Dark Aether is a trans-dimensional duplicate of the planet Aether in which the atmosphere is hazardous, that was created when a Leviathan from Phaaze impacted the planet, and is crawling with hostile creatures, mostly the Ing Horde.
History[]
When the Leviathan impacted Aether, the unstable nature of the planet due to the Energy Controllers combined with the Leviathan’s Phazon energy caused Aether to split into two planets, each existing in a different dimension. The impact caused devastation all over the planet, mainly dark clouds in the sky. The Luminoth eventually created machines that generated portals to travel to Dark Aether, where they first encountered the Ing. They couldn't survive long on Dark Aether because of the hazardous atmosphere. They designed Light Crystals and Light Beacons that created protective areas and placed them throughout the dark world.
The Luminoth fought against the Ing for decades, but the Ing had the upper hand. The Luminoth created an Energy Transfer Module to try and reclaim their planet's energy, only to have it taken and used against them by the Ing. Fortunately, Samus comes to Aether searching for a missing Galactic Federation squad, soon finding out that the Ing slaughtered them, then acquires the Energy Transfer Module and meets with U-Mos, sentinel of the Luminoth, who enlists her help. Samus ultimately succeeds in retrieving the stolen energy, eradicating Dark Aether and the Ing for good.