The Aeon Illuminate: Faith and Conquest in Supreme Commander

The Aeon Illuminate are the most interesting faction in Supreme Commander because they're a tragedy. They descend from people taught a philosophy of peace by an alien race. A thousand years later they're the army everyone fears most, and their Princess is the only person trying to take them back to where they started. (Supreme Commander)

Seraphim II#

The Aeon's own tradition starts with first contact. Settlers on Seraphim II encountered an intelligent alien race, and a biologist named Jane Burke was among those who learned their philosophy. The Way taught peace and empathy. The expedition's military leaders saw a threat instead, and the Seraphim of that world were destroyed. The people who'd learned from them survived and kept the teachings. (Supreme Commander)

When they reached out to Earth to share the Way, the Empire cut contact and quarantined them. The Aeon took that as their answer. Over time a faith of empathy turned into a duty to convert, and those who refused conversion came to be seen as something to be cleansed. (Supreme Commander)

Rhianne and Marxon#

In 3844 that argument becomes a civil war. Princess Rhianne Burke believes the Way never meant endless killing. Marxon, the Avatar of War, is the Illuminate's most powerful commander, and he's building a following loyal to him and not to her. Evaluator Toth, the Princess's trusted adviser, opposes him and he kills her. After that the player answers to Rhianne directly, and is fighting UEF and Cybran forces and Aeon loyal to Marxon all at once. (Supreme Commander)

The campaign ends on Earth, where the player kills Marxon and secures Black Sun. Rhianne links herself to the weapon and the gate network, and when it fires she speaks to every human being at once. The Infinite War stops. It's the only ending of the three that reaches peace. (Supreme Commander)

After the war#

Forged Alliance tests that peace at once. The Seraphim return through the rift, and they aren't the gentle teachers of Aeon memory. Part of the Illuminate sides with them as the Order of the Illuminate under Evaluator Kael, calling Rhianne a heretic. Her Loyalists join the Coalition. Rhianne, thought lost, enters the rift and seals it from within at the cost of her life. (Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance)

In Supreme Commander 2 the Royal Guardians carry on her name while drifting back towards the crusade she rejected. Thalia Kael fights for them, and learns too late that her victories have been serving Gauge. (Supreme Commander 2)