Fiction:New Dawn/Year 3

A Godly Visitor
3rd January 2791

Icarlias was a frontier world on the. Colonised by the Ryketians mrely 30 years ago. The planet had been hit hard by the during the war and with relief supplies from the Commonwealth the colony was slowly getting back onto its feet.

In a military hospital on the outskirts of Laka'retim - a large town that served as the primary colony - Captain Torith'Ertan had arrived at the hospital with his wife Torith'Viala several hours ago after she began to show signs that she was ready to give birth. As her strains echoed i nthe halls a green light emerged outside the building. A Val'kar guard looked suspiciously as a strange being emerged from it. The being strode towards the front doors and, uspicious, the Val'Kar called out to him, asking him to stop. When the being ignored him the guard resorted to grabbing him as the intruder reached the door.

Upon grabbing the creature's arm he felt an overwhelming surge of energy and the resultant surge made hi mfeel as though his brain had almost imploded. He was thrown backwards as the creature barely noticed him and he collapsed to the floor. in-patients seeing the incident through the hospital's doors panicked and ran into the hospital proper as guards armed with smg-like weapons stood forward to stop the being.

The guards shouted for the being to stop his advance but it simply ignored them. One of the guards resorted to shooting it in the legs but watched helpessly as his SMG rounds simply bounced off it's skin. Meanwhile, on the hospital's upper levels, Torith'Viala screamed as she pushed for her child to come out. her husband was with her holding herh and firmly. When screams came echoing through the halls, Torith'Ertan turned to one of his Val'kar lieutenants who had opened the door and had a panicked look on his face.

Val'kar - ''Captain Torith, something is entering the building. We tried shooting it but our shots had no effect.'' Ertan - ''What do you mean? Is the intruder shielded?'' Val'Kar - ''I have no idea. My men reported that its skin was like carbon-laced steel. Our weapons are useless so I am calling for an evacuation.'' Ertan - ''Major my wife is several hours into labour! How are we supposed to evacuate?'' Doctor - Get madame Torith onto a mobile delivery unit, we'll have to continue while we are escaping.

Panicked soldiers tried to stop the entity however their shots did nothing as it bee-lined for the hospital's upper levels. When they created barricades the entity simply teleported past them. Ertan helped the doctor load his wife onto a mobility unit designed so that she could still deliver the baby as they moved though the hospital. Ertan was panicking as they found nothing could stop the intruder. The doctor kept her to the less busy passages as she screamed in pain.

The beimg was relentless in its pursuit, however when it passed the room the captain and his wife were originally he moved on after a brief second. It had the strange feeling that something powerful had spent a brief amount of time inside.

Comm - Captain, intruder passed your delivery room, I think it's after you. Ertan - Stop it at all costs! Comm - ''How!? Bullets do nothing and any barricade we make the assailant teleports right past.'' Ertan - What? Comm - ''I'm not-- Ancients it's here... all units open fire it's on us!''

The comm unit was cut off as the group managed to reach an ambulance. Torith'Viala was loaded inside and Torith'Ertan joined her. After they drove off the entity appeared at the same door as Ertan lookedo ut of the back window. His eyes widened when he saw it and it seemed to look directly at him as they turned a corner.

The entire settlement was alerted. barricades, diversions and ambushes were set up to protect the group. Better-equipped soldiers were now in pursuit, some of them carrying remote missile launchers, protable turbolasers and grenades. Ertan could hear the explosions from afar and comm chatter indicated that even the heavy weapons had no effect on it. Lasers were absorbed into its skin while remote rockets were thrown off course. Te sun was rising over the small colony. Small shrubs dotted the roadsides that provided life to the mostly-barren region. In the distance were atmospheric generators pumping breatheable air into the atmosphere and scrubland dotted with farms surrounded the town.

Doctor - I see a head captain! Ertan - ''Do you hear that Viala. Our baby is going to be fine. Keep strong.'' Doctor - Keep pushing! Ertan - Command any sign of my assassin?

The sound of gunfire could be heard, possibly even tank shots.

Command - ''We're throwing everything we have at it and still it keep walking. This thing...is unstoppable captain.'' Ertan - Who would recruit such a thing? Command - Third column open fire, fire-teams Indicar and Jorit fire from above. Ertan - Commander? Command - ''We have no idea. But somoene wants you dead and they must have really hated you for sending a one-man army.'' Ertan - Casualties? Command - ''A few. But it does nto seem concerned at all at what's shooting it and-- Gods help us!'' Ertan - Commander? Command - It...it just waved it's hand and an entire column of tanks was tossed aside.

Ertan could not understand what was happening. He was partially distracted as the baby's body was slowly emerging from between Viala's legs as she strained, her feet wrapped themselves round a pair of padded metal bars as she panted. Eventually the being heard a high-pitched cry on a level no mortal could hear. This was a sign that Valia was out of labour and something about the cry increased the entity's resolve.

On the rooftop of a resturaunt a squad of soldiers prepared a remote rocket. Aiming directly the device locked on and they fired. Their grins turned to dropped jaws of horror as the reocket abruptly swerved away as it erached two metres from the target. The rocket realigned and headed straight for the ambulance. The entity vanished in a green light, reappeared in front of the ambulance and with but a thought the missile crumpled harmlessly before it could do any damage.

The driver was paralysed in fear as the entity walked around the ambulance and opened the doors to see Ertan pointig a pistol into it's face.

Ertan - Get back or I'll shoot! Triam - ''I am the Triam, please, lower your weapon... I mean no harm to you.'' Ertan - ''What do you want! Out with it!'' Triam - ''I am not here to take this child from you, don't be afraid of me... I've come to protect this infant and his family.''

Valida tightly held the newborn baby boy in her arms.

Viala - ''how can we trust you? We almost died because of you.'' Triam - ''I don't recall using my power to harm your people Commander, though you are right, I should have opened my intentions to you in the first place... Honestly I expected to appear in front of you and your wife, but I'm afraid the child's dormant power disrupted my senses.'' Ertan - If you are not here to take him what will you do? Triam - ''Your child's destiny is to lead your people and all civilizations of this galaxy to greatness... I have come here to teach him in the ways of my people, so that his affinity to psionic energy may serve him well both in difficult and calm times.'' Viala - ''Our child... leading Andromeda to greatness?'' Ertan - ''I suppose we accept your offer. Surely there is no better teacher for such a gift, is there?'' Triam - There isn't, you won't regret this decision Commander, nor you lady.

Viala lowered her guard and Ertan lowered his pistol and let the Triam inside the ambulance. As he approached the boy, who was still stained and bloody from the womb, it appeared to be slightly intimidated by the Xol'Etra's presence. He reached in and gently rested his hand on the nweborn's torso. A faint green light pulsed from the Triam's hand and the infant appeared very calm. With that, the Triam left the ambulence and vanished in a green and white light. Both parents loooked bewildered and returned their attention to their newborn son. The child appeared unaffected by its ecperience with the Triam and for the most partit appeared perfectly normal.

Ertan - ''What should we name him? Viala - ''How about...Torith'Etreiar Ertan - ''I like it. Despite what this 'Triam' says, I don't want us raising our son to be some 'chosen one' figure. Viala - ''He shall have a normal ife, we let him forge his own path as the old customs say. We jsut need to find a way to fit this being's training periods around it.''

Ertan kneeled by Viala's bedside and gentl rubbed the infant's crown with his hand. Soldiers from nearby walked up to peer into the ambulance. After a few minutes Ertan walked out of the ambulance to address them.

Ertan - ''This situation was a simpel misunderstanding. We are to return to our normal duties.'' Soldier - ''But commander... what happened?'' Ertan - ''The enity called itself "The Triam". It wasn't an assassin, It wasn't after me. However I suggest that we play down this incident, perhaps it was simply a pirate raid that used holograms to scare us. With it faling, of course.''

The soldiers nodded and walked away. Ertan looked back inside the ambulance and gave a loving smile to his wife and new son.

Law of the Tyranny
25th January 2791

Medusa was furious over the newly-dubbed Pariahs living within the Imperium. She stormed into her father's throneroom on Demogorgon Prime almost fuming and having lost the composure of the heir to the throne. ABaddon Heimdall looked at his approaching daughter and it was almost-intuitive that he knew why she had come to him.

Abaddon - ''This is about the Pariahs yes, i have a way of dealing with it. You will bring to the Draconid Imperium the law of the Tyranny, with that they will have no choice but to relent.'' Medusa - ''How did you know? that is exactly that i was planning on doing, a tribunal on Alcanti.'' Abaddon - Merely talk to Uriel and remember our code of laws, everything is a done deal. Medusa - Father I must also request the presence of somebody.

