That got his attention and he lowered the book. “Ah… What?” He asked startled.
Seo-yun grinned at his expression. “I don’t mean about us.”
“Oh.”
“I mean the Empire as a whole. Where do you see us in ten years, a hundred, a thousand?” She asked.
Tomas got a thoughtful expression. “What do you mean?”
“What are we going to be? Eventually we will expand and reach areas of space where there are many races. According to the Union databases there are many of them out there. We were lucky in a way to be in an area of space that was sparsely populated. But if we keep this rate of expansion we will eventually meet other empires, other unions. We will see injustice like what happened at Trivax. Here we could involve ourselves, do as we please because we are probably the biggest power in the area. But what are we going to do once we find communities, alliances, races at war?”
“We will keep to our values. But I understand where you are coming from. And yes I do have a rough plan. I want us to become what Axull Darr and his people once were, what he wanted us to be. Protectors and guides of the galaxy. It will be a long road, and I am sure that we will stumble and make mistakes. But that is my ultimate goal.” Tomas said.
Seo-yun studied him quietly for a while before responding. “Ambitious.” She said nodding her head. “I guess that my diagnosis was correct.”
“Diagnosis?” Tomas asked confused.
“Back on Earth, when we first met. I believe that I diagnosed you as a megalomaniac.” Seo-yun said, with the corner of lip turning upwards.
Tomas let out a laugh. “That you did! But I am your megalomaniac.”
“Yes, you are.” Seo-yun said softly.
Clan Dai Ven
Clan Leader Jusan of Clan Dai Ven shook his head in disgusts after the video message addressed to him ended. The message was from his contact on Nelus. They had given the message to the ruling council. And the council had chosen to ignore the warning, not believing the proof of Sowir numbers. Their arrogance fooled them into believing that their fleet and system defenses will be enough to fight off any kind of an invasion force, if such force was even real.
Jusan couldn’t believe how arrogant and stupid his people were, but he knew what the ruling houses were like. They cared only for their profits, and the people had no choice but to believe their lies. They didn’t even realize that their actions were dooming them. Sometimes he wondered if he would have become like them, if he had stayed on Nelus. Probably not, he unlike the others, cared about his people.
Jusan knew that when the Sowir Dominion arrive Nelus’ fleets will be ill prepared, and ignorant of the threat. The defenses of Nelus system were significant, and not even the Sowir could take the system quickly and easily, it will be months if not years until they break through all defenses. But innocent people will still be dying until the Empire is able to send help.
Jusan started another video recording to send to his contact. This one with instructions and names of the people in Nelus fleet. His people will be forewarned of the threat, whether the council wanted that or not.
Chapter Eighteen
May; Year 31 – Trivax orbit
Johanna made her way towards the Monarch’s CC, she had just received word that reinforcements had arrived, along with her new orders concerning the Furvor. She entered the CC and sat in her command chair. The holo in front of her already showed the data of the new ships in the system. The taskforce consisted out of eight battleships of a newer generation and two dreadnoughts. These battleships were 700 meters long, compared to the 300 meter long old battleships from her fleet. Following them were also a few more supply ships with the help for the Trivaxians.
The two dreadnoughts were Mark Two’s, a 1400 meters long ships, and the backbone of the Empire’s fleet. The dreadnought were in appearance the same as their predecessors only bigger, with more powerful weapons. But what surprised her was that alongside them was also one of the new ships, a Kraken class dreadnought. The smooth shark like shape of the new ship made it somehow more impressive than the bigger dreadnoughts that were beside it.
“Send a welcoming message to the taskforce, Adjunct.” Johanna told the Sensor Handler. “And tell their commanding officer that I will be expecting him on the Monarch as soon as he is able.”
“Right away Fleet Commander.”
Johanna nodded, then passed the command to Andros and left the CC. A few hours later she was sitting in her ready room when Force Leader Irani arrived. He entered saluted and Johanna guided him to the couch, taking a seat across from him.
“I’m glad your task force finally arrived Force Leader. There had been a lot of work on the ground, repairing the damage that the Furvor did, and I can use more people.” Johanna said.
“Fleets Master decided to hold the reinforcements back after you handled the situation until one of the new Kraken class ships was ready.”
“Yes, I noticed the ship. Is there any reason as to why she sent it here? I was under the impression that all of the Kraken class ships would be going with the offensive fleets.” Johanna asked.
Irani smiled, “All except this one will. I have been charged with bringing the ship here, to you. Congratulations Fleet Commander, the new Kraken class dreadnought Korvus is you new flagship.”
“Mine?” Johanna asked stunned.
“Yes, the Monarch’s commanding officer as well as a few other upper tier officers will make the transfer with you. The ship is now officially added to your Exploration Fleet. But it does come with new orders. You are to take your fleet to the Furvor colony systems, destroy all of their presence in space – preferably with them surrendering and transferring onto the planets of their own will, and keep them contained on the planet. Destroy all their means for shipbuilding on the planets as well. Then you are to do the same to their home planet. The ships that will enforce the blockade will be coming within few days.”
Johann nodded, she already knew what the Emperor decided for the Furvor, she just thought that it would be someone else who enacts it. “You have my orders?”
Irani nodded, and sent her the orders directly to her imp. Johann read through them and saw that she was supposed to leave within three days. Irani’s task force would provide aid and protection to Trivax from here on out.
“Thank you Force Leader. That will be all.” She said dismissing him. She had a fleet to prepare.
Jun; Hyperspace
Johanna walked through her new ship, the dreadnought Korvus. Even after more than a month, the ship still felt strange to her. It was so different than the Monarch, which always seemed cold. Korvus was somehow refined, warm. You could feel the ship’s power in its walls, in the soft humming of its drives. She was falling in love with it.
And she couldn’t help but be giddy about taking it into combat soon. Even though the twinge of unease still threatened to grow. The battle against the Furvor ships had gone a long way to making her come to terms with what happened on Earth. She had defended a world, saved billions. It didn’t make up for the deaths on Earth, but it helped.
Now her fleet was in hyperspace as they didn’t know any trans-lanes to the Furvor colony, and were forced to travel via hyperspace. The travel time was one month out of which only two days remained. Soon her ships will enter the Furvor system, broadcast the records of the battle and the Empire’s demands. If the Furvor surrender, they will be transported to the planet and left there, any shipbuilding facilities on the ground will be destroyed from orbit, and two of her ships will be watching over the world to make sure they don’t try and leave.