Fiction:Cyrannian Cold War/Part V: The Shattered Peace



 Cyrannian Cold War - Part V: The Shattered Peace 

 Chapter I: Nightmares 

She tried to wake up. She couldn't. Images flashed in her mind and she could hear distant voices both strange and familiar. Illumination came only with brilliant red, carving a sinister path through the void, shredding the heavens. She still couldn't wake up. She couldn't escape his gaze.

"The future may be transient, but if we grasp at the proper moment, it will all proceed as planned—the ruination of the Republic, the final expunging of the Light and the continuation of our rule into perpetuity."

Ships clashed, leaders fell, planets ripped in two. The Operation? Dozens of dark voices repeated the word over and over again. Operation, operation.

"They think themselves secure? It is an illusion,"

"There can be no escape from that which we will unleash,"

"And with one fell swoop, the Republic crumbles to dust".

Aoirtae's eyes snapped open, her nightmare awakening her for the fifth night in a row. She panted in her bed, trying to make sense of the images which had flooded her mind. She knew that Master Ryen would tell her to remain calm, to put aside irrational terror and find understanding. She tried to center herself in the material world, but she couldn't banish the horrific thoughts from her head.

A warning, perhaps? A hidden memory? A vision of events occuring in the distant past or—her heart sank—the imminent future?

Aoirtae rolled out of her bed and went to her private restroom. Splashing water on her face, she looked at herself in the mirror, thinking back over the events of the last few years. Her long brown hair, shoulder-length and sleep-tousled, curtained her petite face. Using her fingers to brush some loose strands away from her face, she gazed into her own eyes for a moment, before moving toward the window. She gazed out over the quiet shores of the lake beyond the Temple, a view which usually calmed her troubled thoughts. Her gaze settled on the Peak of Ages, where, she had no doubt, Master was busy overseeing the training of a new batch of students to the Order.

After a few moments, she sighed, before planting herself on the bed, trying in vain to get back to sleep. Staring blankly at the ceiling, she tried desperately to make sense of her nightmare. She felt a deep fear, on a primal level, as a sense of deep forboding washed over her.

"There can be no escape from that which we will unleash."

 Chapter II: Válrenaeum 

The next morning, Aoirtae was called to the Válrenaeum, the great library and repository of information within the Aldárae Temple. As she made her way from her chamber, she thought to herself that her nightmares the previous night could not have been a coincidence. Something important was about to happen, she was sure. Entering the chamber, she gazed around the room with surprise.

While the [new name] had become a hive of activity in recent months, this was the first time since the formation of the Aldárae Order that figures aligned directly with the New Republic were present. The first to catch her eye was Senator of, who stood beside an impressive-looking  in the uniform of a Fleet Admiral of the Republic Navy. Based on her conversations with Kara, who was deep in an animated conversation with the two Libertus, Aoirtae deduced that the officer was none other than —Kara's grandfather and the overall commander of the Navy. They were not the only Republic officials present. Two more, in the uniform of Republic Strategic Intelligence stood in the corner of the room, eyeing those present, while a female Katharon in Special Forces armour stood tersely beside an elderly Libertus woman in the dress uniform of the Republic Army. While three other Republic Senators,,  and  stood in awe of the temple.

Something important was happenening, indeed.

Unsure of her place in the room, Aoirtae walked toward Masters and, as well as the Nagith , whom she had grown quite fond of, despite his undiplomatic nature.


 * Aoirtae: "Any idea what's going on?"
 * Vanikaimar: "For him to be here followed by these soldiers, it can only mean bad news."

Master Ryen nodded gravely, before turning his head to Cretacea.


 * Ryen: "Fleet Admiral Cretacea, perhaps you'd care to begin?"

Admiral Cretacea approached a holographic display unit, where an image of an Imperial Harrower-class Star Destoryer appeared, with the Ecimaex superweapon embedded between the two-pronged hangar bay.


 * Admiral Cretacea: "As you are all no doubt aware, this is Ecimaex."

The display began to zoom out, revealing hundreds of Destroyers with the same modifications layed out before them, in a vast "wall" pointed directly at Republic space.


 * Admiral Cretacea: "The Empire has deployed hundreds of these weapons along the border with the Republic. If deployed, they have the potential to cripple interstellar travel within our territory—leaving us defenceless against Imperial attack. Make no mistake, this represents an insurmountable advantage, and one that we must destroy."
 * Vanikaimar: "So this is what that Inquisitor vermin wanted us to find. A wall of destruction, pointed at this region of space."