Abaddon, for the first time in a long while, showed a rather casual expression and rolled his eyes as he slouched on this throne.

Abaddon - ''Angrus? He's just had a battle with the DCP in the Milky Way, in hyperspace.'' Medusa - Father, I beg you, it will help me. Abaddon - ''If that's what makes you feel better, so shall it be ... I guess''

At that Medusa departed the throneroom onto a Subjugator class Battleship mark 2 and made way back to Invictus, the planet the Tyranny were using as a headquarters for their operations in Andromeda. This was also where Angrus would be waiting patiently for her. Prior to leaving Demogorgon Prime however, Medusa dispatched a messafe delivered via advanced communications to Uriel, saying that "because of the law of the Tyranny, the acceptance of Pax Draconica by the Pariahs needed a tribunal to decide it's legitimacy". On Invictus, she merely awaited a reply, and more importantly, her beloved Angrus.

A reply arrived from Uriel within a few days and It read "If that is what you wish then I will arrange for a tribunal within the week. However you had better make sure you have the correct proof for your claims." Almost right after the letter came, Angrus arrived as well, and although at first he was sad at having to leave the current conflicts in the Milky Way, he grew glad at the sight of his dear Medusa. The two departed on a special Kraken Mark 2, a 30 km behemoth, and only of several existing at the moment, and they set course for Alcanti.

The trip, though rather long seemed almost ephemeral for the two Dominatus. They were bound together by a biological attraction hardcoded into their genes that in a myriad of ways each expressed their love for the other. When they arrived in orbit over ALcanti they contacted space traffic control. The TNSS Dominax sailed past. ALthough smaller than the Kraken the persona lwarship of the imperium's lord-admiral was still a keen sight to behold.

After being permitted to land they arrived at Minos'Drakon's largest and busiest spaceport and were greeted by an armed escort as they disembarked. Medusa had her head buried in files on a portable device and was busy revising her argument. As the guards saluted she looekd up from her device and cleared her throat.

Medusa - I am Medusa Heimdall and this is Angrus Mortarius, where should we proceed. Guard - ''The tribunal is being held at the courthouse adjacant to the grand senate. Hmm, we may need more appropriate transport.''

The two of them understood without a word, being aware that they were several times larger than their escorts. The guard they spoke to made hand signals to one of his companions who headed off and arrange transport to fit the two of them. An hour later a large shipping van arrived outside the front of the spaceport and Angrus and Medusa embarked inside. One of the guards made a signal for the driver to head t othe Senate Plaza. Inside Medusa returned to her notes while paying partial attention to the guards.

Guard - ''Apologies that we could not find anything more tasteful. There are not many in Andromeda comparable enough to your sizes to mass-produce anything more suitable.'' Medusa - It is fine, the luxury of transport is not why we came here

They were taken across the city to the senate plaza. Apart from the interior doors, the building and the surrounding plaza itself (a place clearly designed to impress all who visited of the Imperium's majesty) seemed large enough to just-about fit the two dominatus visitors. They entered the courthouse's lobby, the two Dominatus surveying the wide variety of species who were there going about their business. In addition to that, the two Dominatus collectively snarled at the presence of Renus Kantus, sitting at a nearby chair and staring back at them coldly. Acourthouse, a Terratrix named Gwidilia Roquoli and dressed in a silk robe, walked up to them.

Gwidila - ''His Esteemed Majesty awaits in auditorium 12. I will happily take you there. Lord Renus can you join us?'' Medusa - '''Lord' Renus!? And yes.'' Renus - ''This will not end well for you Medusa. And yes, I will happily join you.''

Gwidilia nodded and guided then through the building's large hallways.

Gwidilia - Lord Renus was granted Underlordship about a month ago. Medusa - That will be a thing of the past after this tribunal. Gwidilia - Mistress Alessa Ultanos personally filed the request after Lord Renus displayed expetional dedication for a new provincial leader.

Medusa leaned besideAngrus and spoke harshly in High Demogorgon.

Medusa - [That harlot will perish in the most agonizing way possible, i will make sure of it.] Angrus - [You can focus on the specifics of her suffering later, now you are here merely to serve the Tyranny's interests.]

They all entered Auditorium 12 and Uriel was already sitting with a bureaucrat and Alessa in view of the magistrate's booth. Medusa noticed Alessa and looked at her, not losing her composure but shooting her a look of such murderous intent that it could have killed. She the nturned her attention to Uriel and put on a friendly smile.

Medusa - Uriel, it is a pleasure to meet with you once again, before i read out our case, will there be any formalities?

Alessa took a quick and somewhat disdained glance at Medusa as a guard walked in and called the magistrate in. Through a door at the side a Drallivian walked in and sat in a large chair behind it. As he finished preparing himself, Medusa stood up with everyone else to welcome him.

Guard - Presenting the honourabl magistrate for this tribunal: Magistrate Serevidellum. Medusa - May i begin my case? Magistrate - You may. Medusa - ''What would you do assembly, if your colonies started breaking off in subversive acts and starting terrorism that shook the foundations of your society. Would you not cry out in rage and want revenge against these elements that seek to discredit and destroy you? Would you not try to bring these criminals to justice? Now what would you do if these seperatists immediately, in order to spare themselves from justic, declare themselves protectorates of the Galactic Empire of Cyrannus?''

The audience quietly muttered to themselves and the magistrate let out an audiable cough to bring thier attention back to the tribunal.

Medusa - ''That is what the situation of me now, and the Tyranny in this situation is like Would you not do everything in your power to bring these people to justice for their crimes? It is because of this that we say that because of the law of the Tyranny, because the Pariahs are rebels, that they are invalid for Pax Draconica. That is all.''

Uriel - ''Tell me Medusa, how are these 'Pariahs' terrorists, in your scenario? What have they done exactly to feel desered of the Tyranny's wrath.'' Medusa - ''They have taken away from the infrastructure of our nation and compromised our security as well as creating an exodus of some Dominatus, hurting our society and economy. The RIA must know that Renus Katnus had work in military intelligence inside the Tyranny and that he poses a giant security risk especially given his disposition towards us.'' Alessa - Isn't that what emigration normally does to a nation? Medusa - That may be a good point Alessa, except for the fact that under the laws of our nation, and our tradition, emigration must meet a certain set of criteria. Magistrate - ''Renus. Do you have anything to say in your defence?''

Renus stood up with a solemn expression on his face as Uriel sat back down.

Renus - ''I acknowledge the fact that everything Medusa said is completely true, i did work in military intelligence and did break the laws of our nation. However, this brings me to the crux of my point.''

Medusa's grin was soon turned upside down by what Renus was about to say.

Renus - The rules would have said that i would not be able to emigrate, that i would not be able to inspire other Drakodominatus to think differnetly, that i would not be able to captain my soul. Magistrate - So in other words, you wanted more freedom for your supporters? Renus - ''Is it not supposed to be the fate of men to be able to have some measure in deciding their fate, in going with common sense instead of dogma. I knew about the Ultima serum's test resullts from my work in military intelligence, do you know how many Drakodominatus died for each Dominatus to live?'' Uriel - Accoring to reports there was a 99% mortality rate, correct? Renus - Your reports are not even close, it is 99.999% Medusa - That's classified information!

Everyone in the room gasped in horror at the figureRenus gave out. In any situation the value of the figure would be teated as a tiny step above complete eradication.

Renus - ''I saw the truth, and sometimes the truth hurts, all i wanted was to save my people from genocide. Why else would the population of one of my planets be greater than that of the Tyranny?'' Magistrate - Medusa. Did your government advocate this genocide of its own people?'' Medusa - It was not genocide, it was merely self improvement, millions or billions of years of evolution condensed into one. Uriel - ''You people are monsters! No wonder Renus wanted asylum. Self-improvement or not. Murder is murder.'' Renus - She is hiding something, now first of all Medusa do you remember what was said in Stanbridge back on Demogorgon Prime?

Medusa was shaken by Renus's question however this was, unnoticable to anyone except Angrus.

Medusa - ''Yes Renus - Do you remember what was said in the first modules of ethics? Angrus - Yes, we all remember those first words. Renus - Do you remember the opening speech, at the start of the class, it is the same for all of us. Angrus - The most important excerpt is the "Tyranny will conquer" Renus - Wrong. Magistrate - Please enlighten the rest of the tribunal.

