Epilogue & Explanation

I've been meaning to write this fic for a while, but never really got down to it. But, here it is.

This is an AU where Alternia and Earth are present in the same universe. Nothing has changed, other then the fact that Sburb never existed. The Trolls and the Humans have not had contact with each other. Doc Scratch doesn't exist either, as he's a consequence of the game- however, I did for the sake of convenience and so I don't have to reinvent troll society keep both the post-scratch Alternian civilization and the Emissary of the Horrorterrors.

Well, saying that they haven't had contact isn't exactly true. The Condescence and her fleet is still scouring the galaxy, destroying civilizations that could be a threat to them. This absence has meant that Feferi has effectively seized control of Alternia, as the Emissary has bonded to her now. This has lead to a stalemate; the Condescence cannot return to fight without causing the Vast Glub, and Feferi cannot kill her due to her possessing no army.

After the Condescence has discovered Earth, Ferefi has finally realized an opportunity to rid herself of her rival. She is sending a group of operatives to assassinate her. The Condescence, on the other hand, is looking for a new base of operations. She can't retake Alternia, but for the first time, the Trolls will colonize another world.

This, of course, isn't good for the humans in this story. The kids are faced with a world invaded by violent aliens. The resistance and the Alternians will have to work together if they want to survive the oncoming conflict...

Chapter 1: Alternia

"For the latht time Fef, I jutht don't like it."

The speaker is a tall, thin troll. Just a sweep ago, speaking to a higher blood so rudely would have gotten him culled. Feferi wasn't like the others, but the others were always watching. Now, though, the highbloods were made to content themselves with simple resentment.

"But Sollux, it's not like- you don't have to be grafted to the ship. The adults only did that to make sure they controlled the pilots. We're not-"

"I never thaid I wathn't going to do it. I jutht thaid I don't like it."

Feferi smiled to herself. Sollux was difficult, but he was thoroughly her troll. He'd do admirably on this mission, provided he didn't mouth off to the wrong person.

"Thank you- so much!" she blurted. Damn. She knows that if she doesn't contain herself, her courtiers won't respect her. Not that they could overthrow her, mind you; so long as her Lusus remained loyal, this planet was hers. But they could definitely make her plans harder.

And she had big plans. Already, she'd ended the practice of culling- the sick, infirm or incompetent now worked manufacturing crucial goods instead of the more traditional practice of fertilizing the fields with their corpses. The highbloods didn't like it, of course, but their belief in the caste system along with the ever-looming threat of their destruction kept them following orders.

There was still so much to do. Reorganizing Alternian society was far from complete. Ferefi's new hierarchy still faced resistance, and it couldn't be long before the next generation pupated to adulthood. This would destablize her immensly. If the Condescence found a way to assassinate her then while her Lusus was distracted...

Ferefi supposed she just had to rely on her lieutenants, and deal with the problems as they came. Also, destroy the Condescence before she could become a threat. No way she could forget that.

"Sollux, can you call in the others please? I think- It's time the team got acquainted with each other."

Sollux rolled his eyes. Not that anyone could tell- he didn't have pupils. But it felt good anyway.

Some time later...

Deep within the Imperial palace, Feferi's eleven top lieutenants were assembled. They did not get acquainted. They already knew each other. They'd all been involved, in some way, with Feferi's rise to power. Well, all except Karkat, but he had his uses.

Terezi Pyrope lounged in the back of the room, cackling softly to herself. She was a Legislacerator, and had been heavily involved in abolishing blood-colour and in suppressing potential rebellion. She was not only a talented orator, she was a deadly operative in the field; it was likely both of those talents would come in handy on the target planet.

Also expressing his disinterest in the meetin, Sollux Captor was Feferi's most talented psychic and computer specialist. He would serve as the ship's helmsman and, at the same time, one of it's main weapons.

Also a psychic, Aradia Megido was a prominent anthropologist. Although her talents as a field operative were definitely useful, her real purpose was to study and understand the natives on the target, to better fight them or to see if they could be useful.

The next in line was Vriska Sekret. Feferi's friend and one of her most talented fighters, Vriska typically served as Terezi's partner. Technically she was leader of the gambligants, but as she was the only remaining member of that order she could easily be spared from her duties.

