Ravens of Eternity

361 Intel & Recon, Pt Planet: Thilarri Central, Thilarri System, Imperial Domain of the Boundless Drogar

The crowd across the amphitheater stands cheered wildly and with incredible gusto. Most were standing up, yelling, clapping, stomping, making the most noise possible. Tens of thousands of them all faced towards the massive stage in the center, while numerous drones floated above some of their heads.

Each of those drones projected numerous holographic signs in the air, many of which read:

–

Retholis for Emperor

–

Long-term Profits, Not Short-term War

–

Strength From Order, Order From Strength

.....

–

At the very center of the large outdoor arena, former swarmfather Retholis stood on a hovering platform and waved at the crowd all around him.

The planet’s digitized sun shined right down onto him through the open gaps in the massive dome that floated above. At the same time, a light wind fluttered through the amphitheater and caused his simple, nondescript robes to flutter.

Also facing the crowd were a half dozen Justicars, all of whom were standing next to the platform itself. Their faces remained stoic and emotionless, even as their eyes constantly scanned the crowds in front of them.

“Thank you all for coming,” Retholis said. His commanding voice echoed all throughout the stands, and swept across the people. They quieted down and settled into their seats as he spoke.

“It’s good seeing each and every one of you,” he continued. “Truly. Even if what we’re about to discuss is nothing to be happy about.”

“It needs to be said!” shouted someone from the crowd.

“Oh, I agree,” Retholis immediately responded. “I think almost all of us here agree. The Imperial incursion into Hegemony territory is one hundred percent illegal, and we need to put a stop to it. Immediately.”

Murmurs rose up from all around the stands, all in abject agreement.

“I’m not going to mince my words,” Retholis continued. “Short-sighted hot-bloods have swayed the Empress into sanctioning these illegal acts. Why? Because they’re thoroughly motivated by short-term profits, nothing more.

“And I will concede – the profits are incredible.

“But I must stress – the profits are temporary. Ludicrously temporary.”

Retholis was met with another wave of agreeing murmurs and a few light claps. He allowed his words to sink in, and paced in a small circle to meet as many gazes as he could.

Then said, “These juvenile warmongers believe that the Empire can sustain this war for a few decades, long enough to amass incredible profit from the annexation of multiple star systems. And on paper, that is true.

“In the 50 or so years the war is projected to run, many in the Empire will become wealthier. We will gain new lands, fresh resources, room to grow. And we will grow and expand for 50 years after that...

“We would have more land, more resources, more goods to create. More transport routes. More industrial centers. More paradise planets like this one to call home. But then what? What’s the downside? No neighbor to trade with.

“No neighbor. To trade with.

“Think about that for a moment. It’s not as though we’re annexing Drogar people. Our population won’t suddenly soar. There won’t be an increased demand for goods and services domestically. The demand remains the same. In fact, due to casualties and declining birth rates, demand will sink even further.

“Just think about it.”

Retholis paused again, this time for slightly longer. He wanted the words to truly sink in. And just as a few muted conversations between people started up, he continued with his speech.

“So who could we sell our newfound riches to? Besides our neighbors?” he asked. “Whether or not the Imperial Navy eradicates the Hegemony, which is their current standing order by the way, they won’t be buying from us. Not since we breached our own agreement.

“The one we pressed the Hegemony into signing. And we pressed them into it because the promise of trade was too good. We promised each other to grow fat and rich from the trade of technologies. Which we were certainly doing.

“But then we violated a law that we drafted ourselves, for this... this... childish land grab.”

Retholis was clearly flustered, and threw his hands in the air out of frustration. The crowd could feel the irritation in his voice easily, as it echoed the same sentiments they felt as well.

“Raw, unbridled greed destroyed decades of work, and centuries of prosperity.

“Raw, unbridled greed is causing a mass depopulation of the Drogar unnecessarily.

“Raw, unbridled greed is undoing that which makes the Empire the strongest in the galaxy.”

People in the crowds looked at each other, nodded, confirmed, murmured, agreed with everyone around them. What Retholis was telling them .

“And you know who gets hurt most from all of this?” Retholis asked. “Everyone. Our currency will lose value. Our clans’ vaults will become lighter.”

He pointed to someone in the stands.

“Your clan’s vaults.”

Then another.

“Your clan’s vaults.”

And another.

“Your clan’s vaults. Imagine all of them filled with mountains of Krohn. Except they’re worthless because no-one wants them. And that worthlessness will be passed down across numerous generations.

“We will suffer from it, yes. But our children will bear its hardest burdens. And their children will be born with it.

“We cannot count on future generations to fix the mistakes ours created. We must repair things now! Immediately! At all costs! For the strength of the Empire!”

