The latest (and last?) Friday news post on the game's website details a powerful alien race called the Neph, which along with the evil Bane have discovered wormhole technology, ensuring "wave after wave of Bane troops without rest or respite." Reads the urgent communique:

We request that all military personnel begin fortifying defenses at every AFS base in preparation for a massive Bane assault. If enemy troop movements are as large as we fear, and the Neph are truly prepared to lead all out war against us, this may be our last stand. Penumbra has been informed of the situation and is standing by on the use of their last resort weapon. We can not afford to be complacent or uncertain, but if it is truly our destiny to be destroyed, we are taking them all with us.