Angrus leaned forward and spoke in High Demogorgon to Renus. Someone fortunate that the universal translators did not decrypt it.

Angrus - [If you quote the sayings of Vracht Pestos at the end, you will not live.''] Renus - [''My death means nothing.] Uriel - We are waiting.

Renus stood up as the two DOminatus gave him murderous glares. he did not care what they would do, eve nhere where the Imperium was a solid shield in his favour. He cleared his throat and took a deep breath ready to recite the lecture given to all newborn Dominatus.

Renus - "Violence has solved more issues than anything else in history. Every moral system does not work, the only thing that works is Might makes Right So Long as the Mighty can Enforce it. Science, Money, and Culture are all a means to an end to subjugate other species. The strong do as they want and the weak will merely follow suit, freedom does not suit them as they cannot enforce their will. The mighty do as their hearts desire, the meek merely exist to serve. Through your years at this institution, even though you are of a very tender age, you will be taught everything from quantum mechanics to dimensional mathematics and how to kill soembody 1000 different ways"

The room was silent with shock before the magistrate regained his composure to speak.

Magistrate - ''Medusa.... can you confirm these words?''

Medusa - ''The words are true, but they are utterly taken out of context. The words only seek to motivate the determination and work ethic of our children, Is that not what every educational institution does, do not listen to him pluck everything out of context into his peverted words.'' Alessa - By teaching them to see the 'strong' as better than everyone else?'' Medusa - An individual superirotiy complex is conducive to a better learning enviroment.'' Renus - Then perhaps you forgot the last part, the closing speech.'' Uriel - We Draconis may condone teaching our young how to fight because that is in our nature as hunters. But to teach that the strong can do as they please over the weak is simply barbaric.'' Renus - "And remember, that the Drakodominatus", though now this is probably written as Dominatus, "are the most physically and mentally superior race in the universe, and that it is ours. Remember that every friend you make who is not part of the Tyranny is tommorow's enemy. Only keep them as they are useful and until they are a dried and dessicated corpse then take everything they have for the Tyranny and rewrite history!" That is the end of the speech, what lack of context does that have?'' Uriel - Your honour, please tell me you have heard enough. Medusa - You are nothing but a traitor and a coward Renus, you are a shrivelled husk of what you once used to be, you are a stain on the legacy of the Tyranny. Renus - The Tyranny is nothing but a stain on me and the universe.

The magistrate sat silent as Meduca was once again furious.

Magistrate - ''On the basis of law, these Drakodominatus are still rebels for turning against the values of their government. However, while it is not the Imperium's place to intervene. I find a clear and logical reason that these rebels simply want an improved quality of life. Because of the conditions of the Tyranny, the right of asylum shall be deemed acceptable within reason for this situation.''

Meduca was fuming and stood up once again. She was determined to win back the high ground.

Medusa - Now Renus, refute the following contention, the standard of life in the Tyranny amongst Drakodominatus and Dominatus is very high. Renus - ''I cannot refute the fact that most of us had palaces each to ourselves. I cannot refute that each of us had slaves to carry out our whims. I cannot say that i did not have every physcial good i wanted. I can say this though; If the standard of life means death for 99.999% of the population, how can i guarantee my survival and that of those i love? Maybe i had a palace, but if i did not have the right to life, do i truly have anything?'' Alessa - Renus, what about the treatment of offspring within education centres?

The Cost of Good Education
Medusa's face dropped - she knew exactly what Renus would tell the entire tribunal.

Renus - ''I cannot refute that the Drakodominatus have had steadily increasing IQ over the years. however, when the bottom 10% of the graduating class are killed for simply being the bottom 10%, is there any progess at all.'' Uriel - ''You told me that education was important and kept to a very high standard. How true were you?'' Medusa - ''How did i lie when education was kept to a very high standard. Our curriculum is incredibly rigorous acadmically and physically. If anything, Renus validates my point.'' Uriel - ''It appears you forgot to mention that that did not factor in the students who die. However, I am told Zazane - a valued member of the Commonwealth - are prone to being killed by other students for the sake of growing up strong. Alessa - But Father, those Zazane children are not killed by their own government! Angrus - ''Enough of this, we take pride in the fact that our education system is like this, it is through this that we prove our worth in the universe. We merely keep the conditions of survival of the fittest so less die in the real world and more are succesffull If anything, what we have done is completely and utterly philantropic. My beloved didn't tell you about the bottom 10% because she assumed that you would know one way or another that there is a way of increasing test scores.'' Magistrate - ''Renus. Do you agree with all of the Tyranny's philosophies on education?'' Renus - If the point is merely to create machines that kill and make technology to kill, then yes, it is the most successful thing in the universe. Renus - ''let me tell you a story of a time when i was three before i say my point though. May i begin? Magistrate - If you believe it will help your case, proceed. Renus - ''When i was three, do you know how we spent the end of combat training every day? We would be strapped down to chairs and be progressively shocked to induce torture until we could go to the maximum setting possible without even muttering a word. If one kept screaming or bawling, they would have their chairs give a lethal voltage, and this would kill them.'' Uriel - What macabre treatment is this!? Magistrate - ''Uriel. Dominatus culture is not in question here.'' Renus - ''In addition to this, combat training was done LIVE! , we practiced martial arts and swordsmanship on slaves who were fighting for their lives. So back to my point; perhaps we did get better through the years, but if the purpose of school is to produce people who can contribute to the Gigaquadrant in a way other than killing and making things to kill, the Tyranny education system is a FAILURE.'' Magistrate - ''From this information. Renus and his people have acceptable reason to leave the Drakodominatus Tyranny.

At this declaration, Medusa snapped. She could no longer hide it and sat in her chair with her lips rippling in a snarl. Her eyes har narroed and shot a murderous glare towards Renus as Nagron, wanting to calm his beloved down, spoke to her quietly.

Angrus - [If these people can't accept this, they are not worth your time.] Alessa - ''Your honour these people requested asylum because they knew the tyranny would 'fix a mistake' through summary execution. Lady Heimdall personally led the warfleet and I was there when she personally threatened Renus with death.'' Medusa - This is the way revolt is dealt with, they are to us as house Khavis was to you. Uriel - ''Objection! I see no evidence so far these rebels of yours planned regicide, multiple assasinations or outright sabotage of loyalist infrastructure with the intent of re-conquering your homespace. In fact, your own people remind me more of House Khaxvis than the rebels!'' Medusa - Did House Khavis not start with secession, much line Renus? Uriel - ''House Khaxvis usurped the throne millenia ago from MY family. With the end of the Second House War they retreated into hiding, we thought them dead.'' Medusa - How do you not know that Renus would have not done the same.

Medusa's face twisted into a diabolical smile. Renus was a praised man i nthe Imperium but his history was largely unknown to the powers he served.

Medusa - Do you know what the history of Renus family was?

Alessa looked to Renus, as though wondering how true Medusa was being.

Medusa - ''We both know what your grandfather did during the war of unification. Use the RIA, test me for a lie, Renus, your family was part of military research in the losing side of the Unification Wars, correct?''

Renus sat stiffly, visibly shocked she knew this.

Renus - How do you know? Medusa - When we deployed the first suits of powered armor, such as with Master Sergant Mortrig, you do remember what you did when we were about to take over the capital of your side? Renus - ''That was a ... mistake, the sins of my grandfather.'' Medusa - What you did was to make our species almost sterile Renus, our birth rates plummeted after your grandfather introduced the last ditch weapon that made it so most of our eggs die in childbirth. Uriel - If Renus truly regrets the mistakes of his family's past then he is already diferent from House Khaxvis. Medusa - If he will not pay for his family's past because you defend his genocide on countless trillions of unborn Drakodominatus, then i see no use in continuing this conversation.

Uriel lowered his head and rested his arms on the table.

Magistrate - ''It appears both sides have been in the wrong. So I will ask a simpel question to each of you. Medusa: Do you regret the death toll when your government decided to release the Ultima serum?'' Medusa - I wish that the serum was more efficient so that less lives would have been wasted, so yes. Magistrate - ''Renus. Do you live with yourself with what happened to cause trillions of stllborn drakodominatus?'' Renus - ''It was a move made by my family to help a desperate side win a war, however in retrospect it is horrible, so yes Magistrate - ''After careful examination. I believe that Renus is still in the right to admit asylum on the grounds that he no longer wants to associate himself with the Tyranny.'' Medusa - ''Very well. Know this Renus, your family will always be remembered as those who betrayed the Tyranny when it's loyalty was needed the most.'' Uriel - Renus and all those who inhabit the region of space under his command will remain a provicne of the Imperium.

