Grit was first discovered on Astras but took years to discover and develop the technology to reap and use it. Once grit magic and tech(hyperspace travel) became mostly reliable the price for grit exploded and everyone was trying to get their hands on it. Grit formed in much higher concentrations in sentient life and some quickly began reaping grit from their slaves and prisoners. Genocide was committed on planetary scale and war broke out in the galaxy. Some factions banned reaping grit from sentient life, while others did it on a massive scale.

Astras agreed to laws forbidding genocide and unrestrained harvesting of grit from slaves and prisoners.

Dynamus agreed to a massive pay out to Astras for the destruction of their homeworld.

Grit quickly became the most saught after resource in the galaxy. Astras and some minor factions were reaping grit from slaves and prisoners on a massive scale. They invaded planets and enslaved them for grit. Dynamus at the time was a much larger faction that Astras and quickly passed laws forbidding the reaping of grit from sentient life. So they began farming it from algae and rodent like creatures that could be bred quickly.

Before grit it took decades just to get to and from the closest of stars. Over the course of a few years it was suddenly possible to make these trips in days instead.

Astras was smaller but had access to much greater amounts of grit and was able to expand and mobilize their military much quicker. They attacked Dynamus' most populated worlds and the battles lasted decades. Astras used grit to cast powerful spells and summon monsters that could go toe to toe with Dynamus' superior technology.

Many of the minor factions began to take sides, some joined Astras and others formed up with Dynamus.

To make a loud statement, Dynamus used their planet cracker strategy to destroy Astras' homeworld. They stole a far out moon from the same solar system and built engines that could propel the moon into Astras. Over half the population was killed and most of their manufacturing capabilities. The remaining population formed a mass exodus to another habitable world in the system.

While the planet cracker mission was underway a minor faction known as Gammor had developed a powerful AI which it elected as its ruler. A-B is his name and he still rules to this day.

Instead of taking a side in the war A-B did it's best to broker peace between the warring factions and succeeded. It took time but he convinced both sides that only compromise could end the blood shed and that otherwise there would be no end to it.

The discovery of grit and that it can be used to open wormholes in and out of hyperspace.