The planetary defense network of Vulcan did not realize that they were under attack until the long range subspace relay was destroyed by a quick salvo from the Adjudicator as it flashed out of hyperspace, followed closely by the Executioner. The two Star Destroyers raced to Vulcan not stopping or slowing down at all.

The planet loomed ahead as well as the small defensive fleet that had been stationed there since the end of the Dominion war. A collection of a dozen starships were now facing the Star Destroyers.

"Status?" Drayson snapped as he stood facing the view port, hands clasped behind his back.

"We are receiving hails from the planet and the fleet in orbit."

"Let them eat static. Close in on the planet, tell the Executioner to begin the turn now, we will meet in high orbit and squeeze that fleet between us."

"Aye captain."

The planet loomed closer, the starships standing out now like bright stars. Targeting data was generated on each ship and Drayson grinned with satisfaction as he caught sight of the Executioner rapidly swinging in on the other side of the fleet. The starships began to scramble into a tight defensive position. Drayson shook his head.

"Fools." He hissed.

"Federation fleet is giving us one last chance before they are forced to open fire." The communications officer reported, a slight tremor in his voice, as if he were stifling a laugh.

Drayson smiled viciously.

"Let's not keep them waiting, open fire."

The Adjudicator coasted in close to the wall of Federation starships and suddenly a storm of green turbolaser fire erupted from her hull, followed seconds later by a devastating salvo from the Executioner.

Starships were exploding in rapid succession as their shields were instantly overwhelmed by the massive volleys, many of their captains unable to give a single order before the ships were torn completely apart. The defensive wall suddenly broke as the surviving starships pealed away from each other, streams of angry red phaser fire and photon torpedoes exploding out at the Star Destroyers.

Drayson sneered at the explosive display on his shields.

"Now they break formation?" He turned to his weapons pit. They all had looks of barely restrained joy on their faces. Drayson's aggressive nature was contagious and his crew soon shared his warlike spirit.

"Teach them what it means to oppose the Empire, boys."

"Aye captain." They replied eagerly.

"Executioner reports weapons fire from the surface, it is light and intermittent. Looks like some form of torpedo launchers."

"Tell Captain Pofed to begin orbital bombardment of defensive facilities."

"Acknowledged."

Drayson turned back to the view port in time to watch one of the starships break apart, one nacelle blasted off by a turbolaser strike, another nacelle ripped away by a flack burst from his heavy turbolasers then one last blast dead center destroyed the ship, all shots in rapid succession.

"Status of Federation defensive fleet?"

"Three starships remain, one is badly damaged and limping away, and the other two are breaking away trying to engage their warp drives."

"Keep flak fire on the fleet, it should keep them from going to warp, deploy the 14th squadron to finish them. Prepare to enter orbit and assist Executioner in the bombardment."

"Sir! Picking up transmission from provincial forces, eight starships have just come out of warp on the far side of Vulcan. They are using the planet's sensor shadow to close with us undetected."

Drayson nodded.

"Perhaps they are not completely incompetent. It matters not. Tell our allies to deal with those starships. Communications send a transmission to Vulcan."

"Ready sir."

Drayson stood imperiously, hands clasped behind his back.

"People of the planet Vulcan, you are currently under attack by forces of the Galactic Empire. In the name of the Emperor, stand down and surrender or we will commence general bombardment of your civilian population centers. Your Federation security forces have proven completely impotent against our might. Resistance will only cause millions of deaths, surrender insures survival." T'Vok had stressed that any communications with the Vulcans should lay things out logically. Their entire society seemed to be devoted to logic. What did one expect from scientists?

"You have two minutes to comply or the bombardment begins with your capital city and continues outward until the crust of your planet is ripped apart underneath your feet. Feel free to scan the ships in orbit and you will see that we have more than enough power to deliver on this threat. The time begins running as soon as this transmission is over." Drayson nodded to his communications officer and the holoimager switched off.

"We're being scanned, sir."

"Good."

"Sir, I am forced to remind you that Lord Marek was extremely clear that no attack on population or civilian facilities was authorized." His XO said lowly. Drayson nodded.

"I know, but they don't know that, Commander. If they truly honor logic they will see that they have absolutely no choice. Logical people are not suicidal."

"Sir, provincial forces are signaling that they are engaging Federation starships."

"Excellent, let's see what they can do."

Eight starships were quickly racing along Vulcan, closing rapidly with the invaders.

"This is Captain Helando, divert all power to weapons and prepare to deliver and alpha strike to the lead starship. Maybe we can knock out their shields if we catch them by surprise. Follow my lead and focus our fire on the same target. It may be our only hope in taking them down."

As the starships crossed the terminator into day a dozen enormous green warbirds shimmered into view surrounding the Federation ships.