Medusa and Angron stood up. With the tribunal over everyone filed out, with Medusa cursing in High Demogorgon. She remained in a foul mood as she returned to Invictus. She was sure she would be successful, she was certain that she could win with the law on her side. She played over the tribunal in hear head again and again, wondering waht went wrong.

More than anyone however she was furious with Alessa, who had coerced Renus to expose the darkest truth behind the Dominatus education system and it was her that Medusa cursed over the most. She swore repeatedly that one day Alessa would pay for interfering with every step of dealing with Renus and his people. In her attempts to make Alessa her puppet she had gained quite possibly an arch-nemesis. Worse still was that Alessa was nothing in Medusa's eyes - unlike Medusa she was not a warrior or a killer, she had never manipulated anyone with sinister intent. By all rights and values Alessa was a pathetic girl who's only shield was her influential father. Were she anything other than a princess, Medusa could have gotten rid of her without a thought, and this is what infuriated her the most.

Eyes Towards the Core
15th Feburary 2791

Medusa was still somewhat infuriated over the Tyranny's public humiliation. As she sat in the command centre in Andromeda a Tyranny spy entered with a waming smile on her face. She looked at her, sat up and smiled. Desperately hoping for good news.

Medusa - Report! Spy - Lady Heimdall, it appears the AGC has been building a megastructure around the core of Andromeda, this will give them incredible energy and production, things the Tyranny will be denied, and we must take it over. Medusa - Hmph, thank you, dismissed.

As the spy left, Medusa turned to Angrus.

Medusa - It would be stupid to declare war on the AGC as of now, we must do this in a much more covert way. Angrus - Perhaps, if only people took it over who were enemies of the AGC and we claimed it as part of a security action. Medusa - There are many people who dissent to the reign of the AGC among the Draconis, Radeon and Zazane, they would make fitting people to frame for this. Medusa - It is time to contact them, to bring this monstrous birth to light...

10th March 2791

The Tyranny's insurgents were soon scattered across the commonwealth to search for potential allies. On the Imperial colony of Meridon II one spy noticed a rather suspicious-looking Khaxvis Draconis in the city's commercial marketplace. What intrigued the spy was that when approached by domestic security officers, the Khaxvis flashed a card and they smiled before leaving him to his business. Following closely behind, the spy noticed that the Draconis visited an apartment block on the city outskirts. He stood at the door and whispered the phrase Regante Khaxvis to a wall panel and the heavy door opened for him.

Feeling he was onto something, the spy shapeshifted into a Khaxvis Draconis and walked towards the door. When the panel appeared he muttered the same words and the doro opened for him. he stepped inside to a main room joined by other Khaxvis who looked at him curiously. Not fulyl reocgnising him some of them slowly reached for weapons but the spy cleared hsi throat.

Spy - ''Brothers, please. I come with an idea to aid the Resurgence.'' Khaxvis - Alright, speak. Spy - ''As you know, the AGC's key to power is the core of andromeda. If you were to take it over, you would have supremacy over Andromeda.'' Khaxvis - How exactly are we supposed to do that? Spy - We know the exact location of the core and we have already arranged a way for you to bypass most defenses for a short period of time, enough for you to get onto the central station.

One Khaxvis walked up to him and gave the spy a stern look.

Khaxvis - Oh yeah, how? Spy - ''We have arranged for a special route to be struck by a computer virus that will work for 5 minutes. In that space you are to infilitrate and take over the station, defenses in the area will be disabled as well. Your only opposition will be the Guardians of Light.'' Khaxvis - Yeah, you realise if we get caught we're all dead right? Spy - ''You are dead if you do not do anything either, if this does not happen, you will be eroded from history. The only way is our way.''

The Khaxvis in the hideout looked at each other with uncertainty. They were not sure what to think of this news or whether or not it was good or bad. One of them gained the courage to step up and speak to the group to convince them.

Khaxvis - If we take over the forges, we could amass a fleet in days. Spy - Exactly, then the andromedan Commonwealth shall fall to you. Khavis - There is one other issue. Spy - Yes? Khaxvis - As soon as we take over the station, what's stopping the whole commonwealth descending on us? Spy - ''We will merely take a dignitary visiting there hostage along with all science staff. This will stop anyone from taking over the station without risking the hostages.'' Khaxvis - ''I like it. Then we use any Divinarium hostages to block the portals.'' Spy - ''Exactly. Amass your fleets at this staging point, the day will come where you shall rule Andromeda. Now, I have errands to run in the city.''

He quietly left the Khaxvis to talk amongst themselves as he left the apartment block. When he was in a secluded-enough location deep within a nearby alleyway he opened up a communicator to an unknown contact. However he was completely unaware that a Radeon citizen was keeping a curious eye on him as he made the call. The Radeon kept to the shadows himself and as the spy finished his communication the strange Radeon disappeared into a crowd.

Dangerous Approach
20th March 2791

Deep Core was working normally that day, what made the day special was the visit from Crown-Prince Maxios Telvenum of the Draconid Imperium's Drallivian Province. Joined by a retinue of four veteren guardians he was touring the control facility, he was in awe of the advanced technologies that made up the station as he was guided by the station manager. He was taken to the central control room, an enormous room filled with large computer banks using Divinarium-engineered AI technology. There were a few staff on call but the facility was largely automated.

Maxios - ''I must say commander I am impressed. Such a marvel of engineering the Commonwealth has here.'' Commander - Do you have anything like this back home? Maxios - ''To be honest... I'm still getting used to all of this modern technology. The Republics have only been part of the Imperium for two decades but our benefactors have capabilities millennia beyond what we could achieve. You know, the day I learned that a typical pocket assistant used by an average imperial citizen held more computing power than one of the Republic's AIs - one used for colonial defence no less - my jaw must have hit the floor. And now... hm, now I get to see these.'' Commander - So this is all magic to you?

Maxios chuckled softly.

Maxios - '''magic' is a catch-all for what cannot be understood. I don't consider it magic, but it still confounds me as to how it is possible.'' Commander - let's just say that with the right techniques, there are better ways to make a computer than nanoprocessors. Maxios - Indeed.''

Outside the perimeter sensors of the Deep Core installation, a mixed fleet of military and retrofitted civillian ships waited for the corect signal. They had been gatherign ready to make the audacious push, the spy - nwo an advisor to the fleet - stood on deck and cleared his throat to make a quick announcement.

Spy - This is the day, death or glory awaits you, the attack starts in 10 minutes. Khaxvis - These ships are fitted with tactical cloaking fields, they should give us a chance at sneaking past the patrols. Spy - ''Very well, we begin now. Give the signal then the defneses will be deactivated and your 5 minute countdown starts.'' Khaxvis - Begin the infiltration, and pray to Volkarus' spirit we can pull this off. Spy - Defenses on Deep Core will sense you, start virus now? Khaxvis - Do it. Assault teams prepare to beam into the control room.''

The ships activaded their cloaking fields and manged to sneak in past all the patrols going by with their forcefields, until they were in sight of the control station for Project deep Core itself. Under the admiral's authority the spy transmitted the virus through a back door in Deep Core's digital nework. The turrets both inside and outside the control station activated and began to fire on Commonwealth forces. Amidst the chaos the Khaxvis fire team beamed into the control room and after firing on the security personnel the soldiers aimed their weapons at the crew.

Khaxvis Soldier - Everyone on the floor now or we begin shooting at personnel who aren't armed!

Taken by surprise the AGC forces opened fire and managed to down a few Khaxvis soldiers. Some of the control room staff revealed sidearms and manged to take down a couple more witha few snap-shots. The control room however had it's own defences that had been intentinally isolated from the wider mainframe and using ion cannons they disabled the Khaxvis weaponry. The Khaxvis looekd at their now-useless weapons and threw them on the floor.

Khaxvis - ...Anyone got any ideas? AGC soldier - ''Khaxvis. Cooperate and we will not kill you where you stand.'' Khaxvis - Not before we slit your throats!

The assault team drew various melee weapons but the Guardians responded by unsheating weapons that were clearly superior, bearing designs from the Divinarium. What was, for a moment, confidence changed to ucnertaintly within the ranks of the assault team. Due to features in the weapons the ion cannons did not disable the clearly more advanced weaponry.

Guardian - Will you cooperate?

Hedonism Unleashed
The spy had returned to his own chamber contacted an awaiting Tyranny assault ship. He was frustrated that the insurgents had failed and desire initiative.

