I am an old-time geezer thinking of returning but I haven't really followed Disco for the last 5 years. Is there some way to get acquainted with all the lore? Wiki seems to be mostly outdated.
I am chiefly interested in the main storyline (Gallia invasion) and Kusari.
Firstly welcome back to the forums! I can't tell you what's changed since the latest major update 4.90 in detail but considering you mentioned over the last 5 years I found this information in the mod Readme file which is up until 4.88.6.
Quote:It is the year 822 A.S., and with it comes Bretonia's darkest hour. The house Gallia begins their assault on Sirius in earnest by brushing aside the Bretonian Armed Forces and seizing the Leeds system, changing the political landscape of Sirius forever. Governments and regional powers far and wide now seek to respond to the situation, either by launching themselves toward a desperate united front against a seemingly unstoppable enemy, or seeking to use the resulting chaos for their own benefit.
Liberty is in the process of the biggest mobilisation in its history. Rheinland's gambit of blowing the gates in the face of a Libertonian advance has made the leadership of Liberty focus on the greater foe: a great portion of the Liberty Navy fleet is now on the move to Magellan to catch the advancing Royal Navy of Gallia in a pinch. But is the war between Rheinland and Liberty really over, or is the Rheinland Military merely trying to lull the Libertonians into complacency?
Rheinland's plan has definitely brought them a much needed respite. While their overall defence held against any Libertonian incursions, the Munster research facility was lost and the data it held captured. Rheinland is now faced with a prospect of a counter push against a stronger enemy, so that they can regain what they have lost. But even at home troubles multiply: Rheinland's revolutionary movements seized the opportunity before them and struck at a Rheinland whose Military was off fighting at a distant front. The Dresden system has been taken by storm in a show of defiance, and the Rheinland government now has to choose between attempting to solve problems at home first, or committing resources to the pursuit of the stolen Munster base module, before it can disappear deep within Area 21.
Meanwhile in Bretonia a mass exodus takes place: as core planets begin to fall to an enemy far stronger than the previously hostile Kusari Empire, the Bretonian government attempts to evacuate as many people and as much materiel as possible to the newly annexed system of Omega-3. While the Bretonian navy is pushed out of Leeds, the Cambridge fleet pushes into orbit of Planet Sprague, now functioning as the refugee camp of Bretonia. With thousands of civilians and armed forces personnel still trapped on Planet Leeds, the Bretonian government issues an order to all able citizens of the house to assist with the smuggling of these people and the materiel that they guard off of Leeds, under the noses of the patrolling Gallia Royal Navy. But with all the focus on shipping all valuable stocks to the rear there are many opportunities for an enterprising pirate or freedom fighter: the Mollys relocate closer to Omega-3 to hit these transports as a priority, and Corsairs become an even more frequent sighting in the ice clouds of Cambridge. The Bretonians will have to carefully consider how many forces they are committing to the defence of these shipments. Not enough defenders could spell disaster for the refugees on Sprague, but too many may mean that the Royal Navy begins to threaten the seat of power in New London sooner than expected.
Despite the chaos in the south, the newly founded Kusari Republic tends to its own problems, wrecked by years of war and a defiant imperial administration. Contrary to Liberty and Bretonia, the republican government pursues a policy of appeasement with Gallia, seeking greater trade ties to rebuilt its coffers through the resource hungry Gallic state. But while to an outsider the new, non partisan government would seem to have put an end to the struggles between Kusari big business, new troubles are simmering under the surface. Samura executives and rich families are non too happy about their influence eroding away, and they still have more than enough support among the populace to begin stirring up unrest. In response, Kishiro begins to once again work closer together with the greatly rising GMG. Kusari republicans will have their work cut out for them, having not only a political balancing act on their hands, but also the task of rebuilding the economy. They need to tread carefully, as mistakes may once again plunge the House of Kusari into the depths of civil war.
No matter the distance from Gallia, all of Sirius is feeling the effect of the Gallic invasion. Those who see the coming shifts in power, prepare themselves to seize their opportunity from the chaos ahead. Those who are not as farsighted, will be doomed to a desperate defence against these seekers of glory. One thing is for certain: the conquest has only begun.
