[b]Roguen IV. Roguen System. Karaldia Oversector.
[/b]
Colonel Maximilian Sepalev strode through the corridors of the Chimerian Royal Palace, five figures in yellow armor and masks behind him while all around the blue-clad soldiers of Baron-General Herren rushed through the hallways, moving to crush the last remnants of the Royal Guard still fighting inside the palace complex. 

Not that their resistance mattered anymore. The rebels had taken control of the capital already, and with it the vital center of the Chimerian communications and logistics network. The King was dead, the Queen would soon follow and their spawn was safely locked away awaiting execution. The rest of the planet was also secured, its garrison commanded by officers loyal to the Baron-General. 

With the capital under their control it would be a question of days until the rest of Chimeria fell in line. Mere days until the official authorization came in allowing the 319th Army Group of General Shikai to cross into Chimeria. And from there strike at the rest of the Oversector.  Yes, the Colonel thought with contentment, Roguen IV will be the biggest stepping stone on the Path of Enlightenment for Karaldia.

Sepalev finally reached the throne room, signs of battle still apparent everywhere. The soldiers standing guard before the ornate golden door saluted him but did not opened the door. Sepalev glared at them from beneath his mask.

“I'm sorry, sir.” One of the finally spoke up. “But the Baron-General is announcing the new order of things to the masses. Nobody gets in until his lordship is finished talking to the plebs.”

Sepalev nodded slightly but did not move. The five soldiers behind him also remaining perfectly still as the Chimerian troops tried to not make their discomfort show.

Sepalev and his retinue stood in front of the door waiting still and silent as statues for 20 minutes (or rather, Sepalev continued to give orders and receive updates through the integrated communication device in his helmet) as the self-proclaimed new ruler of Chimeria spoke to the people of the Kingdom about the righteousness of his cause and other tiresome discourse to justify his coup. There wasn't much point to it, as far as Sepalev was concerned, the Chimerian aristocracy was infamous through the entire Oversector for its decadence and disregard for the well being of its people. The masses held no true loyalty to their distant and cruel monarchs. All Herren had to do was not be worse than his predecessor and the people would create no problems.

But then again, the threat didn't come from the masses but from the Chimerian elite. Dukes, Countesses,  Admirals and Marshals who had much to lose with this regime change. Though even they wouldn't be able to do much overtly with Herren holding the capital and the loyalty of the armed forces. And once General Shikai's forces arrived there would be no hope for them.

“Sir.” The guard finally spoke as the others opened the doors to the throne room. “His lordship is ready to see you.” 

Sepalev walked in. 

General-Baron Carl-Emil Larsen Herren The Third still sat on the bejeweled golden throne, looking incredibly pleased with himself as the media crew worked to dismount the transmission equipment. He turned towards the new arrivals. Smiling as he almost pranced his way towards the Colonel.

“Roguen is ours, my good Colonel!” He cheered, extending a gloved hand towards Sepalev, who took it. “Admiral Rogriss has just declared his support for my new regime and Count Priamzl has brought the border garrisons' loyalty with him.”

“Then I shall let General Shikai know. He will move at once. You better prepare the necessary arrangements, the 319th is a rather large force.” Sepalev paused. “By Chimerian standards.”
“Of course. I shall send the orders. Your troops will lack for nothing while in Chimeria.” Herren's smile strained almost imperceptibly. “And I assume the good General is bringing with him the relief convoys?”

“Yes.” Sepalev replied. “Enough to buy you the loyalty of your peasants for the duration of the war and make them accept our presence here.”

“Wonderful!” Herren replied, his smile turning into a predatory grin. “Now that the situation is under control why don't we pay the Royal Family a visit? I'm sure they would love to learn first hand about Enlightenment.”

[b]ENS Lama Drup. En route to Earth.[/b]

Sub-Commissar of External Matters Liu Jian sat by the table in the corner of his sparsely furnished bedroom. The sleeve of his right arm lifted up to the elbow while his left hand carefully inserted the syringe into his vein. The chemical solution flooded through his body, making him feel a faint burning sensation all over his body. This was a common practice among some members of the Enlightened State. Mostly those more dedicated than the average to the Quest for Enlightenment who felt that they needed more than what the usual treatments could provide. 

In Lian's case, the fanatical dedication was coupled with an anomalous high pain threshold. Which more often than not allowed him to go beyond the usual self-inflicted pain methods as much as he could get away with. And as long as it didn't interfere with his official duties, his superiors saw his dedication as something to be praised.

Said dedication was what had earned him to command of this diplomatic mission. That and the covert influence of the other members of the Eightfold Path. For them, it was a win-win situation, if the talks failed then it was expected (the Ministries hadn't even bothered announcing the conference to the masses) and the worst Jian had to fear was a stint in the sensory deprivation chambers. But if he somehow managed to secure an advantageous deal for the State, the invisible game of influence inside the halls of power would shift in favor of the Eightfold Path. Something they desperately needed with Jigwei bringing Enlightenment to Karaldia as if it was a walk through the park.

The burning in his veins had already faded. Always too fast and never strong enough, Jian would have to look into getting something stronger eventually. He turned his attention back towards the datapad over the table. This particular file related to the whole “cultural exchange” aspect of this mission. Truth be told, Jian doubted he would be able to achieve anything concrete on this front. The masses almost always rejected Enlightenment if given the choice, preferring the false comforts and crass pleasures of the material world over true Enlightenment. That's why in most cases Enlightenment had to be forced upon a population, the State was the only entity capable of breaking a people and rebuilding it according to the proper teachings.  

But then again, it's not like anyone actually expected him to achieve anything anyways.