Spy - ''We shouldn't have trusted these losers. Command, requesting to deploy a Sons of hedon task force to fix the problem these idiots caused.''

Hedon and 100 of his "Sons", whos' scales were chemically tinted to resemble the bright red of House Khaxvis stood ready in their telporters. The 5.8 meter tall draconis and his 4.72 meter tall "sons" recieved orders and Hedon himself smiled with anticipation.

Hedon - Let's dance!

At that, the Draconis beamed themselves behind the AGC troops in the control room, taking them by surprise and killing them with hand to hand combat.

Guardian - House Khaxvis were fools to think they-- What the!

The Sons then turned their sonic weaponry on the other Guardians of Light. The pusles and vibrations battered their flesh and armoour, cusing intense pain. In panic tthe Guardians fired back, one of them ran for a terminal, all the while the Khaxvis raiders stood bewildered.

Khavis - What have our kin been working on?

As he made the message, the Gurdian at the terminal screamed in agony as his body was ripped apart by one of the Sons' sonic cannons.

Gurdian - ''Alert! d-deep c-core.... compr--''

With the last of the Guardians dead, the overseers then turned some of their attention to the khavis troops. A devilish look in their eyes as they gazed down at the Khaxvis soldiers now backing up against each other.

Hedon - Leave no witnesses, we don't exist. Khaxvis - Wh-what--

At that, they killed the defenseless Khavis. One of them barely survived as he collapsed to Hedon's feet. He looked up in horror

Khaxvis - ''Wh.... why do this.. wh-wh-wh...who are you?'' Hedon - ''Ignorance is .... bliss.''

Hedon stomped onto the Khavis face which obliterated the skull. Soon enough they had complete control of the station and had placed the hostages where they needed to be. By the yiem they were done the turrets returned to normal status and a new Guardian fleet had arrived. Hedon sent a brief message to medusa, informing her that 'phase 1' was complete. As he did so the admiral of the new Guardian fleet attempted to open communication. hedon opened the channel and on the screen was a Ryketian who winced at the sight of the figure on the other end. But soon he regaiend his composure.

Vitorek - This is Admiral Orel'Vitorek of the 79th Guardin fleet. You are in space reserved for forces loyal to the Light. Hedon - I believe that the Guardians of Light are rather happy having us here.

Hedon panned the moniter to show several surviving Guardians of Light being tortured by Sons

Vitorek - Who are you anyway? Hedon - I am a Khavis, isn't that obvious? Vitorek - ''A loyalist to Volkarus no doubt. I was not informed your kind would be visiting.''

As they talked, Hedon ran a mind upload of all the scientists as well as scanning all the infromation he could find.

Hedon - I am a Draconis, a welcome visitor am i not? Vitorak - Explain why the station's automated defences turned on our own ships. Hedon - Perhaps they were just not up to the task, not good enough.

Within moments he was already in the central mainframe of the computer and had interrogated a man for instructions on how to manipulate it, his torture methods working wonders.

Hedon - What are you going to do now?'' Vitorek - You can come like a civil being or we will reclaim the station by force if we must. Hedon - Try it. Vitorek - *chuckes* ''Are you serious? This fleet alone carries enough soldiers to down a legion.''

At that, Hedon took up a Draconis Guardian in his hands and ripped him apart like a broken doll.

Hedon - Bring it Vitorek - ''You... no wonder the Imperium spits on your kind.''

Hedon then blocked the screen with the entrails of the same Draconis, which prompted Vitorek to send over a task force. he did not expect for Hedon to change the station's shielding fewquency so quickly and only a task-force was sent over. Hedon knew that he could use the mainframe to control the turrets again but he refrained from doing it, for him it would remove the fun so he merely waited in the control room for the Guardians of light, playing with the the prisoners like putty.

Several Guardians were telported aboard. Draconis, Zazane, Radeons, all plated in white armour and equipped with some of the most advanced weapons and equipment in Andromeda. They were immediately attacked by the Sons, who ripped into them like a force of nature. The guardians put up a strong fight using fusion and Shidium-enhanced weaponry to tear into the Sons. Hedon himself led the battle in a dance of death through the Guardians of Light and sonic weaponry ripped through even the advanced armor of the guardians. Far from being foused, Hedon was outright enjoying himself. CHuckling al lthe while as his weapon danced between his targets in an elegant flurry of blood, laughter and steel. He hit in places many thought were untouchable. One Draconis officer drew a power sword and charged at Hedon.

Hedon did not even use his weapon and blocked the thrusst of the officer in a move that resembled a dance. The officer was stunned and had a look of disgust on his face, wondering how Hedon managed to do it.

Hedon - Bad execution, quite sloppy Draconis. Officer - ''You... I was top in my Kali'Krusi class I'll have you know!''

At that, Hedon almost jokingly used his talons to slice through an adjacent Draconis, slashing his body in two.

Hedon - There is art in war no, brutality is beautiful.

The officer growled and swung his blade to briskly slash at Hedon's legs, who jumped and landed on the flat side of the blade. he weight of the enhanced Draconis was enough to crush it

Hedon - It is a shame you will never know these arts.

The officer staggared back as the blade shattered. Looking at the hilt he tossed it aside.

Hedon - Now I must end this play now, my superiors demand it.

Hedon looked at the horror stricken face of the officer as he grasped him tightly in a chokehold with one hand, he then extended a talon on one of his fingers and without a sound scraped off the face of the officer from his skull.

Hedon - ''Something to ... add to my collection''

The sight of their officer being killed in such a sick way demoralized the remaining Guardian of Light, who were killed by the surviving Sons in ways even more horrible than before. Surprisingly, the way in which remains were spread across the room resembled a beautiful mosaic, the intertwine corpses making ... art. Al lthw while, at the back of the control room Maxios hid behind one of the computer banks, panting with fear. he quietly backed away in an attempt to hide from the gaze of any surviving Sons. he quietly pulled out a communicator and dialled an adress however Hedon heard the sounds of his fear, an emotion he loved dearly and smiled.

Hedon - Such a delicate fragrance is it not?

This intimidated Maxios who looked around for a way to escape the carnage. He spotted a vent near to him and distreetly ran for it. Hedon meanwhile moved twoard's Maxios' location in a rather delicate way, not stepping on any of the corpses as the latter managed to get into a vent and crawled until he found himself directly above the cotnrol room. As the communicator was read he quietly whispered into it.

Maxios- ''Yes hello. This is Crown Prince Telvenum, I--''

he was interrupted when, Hedon gave up acting and pulled the shaft down, with Maxios inside it. Hedon almost killed Telvenum, with his foot merely inches above the vent shaft, Medusa interfered and ordered Hedon to not hill Maxios and ordered him to spare the Drallivian. Without a word he stopped and hit Maxios to knock him out. by then some of the Sons had figured out how to manipulate the defenses without computer virii, and the defneses thought they were authorized. At that, the defenses started firing at Vitorek's fllet and he had no choice but to fall back.

Admiral - ''Damn them. Fall back and secure the perim--''

At that moment a shot from one of Deep Core's space-bound cannons impacted the bridge. Hedon however merely awaited phase 2, many of his Sons had died, but he knew Medusa, his mistress would be proud of his success and foward his specific program. As Vitorek gathered his composure Hedon opened the channel.

Hedon - Anybody who is in range of our guns will be attacked, this station is ours, retreat or face our cannons. Vitorek - ''Urgh, you will all pay for this! Don't think that Deep Core's loss will go unnoticed by the Light. We will return and you can be sure we will come in force.'' Hedon - I'll be waiting. Vitorek - ''Confident, I like that. I hear your master Volkarus was the same before the guns of imperial cruisers blew him and his wretched fleet to oblivion.''

Hedon merely laughed at this and shoved the face of the defaced Guardian officer in the screen.

Vitorek - ''Urgh. Fall back and set course for the nearest drydock. I will contact the Light about this.''

The Gurdian fleet warped out of the region and while most of it regrouped at outposts and patrol routes out of range of Deep Core's weapons systems, Orel'Vitorek's ship, the Argent Blade had entered a wormhole that lead to the Imperium's core worlds. After emerging from the other side and under the escort of a dozen warships, it headed directly for Alcanti.

The Dire News Arrives
21st March 2791

The Andromedan Light had gathered to discuss the events of the day. After a request from the Solonese Union was discussed, Orel'Vitorek of the GUradians of Light, who had just returned from the Deep Core installation was called ot the floor. When he walked into view his left arm was bound in a thin silver cast and his neck bore the mark of an injury. A silver lining covered the burn marks on the neck. As he approached Tyraz stoodup and looked at him curiously.

