High above the surface of the stricken planet, Ko-Door smirked down upon
the steadily expanding halo of flames that was radiating out from the blast
centre. Those fools down there would no doubt already be scared out of
their wits. This would be easier than he had previously thought.
"Send out a message to Planet Mobius. Deliver to them the terms of their surrender."
One of the Drakons operating the massive ship looked up questioningly.
"My Lord. What if they do not accept?"
"Well then," laughed Ko-Door. "Then we wipe them and their pathetic planet off the face of existence. Don't we?"
---
The declaration rang out across the planet even as the stunned population watched the news clips depicting he vaporisation of Starlight City. Across the planet, millions watched as the gnarled visage of Emperor Ko-Door flickered onto their screens.
"Citizens of Mobius," hissed the warlike Drakon. "Your planet has now been blockaded by the ships of the First Drakonian Armada. You have observed the example we have set. Our demands are simple. We demand the immediate handing over of the Chaos Emeralds, and the apprehension of all those connected with them. If you do not comply within the next 24 hours, we will begin landings on your planet. There will be no surrender from that point on. Make your choice."
The image flickered off, and the echoes left by the booming transmission quickly dissipated, to be left with the stunned silence as the enormity of the past hour's events sank into the minds of the populace.
Then the panic started.
Huge mobs of terrified Mobians marched on the Mobian Government buildings, panic driving their actions, as they demanded that the government fulfil the terms of surrender immediately. Within the next hour, the membership of Doomsday Cults in Metropolis City alone quadrupled, as the blind terror drove many insane.
The first battle of the War had been won by the Drakons, for the moment. The battle of morale.
---
High above, on the Floating Island, the last transmission flickered and disappeared. All eyes simultaneously turned to Pochacamac, who was leaning on his staff more heavily than ever. After a long pause, the ancient Echidna spoke.
"This could be bad. The Drakons seek to undermine our support in the populace. Ready the Guardian Transports. We depart immediately for the Mobian Government."
---
Ko-Door leant back in his gilded Command Chair, smiling quietly to himself. He knew these creatures. The Echidnas would never have fallen for a ploy like that. They would have fought on until the end. However, they were dead now. Only two of their race remained to his knowledge, and the once-proud race had been replaced by the cowardly Mobians. Those self- serving, timid scum would not debate whether to accept for long.
The war was all but won already.
---
The skies above Metropolis were now empty, save for ten small shapes drifting down upon the terrified capital. The shapes slowly came into focus as they cleared the low cloud layer over the city; a remnant of Robotnik's tyrannical rule. Bulbous golden heads sat upon the lithe robotic bodies, attacked to thin sheets of Metagel Fabric; light, but tough enough to withstand most threats. Gliding down towards the Metropolis Parliament, the shapes lowered their wings and dropped silently to the roof of the building, pausing only momentarily to regain their balance after the fall.
The heads flipped open with a hiss of escaping air, revealing the occupants: Sonic, Tails, Amy, Porker, Pochacamac, Knuckles, Tikal and three Echidna Warriors. Leaping to the concrete rooftop, Sonic made towards the access ladder to the building.
"This leads directly to the Presidents Office. At least, if you have the clearance."
---
Around five minutes later, the Prime Minister of Metropolis City found himself viewing his ten new visitors over his office table. Sonic the Hedgehog himself had been enough to secure clearance for the group, but the Prime Minister was not too sure about the Echidnas' motives. Still, he had seen enough in the last few hours to prepare him for almost anything. When a city of a million people is wiped out in the blink of an eye with no warning and no resistance, you tend to stop asking questions.
"I cannot do this, Chieftain," the Prime Minister said, levering himself out of his chair. "I cannot knowingly lead my country into a war we cannot win."
The Echidna leader slammed his fist down on the desk again, causing the PM's coffee mug to dance across the polished surface. "Dammit, man!" he said, through gritted teeth. "I have been over this before. The Drakons have no concept of mercy. If you surrender, they will simply take what they want with no resistance, then use the spoils of their victory to scorch this country bare!"
"You cannot know this!" shouted the PM, drawing himself up to his full height.
"Do not assume that I have no idea of what I do," hissed Pochacamac. "Do not assume I speak these words lightly!"
For a few tense seconds, the two leaders faced each other across the room. Shaking his head, Pochacamac began to speak once more.
"The Drakons first attacked my home two days after the Emerald Dawn festival. They had obviously been monitoring this world for some time, as they knew exactly what they were after. Their first move was a declaration of war, accompanied by the obliteration of Mount Emstrata through orbital bombardment." He sighed as if recalling some hideous memory.
