End of the Empire
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Chapter 2
Arius Telem: the commander of the Imperial Fleet in its dying days, he was known as a
great tactical genius. His abilities to produce victories out of nothing were incomparable in those
days.
He was the last hope of the Empire whose borders were forever engaged in endless war and
whose interior bulged with rebellion. And it was in his hands that the fate of the Empire once
came...
Viceroy and Commander.
The colossal flagship of the Empire, the Puerifoy veered hard to port to avoid the incoming
blasts from the enemy warship. Space around it burst with explosions and lasers and missiles. A
war was on. On the bridge of the Puerifoy, a tall man watched an azure planet below and the
warships coming from it. Bulky relics from bygone days, the enemy ships bore the brunt of the
Imperial Fleet, they were already malfunctioning from lack of expert repairs. The Imperial Fleet
was no better off. The tall man frowned. Half of his ships were grounded due to malfunctioning of
the shields or the weapon systems or the hyperdrive itself. Expert techmen were a premium and
did the smallest repairs for grand fortunes. The days of the Empire's glory were dead. The man
frowned again.
" They are retreating commander." said the other man.
The commander nodded.
" Shall I order the fleet to follow?" the other man said.
" No!" the commander said, " It is enough for today. The crew will be tired. Move to quadrant 14-
A"
" Yes commander." the other man obeyed.
Another man came running, his face flushed," Transmission from Viceroy of the Empire Towad
Gilmer. Peer of the Realm to Commander Arius Telem, Peer of the Realm."
Arius followed him to the nearest holotrans and ordered the operator to feed him the
transmission.
A pale, skinny and tall face peered at him.
" Greetings commander! I hail you!" he said.
" Greetings viceroy!" said Arius.
" I have received news of your spectacular victory over the Fastrian Pirates and had the honor of
watching it live in holonet transmissions. The Emperor is pleased at your success.," said viceroy
Towad Gilmer.
Arius nodded," It is my duty to fight for the Empire."
Gilmer looked at him studying for a moment, and then said," My ship is bound for the Puerifoy. I
hope to meet you soon commander."
"It will be my eternal honor." Arius said.
The small transport headed towards the massive flagship. As it neared, a hatch opened and
the transport entered it and landed. The door opened and a cloaked man stepped outside to regal
ceremony. A guard-of-honor saluted him as he walked the aisle toward a tall man. The man
bowed and fell to his knees.
" Stand up commander." said the viceroy.
" Greetings viceroy." the commander Arius said.
" It gives me great pleasure to meet the Imperial commander, who has displayed such a fine
upholding of the Empire."
" It gives me great pleasure to meet the Peer of the Realm and the Emperor's Ambassador."
The Imperial Guard saluted again as the two men walked forth into the conference hall.
The conference drawled upon the aspects of the victory and the economical resources of the
region. Frankly, Arius was bored, but he could not excuse himself and had to listen to the dry
debate. Arius was a warrior, he was not interested in scholarly works, since childhood his dream
had been to be a military officer. And now, he had achieved more. He looked distrustingly upon
the viceroy.
After the conference, as the commander was leaving, Gilmer called to him.
" Have you thought about the offer Arius?" he said in a low voice.
" No viceroy, my duty is to uphol…"
" Uphold? Uphold what commander? Do you mean this space fiend cursed spineless Empire? Do
I tell you once again?" the viceroy interrupted angrily," The Empire is dead. Dead, killed,
murdered or if you please, fallen. This 'Empire' as they call it is not worth a backplanetary
province. It does not matter if it lives."
" Is it dead yet?" Arius asked," It lives on viceroy, as it has been living for the past twenty
thousand years. It has declined viceroy, but not yet fallen. It has hope. The Emperor's new
policy…"
" The Emperor?" Towad said," the Emperor is nothing but a weak, frail, oldling who has no sense
and is outrageously foolish."
Arius glanced around for any eavesdroppers.
" My dear viceroy! Answer me this. If I do somehow accept your offer, what then shall happen?"
" I am glad you are coming to your senses Arius." Said Gilmer," Yes! We will then form a
triumvirate and a new, and more powerful Empire. "
" And how do you propose to do that."
" By the space fiend! Your genius and my influence and diplomatics! They will work like a charm."
" You do not fool me viceroy! I am no fool. Your only intention is that I conquer Trantor for you, so
that you can rule the Imperial Purple after which you shall then execute me."
" No my friend Arius. I shall never even think of such thoughts. I shall need your help in the
forging of the new Empire."
" Never, Viceroy! I thought you to be a loyal and faithful man. I thought that your offer that you
made me on Kalvaten was a mere joke. But you have turned out to be a common traitor. A dreg
of the Empire. One of the foul space worms that seek to ruin what protects and feeds them."
And with a swish of his cloak, Arius Telem turned around and left with his back to the viceroy.
And behind him, the Viceroy, Towad Gimer, Peer of the Realm watched him with interest and
gave a tiny smile, nearly unnoticeable upon his pale, stony face.