They did not wait, the warbirds unleashed a withering barrage of fire and the Federation starships broke formation, most badly damaged, venting plasma and debris. The return fire was precise and powerful. Several warbirds were forced out of position, one was slowly plummeting down to the planet, power systems destroyed.

"Concentrate your fire on that Akira, Warclaw and Steelwing drop back and cut off the Federation avenue of escape." T'Vok ordered calmly as he deployed his fleet to counter the Federation attack. He had hoped to have struck a more decisive blow with their first salvo, but unfortunately that was not the case. Federation starships were becoming far more resilient, the D'Derix class warbirds were an aging design. Unfortunately, the Romulan Empire simply lacked the resources to replace or refit the fleet. They had nearly bankrupted themselves building the massive warbird fleet. The praetor who created this fleet had been obsessed with creating the largest ships and largest fleet in the galaxy. He had succeeded but it had crippled the empire for more than a generation.

He secretly hoped that one day, despite their shame, this Empire may pull them out of the slow decay they had suffered for so long. But they would have to be taught that Romulans were not just provincials.

One of the starships exploded as the fleet started to find its range. Several torpedoes exploded on his forward screens, rocking the ship. T'Vok held onto his command chair.

"I want this battle over, now!" He spat.

"Calling in reinforcements." His XO snapped and nodded to the communications officer. Several more warbirds declaoked further out and started immediately firing into the center of the firefight.

Soon enough, the Federation ships were reduced to debris and plasma. One starship limped along, a nacelle destroyed and a massive hole in its primary hull.

"Should we destroy it?" His XO asked.

T'Vok stared at the maimed starship. He briefly considered destroying the vessel, he had the seen the horrors inflicted on the captured starship crew back on Romulas. It would be a mercy. But he also decided that it would gain his fleet a little more respect if they could provide more sources of information for the empire.

"Finish off the engines and board her. I want to present Captain Drayson with some prisoners."

"Yes, Admiral."

To have come to this….proving to another captain that his fleet and people were worthy allies. Why did he lie to himself? We are nothing more than glorified slaves.

"Time is up in ten seconds, captain."

"Are they going to call our bluff?" His XO asked.

"If they decide to, then we'll have to do this the hard way. Are the assault transports loaded and ready?"

"Yes captain."

"Captain, transmission from the planet's surface."

"Go ahead."

"This is Jaren of Vulcan. Your weapons are indeed powerful enough to do as you threaten, our defensive fleet has been destroyed in an unprecedented and unwarranted act of violence." "Just get to the point." Drayson muttered to himself. "We therefore see no other logical alternative than to surrender in order to avoid genocidal actions on your part. We are standing down and switching off all defensive systems. However, I do have one concern."

Drayson arched an eyebrow. He nodded to his communications officer who opened a channel.

"This is Captain Drayson, please relate this concern, and be quick about it. If you are trying to buy time for those eight starships to round your planet be advised that our provincial forces have dealt with them." Tarsi replied curtly.

"Captain Drayson, we are well aware of the Romulan treachery in this action, however my concern is more of a long term one. Considering that your society obviously has no care about civilian populations and the casualties your actions may cause we are concerned that our population will suffer horribly when Starfleet counterattacks begin. You must realize that this action will be considered an act of war by the United Federation of Planets and they will react accordingly."

"I am aware of the possibility of counterattack and in fact welcome the chance to vaporize more of your valiant Starfleet." Drayson replied coldly.

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line as if the response had been unexpected.

"The question then turns to retaliation."

"Ah, you are concerned that we will retaliate against your population should the Federation attack?"

"Correct."

"Do not be concerned, Jaren, once an enemy system has surrendered to the Empire we consider you part of our territory. Your people and world will be protected by the Imperial fleet from now on. And I assure you, we will do a far better job than your ineffectual Starfleet." Drayson replied.

"I see. Then there is nothing else to discuss. Vulcan surrenders to your forces." Jaren replied coolly. There was no sense of emotion in his inflection. Perhaps the Romulans had not been exaggerating when they said the Vulcans had abandoned emotion in lieu of logic.

"Excellent. Prepare to receive our forces which will commence landing operations immediately. We will have a list of scientists and mathematicians, your world's finest I believe. They are to report to your largest science facility for a special project that is to commence immediately. Inform your citizens to go on with their lives as they have before, the only thing that will change for now are the flags fluttering overhead, otherwise you are now a protectorate of the Galactic Empire."

"It shall be done. Jaren out."

Drayson stood quietly for a moment, head bowed in thought.

"Sir?"

"Victory, my friend, a bloodless one at that. An entire world taken, our cause advances and we are one step closer to being home."

"Then why do you look so glum?" His XO asked.

Drayson scowled.

"There is no challenge. We slaughtered them like children. I've had better fights against half starved rebels then against this "Starfleet"." He spat the word like venom. He turned and looked out the view port at the world he had just won for the Empire.

"Is there no one in this galaxy that can challenge me?"