An interesting prompt was released in the Worldbuilding community, and it would be fun one to write something for.
The prompt is, M.A.D, or Mutually Assured Destruction, and asks if anything similar to this concept exists in our world.
Here's A Link To The Post If You'd Like To Check It Out.
M.A.D
Mutually assured destruction, is the concept that if one were to make a move against another, both would die.
When The Confederation first launched its campaign throughout Free Space, it wanted to conquer, but aimed to do so by battering each world into submission, to make their takeover possible.
I, and many others throughout our region of space would have assumed that the Free Space Alliance would have been able to muster a defense that could knock back any outside attack. The reality, however, was very different.
As the war began, each world scrambled a fleet that was swatted away within a few days of combat. The alarms sounded, retreats were called, and everyone was called back to their respective borders to fight alone.
Some worlds mustered more bite than others, but in the end, our division allowed Confederation forces to topple us one by one.
The aftermath of that conflict is still felt on most worlds, but some have managed to pull themselves up from the rubble.
We didn't have a safety net like mutually assured destruction which could give pause to The Confederation's ideas of conquest. We never stood a chance.
The fact that the Humans called off their assault is the only reason any of us are still standing. While we were busy squabbling and bickering between worlds. The Humans were growing; their numbers swelled, and their main focus was on weapons of war, and ships large enough to transport their immense horde of skilled combatants.
The Quan
When the Alid found space travel, they went in search of anyone else like them. For years they scanned their solar system, then the surrounding ones, and many more beyond that. They found beacons of life throughout the galaxy, and by the time their ships left their world, they knew exactly where to search.
The first world the Alid came across housed an interesting race known as The Quan. Small, and stocky bipeds. Reportedly, they were mean-spirited, easily angered, superstitious to a fault, and seemed to be in an age-old war with themselves.
After many attempts to contact these people, the Alid were finally successful. The initial meeting between worlds was a success. Gifts were shared between them and the Alid, however, it was noted that The Quan seemed to instantly dismantle the items received.
They were known to be ingenious, and good with technology, even though they had produced very little of their own tech. Apart from firearms of course, crude and primitive, though they were effective in combat.
Once the Alid left them, they noticed a mass conflict broke out within minutes. At a later date the Alid realised that it was because of them; or more so, their contact with one group over the other.
The Quan lived in two separate, yet identical societies. The Harada were the group that was meant during first contact.
The Jadari were the ones who launched the attack after realising that no emissary was coming to greet them or bestow gifts.
Over the years of learning from them, the Alid realised that they evolved to the point of consciousness, and separated - for no good reason - to grow individually. However, throughout their long history, they had to remain the exact same, in terms of knowledge, power, territory, and even population.
Neither could slip, for fear of being eradicated by the other.
Upon learning this, and spending more time with The Quan, the Alid decided it would be a good idea to allow them to grow past the point of bickering, and figured that being advanced may be enough to quell their never-ending war.
They reached the stars, left their solar system, and began to take planets, but they did so separately. If The Harada took one, the Jadari had to have one too.
They spread without pause, and started to ignore the Alid, especially when they realised that they had become more numerous than even them... However, what they didn't realise is, that numbers rarely win against a superior foe.
The Alid gave them an example of true firepower. Of true war. They figured it would be enough to make them see sense, however, it fueled the hatred more, because each thought the other had called upon the Alid to aid them.
A greater war broke out between The Hadara, and The Jadari. By this stage, the Alid had only one choice. They cut them off from the known galaxy, and The Quan were left in their region of space to fight eternally, until one day, they might stop and get over their issues.
Sensors monitor each world of theirs, and detection of outgoing vessels scrambles a small fleet of unmanned fighters, who track the ship, incase they attempt to leave their region of space.