General Elaen Minerchae, one of the highest ranked officers in the Republic Army, spoke up.


 * General Minerchae: "It would appear so. But if this is a hyperspace weapon, how in the galaxy do we approach it?"

, the Director of Republic Strategic Intelligence moved to the hologram, placing his chin in his hand in thought.


 * Director Tempaere: "Fortunately, my operative here, Agent Aldorón, managed to secure the technical readouts of the Ecimaex Flagship. Strategic Intelligence have determined a safe approach vector to allow our assembled strike team, in addition to the Admiral's flotilla, to hit the target."
 * Kara Inviá: "Wait a minute, the Empire isn't going to let us simply waltz up to this thing and blow it out of the sky. They'll retaliate! Last I checked, the Republic and the Empire aren't at war."
 * Vanikaimar: "Why else would they create this armed blockade? Sitting idle to it is folly. Wait any longer and they will start the war themselves, by rending your worlds into flames."

Rhavor Aldóron, a young male Libertus, around Kara's age, stepped out from the shadows.


 * Rhavor Aldóron: "Data from my last mission indicates that they have. These weapons aren't just sitting there to intimidate us. I detected an increase of energy readings of unimaginable proportions from the Wall. Within two days, it'll fire."

Those around the room murmured to each other in shock.


 * Vanikaimar: "You have been at war for longer than you are willing to admit. It is time to take the fight to the Empire, or die."
 * Senator Buroa: "B-but, what chance do we have? I know nobody wants to hear it, but someone has to say it, perhaps we should consider... surrender. We must think of the countless trillions who will be lost should we take up arms in a hopeless struggle."
 * Aoirtae: "It's not hopeless! We have this one chance and if we fail, we doom the galaxy to an eternity of tyranny and oppression. We can't let that happen."
 * Ramthrace: "I concur, we must protect the Republic at all costs. The time of action had dawned!"

Apollo's usually cheerful voice suddenly went cold, reminding Admiral Cretacea of his presidency during the Great Cyrannus War.


 * Apollo: "There will be no surrender, Senator Buroa, I can promise you that. We have no other option. We must fight and we must win!"
 * Vanikaimar: "We must. I would rather not have been awakened only to be put under Oikoumene slavery."

Admiral Cretacea crossed his arms.


 * Admiral Cretacea: "That's the spirit. We've already formulated our attack plan. A strike team, consisting of Aoirtae, Vanikaimar, Agent Aldóron and Commander will-"

He was suddenly interrupted by Kara, who cleared her throat loudly. The Admiral groaned.


 * Admiral Cretacea: "And my granddaughter... will join my flotilla as we make short hyperjumps to the Ecimaex Wall, always remaining below the lockon time of the hyperspace weapon. Make no mistake, people, total victory is our only option."

Commander Corvexa saluted.


 * Corvexa: "Failure's never been an option, sir."
 * Vanikaimar: "So be it."
 * General Minerchae: "Once you're aboard, you'll need to start the demolition process as soon as possible. We also need to assault the flagship's bridge to retrieve any relevant information that we can find in the databanks. As soon as these objectives are complete, you'll need to evacuate immediately. According to Agent Aldóron's intel, the chain reaction should generate an explosion of sufficient magnitude to completely annihilate the Wall."

Ryen's voice was solemn.


 * Ryen: "I trust the Republic is prepared for the aftermath, my friends. The future is dark, for this coming conflict will doubtlessly ravage the entire galaxy, spreading like wildfire across the stars and beyond. A season of unending war, from which there can be no respite."
 * Admiral Cretacea: "Which is why we cannot falter at this critical moment. The future of the New Galactic Republic of Cyrannus hinges on the destruction of this weapon."

 Chapter III: Moment of Reckoning 

The ' sat in one of the hangar bays of the ', the flagship of the Republic Navy, as it made seemingly constant hyperjumps toward the Imperial border. Sitting with in the crew area, Aoirtae scrolled through her datapad, shivers running down her spine. When the doors slid open, revealing Kara, Aoirtae stood up and handed her the pad.


 * Aoirtae: "Did you hear? The Imperials just delivered an ultimatum to the Senate. They're calling for President Valkistair to agree to what they're calling the "P'ax Cyrannica Concordat"."

Kara sipped her caff as she overlooked the report, her eyes widening as she did.

She raised her eyes from the datapad and handed it back to Aoirtae.
 * Kara: "Tributes to Tyrómairon, the disbanding of the Aldárae Order, ceding control of the Capricorn Sector and the Mantillian Worlds, reducing the Republic Navy by eighty five per cent."


