(I don't want this to turn into a fustercluck, so please tag me before joining with reasons why and qualifications. I just started and don't want this getting out of hand)
::Ebonholst City, New Resil::
President Lucianas St.Seraph stared at the large screen that had replaced the window on the south wall of his office. Several news feeds played across it, information pouring in faster than most people could actually understand it.
That said, Lucianas was not most people. The Albino president brushed a lock of hair from his face, his deep red eyes darting back and forth, absorbing information at an incredible pace. The expansion was complete, and the terraforming and colonization of the Shatarrus system was coming to a close. The re-settling of the migrant populace had gone off without a hitch. Everything was coming together.
In the streets there was celebration, and already he had made a press release that this was a new national holiday. Colonization day. That had gone over well with the public. He was bearing witness to it on his screen. The military had finished their brief re-training of the soldiers after so long in stasis. Even with the FTL it had taken them two decades to arrive. Two decades Lucianas didn’t want to waste aging. He was still in his thirties and wanted to spend his remaining forty-to-sixty years running his nation.
Overall he was satisfied, Resil was triumphant once again.
He looked at his cabinet, all of them gathered in his office, which, due to its sheer size, also doubled as his meeting room.
“As you can see, my friends, we have concluded the final stages of re-colonization. Where you now sit is our new capital,” he gave a tight smile and took his seat, “As you are aware, the newly dubbed “Erebus” planet is going to be our main trade port and main infrastructure. The next system out, “Haphestus,” is of course our shipyard, and finally, “Valonus” is our military complex.”
Vice-President Jacob Reegan looked at Lucianas. He too was a young man, in his early thirties, with very Irish features, most noticeably his red hair, which was kept short and somewhat curly, not of his own accord.
“So far there have been no signs of any civil unrest. The people are caught up in festivities, but due to our policing efforts, and despite the re-introduction of alcohol to them, there have been no incidents worth reporting.”
Jacob was happy to be able to say that, as a veteran of the Planetary Guard. The Guard was a police force whose jurisdiction was an entire planet. To put it bluntly they were essentially the military with less funding and smaller ships. He took a great deal of pleasure in the maintenance of law and order. He’s seen his share of violence and chaos during the rebellion back home to ever want to see it happen again here. It was because of this, and his still legendary deeds during the rebellion, that he had been offered his position by President Lucianas. Not only was he a war hero, he was a folk hero, and having him anywhere near the President brought the public even more onto the side of the government.
Secretary of Defense, Terrance Mersenn nodded in agreement, “The navy has also reported a lack of any outside threats coming anywhere close to our system, as I’m sure Grand-Admiral Maximillian already informed you, Mister President,” Terrance was a Veteran as well, though he had begun his service in the armed forces as a Marine. He had eventually been discharged after what should’ve been a crippling injury and became a private military contractor. It was in this career he had developed a superstition/fear about ever going planet-side, preferring to do his work in the Black. When Lucianas invited him to this position after his work during the rebellion, he had been forced to overcome this in order to take his office. Even so he still seemed on edge.
He was the oldest of the group, in his early forties, his rust colored hair beginning to gray at the temples. On his strongly shaped jaw up the side of his face was a tattoo in the shape of an oriental dragon. He had a patch of rust hair on his chin. He looked at the rest of them, “Maximillian is on edge, though. He says he’s expecting a war to come out of this, and has all the border forces on guard,” He looked at Lucianas, “Co-Secretary of Defense Santana said the same thing.”
Santana and Maximillian were two of the three Grand Admirals of Resil. Maximillian had been promoted to his position after Lucianas left the Admiral’s number. He was a tactical prodigy, in his late thirties, a handsome, if somewhat scruffy looking man, constantly looking in need of a shave. He had proven himself as a commander several times over, before Lucianas had selected him.
Santana was an old veteran in his late fifties, a hard-edged man who had fought in the last several wars before the final unification under Resil almost twenty years before he had even left for the new galaxy. He was dutiful to Resil and was a quiet yet devoted patriot.
