So, what you think of THIS storyline? I would mean rewriting some of work done, but not much I hope...
about 5000. B.C. Antareans reach the level of technology roughly equal to late 20th century Earth. Antareans are descendants of predators, and their society keeps similarities with hunting packs-strongest individual is the leader, until forcibly removed. At this point they start messing with genetics, and launch a program similar to SETI. To their surprise, in less than 30 years they are contacted by another race inhabiting nearby star. This race is more advanced and has already lived through its violent period and is now in peace for over 500 years. But also stagnant. So far their attempts to create FTL drive were unsuccessful, so they turned their attention to Antareans and support them with their knowledge.
about 4900 B.C. These aliens, that will become known to humans as Tamans, succeed in their experiments with FTL drive. A first ship is launched, its destination-Antares. Unfortunately, they underestimated Antareans teritorial nature, and when the ship appears at orbit of Antares without warning, it is fired upon by automatic defense system. While the system, primitive by Tamans standards, can't penetrate shielding around FTL drive and reactor, habitation module is almost completely destroyed.
The Antarean leader is now facing a dilemma. If he would admit mistake, he would be removed from the lead...and life. To preserve his life, he declares that Tamans attempted to invade Antares, and using the FTL drive salvaged, within ten years he gathers an army counting 700 000 warriors and launches a counterattack. 14 years after Tamans' ship launched, their remains are facing a dilemma. Die, or join Antarean society as slaves.
4800-2500 B.C. Antarean society undergoes major crisis. With army of slaves at their disposal, major Antarean houses fought each other, and as a result, their numbers quickly diminished at point where only leaders' class survived. This was amplified around 3200 B.C. when Antarean scientists made a major breaktrough on a field of telepathy. By injecting specially engineered virus they caused brain deformation that made it very sensitive to telepathic transmission. With Antareans now capable to instuct their salves with their thoughts, wars became even more intensive. As result, around 2500 B.C. the entire slave army of one house revolted. Remaining Antareans, realizing the threat united and wiped out whole revolting colony from orbit. Knowing that more slaves can revolt, they created special slave implant that allowed them to instantly kill any slave with thought.
After this crisis was over, Antareans realized degradation of their society. They elected their supreme leader (leader of the strongest house) and turned slowly to space exploration.
around 1800 B.C. after long search, another sentient race has been discovered. Called Ortnok, these species were living in Stone Age. Hungry for slaves and xenophobic from their war with Tamans, Antareans quickly enslaved them, and made them their main workers. Tamans, now relieved of these duties, became mostly scientists.
1800 B.C.-around 2000 A.D. Antareans slowly explore space, encountering several life-rich planets, but none with species intelligent enough for contact or enslaving. Without realizing, their bodies began to show physical degradation. Antareans, never being very fertile, now stagnated at numbers barely reaching several thousands.
1950's. Humans encountered. Being too far from Antarean empire to be of any threat or to be useful, the humans became subjects of some experiments, but these were quickly abandoned when they were found physically inferior to Ortnok and less intelligent than Tamans, and only small listening post at far edge of solar system was kept to keep an eye on humans.
around 2020. Antareans encounter Nyrii (just a random thought). Highly developed, telepathic species quickly realized the threat Antareans after they enslaved Shevaar, race long time known to Nyrii. While not being much agressive, they declared war to Antareans, and with superior technology, they slowly pushed Antareans back.
2070, one of Antarean scientists, inspired by Nyrii war mechs, created similar half-biological fighting machine. But they required limited intelligence to effectively operate, and no mechanical device was capable of that. The scientists realized that human brain might be the solution. After few years of experiments, working with only few specimen they managed to create their first sentient war machine, capable of holding the line against Nyrii.
2083-84. The outpost at Solar system in enhanced, and Antarean commander is stationed there. Beacuse of most commanders being busy with Nyrii, the commander is actually one of most stupid Antareans alive (okay, we need some excuse for aliens' stupid acting, here it is). With most of resources being sent to battlefield, he gets only aging plasma weaponry and little contingent, counting a few thousands at most. Orders-get us more brains.
3rd of march 2084, to satisfy orders for more brains, Antarean commander launches attack on Mumbai.
Getting tired, so just a brief about events in game.
It takes Antarean commander quite few months to realize that troublesome human organization will not just "go away". When losses reach alarming numbers, he blames Nyrii raiding his operations, knowing that admitting his loss against humans would be fatal for him. He recieves reinforcements and particle beam weaponry. But PHALANX is too tough, and after some time they discover location of one of supply bases near Earth. Antarean commander, fearing for his life broadcasts that Nyrii assault force is on their way to solar system, and asks for reinforcements. They are sent, but transmission is intercepted by captured base's systems. Humans, realizing they cannot stand against Antarean main force, have only one choice. To contact Nyrii and hope they will protect them against Antarean assault. But there is only one transmitter strong enough to reach Nyrii, and that is at Antarean main outpost at solar system...