 * Kara: "Reasonable. Did Valkistair respond?"
 * Munalur: "Aha, good man Valkistair, he rejected it out of hand and told the ambassador to frak off."
 * Vanikaimar': "At least your Republic proves itself to not be led by cowards."

Commander Corvexa appeared, alongside Agent Aldóron.


 * Corvexa: "The galaxy's coming apart before our very eyes."
 * Rhavor: "It's been falling apart since the Intergalactic War, commander. In the war to come, we'll be fighting to put it back together again."
 * Aoirtae: "Easier said than done."

Suddenly, a klaxon sounded, with Admiral Cretacea's voice breaking through the intercoms throughout the ship.


 * Admiral Cretacea: "We are approaching the Silencer, the ship designated as the Ecimaex flagship. All ships, prepare for battle! For the Republic!"

Munalur jumped off the seat and dashed to the cockpit.


 * Munalur: "That's our cue! I'd advise you all to strap yourselves in. This is going to be a bumpy ride!"

 Chapter IV: Dawn of Season Unending 

Across the gulf of space, Captain stood on the bridge of the Silencer—his retrofitted Harrower-class which he volunteered as the centre-piece of the Ecimaex Wall. Gazing from the windows of the bridge, he contemplated the stars ahead, most of which fell beyond the Republic border. The vista before him was one of eternal serenity, though the captain knew that such peace was but a fleeting spark. Turning his head to the tactical officer, he barked his orders.


 * Nirndal: "Commander, fire the weapon at these coordinates."

He entered a series of numbers into his wrist-mounted display unit. The commander appeared confused, though followed his orders. From the prow-mounted Ecimaex weapon, a vast hyperlaser lanced across space, seemingly into nothingness. Nirndal watched, his eyes fixed on the blue beam. Suddenly, the beam erupted into a fiery explosion, impacting against the Republic Dreadnought Pillar of the Republic as it dropped out of hyperspace. The mighty vessel was incinerated almost immediately, though its arrival was soon followed by an entire flotilla led by the Republica.

The Neutral Zone blazed with war. The black void of space sliced by the flames of massive explosions, the light-scatter of hundreds of turbolaser bolts, green and blue, illuminating the first battlefield of the.
 * Nirndal: "Ah... and so it begins."

The Auethnen Raptor undocked from the Republica and sped off toward the Silencer. From the cockpit, Munalur worked to avoid the Imperial antifighter flak which flashed on all sides of the Raptor, which flipped and turned to avoid the advancing waves of Imperial fighters. Making her way to the cockpit, Kara sat in the co-pilot seat, strapping herself in just in time to brace for the Raptor twisting around another explosion. Vanikaimar, meanwhile, remained against a wall with his arms crossed as he watched the events unfold. A trio of Imperial Starfighters closed in rapidly, green laser cannon fire stitching the space on all sides of the Raptor, which rolled at just the right moment, allowing Aoirtae to blast them away with the Raptor's aft cannon.

The forward screen lit up with a topograph of the Silencer's hull, its grey-coloured mass studded with vast turbolaser cannons which lit up space with bolts of disintegrating energy.


 * Munalur: "We need to head for the hangar bay."
 * Vanikaimar: "Then let us not waste time."

Energy flared from the Raptor's main cannons, causing the hangar shields to dissipate into nothingness, just as the ship skidded into the hangar deck, with Munalur slewing his beloved ship into a landing which vaporised a trio of security troops who were unlucky enough to have been caught in the energy of the sublight thruster.

 Chapter V: The Silencer 

As the hatch opened, Kara turned her head to Agent Aldóron.


 * Kara: "You ready for this?"
 * Rhavor: "Nope, but we don't have much of a choice, do we?"

She smiled, readying herself for what lay beyond. As soon as the hatch opened fully, Commander Corvexa cocked her rifle, Rhavor unholstered his pistols, Aoirtae and Kara ignited their blades and Vanikaimar readied his staff.

A volley of red laser bolts greeted them as she raced down the Raptor's ramp. Aoirtae managed to deflect some blasts into their attackers before leaping forward, blade in hand, cutting down a trio of Imperial troopers who had assembled. Finding cover, Corvexa and Rhavor unloaded their blasters, sniping down nearby Imperials with cool efficiency. The Nagith warrior leaped at the troopers and swung his bladed staff at them,their shots being absorbed by his shielding as he displayed no mercy to the enemy. When they had all been felled, the group approached the entrance to the interior corridors leading to the Silencer's vital systems.

