The atmosphere in the meeting hall was tense, to say the least.
Within this ballroom of the Sartinaynian palace was every remaining imperial warlord, as well as their 'companions' and assistants. Of course, when the official meeting began all but the leaders would be ushered out, but for now it was more like a very dangerous party than a political meeting. Some talked nervously, while others stared hostilely and blatantly at their political foes across the room. It was quite clear to all in the room that this would most likely be the last meeting of the former imperial Moffs for a long time, and most certainly the last with this party-like attitude. The New Republic was never mentioned, but it hung above all of them like the sword of Damocles. The only thing preventing the meeting from coming to a start was the extremely notable absence of Admiral Pellaeon; it would simply be impossible for talks to go on without him.
"Where the hell is Pellaeon!" Grand Moff Ardus Kaine muttered. He had been growing more and more anxious as the hours had gone by, and the appointed time that the meeting had to start was drawing near. It was unlike Pellaeon to be this late, and Kaine was always paranoid when it came to meeting on his throneworld. He had begun grabbing drinks from waiters to cool his nerves, but he knew he couldn't drink any more or risk becoming fully inebriated.
"Sir." Ankoff Hix, his guard captain, had walked up behind him. "The Chimera has entered Sartinaynain space."
"It's about damn time." Kaine turned around and straightened out his clothing, then walked towards the slightly elevated platform at the far end of the room. He cleared his throat into the sound enhancement field that had been set in place on the stage, a recent and expensive innovation by some scientist named Fornwill. The buzz of conversation faded as those present turned their attention to the stage.
"We have received notification that Admiral Pellaeon has arrived in Bastion space, so we may expect to begin the meeting shortly."
There was a mixed reaction to that as he descended the stairs to the floor, with some happy to get this over with and others marveling at Pellaeon's uncharacteristic lateness. Kaine only sighed and moved to his seat next to the gilded entranceway.
"Oh, Grand Moff Kaine! Could I have a word?" Kaine felt his patience wearing thin even listening to that voice.
"I am currently awaiting a guest." He stated, but the person was either to dull to notice the brush off or too determined.
"Don't worry, I won't be very long. I was just wondering if you had any further comments on starting up an official imperial newssite-"
"That's enough." He turned to face the person, a woman as it turned out. "Who are you, exactly?"
The young woman stood tall, although she still appeared to be fairly short. "My name is Marilii Nermani, head of the Imperial News Directorate."
Kaine smirked inwardly. Agents of the IND had been hounding him and other high-ranking Moffs for several galactic months, and were becoming a real nuisance. Now he had a chance to shut it down at the source. "Well, Miss Nermani, this is an unexpected surprise." He felt a twinge of contempt at the hopeful look in her almost radioactively green eyes. "I have actually been interested in speaking with you for a long while." She tried to speak, but he held up a hand. "Your organization is an entirely unnecessary frivolity that will never receive official funding."
Her shocked expression almost made him chuckle. "B-but, sir-"
"Enough." Kaine smirked. "We cannot afford such pointless things as news networks in our current political and economic climate. In fact, it was a mistake to allow the commoners access to galactic news in the first place. Troubling them with issues that are beyond them is truly unwise."
By this point the young woman looked extremely ruffled, even indignant. "You would keep your own people ignorant of galactic affairs?"
Kaine's expression grew dangerous. "You are too bold. I will forgive this trespass, as you are young and inexperienced. Now leave my sight, and it I catch you or any of your operatives speaking of this again, you will be executed as traitors to the empire."
Marilii looked as if she was about to respond, but thought the better of it. As she was about to leave, however, The gilded doors where thrown open, and all in the room turned to see Pellaeon stride through.
"Ah, Pellaeon." Kaine said, smiling. "Welcome again to Sartinaynian."
Pellaeon nodded to him, but then turned to the assembled crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen of the Empire, I have an announcement to make."
The crowd was generally surprised, but even more so at his next words. "I have recently made acquaintance with a person who will change everything about our situation, who I have brought here today so that he may meet with you. All rise for his majesty, Lelouch Vi Palpatine!"
At this Pellaeon stood aside, and through the door walked one of the most regal people that any of them had ever seen. He was a young man, clothed all in black gilded in gold, with a long black cloak and a high collar. The inside of this cloak billowed out behind him, its bright red contrasting elegantly with the black of his other clothing. His hair was a shade of black darker than his clothes, and his eyes were an alarming amethyst that seemed to pierce through their very souls. Accompanying him where two similarly young yet intimidating people, clothed in a bright white. One was a boy, his uniform colored by bright green highlights and a strange curved sword sheathed through his belt. The other was a young woman, her highlights red with a long dagger sheathed at her waist. Both of them seemed to emanate an aura of danger.
All in all, it was an impressive and intimidating sight.
"W-who-" Ardus Kaine began, but one glare from the carismatic noble silenced him. The group made their way to the raised platform, where the young man began to speak.
"Greetings, men and women of the empire. I assume you are wondering who I am." With a flourish of his cape, he placed an arm across his chest in salute. "My name is Lelouch Vi Palpatine, one true son and heir of our late emperor, and rightful successor to the throne of the galaxy." The hall had been hushed until then, but at that there was a small uproar, which was abruptly silenced with a glare from the Prince.
