Thus enters a dark time for our nation.
Lord Penguino knocked on the door of Blue Whale King's office, hoping for a response. He waited for over a minute, but as with almost every day since Cayde T. Spade's funeral, there was no response.
Just as he started to walk away, he heard a voice. It was Whale's, but it sounded odd. Not sad or angry, but cold and emotionless.
"I'm almost done with my strategy. Optimus Pyrrha says the fleet repairs are well under way. I'll have an announcement ready soon."
Penguino hesitated a few seconds, then spoke. "Um, sir…"
"You may go now."
Penguino sighed, then turned away. Another man was waiting.
"I really hoped I'd be able to get more out of him," Penguino said. "No matter what he says, he is not okay. I'm worried about him, and our future."
"We need to give him time," said the other man, Captain Unholy H. Grenade. "I'm surprised he spoke at all today, and more than two words. It might be the most he's said all month. I think that's encouraging."
They walked down the hall of former leaders, where Cayde's new portrait hung.
Vice Admiral Cayde T. Spade
Murdered by r/CinderDidNothingWrong. Sacrificed his life to save Grand Admiral Blue Whale King
Penguino's eyes lingered on the portrait as they passed it.
"I wish I could have known him better," said Grenade.
"Me too," said Penguino. He was silent for a few moments. "I hope this announcement is good news."
"Another major fleet expansion, no doubt," said Grenade. "And probably plans for revenge. I want to promote Arkos as much as the next guy, but I'm worried he'll go too far. It's a shame we don't have a suitable replacement. Except maybe you."
Penguino laughed. "I may be the link between the Air Force and the Starfleet, but I don't know if I'm ready for that position."
Another man joined them as they entered the next corridor. "What's this I hear about an announcement? Something exciting?" asked Captain Stormzx.
"We don't know yet," said Penguino.
"I'm hoping we can finally strike back," said Stormzx. "It's time those foul hellspawn pay for what they did! I hope we can blast their planet off the star charts!"
"Impossible," said Penguino. "Only the Reddit Galactic Admins have that kind of firepower. We may be powerful in this sector, but our forces are puny compared to places like r/PrequelMemes or r/ThanosDidNothingWrong. Even after the latter lost half their population. And both places pale in comparison to the Admins."
"Oh," said Stormzx, slumping his shoulders and looking to the red marble tile floor.
"Plus, that would be genocide," said Grenade. "I don't like them either, but that would be going too far."
"I beg to differ," said Stormzx. "But no matter what, I hope we can at least give them a thorough defeat!"
"I think that's a safe bet," said Penguino. "But their lack of activity lately is suspicious."
Another week passed. The fleet returned home with some new ships, stronger than ever. In the great amphitheater outside the dome, Blue Whale King gathered everyone he could to make the big announcement.
The vast semicircle was carved into a natural rock formation, with the tens of thousands of seats facing the Citadel. Those still inside the city or elsewhere watched live footage. The expanded and mighty Arkos Starfleet hung in the sky, while dozens of fighters buzzed around the dome.
Blue Whale King stood on a stage at the center of the amphitheater, with several other top military and civilian officials on the sidelines. The other Oligarchs were there, Air Force Supreme Commander Strike Freedom X2 and Governor Wingnut. In addition, General Vaniellis, Lord Penguino, Chief Engineer Optimus Pyrrha, the Starfleet captains Stormzx, Unholy H. Grenade, Falcon Lord, NinJonic X, Maldevinine, and the newly appointed Jackson Creed, the also newly appointed Spymaster Also A Pun, along with various other officers and officials.
Once everyone had assembled, Blue Whale King started his speech. "Attention all. r/CinderDidNothingWrong has gone too far once more, and for the last time."
His voice was no longer cold and emotionless, but hot with fury.
"In that cowardly and murderous last attack, we lost not only our dear friend Cayde T. Spade, but thousands of great men and women of our nation. Everyone here knew someone who died senselessly that day a little over a month ago. In addition, though less important, the loss of two capital ships that day, and the damage of all others both that day and over the past few months, including another destroyed ship, has cost our nation over five million Upvotes and put our once rich treasury into debt."