Steathily avoiding Imperial security teams sent to track them down, the group made their way to the Ecimaex firing chamber, which was in the process of rapid-firing light speed projectiles at Republic reinforcements arriving at the battle.


 * Aoirtae: "Commander Corvexa, you brought the explosives, right? Set them on the support structures, here, there and there."
 * Corvexa: "With pleasure."

As she set the charges, the others in the group dealt with a group of security wardroids that had been alerted to their position. Turning his head to them, Vanikaimar immediately charged at the droids, sending his blade at them in order to incapacitate them before they could attack the group. Once the last droid had been reduced to scrap, Corvexa set the last charge near the primary weapon dish, before placing her helmet back on and rushing toward the group.

Dealing with any Imperials in their path, the group eventually reached the bridge, which Corvexa gained entry to by tossing a grenade at the entrance. Captain Nirndal stood overlooking the battle in space, only to be caught by surprise by an ignited blade at his neck.
 * Corvexa: "I'm all set here. We don't have long before the deadline set by Command. We should double-time it to the bridge immediately."
 * Vanikaimar: "Let us do so before more enemies appear."
 * Corvexa: "Stay alert, I don't like this. Seems too easy."
 * Rhavor: "Security does seem lax. But we still have a mission to complete, come on."


 * Aoirtae: "I wouldn't move if I were you."
 * Vanikaimar: "I grow annoyed by how widespread the Basileus have become in the modern day. I wish we had subjugated their kind long ago."

Nirndal scoffed.


 * Nirndal: "As if a monstrosity like yourself could ever hope to rule your superiorly bred betters."
 * Vanikaimar: "I am Nagith, of a culture far beyond your own. The thought of your kind enslaved tingles my facial membranes."
 * Aoirtae: "Agent Aldóron, get that intel. The battle isn't going well out there."

The Agent nodded his head, moving past Nirndal with a smug expression etched on his face.


 * Rhavor: "With pleasure."
 * Vanikaimar: "The consequences of this will be grand. I can only wonder how the Oikoumene lackeys will react to the destruction of their precious Wall."

 Chapter VI: Duel of the Two Orders 

Suddenly, a blast of energy tossed them all across the bridge and into the far bulkhead. Standing at the entrance of the bridge stood the Phaedric Lord. With an arm outstretched, he telekinetically held them in place, as he approached them, his crimson eyes gleaming.


 * Vandorallen: "Delightful to see you all again, my friends. Though regretably, you are now my prisoners."
 * Vanikaimar: "This group's habit of not finishing off their enemies is starting to come back to bite us."

Vandorallen's smile spread.

A blast of energy erupted from Kara, releasing the Aldárae, Corvexa and Rhavor. Aoirtae was the first to draw her blade.
 * Vandorallen: "Ah, so it would seem. Though unless one of you is carrying your beloved Lord of Light in your pocket, I daresay you won't have the chance."


 * Aoirtae: "Go. Get to the ship. I'll deal with him."
 * Vanikaimar: "You would fight this Phaedra alone?"
 * Aoirtae: "Someone needs to hold him off. We can't fail here. You all need to get to the ship and detonate those charges."

Staring in silence at Aoirtae and Vandorallen for a few moments, Vanikaimar eventually huffed and made his way out, retreating back to the ship, joined quickly by Corvex and Rhavor, who both held an unconcious Nirndal between them. Kara remained by Aoirtae's side, telekinetically forcing the Phaedric Lord to his knees to prevent him from attacking their escaping comrades.


 * Aoirtae: "Kara, you need to get out of here!"
 * Kara: "That's not going to happen! If you stay, I stay!"

Aoirtae sadly lifted a hand, holding Kara up in the air, before pushing her out of the bridge just as an energy shield closed off the entrance. The young Libertus quickly got to her feet and began banging on the invisible field seperating her from Aoirtae, who swivled her blade in her hand as she approached Vandorallen, who had been released from Kara's hold. The Nagith warrior would grab Kara by the shoulders and begin dragging her away with him in order to take her to the ship.


 * Vandorallen: "Ah, how touchi-"

The Phaedric Lord was interrupted mid-sentence, caught off guard when Aoirtae leapt from where she stood. As she hurtled downwards, Vandorallen felt that her strength had increased since their last meeting, as well as her white-hot fury. When she landed, she began raining blows against Vandorallen's defenses, driving him to backward step after step, before he finally regained his footing. Slipping aside from one of her chopping movements, he sprang backwards, causing Aoirtae to leapt for him again, with the two standing toe-to-toe, blades slashing at great speed, before becoming locked in a sizzling cross.