Authors note: Yes that's it for chapter 2. Thanks princess for reviewing me. All hail princess!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Chapter 2
Arius Telem: the commander of the Imperial Fleet in its dying days, he was known as a
great tactical genius. His abilities to produce victories out of nothing were incomparable in those
days.
He was the last hope of the Empire whose borders were forever engaged in endless war and
whose interior bulged with rebellion. And it was in his hands that the fate of the Empire once
came...
Viceroy and Commander.
The colossal flagship of the Empire, the Puerifoy veered hard to port to avoid the incoming
blasts from the enemy warship. Space around it burst with explosions and lasers and missiles. A
war was on. On the bridge of the Puerifoy, a tall man watched an azure planet below and the
warships coming from it. Bulky relics from bygone days, the enemy ships bore the brunt of the
Imperial Fleet, they were already malfunctioning from lack of expert repairs. The Imperial Fleet
was no better off. The tall man frowned. Half of his ships were grounded due to malfunctioning of
the shields or the weapon systems or the hyperdrive itself. Expert techmen were a premium and
did the smallest repairs for grand fortunes. The days of the Empire's glory were dead. The man
frowned again.
" They are retreating commander." said the other man.
The commander nodded.
" Shall I order the fleet to follow?" the other man said.
" No!" the commander said, " It is enough for today. The crew will be tired. Move to quadrant 14-
A"
" Yes commander." the other man obeyed.
Another man came running, his face flushed," Transmission from Viceroy of the Empire Towad
Gilmer. Peer of the Realm to Commander Arius Telem, Peer of the Realm."
Arius followed him to the nearest holotrans and ordered the operator to feed him the
transmission.
A pale, skinny and tall face peered at him.
" Greetings commander! I hail you!" he said.
" Greetings viceroy!" said Arius.
" I have received news of your spectacular victory over the Fastrian Pirates and had the honor of
watching it live in holonet transmissions. The Emperor is pleased at your success.," said viceroy
Towad Gilmer.
Arius nodded," It is my duty to fight for the Empire."
Gilmer looked at him studying for a moment, and then said," My ship is bound for the Puerifoy. I
hope to meet you soon commander."
"It will be my eternal honor." Arius said.
The small transport headed towards the massive flagship. As it neared, a hatch opened and
the transport entered it and landed. The door opened and a cloaked man stepped outside to regal
ceremony. A guard-of-honor saluted him as he walked the aisle toward a tall man. The man
bowed and fell to his knees.
" Stand up commander." said the viceroy.
" Greetings viceroy." the commander Arius said.
" It gives me great pleasure to meet the Imperial commander, who has displayed such a fine
upholding of the Empire."
" It gives me great pleasure to meet the Peer of the Realm and the Emperor's Ambassador."
The Imperial Guard saluted again as the two men walked forth into the conference hall.
The conference drawled upon the aspects of the victory and the economical resources of the
region. Frankly, Arius was bored, but he could not excuse himself and had to listen to the dry
debate. Arius was a warrior, he was not interested in scholarly works, since childhood his dream
had been to be a military officer. And now, he had achieved more. He looked distrustingly upon
the viceroy.
After the conference, as the commander was leaving, Gilmer called to him.
" Have you thought about the offer Arius?" he said in a low voice.
" No viceroy, my duty is to uphol…"
" Uphold? Uphold what commander? Do you mean this space fiend cursed spineless Empire? Do
I tell you once again?" the viceroy interrupted angrily," The Empire is dead. Dead, killed,
murdered or if you please, fallen. This 'Empire' as they call it is not worth a backplanetary
province. It does not matter if it lives."
" Is it dead yet?" Arius asked," It lives on viceroy, as it has been living for the past twenty
thousand years. It has declined viceroy, but not yet fallen. It has hope. The Emperor's new
policy…"
" The Emperor?" Towad said," the Emperor is nothing but a weak, frail, oldling who has no sense
and is outrageously foolish."
Arius glanced around for any eavesdroppers.
" My dear viceroy! Answer me this. If I do somehow accept your offer, what then shall happen?"
" I am glad you are coming to your senses Arius." Said Gilmer," Yes! We will then form a
triumvirate and a new, and more powerful Empire. "
" And how do you propose to do that."
" By the space fiend! Your genius and my influence and diplomatics! They will work like a charm."
" You do not fool me viceroy! I am no fool. Your only intention is that I conquer Trantor for you, so
that you can rule the Imperial Purple after which you shall then execute me."
" No my friend Arius. I shall never even think of such thoughts. I shall need your help in the
forging of the new Empire."
" Never, Viceroy! I thought you to be a loyal and faithful man. I thought that your offer that you
made me on Kalvaten was a mere joke. But you have turned out to be a common traitor. A dreg
of the Empire. One of the foul space worms that seek to ruin what protects and feeds them."
And with a swish of his cloak, Arius Telem turned around and left with his back to the viceroy.
And behind him, the Viceroy, Towad Gimer, Peer of the Realm watched him with interest and
gave a tiny smile, nearly unnoticeable upon his pale, stony face.
Authors note: Yes that's it for chapter 2. Thanks princess for reviewing me. All hail princess!