His voice was loud and angry, but still mostly level. As he went on, though, the volume increased.
"This should be no surprise considering their terrible massacre in the r/fnki system during Dimension Defender's revolt. That makes it no less evil. But worse, and both surprising and deeply disappointing, is their support from other Ship Nations worshipping pairings containing the god Jaune Arc. One of their captains was an open member of White Knight. Lancaster is likely in on this too, considering their bad blood with our great nation. The most abominable Jaune Ship of all, Arc Furnace, gives the name of their flagship that led the attack! No other Jaune ship besides Arkos can be trusted!"
The speech was turning into yelling.
"And why should that be a surprise? They all denounce our great goddess Pyrrha Nikos for lesser deities! They incorporate the Catastrophe not as a disastrous aberration of fate, but a necessary and core component of their doctrines! They pose too great a threat to be allowed!"
Whale's voice calmed somewhat for the next part.
"As some of you may know, Melanie Antiqua, daughter of the late Princess Canada, is hosting a gladiatorial Ship Wars competition next month. The reward for winning is forty million Upvotes, in cash. With that, we could purchase a second planet and expand the military tenfold. But if it falls into the hands of other Jaune Ships, they will use it to wipe us out."
Many people in the vast crowd exchanged worried murmurs. Whale raised his hand to silence them.
"That is why, to ensure that they cannot claim the grand prize, I have ordered all of our agents in r/fnki to organize attacks on all holdings of all non-Arkos Jaune Ships in that system. Everyone is encouraged to help, and we will be sending ground forces there to ensure our victory. This will prevent them from even entering Ship Wars 4."
Several Arkosian leaders, including Vaniellis and Strike, shouted in protest, but they weren't the ones with the mic connected to the vast speaker system.
"I'm aware that their main holdings are in the r/RWBY system. But once we make our next move, they will have no choice but to surrender, or suffer the same fate."
Blue Whale King's voice started to pick up in volume once again.
"r/CinderDidNothingWrong thinks we are weak, and they are gearing up for a second attack. Also A Pun and his spy network confirm it. But they are dead wrong. In exactly one week, the entire Arkos Starfleet will deploy against their sole remaining planet, obliterating their military and defenses once and for all. We will take the fight to their home, and ensure that they can never attack us or anyone else, ever again!"
As Whale continued, his words turned to shouts, almost to the point of screaming.
"ALL other Jaune ships will disband and surrender to Arkos! r/CinderDidNothingWrong will be NO MORE! All Reddit will know our creed, NEVER FORGET AND NEVER FORGIVE! THEY WILL KNOW ME AS THE HORSEMAN OF WAR! ARKOS WILL RULE THE SECTOR, AND NONE WILL STAND IN OUR WAY EVER AGAIN!"
A significant portion of the crowd erupted into cheers. "AVE IMPERATOR!" shouted Stormzx. But many spectators, along with at least half of the leadership, looked at Blue Whale King in horror. Strike Freedom X2 was livid, but the target of his anger was Whale himself.
And it was justified.
After the rally, the leaders of Arkos gathered in a meeting room.
"WHAT THE FUCK, WHALE?!" Strike shouted, grabbing his comrade by the collar.
"Agreed," said Vaniellis. "This is uncalled for."
"I'm deeply disturbed," said Wingnut.
"This is both called for and necessary," said Whale, pushing Strike off of him. "All my points from my speech stand. And we agreed that r/CinderDidNothingWrong needed to be wiped out!"
"Only their fleet," said Strike. "But it sounds to me like you plan to target their population. That is unjustifiable, and your attack on the other Jaune Ships is even worse. You are going to bring the wrath of the entire sector down on us!"
"We can handle it," said Whale.
"Even if that were true," said Strike, "what you're doing flies in the face of the code I established in Ship Survivor II. We will NOT attack out of spite! Nor allow ourselves to be attacked. You being the 'Horseman of War' goes completely against that. We do not fight out of hatred, but for the love of our Ship! I've seen firsthand what this kind of unchecked bloodlust does, speaking of the late Princess Canada you mentioned. NEVER. AGAIN."
