Zion is nothing but a husk of arid land. But moving westwards, the Believers established Golem, a city that stands atop a hill to guard Zion against invaders. As the explorers move northwards, they discovered the Promised Land - the Monsoon Jungle biome!
The celebration was shortlived as two other factions vie for control of the fertile lands.
The ecological-attuned Gaians claims the northern jungle. While the militaristic Spartans aggressively expand from the east. Sensing her weakening position, Lady Deidre calls out to Miriam Godwinson to establish a Pact for survival. The Believers accepted and so began the great war. Hundreds of men were thrown into the fray, many Believers armed with basic weapons carried from Earth gunned down by Spartans Particle rifles and eventually Gatlings mowed them en masse. It was a dark time.
However, Sister Miriam Godwinson knew perseverance is key. Sending out two sea foils towards the sea, Operation Noah's Ark succeeded in establishing contact with the rest of the scattered factions.
Weeks after setting off, the Ark successfully made contact with the Peacekeepers first.
Lal drove a hard bargain and handed over Laser technology. It bought the Believers precious victories in the field. They've lost none of their colonies, but the Gaians are nearly overrun. Only zeal, numbers, and tenacity kept the Believers at parity with the Spartans' superior arms.
Years of sailing later, contact with the Hive was made. The energy-starved faction agreed to trade Particle weapons in exchange for a large sum of energy credits.
The Believers' prayers were answered. Recalling their idling fleet of formers, the Believers scrap them for parts and quickly assembled the prototype to drive the infidels back.
The Crusades have begun.
The surviving laser rovers were quickly upgraded as well.
It is no longer an uphill battle.
Spartans losses begin to mount. And eventually, contact with all factions were established. Lal and Zakharov signed a Pact to alienate Yang. Morgan is always ready to do business.
Lal quickly rose as the Planetary Governor. The Believers pushed on with their Crusaders.
A string of victories later, and the fallen Gaian colony 'Memory of Earth' is conquered.
The defenders of Zion rejoiced. And why shouldn't they?
Hundreds of men and women have given their lives charging at the accursed invaders, chipping away at their fleeing Rovers, buying time as the Ark sought out technologies and aid.
Beware, Spartans, for the time for reckoning is at hand.