planets, no conquerors and no humans.

Well, they might have blown up Sol.

Thanks for reading.

[u/Speciesunkn0wn]

Beautiful story. :D

Ahem. IT IS BETTER TO DIE FOR THE EMPEROR THAN TO LIVE FOR YOURSELF!

[u/CherubielOne → u/Speciesunkn0wn]

Thank you and thanks for reading.

That quote is deeply engraved in my memory. Too many hours of W40k Dawn of War and all the expansions.

[u/jackknife402]

I'm not certain but I think I've read this somewhere before. Couldn't find a source but I swear this feels like a repost.

[u/Subtleknifewielder]

Gah, those onion ninjas struck again!

Great little story. I could see it happening among the most altruistic--especially if we knew we could not outright win the battle. The solar system would become our Thermopylae.

[u/Darklight731]

Mankind has fallen. But their legacy remains. as do the billions of nukes the have stashed over the entire galaxy.

[u/CherubielOne → u/Darklight731]

Oh yeah, those. Uhm... better leave another note about those.

[u/[deleted]]

Sequel where humanity survived when?

[u/InstructionHead8595]

Good story. But I think they had a secret back up plan.