"That's exactly why I'm doing this. So nothing like last month, or either Ship Survivor defeat, or the Catastrophe, ever happens to us again! You said yourself that we will not allow ourselves to be attacked!"
"You're going too far," said Vaniellis.
"Agreed," said Grenade.
"Am I the only one who supports this?" asked Stormzx. "I would have done the same myself!"
"I will support whatever you decide, Your Blueness," said Optimus Pyrrha, though his face lacked any positive emotion, and his posture sagged. He looked to be holding back tears. Some of the Starfleet captains such as Falcon and Maldevinine nodded, but still looked forlorn.
"It seems you're the only one enthusiastic about it," said Whale. "Which is why I'm appointing you, Stormzx, as High Inquisitor. You will have a premier role in this."
"I will not let you down, my liege! AVE IMPERATOR!"
"Don't encourage him," said Strike. "If he does not back down, we will revoke his title of Oligarch."
"That we will," said Wingnut. "This conduct is unacceptable."
Whale only smirked. "You can't. I am the sole Moderator of r/ArkosForever. You have absolutely no means of removing me. If you try, you will be no more successful than Dimension Defender."
Lord Penguino spoke at last, grabbing Whale by the shoulders and looking him in the eye. "Blue, please. If you go through with this, many thousands more will die. More great people like Cayde. Is that really what you want? I don't want to lose another member of this new family. And I don't want to lose you to this madness."
"I'm sorry," said Whale, "but my decision is final. Do not worry, I won't let us lose a single ship. A brighter dawn awaits us after this. Now if you'll excuse me, I have preparations to attend to."
Whale pulled Penguino's hands off his shoulders, turned around, and left the room.
Wingnut turned to Strike. "I did warn you."
As Whale left, Also A Pun noticed a mouse that had been sitting still. It tried to follow Whale, but Pun yelped in alarm, chasing the mouse until he stomped on and crushed it.
"What was that for?" Falcon asked.
After that, r/fnki was quick to descend into riots once again as Arkosians carried out Whale's orders. It was like Dimension Defender's revolt all over again. Only this time, the other Jaune ships decided to organize to fight back.
"Thank you all for coming," said Inquisitor Rade Blunner of White Knight. They were in a conference room (We know, this story has a lot of those) in White Knight's most secure stronghold in the r/fnki system. "I'm so glad you could all make it."
"It's our pleasure," said Generic Usernaym, Strategist of Lancaster. "As an ex-Arkosian, I know just how crazy and fanatical they can be. I was lucky to escape."
"I'm just in it for the fun," said Admiral Venom Ahab of Lancaster, smoking a blunt as he pulled his cowboy hat low and put his feet on the table.
"Please don't do that," said General Torrasque of White Knight, crumpling his nose in distaste.
"Apologies," said Venom, kicking off his boots so that they flew across the table and fell off the other side. He then put his feet down and sat up straight.
"Thank you," said Rade Blunner. "And Slip-Snap, please hold that still."
"Fine," said Slip-Snap, as he stopped spinning his bat around on the table.
"Now," said Rade, "let's get down to business. Porcupine, can you verify the rumors?"
"Not with certainty," said the large rodent. "That traitor Also A Pun seems to have killed most of the spies that my Collective of Various Rodents sent to their planet. But what the few survivors have heard all fits. Arkos is most likely going to attempt to glass r/CinderDidNothingWrong at the end of the week."
"Only five days," said Paulternative, ambassador of Lancaster. "That's not much time."
McDouggal of Milk & Cereal nodded. "I can't believe what I've been roped into, but I see the necessity."
"Then we are all in agreement," said Rade Blunner. "It's time to announce the creation of the Anti Arkos Alliance, or AAA."
Clem Prime of White Knight and Umbrione of Lancaster gave each other mournful glances.
Whale's really fucked things up. But remember, the darkest night is just before the dawn.