He allowed the words to sink in as the crowd cheered wildly, but after a couple of seconds, Retholis continued, and motioned for the crowd to calm down. They dutifully followed, eager to hear what else he had to say.

“If we are to stop this madness,” the former swarmfather continued, “we must first remove the Empress from her seat of power. We must repeal the Imperial order to invade, pay whatever restitutions we can, and immediately reinstate trade.

“Our Empire doesn’t need to fight with everyone. To those who think we do, that’s why limited war negotiations exist. We’ve proven the ability to trade and fight at the same time. Should both galactic nations want that.

“What we need to do is keep our markets free and open and filled with currency.”

“Retholis for Emperor!” someone shouted.

“Free and open markets!” another cried out.

“I think we all agree on that as well,” Retholis quickly said, to a few chuckles and laughter. “No-one’s more qualified than me to ensure Imperial prosperity. I’ve many friends and acquaintances within the Great Houses of the Hegemony. We have shared meals often, and we trust each other well.

“I could ask them for forgiveness for our actions, for warring with them.

“I could work with all of them directly to broker a trade agreement.

“I could restore the Empire’s trajectory to where it belongs.

“But don’t just take my word for it. My clan, Adarii, has produced countless great Drogar throughout the ages. Swarmfathers, Justicars, Machinefathers, Senators. Every generation of my clan has helped shape and build and grow Drogar society.

“And I, Retholis, clan Adarii, if made Emperor, will lead all Drogar towards a better future, a more prosperous and stable future. Now, and for eternity!”

His words were met with another eruption of cheers from everyone all around him. And even as they cheered, Retholis kept going with his speech. His voice boomed all throughout, and reached everyone despite the noise.

“I will reduce the war!”

More cheers, more screams.

“I will reignite our trade alliances!”

The crowd grew more and more frenzied as he spoke.

“And it will be because of all your support!”

At that point, everyone stood up from their seats and screamed their loudest. They clapped and stomped and chanted in unison, a sign of their undying devotion.

Then, they drew out their beltknives. First only a few at a time, but then swept out all around in ever-expanding waves.

Retholis drew his beltknife and pointed it up in the air. Both his actions and his words were met with rousing cheers and applause.

Numerous hovering EyeCasts all around made sure to capture the moment from multiple angles, and broadcasted it across the Empire.

~

It was hours later that Retholis climbed into his personal armored hopper and slumped into his seat in the corner. A long and drawn out exhale escaped his mouth, even as his advisors settled into the seats around him.

Colviss came in last, and sat in the corner opposite.

Like the rest of them, she wore simple, unassuming robes. Though hers were black instead of lighter earth tones. They contrasted her albino scales a great deal and gave her a “fuck around and find out” kind of vibe.

Or at least, more than usual.

“So that was a pretty successful assembly, huh?” Retholis said after a few moments. Which his advisors happily agreed with.

“No wild attempts behind the scenes, right?” he asked Colviss.

“Just a few crazies who tried to get in,” she replied. “Otherwise, no attempts on your life were made.”

They drove deeper into the busy Drogar city around them. Like many others, the buildings were coral-like in their design. But their colors were more uniform than not, though their shades shifted all throughout.

Some places were lighter, others darker. There was a beautiful simplicity in the city’s aesthetics.

“What’s our schedule looking like?” Retholis asked his advisors.

One of them flipped open their holo-ring, which projected numerous notes into the air inside it.

“A few more assemblies over the next two cycles,” the advisor replied. “Then some face-to-face talks with various clanfathers in the system.”

.....

“Good,” he replied. “We need more face-to-face talks. Shoring up clan support is going to be more and more critical from here on out. And make sure that most of these happen in the outer systems. We’re gonna need their support in particular.”

His advisors nodded their heads, then immediately began adjusting their notes and timetables.

Before he could issue more orders, the console up front began to beep. At the same time, the hopper itself came to a stop.

“What in heaven is going on now?” he asked with exasperation in his voice.

“Report just came in from the lead hopper,” Colviss replied. “We’ve got a... situation up front.”

“What kind of situation?”

“The blood-red robe kind.”

Retholis’ face immediately flattened on hearing that. Then, with a deep sigh, he tapped a control next to him, which opened up a hidden compartment. His pistol rose up from said compartment, along with a couple of glowing energy capsules.

“No, sir,” Colviss said instantly. “You stay in here, and keep doing what you’re doing. The Justicars will take care of this trash.”

She then got out of the hopper, and the sounds of combat immediately surrounded her. A few hoppers ahead, numerous red-robed Drogar had blocked off the street with makeshift fortifications and fired into their procession.

Colviss drew out her baton from beneath her robes, and extended it out to a long two-handed sword. Then, as she ran towards the front, she opened up a comms line to all of the Justicars that were with them.

“Looks like we’ve got some terrorists to cull,” she told them. “Engage at will.”