Except they were wiped into extinction by the Ancients.
Except that perhaps a Crown escaped, and is now pummeling the Shivans with its horrific appearance and beam cannons, unintentionally saving the Ancients. Thus begins the GTVA-Ancient war.
Well, I was thinking of making a mini campaign based on Aesdherians, wherein the player is on an Aesdherian fighter.
The player escorts a carrier. The last of the Aesdherians want revenge. But, well, they can't do any noticeable damage to a race that eliminated dozens of races, but luckily, they're being called by the Shivans. The Shivans have a "beacon", which, when activated, will lure their fleets into Ancient space. So the player must escort his respective Sword carrier into the beacon, defending against Ancient sentries.
Or something like that. I just developed a grudge against the Ancients after playing ASW
.