The Minister of Finances cleared his throat. Conversely to Terrance, he was the youngest in the room, merely in his twenties. If someone who didn’t know better would look at him, they would guess he was a con man. He wasn’t but he certainly knew how to think like one. He was good with money, and knew how to hold on to it, use it effectively, and make sure no one else could touch it. He was a slim young man, a pair of glasses on his nose, with slick black hair. Prior to attaining his position nothing was known about him, there were very few records he hadn't made sure were quickly sealed upon his appointment. He grinned at the entire room, “As fun as this all is, I’m afraid the most pressing matter we have at hand is our trade with our… new neighbors.”
“That shouldn’t be an issue,” The Foreign Affairs minister said. Sara Saranai was a gorgeous young woman, her blonde hair streaked with pink using perma-dye. A mistake of youth, she called whenever asked, despite the fact she still looked young. She had been given her position after she’d been a figurehead in the civilian anti-rebellion movement. She had even negotiated the surrender of a Rebellion commander without even pointing a gun at him. “The President’s conference to his neighbors will help us open chances for trade negotiation.”
Lucianas rose, “On that subject, I believe it is time for our transmission.”
He looked at the sky, the shape of his capital ship Pride of Resil in low orbit shining in the midday sun. It took up a large part of the sky, being 740 meters long. It was a sight that always seemed to project a sense of majesty, of POWER to Lucianas.
“I’ll go see the cameras, Sara, Jacob, I want you with me.” He said before striding out of the room. From the wall a figure that had drawn no attention shifted to follow him. Black shades were across his eyes, cloth wrapped over his lower face and nose like a mask, black hair in a tight ponytail coming down to his shoulders. A pair of swords were strapped to his back, and a pair of pistols were on his hips. He had a name, but he preferred the one he had earned. Myth was the bodyguard and right hand of Lucianas, an ex bounty hunter and assassin, he had worked with Jacob’s taskforce as well in the rebellion before saving Lucianas’ life personally. He nodded at Sara as he walked after Lucianas, his long black coat floating for a moment with the movement.
::The bridge of the 'Pride of Resil', Untouchable class Battleship::
Admiral Maximillian Amara looked on the viewscreen out at the planet below him, another screen preparing to view Lucianas’ speech. He sat in his chair and watched his crew bustle back and forth, everyone on the ship on high alert, watching for any ship entering the sector.
“Sir, we’re getting a transmission from the surface.”
That’d be The Raven himself. Amara thought to himself. ”I would’ve hoped he’d stayed home.. “Put him through. Private channel.”
His personal screen folded out in front of him and Alexandre Maertens appeared. His face would’ve been handsome if not for the horrid scar down the right side of it. He was an intense man with long black hair and a stare that would quiet his officers in a moment.
All it did was annoy Amara. Despite his record as a privateer in the Rebellion that had earned him his position in the Resil military, Amara had never felt he’d earned his way into it. He understood that he’d been brought in because of his status with the people, but he viewed him as a mercenary and nothing more.
“Something I can do you for you, General Raven?” he said calling him by the nickname his men had given him. The General glowered back at Amara.
“I’m calling with a status update, there was a slight anomaly in the eastern hemisphere.”
“Coming from the planet?”
“No from just outside of high orbit,” he replied, “I’ve sent a pair of Supressor class frigates to keep a close eye on the area, so it shouldn’t be an issue.”
“Keep me posted if it does.” Amara said.
“Of course.” Raven said, before the screen flickered dead.
::Transmission::
Lucianas stood before the Resillian flag as he was given the sign to begin.
“To all who see this, I send this message with no ill-will or threat. I simply am speaking to offer you a sincere greeting from my nation and myself. We are the Republic of Resil, and we have only recently arrived in your sector of space as an expansion from our own Galaxy.
After a twenty-year journey, we’ve colonized the Shatarrus star system, and we come bearing an offer. Send us a representative of your people, and we will discuss the options of trade, friendship, and even possible military alliance.
Why trade with us, you may ask? Our trade is not only in the massive stockpile of natural resources and trade goods we brought from our home galaxy, we are also the manufacturer of many high quality warships and weapons.
We are a nation that is dedicated to the preservation of our people, dedicated to maintaining the peace and security of our nation and all who we call friends and allies.
We do not turn our back on our friends and will NEVER stand aside when we are threatened.
We come to you, with open arms and open minds.”
The transmission ended and Lucianas looked at everyone surrounding him, “Tell the fleet the signal has been sent, and to remain on high alert.” He said flatly before turning and leaving the room.
Now all he had to do was wait…
