It is now the 27th millenium. Mankind has expanded across the star system, Mars is now stained red not by dust but by blood after the Martian Genocides of the 25th millenium where billions were slaughtered wholesale when the AI branch of the Star Force gained sentience and declared war on humans, only to escape after a series of defeats.
On Earth, a child reads the latest chapter of The Hunter and wonders to himself when will they stop fighting and actually start the story.