 * Vandorallen: "You are weak, girl, weak and undisciplined. And you shall die as pointlessly as you lived."

Dark energy appeared in Vandorallen's free hand, building up in a deadly storm. Narrowing her eyes, Aoirtae's blade became her will. The Phaedric Lord raised his hand to strike, only to be caught unaware when the fire of her sword sank into his chest, vaporising a hole of silken robe, armour, flesh and bone. Vandorallen gasped, crumpling to his knees.


 * Vandorallen: "Y-you..."

Aoirtae's brow furrowed, her eyes blazing. Energy began building in the defeated Phaedric Lord, his fury replaced by intense fear for the first time in his life. Just as he was about to get to his feet, she telekinetically lifted him into the air and with one final slash with her blade, sent him smashing to the ground—dead.

 Chapter VII: The End of the Beginning </CENTER>

Injured from her intense battle with Vandorallen, Aoirtae began to limp back to the hangar bay, holding her arm as she walked. Expecting to see an empty bay, she was shocked to see that that the Auethnen Raptor remained, her friends gathered on the boarding ramp. Seeing that she was injured, Munalur and Kara rushed to her side, and aided her as they boarded the Raptor.

Vanikaimar's eyes narrowed as a short smirk grew on his face.
 * Aoirtae: "I-I thought you'd be gone."
 * Vanikaimar: "Leaving Master Ryen's student behind would be a bad decision."
 * Corvexa: "The Republic doesn't leave it's heroes behind, kid."
 * Kara: "And I don't leave my friends behind. No matter how pig-headed they can be."
 * Vanikaimar: "Enough of this, however. What of the Phaedra?"
 * Aoirtae: "Dead."


 * Vanikaimar: "The child's first true kill is done then. Reflect upon this, for it shall not be the last life you will take."
 * Aoirtae: "Gee thanks, Vanikaimar, you made me feel all warm and tingly inside."
 * Vanikaimar: "The pleasure is mine. Now, let us detonate this Wall."

The group made their way to the cockpit as the Raptor lifted off from the Silencer, speeding off into space. Agent Aldóron opened a line with the Republica.


 * Rhavor: "Attack group, this is Coruanthor Aegis, reporting from the Auethnen Raptor. Objective complete, I repeat, objective complete. Move to safe distance away from the wall."
 * Admiral Cretacea: "Reading you loud and clear, Aegis, all ships are clear. Detonate."

Corvexa flipped a switch on the detonator and pressed the button.


 * Corvexa: "Boom."

The Silencer exploded with the force of a micronova, setting off a chain reaction which spread throughout the system, destroying ship after ship of the Ecimaex Wall. One final explosion reduced all Imperial ships in the system to slag, just as the Republica—with the Raptor safetly aboard—jumped to lightspeed.

 Epilogue </CENTER>

Accelerating expenentially at an incredible velocity, a blast of phantom dark energy erupted through the cosmos, blasting a hole through hyperspace as it followed along a seemingly endless, though perfectly liner path of egress.

Across the galaxy, President Valkistair sat in his office in the Senate Tower, preparing to address the Senate on his rejection of the P'ax Cyrannica Concordat and the very likely reality that the so-called "Cyrannian Concordance" was at an end. The President sighed to himself. He knew that this would come. He knew that it was unavoidable—that from the moment the Empire was formed over fifteen years ago, the galaxy was moving inexorably toward the Second Great War. Unlike those in the galaxy's past, this war would not be one of politics or resources, but one of survival. They would fight for liberty itself.

Rising from his desk, he moved to the corridor leading to the Senate Chamber, his secret service agents following close behind. As he walked, he heard people calling nearby, some of them whose voices he recognised from his tenure in the Senate, or from his re-election campaigns. Speeding up along the pristine calls of the Senate Tower, he caught sight of Senator, the wife of Admiral Cretacea and the Rambo vice chancellor, Chuinaylia Ivalaë Pantaria.


 * Valkistair: "Senator Naberraé, what in the galaxy is going on?"
 * Naberráé: "I-I don't know..."
 * Chuinaylia: "Mister President, is something wrong?"

A gigantic groundquake suddenly roiled the walls of the building and beyond the window, Valkistair could see the seas beyond the skyline of New Republic City rise and fall. Covering their heads, Valkistair and Sola rushed onto the central balcony where dozens of Senators and delegates had gathered, including his Vice President Ryn Arocáa, Proconsul Senator, First Senator ,  Senator Milinitt,  of Cruandai and the Rambo Vice Chancellor , amongst countless others, all gazing uncomprehendingly at what lay before them.