Carefully avoiding her was Tavros Nitram, Cavalreaper commander. He had been immensely helpful in organizing the new culling system and Feferi's military. The real talent he brought to the team was his ability to remotely control animals; although Feferi didn't know if this would work on Earth, she trusted him enough to give him a shot.

Fidgeting near the centre of the room was Nepeta Leijon. Feferi couldn't easily explain why Nepeta was useful. She had average combat skills, but her real purpose was to keep Equius in line.

Equius Zahhak leaned in a corner of the room. He was a talented engineer, in addition to being able to rip the aforementioned hulks of metal apart with his bare hands. Feferi wasn't sure about him- he was devoted to the old caste system, and to be honest a little creepy. But he was too useful not to be an asset.

Sharing in his dubiousness was Eridan Ampora, Feferi's former moirail. Eridan had an overwhelming genocide complex, and manged to find hate for not only all lower then him in the caste system but for all land-dwellers as well. Still, he had fed the Emissary for years, and when he wasn't stirring up trouble proved a excellent strategist.

Sitting next to Eridan was Kanaya Maryam. Kanaya had helped set up the culling system, in addition to being an expert on mother grubs. She did whatever was required of her with extreme efficiency, no matter how distasteful.

Gamzee Makara was, true to form, passed out on the floor. His usefulness was admittedly limited. He was a powerful fighter, capable of surprising violence. Most of the time he was useless due to consumption of Sopor.

Completing the group was Karkat Vantas. Karkat was a Threshecutioner captain, and despite his inability to talk to anyone calmy a good leader. He had served Feferi well; dismantling rebellions and coordinating her various lieutenants. However, he had also stirred up trouble of his own: Fighting others in her ranks, convincing lowbloods that the new culling system was prejudiced, and so on. Part of the reason she was sending him was simply to get him out of her hair for a while.

Feferi braced herself for the inevitable tumult, and called the meeting to order.

"Attention! Hello and welcome once again! I'm assigning you- you already know of the assignment I require of you."

After the wave of comments and small arguments had passed, her lieutenants started to pay attention. Feferi tried to explain to them their mission.

"You're already aware that a few days ago, Sollux managed to hack into the Condescension's transmissions". At this, Eridan grumbled to himself. It was pretty obvious to the rest of them that he was waxing black for Sollux. Sollux, however, couldn't care less.

Feferi, by now an expert on keeping this group focused, pressed on. "The Condescension plans to find a suitable world and plant a mother grub there. For the moment she's been forced into exile- but she still controls a hundred times our armed forces, and she plans to remain in control of them." Feferi tried to pause for a second to let this sink in, but couldn't. "Our fleet's pathetic. She's gathering her forces and finding a way to reinforce them further. At a moment of weakness between me and my lusus, she could retake this world." Her lieutenants were absolutely silent now. They knew how big a threat the rogue empress was.

"Our intelligence is our main advantage. We know she's only got one grub. So, we've got two options- we can kill the grub, or assassinate her."

Kanaya spoke up. "The Condescence will know that these are our only options. If we don't have the element of surprise, then we are effectively slitting our own throats."

Feferi had been anticipating this. "Eridan?"

Eridan cleared his throat. A few trolls groaned, but not as many as would have a sweep ago. They'd learned to value his advice when he gave it.

"Wwell, we need to split up into three teams." This caused a stir. "One wwill attempt to destroy the mother grub, one wwill prepare to assassinate the Condescence if possible, and the final one" his face wrinkled in distaste "wwill serve as a distraction by assisting the local populace".

Feferi resumed control of the briefing before someone could find a reason to pick a fight. "I've decided to assign Gamzee, Equis and Eridan to the Condescence". Vriska and Terezi's facial expressions made it obvious they didn't like that. "Nepeta, Kanaya and Tavros will be tasked with finding the mother grub and killing it." This also wasn't popular. While the last assignment had made sense, seeing as the highbloods could infiltrate the opposing fleet and were potent fighters, with the exception of Kanaya this team was nothing special. The remainder knew that they had the most offensive assignment.

"The remainder of you will take the ship to the target and support any resistance to locals can muster" There was a chorus of groans at this. Feferi couldn't silence the complaints this time.

This was necessary, but Feferi couldn't help but wonder how in gog's name these teams were going to work. Maybe she should reconsider this.

Not that she had a choice.