Tyraz - What happened to you, Commander? Orel - My lords...Deep Core has been overrun.

The hall became deathly silent. Tyraz stood with black energies erupting from his scales. His teeth bared as he growled during his response, clearly very angry and Orel stepped back with a feeling of intimidation. Uriel leaned forward and frowned, everyone in the room was anxious to know the news.

Tyraz - By what?! Orel - ''H-house K-k-khaxvis, Grandmaster. Somehow they by-passed our automated defences and by the time reinforcements arrived the defences had been overtaken.'' Tyraz - ''Khaxvis...Khaxvis?! Treacherous scum! I thought they were all dead!'' Orel - Somehow they managed to gather a small task-force. Uriel - Are there any survivors? Orel - Anyone on the control station was either killed for being a Guardian or taken prisoner, including Crown-Prince Telvenum, my lord. Tyraz - ''Shyrak, dammit...Andromeda's strongest military defeated by a group of supposedly dead Draconis traitors! This is an embarassment! And Deep Core as well! This is humiliating!'' Orel - ''My men did their best but the house... they had something that slaughtered the assault force.''

Ma'fest slowly raised his head and looked at the commander. He was deeply unimpressed.

Ma'fest - And how exactly did a group of Draconis terrorists destroy an entire AGC armada? Tyraz - ''What did they have, Commander? You had better give me a good excuse or I shall demote you to mere private!'' Orel - ''I was in contact with their leader grandmaster! I saved the recording and I shall play it now.''

Orel stepped aside and several screens lowered from the centre of the ceiling. They played a recording showing Hedon with red-tinted scales as he tore in half a Draconis guardian quite literally half his size.

Tyraz - What in Andromeda...That cannot be Volkarus...

The recording then panned over to a group of such Draconis torturing various Guardians, all of them bigger even the largest Gurardian. Everyone was stunned at the creatures they had wotnessed and suddenly Tyraz's rage had gone.

Ma'fest - By the blood of Al'khear, what are these perversions of nature?! Tyraz - ''They do indeed look like Khaxvis, but...something is not right. Why did I not see these Khaxvis in their main fleet before its destruction...?'' Orel - ''We had to fall abck as they reprogrammed Deep Core's automated defences to fire on our ships. The station is now under their complete control.''

Tyraz folded his arms and sighed heavily, he looked at Orel with an angry eye, who went pale under his gaze. Sitting in conemplation for long enough, Uriel sat up.

Uriel - You said Crown-Prince Telvenum was aboard, please tell me he is alright!'' Orel - I-I do not know... Lord Uriel. He sent a communication but he was interrupted after what sounded like a loud clatter.'' Tyraz - I shall not accept this failure. I'm taking a task force with me to Deep Core. Commander Orel, I am demoting you to sergeant until you can learn to do something right.'' Orel - I'm sorry for failing the Comonwealth Grandmaster.'' Tyraz - Apologies mean nothing now. There are Khaxvis in Deep Core because of your failure.'' Ma'fest - If our counterattack will not succeed, the most powerful energy source in WHOLE galaxy will fall to the rebel scum! Do you understand that, sergant?!'' Orel - C-completely, my lord.'' Tyraz - Then you must understand completely WHY I am demoting you. From now on, I am taking full command of this operation.'' Uriel - Tyraz I should go with you. Maxios is a friend of mine and the last thing I want is for him to became a prisoner of House Khaxvis.''

Hidden from the Light's bug-detection systems, A Tyranny tepershoire was listening nearby and sent a constant stream of information to Hedon back at Deep Core. When they learned that the commonwealth planned to dispatch a fleet, word was sent for the Hounds of Kuzushimasu to be deployed on the station via secret portals. Gunning arrangements were also deployed.

Ma'fest - ''I will send whatever help I can, lord Uriel. You can count on me.'' Tyraz - Join if you must, Paragon, but I advise against it. Uriel - I have both you and Captain Davius on my side, I know I will be fine. Tyraz - 'If you insist. But know this, Paragon; I shall hold myself responsible if I lose you.'' Uriel - As you wish.

Orel left the room quietly followed by everyone else as the meeting was adjourned. Uriel and Tyraz promptly headed up to the orbiting fleet and rapidly gathered a task force together. Within hours a fleet was prepared and set course for Deep Core using a Divinarium portal.

Desperate Liberation
On the station Hedon waited patiently. The Andromedan fleet was on it's way to retake the station. He waited, knowing phase 2 would swing into action soon. In his palm he held a large amulet that had once been worn by Telvenum. Hedon was curious and while the Drallivian was unconscious he had torn the gem from his chest. The large gemstone, the size of a Drallivian's fist, glistened in the light. Hedon was mesmarised by it; when he looked closely he noticed etchings in the gem's surface, intricate vine patterns that coiled over each face indicated an intricacy that few organic hands could achieve. While on Telvenum's body the gem occupied a large part of his upper torso, Hedon was so large the gem fit in the palm of his hand.

His attention darted away when an Overseer walked up to him and coughed to grab his attemtion.

Overseer - ''Father, the Commonwealth should be arriving within the hour. The Highlords Uriel and Tyraz are with them.'' Hedon - The plan expected this, guard and prophet reinforcements are on the way. Bombs are planted as well and the Dominatus are coming. We also know exactly where they are exiting drive and exactly when.'' Overseer - ''Yes father. We will eagerly await their arrival.'' Hedon - They will approach using stealth ships at these coordinates according to our spies, blast them.

Meanwhile on the task force's flagship uriel and Tyraz were sitting in a common room when Ma'Fest's hologram appeared in the room.

Tyraz - What do you want, Ma'fest? Ma'fest - ''Fellow highlords, I bring bad news. My agents discovered that our entire discussion in the Light has been observed from the beginning, and that the enemy we are facing-''

As Ma'fest spoke, the AGC ships were blasted by an unknown force. Everyone was thrown off their feet by the impact. Tyraz hit the floor with an audiable smash. As he struggled to get back to his feet he heard one of the captains relaying a message. Davius was the first to stand up and walked over to help Uriel back to his feet by firmly grasping his arm.

Ma'fest - ...is something more than just mere Draconis terrorists! Tyraz - Shyrak dammit, give me a goddamn sitrep! Captain Nalara - ''This is captain Nalara Lenaro, Guardians of Light! According to the scans, the weapons attacking us do not belong to any Andromedan faction, and in fact, do not belong to any of our databases!'' Uriel - You mean these guns are not the ones we set up? Tyraz - ''I knew these weren't Khaxvis! Disorganize, become unpredictable, give those guns something hard to shoot at.''

Hedon noticed the fleet break up into disorganised patterns. However he had a plan; while linked up to Deep Core's mainframe he used algorithms taught to him by the Dominatus to spot movement patterns even in the chaotic nature of the AGC's approach. He provided firing solutions to the guns alongside Dominatus military intelligence, he and his sons lauhed confidently as the fleet was hammered by the gunfire.

Captain - ''Make as many changes as you can to our course. Find a path that won't get us targeted!''

The number of couse changes increased and even Hedon realised that he could not work out new firing solutions fast enough, as a result shots began to miss more and more. However he recieved an encoded message the Dominatus were due aboard the station within a few minutes.

Back on the bridge of the flagship, Tyraz stood up and pulled out his Firesword.

Uriel - Tyraz we have to get aboard that station. Tyraz - Drive me closer, I want to strike them with my Firesword! Captain - ''Grandmaster you're the only one who can get through. The last time the Guardians tried teleporting over we only managed to get a small strike team through the shields.'' Tyraz - Leave this to me!

Tyraz's bodd wuickly turned to vapour along with Uriel, Davius and an elite squad of Guardians. On board his ship, Nalara felt his ship shaking from pure energy. In horror, he looked to see the walls of his starship falling apart. In a second, the Guardian's life ended in a flash of light - mercifully. Countless more of his comrades died in much more gory way as the ship was torn to pieces with strange energies.

Hedon - My mistress will be happy at the end of this, for our lady.

Hedon and his Sons stood at the ready, prepared to repel any invasion and hold them off for the next few minutes. Tyraz, uriel, Davius and a group of elite soldiers soon found themselves on board the station, armed and ready to kill. The automated turrets inside the station sprung up around them, firing a flurry of projectiles at them. While Tyraz swung his Firesword to destroy the projectiles and soem of the guns, shots aimed at Uriel bounced off his and davius' personal shields. Some commonwealth soldiers were not so fortunate and were cut down by the gunfire.