"At that time, Mobius was ruled from the ancient city of Echidnaopolis, on the Southern Continent. This city guarded the Sacred Emerald Mines, and was protected by several powerful shield generators, powered by the energy of the emeralds within the mines. My father ruled over this city, along with a Council of Elders, and it was he who first received the Drakonian declaration, and the terms by which the Echidnas would be allowed to lay down their arms."
"My father was no fool. He knew that we Echidnas, with spears and rocks could not defeat this power. Not even with the help of the Guardian Robots. And so, he accepted the Drakon terms and prepared to surrender. One of the terms of surrender was the deactivation of Echidnaopolis' shield generators."
"As soon as the shield collapsed, the Drakons opened fire. Aiming at key points in the city, the bombardment obliterated the capital, spared the Emerald Mines, and killed my father and the Council in a cataclysmic eruption of energy from the damaged power systems underneath the city itself."
"I was spared by the simple fact that I was out hunting on the Hill Top volcano when the Drakons destroyed my home. From that moment on, I knew there would be no escape. The Drakons would kill us simply for existing. I became the leader of the Echidnas from that moment on. I will never forgive the Drakon Empire for its betrayal of our trust. Never. And they will do that here, given the chance. Just as they have done on countless other worlds. Your only chance is to fight."
The PM stood glaring at the elder Echidna for a few moments more, before falling back into his chair with a defeated sigh.
"You win, Chieftain," he said. "We have been going at this for over an hour, and I have seen too much today to doubt your words. You have won. Planet Mobius is now at war with the Drakon Empire."
---
Ko-Door looked up from his favourite pastime, sketching out the numerous ways his enemies would die, as Judge Mo-Toan walked over, an enthusiastic smile lighting his features.
"What is it, Judge?" hissed Ko-Door. Mo-Taen's features lit up.
"The Mobians have rejected the terms, Emperor," he said, gleefully. "They have declared war on the Drakon Empire."
"Excellent," said Ko-Door. "I wouldn't want my soldiers to be deprived of their fun."
"What should be done, Sir?" asked the Judge. Ko-Door smiled. He could see that the burly Drakon was barely keeping an urge to jump up and down in joy under control.
"Why, put Plan Mandra into action, of course," said Ko-Door. The Judge nodded quickly in thanks, and then near ran back to his post.
Ko-Door smiled. Finally, his plans were coming to fruition. Soon, the Emeralds would be his, and his alone.
Planet Drak could burn for all he cared. Power was all he craved.
It was time for a new age. An Age of Power. An Age of Conquest.
An Age of Chaos.
"Send out a message to Planet Mobius. Deliver to them the terms of their surrender."
One of the Drakons operating the massive ship looked up questioningly.
"My Lord. What if they do not accept?"
"Well then," laughed Ko-Door. "Then we wipe them and their pathetic planet off the face of existence. Don't we?"
---
The declaration rang out across the planet even as the stunned population watched the news clips depicting he vaporisation of Starlight City. Across the planet, millions watched as the gnarled visage of Emperor Ko-Door flickered onto their screens.
"Citizens of Mobius," hissed the warlike Drakon. "Your planet has now been blockaded by the ships of the First Drakonian Armada. You have observed the example we have set. Our demands are simple. We demand the immediate handing over of the Chaos Emeralds, and the apprehension of all those connected with them. If you do not comply within the next 24 hours, we will begin landings on your planet. There will be no surrender from that point on. Make your choice."
The image flickered off, and the echoes left by the booming transmission quickly dissipated, to be left with the stunned silence as the enormity of the past hour's events sank into the minds of the populace.
Then the panic started.
Huge mobs of terrified Mobians marched on the Mobian Government buildings, panic driving their actions, as they demanded that the government fulfil the terms of surrender immediately. Within the next hour, the membership of Doomsday Cults in Metropolis City alone quadrupled, as the blind terror drove many insane.
The first battle of the War had been won by the Drakons, for the moment. The battle of morale.
---
High above, on the Floating Island, the last transmission flickered and disappeared. All eyes simultaneously turned to Pochacamac, who was leaning on his staff more heavily than ever. After a long pause, the ancient Echidna spoke.
"This could be bad. The Drakons seek to undermine our support in the populace. Ready the Guardian Transports. We depart immediately for the Mobian Government."
---
Ko-Door leant back in his gilded Command Chair, smiling quietly to himself. He knew these creatures. The Echidnas would never have fallen for a ploy like that. They would have fought on until the end. However, they were dead now. Only two of their race remained to his knowledge, and the once-proud race had been replaced by the cowardly Mobians. Those self- serving, timid scum would not debate whether to accept for long.
The war was all but won already.