 * Athan Apostila: "Is it the ?! !?"

Valkistair could see hundreds of people on the streets below, gazing up in the sky. Turning his head upwards, the President watched as the once peaceful sky suddenly lit up as a concentrated ball of energy outshone the sun.

Suddenly realisation fell over him. A pre-emptive strike!

Mou'Cyran's primary moon was the first body hit, disappearing completely into the growing wave of phantom energy. Valkistair turned away from the dreaded vista to face the senators.


 * Valkistair: "There will be no peace. Long live the Republic!"

Even those overcome with fear called out in unison, in defiance, rallied by their President.

For the Republic!

The orb of energy struck Mou'Cyran, completely bypassing the planetary shields. The capital of the New Republic and the seat of the Accords burst into flame, extreme heat searing the once verdant surface clean of all life. In orbit, thousands of vessels of the Republic Navy and the Pax Infinitus Armada were instantly annihilated, while the continental plate upon which much of the planet's population lived, including Cyranamrún and Republic City, sank beneath undulating waves of magma. After a few seconds, continuing waves of phantom energy ignited the planetary core. The home of the Republic was now a blazing mass of fire in space—utterly devoid of life.

Thousands of light-years away, Grand Mandators and  stood alongside the Imperial Overseer, Lord, Grand Admirals ,  and , newly promoted Grand Inquisitor  the Director of Imperial Intelligence and Agent. They stood before a viewscreen showing the dead heart of the New Republic, as the embers of the Mou'Cyran System burned.

Grand Mandator Vosaetiur folded his arms with a smile. "Ah, beautiful." With a nod, Mortalagueis was the next to manifest himself, "Let this be retribution for Ambar and the Ecimaex Wall."

With his back to the others, Grand Mandator Caesarius gazed at the devastation wrought by the battlestation. He turned to face Vosaetiur, with a raised brow which conveyed no emotion. He placed his hand at his chin as he spoke. "It appears that congratulations are in order, Grand Mandator Vosaetiur."

"No congratulations will be given. Your task is not yet complete." The Imperial Overseer, towering over the others, stepped forward and spread his arms. The image of the Mou'Cyran System expanded in size, revealing more of Republic space as he continued to speak. "Destroy the Republic. All of it, and all those who support it. The Emperor demands it."

"It's certainly past time, Taev." Caesarius said in a unctuous tone.

Vosaetiur's smile faded somewhat, his hatred for Caesarius manifesting in a slight snarl. "If only the Emperor was here for such an occasion as this."

"Believe me when I state," the Overseer said, "he has witnessed this event with his own eyes." Meanwhile, Mortalagueis' grin grew wider as he rubbed his hands together. "I will thoroughly enjoy this. It is time for the old, tired Republic to be finally euthanized."

Agent Caranye could not restrain a sickened expression, her eyes beginning to well. Luckily for the agent, the others were too transfixed on the destruction to pay her any attention, though the Director silently shared in her grief. Next to her appeared Inquisitor, who halted his hunt for the to be present at this day. The Inquisitor remained silent as well, shocked by the destructive move made by Imperial command and the consequences it might bring. Whispering to agent he muttered with a heavy voice. "It seems Agent, our schedule will be quite busy for the time being."

Across the room, Lord Venatorius stood beside Caesarius, his expression inscrutable behind his dark mask. "Impressive. Though only a fool places trust in a single instrument. The Republic does not lie dead. It will continue to flail, headless, for a time yet. We shall extinguish their flame."

"I should not have to repeat myself." The Imperial Overseer turned to face them. "You are the Emperor's instruments. It is your task to bring an end to these rebellious fools. Failure is not an option."

Grand Admiral Decimius stood from the shadows and bowed his head slightly to the Overseer. "It will be done, my lord, for it is finally time to unravel the great puzzle—the complete and total destruction of the Republic. At long last, the game is finally afoot."

"I must commune with the Emperor. Prepare yourselves. The war has begun." With this, the Overseer's body was enveloped in darkness as he disappeared before their eyes.

Trivia

 * Written by Cyrannian, OluapPlayer and Dinoman82.
 * The Shattered Peace represents the end of the and the beginning of the.
 * It occurs simultaneously to the Battle of the Ecimaex Wall and the Mou'Cyran Cataclysm.