“Dai Sha of the First Legion was taken by the people that call themselves the Empire. As our informants tell it, the ones that took her defeated her in battle. They are being said to look strikingly like us; the recordings I acquired match the images of the Humans we recovered from the Ra’a’zani databases.”
“Humans…” an Elder said. “They are slaves, and yet you say that they are a part of this Empire?”
“Yes, Elders,” Arisak said. “According to what we have learned from those willing to deal with us, it appears that the Humans were not bound to one world as the Ra’a’zani thought. Others returned and retook their home. Since then, they have spread far and wide. Their technology has jumped forward, and apparently they have awakened to the Sha.”
“That complicates things. But in the end, it doesn’t matter,” an Elder said. “Tell us of the Erasi; they have involved themselves in the matter?”
“They allowed the Empire’s ship to take the Dai Sha, and refused to give us information as to who they were. We had to search for a long time in order to find out; by that time, the Empire had escaped too far for us to follow,” Arisak said.
“We have always known that we would clash with the Erasi eventually. But for now, this Empire is a priority. We have recalled all Legions. It will take time for all of them to arrive from the edges of our territory. But once they do, we will move towards this Empire, and claim that which is ours by right.”
Arisak bowed, confused. He did not believe they were talking about rescuing the Dai Sha. But it was not his place to question the Elders.
“Thank you, Do Sun, you have served us well,” an Elder said, dismissing him.
Arisak bowed again, then turned and left the chamber. If all the Legions were being called, soon war unlike any they had waged in the last thousand years would start. And much blood would be spilled.
Numaraas – Erasi capital world
“The Shara Daim are mobilizing their forces,” the Gatrey sent.
“All of them?” asked the Loraru sitting at the head of the table.
“All of their Legions. They are leaving their system defense forces behind. It will take time for all their Legions to arrive in this area of space. They are far away, spread across Shara Daim territory.”
“And what is their target?”
“The Empire,” the Gatrey answered.
“Did the loss of one of their Dai Sha really push them into such a drastic direction?” the Loraru asked.
“Hanaru has sent us some more intel. As far as he can tell, it has little to do with it. He believes that something about the connection between the Humans, the Nel, and the Shara Daim is the cause.”
“Well, that gives us time, then,” the Loraru commented. “How long do you think that the Empire can hold out against the Shara Daim?”
“A while. They are close in technology, but the Shara Daim have more resources to draw on. In the end, they will overrun them,” the Gatrey answered.
“And what do the projections say about the chances that they come to a peaceful resolution?”
“There is a chance, but I have already given leave to Hanaru to do everything in his power to prevent that possibility.”
The Loraru approved. “Good. Our forces will be moving soon. If we get enough time to set things up, the Shara Daim will not have a chance of stopping us. Especially if their Legions are fighting a war with the Empire.”
“Should we offer aid to the Empire? Prolong their war?” the Gatrey inquired.
“Yes, but within reason. If they survive, we do not want to trade one Shara Daim for another. They cannot be allowed to become too powerful,” the Loraru sent.
“I’ll make the arrangements.”
Thank you for reading!
Book 6 of the “Rise of the Empire” coming fall 2016
Olympus – Book 1 of the “Rise of the Empire” – published June 2014
Sanctuary – Book 2 of the “Rise of the Empire” – published November 2014
Out of the Ashes – Book 3 of the “Rise of the Empire” – published April 2015
Warpath – Book 4 of the “Rise of the Empire” – published October 2015
Inheritance – Book 5 of the “Rise of the Empire” – published May 2016
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Copyright
Copyright © 2016 by Ivan Kal
Art/Cover Copyright © 2016 by Nikola Nikolic
All rights reserved.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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