---
The skies above Metropolis were now empty, save for ten small shapes drifting down upon the terrified capital. The shapes slowly came into focus as they cleared the low cloud layer over the city; a remnant of Robotnik's tyrannical rule. Bulbous golden heads sat upon the lithe robotic bodies, attacked to thin sheets of Metagel Fabric; light, but tough enough to withstand most threats. Gliding down towards the Metropolis Parliament, the shapes lowered their wings and dropped silently to the roof of the building, pausing only momentarily to regain their balance after the fall.
The heads flipped open with a hiss of escaping air, revealing the occupants: Sonic, Tails, Amy, Porker, Pochacamac, Knuckles, Tikal and three Echidna Warriors. Leaping to the concrete rooftop, Sonic made towards the access ladder to the building.
"This leads directly to the Presidents Office. At least, if you have the clearance."
---
Around five minutes later, the Prime Minister of Metropolis City found himself viewing his ten new visitors over his office table. Sonic the Hedgehog himself had been enough to secure clearance for the group, but the Prime Minister was not too sure about the Echidnas' motives. Still, he had seen enough in the last few hours to prepare him for almost anything. When a city of a million people is wiped out in the blink of an eye with no warning and no resistance, you tend to stop asking questions.
"I cannot do this, Chieftain," the Prime Minister said, levering himself out of his chair. "I cannot knowingly lead my country into a war we cannot win."
The Echidna leader slammed his fist down on the desk again, causing the PM's coffee mug to dance across the polished surface. "Dammit, man!" he said, through gritted teeth. "I have been over this before. The Drakons have no concept of mercy. If you surrender, they will simply take what they want with no resistance, then use the spoils of their victory to scorch this country bare!"
"You cannot know this!" shouted the PM, drawing himself up to his full height.
"Do not assume that I have no idea of what I do," hissed Pochacamac. "Do not assume I speak these words lightly!"
For a few tense seconds, the two leaders faced each other across the room. Shaking his head, Pochacamac began to speak once more.
"The Drakons first attacked my home two days after the Emerald Dawn festival. They had obviously been monitoring this world for some time, as they knew exactly what they were after. Their first move was a declaration of war, accompanied by the obliteration of Mount Emstrata through orbital bombardment." He sighed as if recalling some hideous memory.
"At that time, Mobius was ruled from the ancient city of Echidnaopolis, on the Southern Continent. This city guarded the Sacred Emerald Mines, and was protected by several powerful shield generators, powered by the energy of the emeralds within the mines. My father ruled over this city, along with a Council of Elders, and it was he who first received the Drakonian declaration, and the terms by which the Echidnas would be allowed to lay down their arms."
"My father was no fool. He knew that we Echidnas, with spears and rocks could not defeat this power. Not even with the help of the Guardian Robots. And so, he accepted the Drakon terms and prepared to surrender. One of the terms of surrender was the deactivation of Echidnaopolis' shield generators."
"As soon as the shield collapsed, the Drakons opened fire. Aiming at key points in the city, the bombardment obliterated the capital, spared the Emerald Mines, and killed my father and the Council in a cataclysmic eruption of energy from the damaged power systems underneath the city itself."
"I was spared by the simple fact that I was out hunting on the Hill Top volcano when the Drakons destroyed my home. From that moment on, I knew there would be no escape. The Drakons would kill us simply for existing. I became the leader of the Echidnas from that moment on. I will never forgive the Drakon Empire for its betrayal of our trust. Never. And they will do that here, given the chance. Just as they have done on countless other worlds. Your only chance is to fight."
The PM stood glaring at the elder Echidna for a few moments more, before falling back into his chair with a defeated sigh.
"You win, Chieftain," he said. "We have been going at this for over an hour, and I have seen too much today to doubt your words. You have won. Planet Mobius is now at war with the Drakon Empire."
---
Ko-Door looked up from his favourite pastime, sketching out the numerous ways his enemies would die, as Judge Mo-Toan walked over, an enthusiastic smile lighting his features.
"What is it, Judge?" hissed Ko-Door. Mo-Taen's features lit up.
"The Mobians have rejected the terms, Emperor," he said, gleefully. "They have declared war on the Drakon Empire."
"Excellent," said Ko-Door. "I wouldn't want my soldiers to be deprived of their fun."
"What should be done, Sir?" asked the Judge. Ko-Door smiled. He could see that the burly Drakon was barely keeping an urge to jump up and down in joy under control.
"Why, put Plan Mandra into action, of course," said Ko-Door. The Judge nodded quickly in thanks, and then near ran back to his post.
Ko-Door smiled. Finally, his plans were coming to fruition. Soon, the Emeralds would be his, and his alone.
Planet Drak could burn for all he cared. Power was all he craved.
It was time for a new age. An Age of Power. An Age of Conquest.
An Age of Chaos.