"I apologize for staying in hiding for so long, but I was being hunted by my fathers political enemies and only recently destroyed them. I have come here to offer you a choice." He paused to allow that to sink in.
"What choice?" A voice spoke up, surprisingly coming from the mouth of none other than Marilii Nermani.
Lelouch smiled. "You have two options. You may kneel in front of me, here and now, and join an empire that will be even greater and more glorious than the last, one that will allow you to reclaim all of the worlds and riches of our past empire and more. That is the choice to join me. However, if you refuse this generous offer..." He met the eyes of everyone in the room as his smile faded and danger filled his gaze, "then I will forcibly return you to the fold, with or without your heads."
The hall was silent for a moment, but then all around the room Moffs and courtesans and even waiters began to bend their knee, murmuring "hail the empire". The sound became louder and louder, with ever more people kneeling down before the new emperor. The last was Grand Moff Kaine. None had ever felt so intimidated, even under the rule of the old emperor. None even noticed the fact that this prince was rather young.
"Rise, then," Lelouch said with a grin, "and witness the dawn of a new age."
This moment of triumph was interrupted when an imperial officer sprinted into the room. "Sir!" He shouted immediately to Grand Moff Kaine. "Emergency, sir!" He stopped cold as he noticed everyone staring at him.
"What exactly is the situation, Officer?" Lelouch asked. The man paled. "Um, well, sir, we appear to be under attack."
"By whom?" Lelouch asked.
"Rebels, sir. They invaded our armory and are coming this way!"
"What did they take?"
"F-five AT-AT's, sir, as well as twenty AT-ST's."
Lelouch looked towards Ardus Kaine. "Grand Moff Kaine, do you happen to have a viewscreen of the parameters available in this room?"
The Grand Moff nodded. "I suggest you turn it on."
Sure enough, when the screen was switched on the full attack force was in view advancing towards the palace plaza.
"Interesting." Lelouch muttered. "Grand Moff Kaine, were you aware of the fact that there were currently rebel forces active on your homeworld?"
Kaine looked like all of the color had drained out of him. "I see." Lelouch said. "We shall discuss this later. In the mean time," he glanced at Suzaku, "I shall have one of my knights take care of it."
Suzaku nodded and walked to the entrance.
"M-my lord, we have other forces on standby that could-" The guard captain started.
"They shall not be necessary. All of you will see what happens to those who resist the might of my empire."
Farnix Lorn was getting nervous. His commandeered AT-AT's where almost on the threshold of the palace, yet there had been only a token response. This, to him, spelled trap.
Suddenly there was a buzz from the frontal AT-AT. "Hey Farnix, we have something on the motion scanners."
"What is it?" Farnix asked.
"Looks like it's probably the Imperial's response, size signifies walker."
Farnix felt his muscles tense. "How many of them? Twenty? A hundred?"
"Uh... one. Just one."
Well that was unexpected. "Just...one? What's it doing?"
"It's just standing there. One moment, I'm bringing up visuals." There was a pause. "Wait... that's no walker! What the frak is that thi-" The communications were abruptly cut off, and there was a loud crash.
"Status report!" Farnix shouted.
"Vanguard AT-AT, destroyed. Bringing up visual now."
The image that popped up was one that he would never forget. It appeared to be a giant metal angel, holding two giant red swords in its hands, its shining white armor and glowing green wings reflecting the battered form of the giant walker that it had just decapitated.
"What in the hell..." Farnix muttered.
"Attention, rebel soldiers. I am the Knight of Green, personal Knight of the Emperor. Your foolish and contemptible attack will be the first demonstration of the might of the New Emperor... unless you surrender here and now."
"Destroy it!" Farnix shouted. "Fire everything!"
All of his forces opened fire, but the angel wasn't there anymore. It flashed at incomparable speed through the formation, slicing the assault walkers to shreds.
Farnix knew that he couldn't defeat this foe, but he could do the next best thing, so he quickly disembarked the walker and fled into the surrounding buildings. Just in time, it would seem, as his command walker was sliced in two only seconds later. Cursing his luck, Farnix resolved to report this back to the New Republic.
Suzaku surveyed the aftermath of his assault, and smiled with grim satisfaction. He hadn't piloted the Lancelot in a long time, but it seemed that he still possessed all of the skill he used to. As one sided as this fight was, it was good to be in the pilot chair again. Registering that all enemy units where destroyed, He sheathed the Lancelot's MVS's and returned to the palace.
The crowd was dumbstruck. Never had anyone seen an attack walker with such speed or grace, or even with such flight capability, let alone one wielding swords. They had also never even heard of an attack force being demolished so quickly.
Lelouch actually let out a chuckle at the dazed imperial's expressions. Even Pellaeon had been shocked by the performance of the 'Knightmare'. "Now you have seen a small fraction of the powers at my command. Do any of you still doubt the coming of the New Empire?"
The imperials looked at each other uncomprehendingly. Slowly, however, the true impact of what had just happened washed over them, and they began to hope once more.
"Long live the Emperor." Marilii Nermani knelt before him, and there was actual joy in her words. Her action was echoed once more around the room, and Lelouch grinned. He had gained the complete loyalty of the Imperial remnants.
Now it was time to conquer the galaxy.