For the most recent updates after the info in that old readme, Gallia pushed imto New London after trying to blockade Cortez and Magellan. Thinking the Liberty fleet couldn't breakthrough, they build a new jumpgate and overrode the New London - Newcastle connection and launched a full invasion. At the same time a supergate between Liberty and Bretonia went active and brought through light capitalships needed to put a stopper in the Gallic offensive.
During the initial Gallic thrust, Bretonia scuttled Southampton shipyard rather than let it be captured, slowing the Gallic advance slightly. After a series of back and forth occured culminating in a strike fkrce of Liberty cruisers breaking through and destroying the head of the Gallic rearguard. Despite this, Gallia found out about the supergate and sabotaged it as two fleets were due to come through, resulting in both being lost in deep space, likely never to be seen again.
This forced Liberty to break the Gallic blockade in Cortez to pour in further reinforcements. During this time the Council made strides in Gallia, the breakthrough in Cortez forced the Royal Navy to draw whatever spare units it had left to the front with Liberty fleets arriving to reinforce New London.
This act left the Tau supply corridor entirely defenseless and Crayter Republic forces swooped in and fully occupied Tau-31. This put the pressure on both sides as without available supply, Liberty and Bretonia could starve the Royalists out. In a desperate bid to scrape out a victory, all forward assets in Leeds and New London attacked the capital world, culminating in the Battle of New London. The assault was vicious but desperation fell to stalwart defense. Both sides suffered greatly but out of the 7 Gallic fleets and 1 Corsair fleet, only 1 Gallic and the Corsair fleet managed to escape the slaughter.
During the battle, Gallia used their new destroyers' underbelly warwolf to bombard New Londons surface, killing many. They were quickly routed but the damage was extensive. The remaining Gallic forces fled to Leeds and deactivated the jumpgate to delay the dominant Allied powers. In Gallia, the Council seized swaths of outer territory and now marched on Planet New Paris, what was left on the Gallic home front consolidated and prepared to mount a hasty defense after the King fled.
In the final days, Royalist forces began bombarding Planet Leeds in full, leading to an all time high in defection and mutiny. Few destroyers escspe but one key vessel broke away and gave the codes to the jumpgate to the Allied force. Determined to save Leeds from annihilation, the Allies invaded straight away, only to find experimental weapon platforms designed to slice through entire fleets, but they werent fully capable as the attack was earlier than anticipated. Battleship Ottawa was felled, but the platforms demolished in vicious fashion, but their efforts in vain.
When the Allies reached the planet they found a lifeless volcanic rock. Billions on Leeds had been exterminated by the Gallic bombardment, and few who were left retreating were given no quarter. All stations barring the jump gate construction site were scuttled, and the system left still and lifeless barring the Allied military.
In Gallia, the Council commenced their attack, but provisional leaders took control and immediately stood down the Royal Navy, surrendering to the Council to avoid further bloodshed after news of Leeds' destruction spread like wildfire.
In the end Royalists were defeated and confined to the few captured systems; Edinburgh Roussillon, and Orkney. Gallia is still in 3 provisional states pending negotiations, but remains fractured for now, and the Allied powers more or less victorious, but Bretonia left with the short stick, its territiry left devestated and a sizable portion of its population genocided.
Kusari was relatively calm. During these battles civil war raged, but was brought to peace and reformation of the Empire. It was dragged into war with Rheinland as a GMG-Rheinland conflict resulted in war, but Rheinland sued for peace after invading Honshu snd drastically over extending their military rather than face a bloody war in Kusari as they neared launching a renewed armada, and peace was restored. Kusari continues to rebuild since its losses in the Gallic invasion and civil war, but the attack showed vulnerability and the Empire wouldn't have it happen again. The wreck of Battleship Nagumo being broken up for use of materials as Kusari endeavors to rebuild.
Damn, when it all collected from pieces its looks...kinda...very pity (i just didnt really followed gallic war main theatre)