Davius - ''Using our own guns against us. Cowardice.''

Hedon's smile dropped when he saw that Uriel was unafffected. Deep inside the station, the overseers Nosferatu, Akemainyu and Dra'erath patiently waited for the word.

Hedon - Every second son, modify frequency and wavelength of the weapons to the wavelength of that shield. Akemainyu - The guardians shall taste my sword. Dra'erath - They will know the true power of gods. Hedon - We only have to hold for 10 more minutes till they come in, steady men!

Tyraz - ''Something isn't right. Something tells me we're in for a surprise.'' Radeon Soldier - ''Who are we fighting? I don't understand...'' Uriel - Some strange Draconis-like creatures, peversions of those loyal to the Light.

One of the Guardians, a young female Radeon, visibly shivered as they cautiously made their way down the empty hallways.

Hedon - ''All forces, wait for them to enter the main plaza of the station, then phase in! Do not engage Tyraz, he is merely going to waste time.'' Tyraz - ''Guradians, prepare yourselves outside the entrance of the main plaza. Reload your guns and have them primed.''

After waiting at the door patiently, the strike team charged in only to find, with surprise, the central plaza was empty. The Plaza, it was a concentric circle that went lower and lower in altitude as it reached the center, culminating in a small circle at the bottom. Davius primed his power axe and cautiously made his way towards the middle while the Radeon girl, looking at the circles, gulped. Fear filled her heart. The Sons of Hedon waited until all of them were at the middle of the plaza, until the door they entered in closed. At the same time, four other doors opened and Sons entered the room laughing and ear-piercing noise blaring from their sonic cannons at the AGC forces.

Tyraz materialized in front of a group of Sons and sent a sharp, clawed hand slashing across their faces.

Tyraz - Give me all you have, Khaaaaxviiiis!

The son he had hit soon hit the floor motionless However the sons remembered their orders and didn't bother firing at Tyraz. The sons near Tyraz merely spread out and continued visitng hell on the AGC forces in the middle. Tyraz raised an eyebrow and was confused as to why they didn't fire on him, but he continued his assault no less. At that, the prophets of Dra'erath also phased in, bombarding the AGC forces with hellfire

Tyraz - Don't you ignore meee!

3.76 meter tall Radeon following the 4.7 meter tall Dra'erath entered the room, pouring in more long range fire The baleful lightning and hellfire helped add to the almost hopeless engagement. After recovering from the exploding mines, Davius stood up and with a fierce, vocoder-enhanced roar he swung his axe and cleaved through several targets. Nosferatu's forces entered the fight as he phased in right behind Davius, landing a giant punch that knocked Davius forwards. Teh servos in his armous struggled to keep him balanced and he fell over. The weapons of Nosferatu's forces flayed apart the armor and flesh of the Guardians layer by layer, killing many of them. As Davius stood up Nosferatu towered above Davius and looked down at him with piercing, yet completely pitch black eyes.

Davius - Drakon's arse you're ugly...

The battle was fully joined when Akemainyu and the Eternal Guard entered at the center of the AGC forces, destorying any semblance of order. The Radeon soldier continued to fire at the udark creatures, horrified beyond reason. Nosferatu responded to Davius's comment by grabbing his arm and twisting it round, the sound of breaking bones filling the air alongside a pained roar by the arm's owner. he then threw Davius against a wall. Uriel frantically swung his greatsword at the legs of several Sons. Panic was slowly entering his mind, however the sons he struck went down, however they went down laughing in bliss. The fire continued pouring through the room as the sounds of things that should not be filled the atmosphere

Hedon meanwhile smiled within the control room as he gripped the gemstone.

Hedon - 3...2...1

Phase 2
At that, the Dominatus themselves burst through the doors and "killed" all of the overseers in a well choreographed display that had been practiced many times before. The overseers however had all simply been phased out and replaced with flash clones that were designed to be killed by the Dominatus shock troops. The survivors stared in surprise as the dust settled. Overseer bodies littered the floor and their lader, Anfrus Mortarius himself, approached the Commonwealth survivors.

Tyraz - Who in the name of Umbrux are these people? Uriel - Dominatus, Tyraz. Angrus - I am Angrus Mortarius, Sovereign Executor, and as of today, your savior. Radeon - I don't understand...

The radeon stepped back slowly in fear. Uriel lifted his sword and glared from behind his helmet at Angrus. Unknown to the AGC strike team, the prisoners, Maxios included, had been phased out alongside the overseers.

Uriel - I remember you. Tyraz - ''Saviour my backside! You have no right to call yourself a saviour!'' Angrus - ''Would you not like this event to be broadcast all around the AGC as a symbol of the order you have brought to the galaxy? Especially you, high and mighty Uriel'' Tyraz - ''Save us the attempt to humiliate us? Let me remind you who it was that saved Andromeda, alien!'' Uriel - There is always the possibility that the people of Andromeda do not know of this incident at all. Angrus - You admit that I saved you no, finally you see reason. Tyraz - Hmph, I need no saviour. Angrus - How ironic it is that the commonwealth was almost defeated by it's constitutent races. Uriel - Do you know who these monstrosities were? Angrus - ''How should i know where they came from, i only did this... from the goodness of my heart.'' Uriel - After the way your partner acted the other day I am finding that difficult to believe. Tyraz - I have no idea who you are or where you came from, but you had better know whose ass you are trying to lick, alien. Angrus - Perhaps next time you encounter these aliens i should leave you alone.

Angrus rather patronisingly patted Tyraz on the head. In an instant, Tyraz used his strength and knocked Angrus to the ground with a swift blow of his arm. Black energy leaked from his body as he grew in size and pressed his foot against Angrus's face.

Tyraz - You do not EVER touch me!

Angrus laughed as biomass tendrils began to rise and engulfed Tyraz. uriel scoweld and helped davius back onto his feet who was weakened on the other side of the room.

Angrus - Perhaps you should show respect for the ones who have guaranteed your life.

Angrus managed to move Tyraz off him and the latter growled rather angrily and grabbed his Firesword. As they argued, a group of soldiers entered the room, fresh from searching high and low through the facility for any sign of the hostages.

Tyraz - My life is not of your concern! Angrus - Perhaps you want another enemy for the AGC? Tyraz - I would be prepared to kill you here and now! Angrus - THEN DO IT Uriel - I warn you, he has faced worse. Tyraz - Don't tempt me, you poor excuse for an abortion! Angrus - Now that i have saved your life, perhaps we should take our talks to a more civil location rather than a battlefield. AGC soldier - ''Highlords we've checked the station twice. There is no sign of the crown-prince or the other hostages.'' Tyraz - ''Hmph! You have achieved nothing, Dominatus!'' Uriel - Angrus, since you saved us, what do you want to discuss? Angrus - ''Come, let us discuss it on a different world...Or merely a different place. Follow me to my ship.''

Uriel helped Davius up and carried him with his arm sluung over his shoulders. Uriel looked at Tyraz to see dark energies leaking from his scales. he hadreturned to normal size but he was no-less furious.

Tyraz - ''Be lucky the Paragon is here, alien! Otherwise you would be nothing but ash under my foot!''

Everyone eventually entered the bridge of the massive Kraken Mark 2, which was mostly automated due to the low Dominatus population. Chairs made from shaped diamonds had been placed for everyone to sit on.

Angrus - Now all, please take a seat.

To his surprise, Uriel and Tyraz stood there, Tyraz had folded his arms. Ma'Fest's hologram appeared out of nowhere and he looked about at the Kraken's bridge.

Uriel - How very elegant, but I would rather stand. Angrus - Would you like anything to eat or drink? Uriel - We would both like to know why you want to talk to us. Angrus - It is quite a simple matter. Ma'fest - At last we managed to- What is happening? Angrus - It is quite simple, due to security issues, Project Deep Core is now the Tyranny's.

This prompted negative reactions from the delegates. Uriel narrowed his eyes with disdain while Tyraz threw a punch that shattered one of the chairs. The force of the punch also flipped the table and he stood panting as his eyes glowed red.

Uriel - ...What. Angrus - Do i have to repeat myself? Tyraz - I DARE you to repeat yourself! Angrus - Due to security issues, Project Deep Core is now the Tyranny's. Is there anything wrong with this? Uriel - This is an outrage, what right do you have to take over this facility.

Tyraz's scales begin to blacken and yellow scars appeared on his body, this was an all-too familiar sign to Uriel.

