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[center][h2]The Luak Tae Hegemony[/h2][/center][hr][hr]


The Crown-World of the Hegemony was still and quiet above the concrete grid of bureaucratic buildings. Even the ornamental forests that dotted the rooftops and terraces, oaks and long-spined elms, refused to shake in the gently blowing wind. Rings of artificial rivers dripped silently into still ponds and lakes, cast in shadow by the endless divisions of buildings, skywalks and airstrips. Fighters in groups of two or three, streaked silently across the sky on patrol, black clouds in a spotless sky. Men and women in the the grey and white uniform of Hegemony staff hurried from building to building. A shuttlecraft, black as earth and deadly looking blazed between the buildings, carrying Sky Marshal Hoon Sai accompanied by his assistants and personal guards. The Marshal sat comfortably beside a viewport, gazing down at the endless sprawl of Hegemony government buildings. 

Hoon Sai knew that beneath this calm scene a flurry of activity was occuring. Tens of thousands of politicians and bureacrats would be racing to keep track of the endless work of Hegemony rule. The Marshal's mind raced as well. It was not the same as the anger he had felt upon recieving word of the death of Admiral Toyun, his mentor and friend so many years ago. It was a numbness-not quite calm that gripped his mind. The regrets came and went, same as they always had, even before the war. But the drugs prescribed by Hegemony doctors, and the empathic therapy and indoctrination that came with the job helped. 

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[i]"You have a look of worry about you, Rear Admiral Hoon," Toyun had said at the late Hegemony Lord's estate. Later that evening, Lord Toyun was scheduled to depart for neutral space on a diplomatic mission to negotiate a peace between the Mandate and the Llyr Empire. The pair walked a path through an ornate garden of willows and elms, a luxury Toyun had prided himself on. "I understand your misgivings on this matter, Hoon," Toyun stopped and gazed up at a particularly old tree. The gnarled trunk had curved curiously out over the path, perhaps an oversight by the landscaping detail. "I have let this tree grow as it wishes, Hoon. As a reminder that despite all of our meddling in the universe, we cannot control everything. The galaxy is a garden, Hoon. It will overtake all of us." Toyun continued along the path, ducking beneath the trunk of the tree. "I wonder," said Hoon Sai, catching up to Lord Toyun, "If by allowing the tree to grow as it wills, are you not meddling?" A wide grin spread across Toyuns face. "Perhaps," he said. His smile thinned and disappeared, his face settling in a grim expression. [/i]

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Hoon Sai had never secured an heir. Never married. Never courted or pursued any serious relationship. There was simply 'the career' in the Hegemony Navy. There were, of course, whispers behind his back-[i]such a strange practice in a society rife with nepotism...[/i]. For others, it was a dedication to the Hegemony that was unparalleled, and had possibly helped secur his confirmation as Sky Marshal after the assassination of Lord Toyun. At least that is the story Hoon Sai would tell himself. The Kill-Squads dispatched to remove his...'political obstacles' were highly effective, Sai smiled to himself. Lord Toyun would agree. It was not as if there was any alternative, he thought, and he was the most capable of directing the Naval Forces of the Hegemony in the coming storm.   

"Excuse me Marshal Hoon," said a young man. Hoon Sai broke from his reverie and sighed. 

"Yes, what is it Pak?" said Hoon, glaring at his assistant. 

"Sorry to interrupt Sky Marshal Hoon, but we've nearly arrived at the port. I've been informed by Diplomatic Ministry that the Representatives to the Galactic Council will be greeting you on the airstrip before boarding the [i]Zaitsubu[/i]." 

"Thank you Pak," said Hoon. Pak gave a slight bow and took a seat behind the Marshal. Already Hoon could feel the shuttle begin to descend, leaning sharply to land at the spaceport. As the shuttle crept closer, Hoon could make out a small gathering on the landing strip. Armed guards of the Hegemony Marines encircled a cluster of bureaucrats, there black helmets gleaming in the morning sun.  

 Behind them was the Cruiser [i]Zaitsubu[/i], that dwarfed the buildings around it. From bow to stern, the cruiser was several hundred meters long, sleek and menacing. The bridge was set slightly back from the center of the vessel and glowed with the light of activity. Dozens of support vehicles were busy loading supplies, arms and munitions aboard the ship. A long battlescar mid-ship dug into the black hull from keel to deck, patched with an alloy of complicated metals. The battles were over for now, but the scars remained. 

Of the ships that survived the War, it would be difficult to find one that had not seen action, had not suffered the brutality of those battles. Even the Ship-Forge of the Hegemony, renamed in honor of Hoon's fallen mentor, Toyun I, was badly damaged. Investigations were still pending to determine how exactly a Golgothan terrorist had managed to detonate one of the torpedoes aboard the Cruiser [i]Legend[/i], sending a chain reaction that nearly wiped out the entire 4th reserve fleet. Supreme Leader Haek would be overseeing reconstruction efforts personally, despite Hoon's insistence that he manage the reconstruction efforts. In all his wisdom, Supreme Leader Haek insisted that Sky Marshal Hoon lead the delegation to the Galactic Council. "For who has a better understanding of our enemies than you, Marshal Hoon Sai?" the leaders words were a great honor to hear. 

When the craft finally came to a halt, the Sky Marshal waited for the security check alarms to sound giving the all clear and then exited the shuttle.  Among the dark haired diplomats was a man with dusky-brown hair, The brightly colored and byzantine-patterned robes of the man stood in stark contrast to the representatives dressed in black and grey.  

[i]Conwyn Brithwyr nae Llyr[/i], thought Hoon. An ambassador from the Llyr Empire stationed on Chohun at the outbreak of the Golgothan invasion, Conwyn had taken the name of the fallen empire in rememberance. The Hegemony had granted many Llyr refugees sanctuary on the outer agrarian planets and put them to work, but only Conwyn and his family had been allowed to remain on Chohun IV. 

"Greetings Representative Conwyn Llyr," said Hoon extending the salute of the Hegemony. Conwyn Brithwyr awkwardly returned the salute and then extended his hand for a shake in the Llyr manner. Hoon grasped it firmly. 

"It is an honor, Sky Marshal Hoon; We have much to discuss." 

"In time Conwyn, let's get aboard the [i]Zaitsubu[/i] first."