[h3][u][b]Ecumene of Holy Orion - Onboard ECS [i]Righteous Truth[/i] , 1st Fleet of Faithful Intent[/b][/u][/h3]

A shadow cast itself over the planet below as the massive Heavy Carrier [i]Righteous Truth[/i], pride of the Ecumene Navy, loomed in low orbit overhead. Stationed within the 1st Fleet of Faithful Intent alongside seven other Heavy Carriers and dozens of smaller Ecumene Corvettes, the [i]Righteous Truth[/i] served as the fleet’s flagship and a mobile command center for Ecumene High Command, particularly the elite priests of The Conclave, whenever they left the Ecumene’s homeworld: Orion Prime. 

The bridge of the [i]Righteous Truth[/i] was sprawling, with various consoles and terminals manned by a small army of pilots. At the forefront of the bridge stood [url=https://i.imgur.com/XkWz00U.jpg]Admiral-Lord Talaran[/url], Commander of The Ecumene Navy and the 1st Fleet silently observing the planet below. Since arriving in orbit above the Planet Cygnus V, the 1st Fleet had maintained a threatening stance, but not an outright hostile one. Even without explicit warning, the intent was clear and it was well known what an Ecumene Carrier group was capable of when it came to orbital bombardment. Negotiations had already been opened between Cygnus and the Ecumene, and a delegation of the planet’s representative had been welcomed onboard only hours before to meet with one of The Ecumene’s High Priests. Meeting with a member of The Conclave was out of the question for such a relatively minor negotiation, and so a High Priest had been sent in their stead who was high enough ranked to ensure the delegation would not be insulted. 

Lord Talaran shifted easily on the bridge, not out of nervousness or apprehension but out of general boredom. The bureaucratic intricacies of the Priesthood of Orion never interested him. His concern, first and foremost, was leading his fleet in battle. Should negotiations fail he would be given the word to start the assault and that was what he was waiting for. He would not have to wait long. 

The doors to the bridge behind him slid open with a soft hiss and High-Priest Raynald stepped inside, the elderly priest leaned heavily on his sacred staff of office and was trailing a long tail of fine robes behind him. 

“And?” Was all Talaran said. The question was implicit.

“They agreed to all of our terms.”

“Good. And so what are...”

“Except one,” The High Priest interrupted, “I tried deeply to explain how the faith of Orion was incompatible with their primitive social structure and how The Mantle of Orion could only be held by humanity as our divinely ordained duty and right. They were unconvinced.”

“How unfortunate,” Talaran said flatly, not even attempting to hide his disinterest. 

“Indeed. I suspect that the non-human elements of the planet are too ingrained into its power structure. On worlds with a predominantly human population, this is never an issue. We will have to liberate them from their Alien oppressors.”

“I see.”

“Lord Talaran, Cygnus V planetary defense fleet is inbound.” One of the bridge pilots stated. 

Talaran turned back towards the bridge and could see the rapidly approaching hostile fleet in the distance, “That was quick,” He murmured, “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say they may have been using the negotiations to stall for time….”

The High Priest simply shrugged, “Perhaps. Such is the treacherous nature of the non-human.”

Talaran sighed and then began walking down towards the front of the bridge, as he did so, he relayed his commands, “All  Carriers open fire, target lead vessels. Corvette strike groups Alpha through Delta move to intercept. Fighters and assault craft standby for boarding actions.”

“Yes sir.”

“Strange, it's almost like you were expecting this Lord Talaran,” The High-Priest said, and while his face was covered with his ornate mask, it wasn’t hard to discern that he was probably grinning, “Have you so little faith in our diplomacy?”

Talaran ignored the comment and continued focusing on the fight at hand. At his word, the Ecumene Heavy Carriers began opening up with their forward guns. As might be expected, the bombardment was devastating as it tore through the enemy fleet. The targeted forward vessels were almost immediately destroyed by the Heavy Carrier’s firepower but the smaller light frigates continued their push towards the Ecumene’s battlegroup unfazed in an almost suicidal gambit. The Corvettes as per the battle plan moved to intercept these vessels. The Corvettes were far more suited to this close ship-to-ship action than the Carriers were, and quickly disabled or dispatched the majority of the enemy ships. The few remaining halted their advance, knowing that further resistance was wasteful at this point. Talaran had been wondering if perhaps there was a hidden objective to this ferocious surprise attack, which is why he’d kept the majority of the Corvette groups in reserve, but it seems there had not been. It had simply been the last ditch effort of a strong people unwilling to accept surrender without a fight. 

“Admiral, incoming communication from one of the Cygnus ships.”

Talaran nodded and looked up at the holographic projection that appeared on the center of the bridge. The image shown was that of a blue-tinged humanoid female with long wisps of tentacle-like appendages where normally might be human hair. 

[i]A Laaadaruuan perhaps?[/i] Talaran wondered, [i]Or perhaps an offshoot species? Difficult to say. [/i]

“We surrender,” The alien captain began, “You can cease your attacks. We’ll offer no more resistance.”

“I accept your surrender,” Talaran replied politely, “Stand down and have your crews prepare for boarding. I will dispatch boarding parties to all remaining vessels to accept your surrender in person and to disarm combatants.”

“Very well,” the captain replied, and with a slight bow, she ended the communication leaving Talaran to turn back to the High-Priest.

“Send for my guard,” Talaran ordered one of his assistants who was awaiting instructions nearby, “I’ll be meeting with the fleet commander.”

“An expected outcome. Pitiful resistance really, “When will these lesser lifeforms learn that humanity’s place is to act as guides and to lead them to the fulfillment of Orion’s Great Plan? So much violence could be avoided if this was just accepted.”

“They fought valiantly,” Talaran replied matter-of-factly to the High-Priest, “In the face of ignoble defeat, they chose to fight with the slim chance of victory rather than allow themselves to be subdued. I can respect that, even admire it.”

“You always did have strange eccentricities Admiral-Lord Talaran. Were it not for the exceptional favor you’ve curried with the Archpriestess and your exemplary service to the Ecumene, I might wonder if you were a heretic.”

“Respecting the tenacity of a well-fought adversary isn’t heresy. It's a matter of honor.”

“Be sure that respect does not morph into something more….radical.” The High-Priest gave a final warning as Talaran moved to step-off the bridge.

“Noted my lord Priest,” Talaran said as the doors began to close. He barely contained his insolent tone. Technically a High-Priest of Raynald’s age and experience was above him in rank, but it went without saying that he disagreed with that assessment personally. He would never admit it openly, but there were many times where he preferred to deal with enemy commanders, even non-human ones, rather than suffer through a meeting with one of Orion’s elite Priests. He imagined that this would be one of those times as well. 

“Time to see if I’m correct…” he muttered to himself as he hit the button on the elevator to take him down to the hangar bays.