Conflict Overview
The Interstellar Alliance–Centauri War was a brief but destructive conflict fought between the Interstellar Alliance (ISA) and the Centauri Republic in 2262. The war was instigated by the Drakh, former servants of the Shadows, who manipulated the Centauri government into launching unprovoked attacks against Alliance shipping. The war ended with the devastating bombardment of Centauri Prime and the Centauri Republic’s forced withdrawal from the galactic community.
Origins
Following the departure of the Shadows from known space in 2261, the Drakh, a displaced but dangerous remnant of their forces, sought refuge on Centauri Prime. Using a parasitic entity known as a Keeper, the Drakh took control of Regent Milo Virini, forcing him to carry out their agenda. Under Drakh influence, Centauri warships, crewed primarily by loyalists unaware of their true orders, began attacking civilian and military vessels along major trade routes.
By 2262, the attacks had escalated to the point that multiple member worlds of the ISA, particularly the Drazi and the Narn, called for immediate retaliation. As tensions rose, Alliance intelligence traced the raids back to Centauri warships, despite denials from the Centauri government. When diplomatic efforts failed, the ISA authorized military intervention.
Course of the War
The war was fought primarily in space, with major battles occurring along trade routes and near Centauri-occupied territories. Despite being outnumbered, Centauri forces, bolstered by Drakh technology and tactics, inflicted significant damage on the ISA fleet in the early stages of the war.
However, the conflict rapidly turned against the Centauri due to several key factors:
- Drakh Sabotage: The Drakh, seeking to weaken the Centauri Republic, allowed the war to escalate, withholding crucial strategic information from Centauri commanders.
- ISA Coordination: The Interstellar Alliance successfully united its member worlds against a common enemy, bringing together the military forces of Earth, Narn, Drazi, Brakiri, and other species.
- Lack of Centauri Support: Many Centauri nobles, unaware of the Drakh’s control over the Regent, opposed the war but were powerless to intervene.
By the final stages of the war, the ISA had crippled Centauri supply lines and forced Centauri forces into a defensive posture.
The Bombardment of Centauri Prime
On the eve of the Centauri surrender, Drazi and Narn forces, enraged by years of Centauri aggression during the previous Narn-Centauri War, launched an unauthorized attack on Centauri Prime. The bombardment caused widespread devastation, killing hundreds of thousands and destroying key infrastructure.
In the aftermath, Prime Minister Londo Mollari, now Emperor Mollari II, formally surrendered to the ISA. However, under the continued control of the Drakh, he ordered the Centauri Republic to withdraw from all diplomatic ties with the Alliance.
Aftermath and Legacy
The war resulted in:
- The withdrawal of the Centauri Republic from the Interstellar Alliance.
- The long-term occupation of Centauri Prime by the Drakh, who remained hidden from the public.
- Severe economic and political instability within the Centauri Republic, leading to years of hardship.
- The complete isolation of the Centauri Republic from galactic affairs for over a decade.
Though brief, the Interstellar Alliance–Centauri War reshaped the political landscape of the galaxy and paved the way for future conflicts. While the ISA remained a powerful force, the fate of the Centauri was sealed, ensuring that their once-mighty empire would never fully recover.