Angrus - We did not take it over from you, we took it from whichever aliens had previously occupied it. Uriel - ''Deep Core belongs to the Commonwealth. The commonwealth secured the site, the commonwealth constructed it.'' Angrus - ''Argue with their dead bodies over the right to take it. The Commonwealth also lost it to the Aliens and they then lost it to us.'' Tyraz - Then I shall have it back! Ma'fest - What?! Angrus - [Have Cruciatus come here] Uriel - ''Check your star-charts. This entire region is a restricted zone of the Andromedan Galactic Commonwealth.'' Angrus - The offenders did not seem to care about that very much, we come simply to police it. Tyraz - And now we're requesting our territory back!

Angrus did not back down from his claims. In the background he had a Thousand Dominatus scientists including 10 omegas on the station, surveying it while setting the production mode to overdrive. The accretion disk's nanomachine sea was gradually eating up the material in an unsustainable way and the many automatic shipyards that orbited the facility were being used to construct entire fleets of Mark-II warships.

The commonwealth's only saving grace was the difficulty the Dominatus had in operating the AIs, who had been programmed to obey the AGC. Even with it being fooled to recognise the Tyranny as its' masters, the AIs questioned the nature of what the Tyranny were doing and, unknown to them, secretly prevented the shipyards from completely consuming the entire disk in the space of a few days.

As Angrus stalled the Highlords, Medusa Heimdall made her way to Epicuriam, the main world of the Sons of Hedon. Mere hours ago they had reported a cuccess of the operation. When Medusa disembarked her ship in front of an elegantly-designed fortress, she was greeted by an army of Hedon and his Sons. All of them kneeled in the presence of their patron mistress and hedon himself kneeled directly before Medusa herself.

Hedon - We are all honoured by your presence, my lady. Medusa - We now have control over the Deep Core installation and are learning how to create it, and are putting it on overdrive to increase ship production. Medusa - This is in no small part because of you, Hedon. Hedon - Yes my lady, thank you very much. Medusa - ''Because you have been the first overseer unit to prove itself on a Gigaquadrantic scale operation, you will be the first to scale up. Your numbers will grow, and soon the Tyranny - not the Andromedan Commonwealth - will be Andromeda's masters!'' Hedon - ''My sons and I will gladly serve by you as we bring the Tyranny's law to that frontier. I feel certain that Andromeda will one day be ours.'' Hedon - Keep up your efforts, Hedon, and it will be.

Both of them smiled at this prospect. Medusa's smile slowly became a bellowing laugh and she was gradually joined by Hedon and in turn the other Sons. heir laughter echoed from the fortress's exterior and created a sound that chilled for anyone within hearing range.

Prisoner of a Non-War
25th March 2791

Maxios Telvenum had remained unconscious for five consecutive days. Whth his head throbbing he pulled himself up and found himself in a strange room. He looked about and winced from the oxygen rush. This caused him to stop and hold his head for a short while and after a few minuts of taking several deep breaths, Telvenum leaned to his side in the hopes of lifting himself from the bed and looked around in apprehension to survey his surroundings.

He called out to see if anyone was in the room but he heard no response. As he called out a large door opened but no-one came through. Maxios looked about and cautiously made his way to the door. He peeared out of it and down both ends of the adjacant corridor to find that the walls were all made in solid gold, and in shapes that twisted and writhed. Maxios felt nervous from this.

Telvenum - ''...Uriel did you refurbish a new wing of the palace? hello?''

Tevenum frisked himself for his communicator before he stepped out of the room to find it was missing. The jewel he wore on his torso was also missing and this frustrated him. With a deep breath, Maxios cautiously stepped out of the room and made his awy down the corridor. His mind could not help but stare at the patterns in the walls but he had to stay vigilant.

After travelling down several rather spacious hallways and entering another large door, he reached a place where he saw the start of the cloning process. he saw an assembly line where Sons of Hedon babies were being produced; What seemed to be draconis babies on steroids hung on racks and were carried about throughout the facility. Telvenum stepped back in horror at what he saw.

Maxios - ''Lifefather's breath... where am I?'' Hedon - You are on the world of Epicuriam.

Maxios gulped and hesitated as he backed into Hedon. he tried desperately not to turn around out of fear.

Hedon - You are a guest, not a prisoner, now follow me to the dining table.

Feeling helpless and hungry from his predicament he cautiously agreed.

Hedon led him to a large dining hall with walls covered in gold. They both sat down while two of the cloned overseers entered the room, bringing rather succulent food with them. Maxios felt small both in the presence of Hedon and his other overseers in the roosm that were clearly built for creatures much larger than himself. Biologically engineered alien dancers, made for beauty, started gyrating in the background while soft, psychidelic music started playing. Telvenum looked at the large plates of food and his scomach growled. he was uanware that he had not eaten in days. He was hesitant, but he could not resist for long and soon found himself shoving some of it into his mouth. It tasted very good, he took a few mroe bites as Hedon smiled.

Hedon - It's good isn't it.

Maxios nodded as he continued eating.

Hedon - The music and the dancers are good too, correct? Telvenum - Strangely...satisfying. Hedon - Now tell me, what do you think the food is made of, what is doing the singing, and who are the dancers? Telvenum - ''Uhh... Krann meat? I don't think I know the dancers.'' Hedon - ''The food is made out of your Guardians of Light, the sining is done by captive Guardians being tortured, and the dancers are female Guardians on psychotrophic drugs. Knowing this, does the food in your mouth taste better?''

Maxios's eyes widened and he dropped a chunk of meat he was holding in his hand.

Telvenum - ''You.. tricked me into eating my own allied soldiers?'' Hedon - ''You wouldn't have cared had i not told you. Your primal urges, your lust for food and pleasure is greater than your so called dignity.'' Telvenum - ''I am a crown-prince of the United Drallivian Republics. I must set an example I--''

He stared back at the food with hungry eyes. He wasn't sure why but he wanted more and found himself cramming another piece of meat into his mouth. He then swallowed before he spoke again.

Telvenum - ''What are you? You look barely Draconis but no Draconis I know would be so depraved.'' Hedon - I am something more than the Draconis, the morals of petty civilizations cast aside. Telvenum - ''No, Morals and tradition make us what we are, they advance us... Why does this food seem so good?'' Hedon - It is your most base sentiment that drives you foward. Telvenum - ''No.. No no. By my standards you are an animal.'' Hedon - ''Feel free to have all that you want, and then feel free to elope with one of the dancers later. Aren't we all animals, isn't all civilization based on the statement "might makes right so long as the mighty can enforce it?"'' Telvenum - ...No? Hedon - You may hold that sentiment now, but that may change through your time here.

Maxios sat silently. His eyes stared hungrily at the food on the table. He reached out for more but after a moment's hesitation he swept his arm across the table, sending what he could reach clattering to the floor. Hedon gave him a curious look but continued to sit somewhat unfased. he secretly enjoyed watching his guest's senses collapse surrounded by such luxury.

Hedon - What is the matter? Telvenum - ...I will not become your plaything... Hedon - I never said you were, did I? Telvenum - ''You tempt me with this; you feed my own allies to me, force me to watch them dance before my eyes and treat me to their screams of torment as music. I'm not like you... I-I don't want to be like you.'' Hedon - Are we all not the same in our basest sentiments? Telvenum - That doesn't mean we have to explore our deepest depravities. Hedon - If we can do something, why not?

Telvenum grasped the edges of the table and opened his wings out. His pupils had dilated and he felt like he wanted to stuff his face with even more food.

Telvenum - ''Enough! When Uriel learns I am gone he will worry. He will search all corners of the universe for me, he will not rest until I am safe under his wing. And when he does he will burn you and this depraved fortress to the ground!'' Hedon - Feel free to leave any time you want, this place will always be with you. Telvenum - What is the catch. Hedon - ''You must merely go through The palace of pleasure to reach your ship. I will not stop you, but you may remain entranced by what you find.''

Maxios retracted his arms and sighed. He still leaned on the table but a feeling of discomfort rested in his eyes.

Hedon - Merely go. Telvenum - ''That's it? You think I will be stopped by wahtever depravities you consider pleasures?'' Hedon - ''That is your decision, not mine.

Telvenum sat up. he did not want to give himself a sense of false hope but this news was simply too enticing to pass up.

Hedon - Have fun.

Hedon stood up out of his chair and alked out of the room with a cunning smile on his face, which Maxios didnt' see. After a few minutes on his own, Telvenum stood up and got out of the chair. He turned to see the food on the floor but turned away, dreading what he would do if he stared any longer. Somehow he did not feel himself ready to brave the 'palace of pleasure' and quietly returned to the room he woke up in.

For now.