Cerabian Conquest Part 1: Contact

       The Cerabian Empire was in chaos. Its leaders were either missing or fighting amongst themselves. Its people were on the verge of revolt. Civil war seemed unavoidable. Then reports started to come in of colonies being attacked in the outer domain of the empire. Always a fleet was mustered and sent to investigate and repel the attackers. But always, the attackers would be gone, along with everyone in the colony except one person. Sometimes cities would be reduced to ruin, and at other times it would look like everybody just got up and left. The attacks seemed random and would have been chalked up to just that, random attacks, if not for the lone survivors. Their stories were all the same. They would all be gathered in a line, leading into a giant transport ship, when they were pulled out at random and told that they would deliver a message. The message was always the same, “Your people shall all kneel to us. Your cities shall fall and the streets will be lined with the dead. You shall fall.” Despite their best attempts, the government was unable to keep these words from the public. People were furious that the officials had been unable to protect them. When asked what the invaders looked like the survivors had said, “They were all armored from head to toe and carried some sort of energy weapon. I knew it was an energy weapon because these invaders had used them on any that resisted. I don’t know what they look like beneath the armor. They were humanoid but some were much taller than the others, and some others had tails. I never saw any vehicles. It was like they were in a hurry to get going. Like they didn’t want to be on our planet any longer than they had to.” This went on for a month, with thousands of worlds being stripped of life. Then a transmission was sent all through out the Cerabian Empire. The already fractured empire split as the message reached every ear, every eye, and every heart in the empire.

       Carron, the Bloody Handed Laughing God of War, the Crimson Tide, the Red Lord, Eleventh Seat on the Council of Thirteen was bored. The first few days he had spread terror had been fun, but the Cerabians hardly put up a fight. More than a month of almost nonstop fighting and he had yet to lose a single ship. Sure, a few were crippled, but he didn’t count those. It had been a week since he had transmitted his voice across the fractured empire. As he had predicted the constant raids and then the declaration of war had cause many of the leaders to tighten the defenses around themselves. This had left many worlds open to attack. He was also pleased that telling them he was going to attack Ferrograd had sent almost their entire fleet to protect the planet. Carron would continue to raid planets until he was sure that the cerabian people would willing turn against their government. Normally this would take decades to accomplish, but they were so close to revolt now that it was taking him only weeks to do. He smiled at how well this was going. Everyone that they conquered was bitter and resentful to them, but their hatred at being abandoned by their government to the invaders was almost physical. Carron chuckled at how easy this was.

       It was once again time for Carron to address his future people. A tech motioned that they were broadcasting. Carron would be addressing the officials but it would be sent out for everybody to see. He smiled behind his helmet before speaking. “Hear me dogs! I am Carron the Red, Eleventh Seat on the Council of Thirteen of the Immortal Empire! And you are all cowards! I am laying waste to your worlds and slaughtering your people yet you do NOTHING! No, worse than nothing, you gather your fleets to yourselves and pray that they will protect you. You have left entire systems unprotected. I shall continue the raids for a time and then I shall kill everyone on Ferrograd. Try to die a fitting death.” The transmission finished Carron turned his attention back to his conquest. With any luck some of the more compassionate leaders will force some of their forces to the outer planets. Though, from what Carron had observed he didn’t think there were many compassionate leaders left. No matter what happens they were doomed.

       A little more than a week had passed. Carron had continued his raids and had found only token resistance. Now was the time to strike. A mighty armada surrounded his flagship. They amassed in dark space, awaiting his signal to attack. Carron stood fully armored in the middle of a raised dais. All around him was a holographic display, showing ship locations, strategic readouts, and various bits of information regarding the up coming battle. The captains and admirals were ready and in position. He had to combine fifteen different fleets before success was greater than 80%. He reached over and pressed a button. The signal sent, hundreds of thousands of ships preformed a void jump, while the rest of the fleet proceeded to engage their slower hyperdrives. Carron couldn’t help but laugh at the destruction he had unleashed will a simple button.