Empire at War

DATELINE SITH STAR

This morning, Queen Rin herself reported that the Empire has been attacked and is now in a state of war.

"It is with profound personal regret that we confirm the planet Tenupe has been forcibly captured by the Vagaari Empire, and its Consul, Tesshen Manytrek, has been killed," the Queen said to a packed press conference. She later added, "The Empire will not tolerate attacks on its citizens. Tenupe will be retaken, and the Vagaari will be brought to justice."

The Queen urged vigilance for nearby worlds and pledged that "the Armada will stand as a shield between all members of the Empire and those who would do them harm."

The conquest of Tenupe, a primarily-Chiss world, heightens tensions which have been brewing for four years, since the Empire conquered and absorbed the Chiss Ascendancy. Though not one of the "Twenty-Eight Colonies" which made up the core of the Ascendancy, Tenupe had been a Chiss possession for over a century.

Though the Vagaari Empire has not previously presented a threat to the Golden Empire, it is well-known and loathed by the Chiss. Sources on Csilla stated wars between the Chiss and the Vagaari stretch back centuries; one source attached to the fabled Expeditionary Library as a historian and researcher described the Vagaari as "barbarous slavers".

"The tactics of the Vagaari throughout history have been 'raid', 'enslave', and 'employ sentient shields'," said Dr. Chaf'enne'corsi. "They are an unscrupulous race of monsters and madmen."

Asked how he thinks the Armada will fare against the Vagaari, Chaf'enne'corsi observed only, "Tenupe has already fallen."

Sources on Baes, Waldragos, and Iscandar have noted movement of capital ships consistent with large-scale deployment, leading to speculation the Queen intends massive retaliation. The Royal government issued a statement following the Queen's press conference in which it said Lord Sakaros, Prefect of the Order of Keltrayu and Prime Legate of the Armada, will hold a more detailed conference in the coming week.

As the Empire shifts to war footing, many are mourning the fallen on Tenupe. Chiss throughout the former Ascendancy worlds have gathered to express their sorrow for the dead or captured occupants of Tenupe, and Armada recruiting offices are already reporting an unprecedented surge in Chiss contacts regarding enlistment in the armed forces since the news of Tenupe's fall became public.

"I don't find it altogether surprising," said Eyl'yoth'amrala, a Chiss contributor at the Center for Chiss Policy. "Many former servicebeings of the [Chiss] Expansionary Defense Force had no desire to serve in the very military force which had defeated the CEDF, but the Vagaari represent an existential threat."

He also seemed more confident in the Empire's ability to defeat the alien slavers.

"The CEDF defeated the Vagaari, and the Armada defeated the CEDF," Eyl'yoth'amrala noted. "The Chiss Ascendancy historically pursued a policy of self-defense, with massive retaliation only as needed to eliminate a threat. When the Vagaari escaped to their territory, they were allowed to do so.  The Empire has no such scruples, and I think the Vagaari will rue the day they challenged the Empire."

Amidst the military surge and the mourning for the dead, some have expressed particular mourning for Tesshen Manytrek, the late Consul of Tenupe. A Centurion and former Consul of Dolomir who assisted in the process of incorporating the Chiss worlds into the Empire before taking his consular seat on Tenupe, Manytrek was widely respected in the Royal government, by his fellow Centurions, and even by the Chiss he governed.

"Manytrek is fair; it is the occupation that is unfair," said Chiss Saf'olee'norca last year.

News First Mezlagob will continue to monitor the Empire's preparations for retaliation against the Vagaari and recovery of Tenupe.