1 Prologue

Ever since I was young, I had always loved looking up at the night sky and staring at the bright twinkling lights that decorated it. My fascination with stars most likely came about due to my father's interest in astrophysics that was passionate enough to leave a strong impression on my five year old self. He had told me that it was always his dream to become the first person to "sail the star sea" as he always said. However, his occupation as a politician of our planet, Teuloc, left him with little time to pursue his hobby.

Thus, it was no surprise that he had left twelve year old me with his favourite telescope which he had used as a child, entrusting it to me and hoping that I would be able to cultivate the same appreciation for the burning spheres of gas he had. Hoping to share a hobby together with my father, I made it my nightly ritual to set up the telescope on a hill not far across from our house, gazing into the bright abyss that was space.

Although most nights began and ended with me being encapsulated by the eerie stillness of the cosmos, they were forgettable for the most part. There were no major changes aside from the occasional passing comet or meteor shower; however, there was one night that I would never forget. It was the night that the stars decided to change my destiny.

It was a warm summer night as I stared up into the murky sky. The sun had only set for an hour and yet the moon had already risen up to its full height, gracing us with its silvery presence. But I felt something different in the air tonight.

My whole body seemed to be alert, my muscles taut like a bowstring as my senses registered even the slightest change in the environment; the smallest brush of wind against my bare skin was enough to make my hairs stand on end. It was as if something was watching me high up in the sky. Perhaps it was merely the countenance of the full moon tonight which appeared like a giant, alabaster eye peering down upon our planet, but it was a feeling that I had never had before.

Impulsively, I wrenched my gaze away from the pale grey orb in the sky and fixed it firmly on the rigid mound beneath me. Though it was dark, I could still make out the individual patches of grass in my vision. It was then that I heard a noise unlike any other – it resembled a low-pitched hum much like the sound of an oboe, but I instinctively knew that this sound could be made by no instrument or creature. And this sound came from above. Steeling my nerves and mustering my courage, I forced myself to look up.

A large, seemingly metallic object now occupied the once empty space in the sky above the planet. Compared to the moon which illuminated it, this thing was far bigger. It was something that I had only seen previously in movies of fiction or games. But here it was now, right in front of me: a spaceship.

♦

The sound of my father's steel-shod boots echoed across the ship's bridge as we made our way towards the broadcasting station. It was a state of the art piece of machinery that allowed us to project an image or live video feed upon the atmosphere of a planet. Despite the multiple entertainment purposes such a device could be used for, the one stationed upon this ship was solely for the use of declaring the conquest of a planet.

The soldiers who lined the path towards the station all clicked their heels together elegantly whilst placing their right fists upon their left chest before precisely snapping their arms to the center of their bodies, forming a straight line from the center of their foreheads to their abdomens with their fists and elbows. It was the formal Solean military salute. My father had told me that it symbolised giving your soul, mind, and body to the Empress.

I glanced to the side. Formal military proceedings like this always did make me feel awkward and out of place. On one of the screens, I could see the denizens on the surface of the planet panicking, running to and fro without reason, as if some sort of divine intervention was going to save them if they had only run a little faster. Surprisingly, they looked rather similar to our kind, though they moved with a grace far beneath us.

The sound of my father's voice broke my trance. I looked up at him, curiously. He was a largely built man with broad shoulders and a wide chest, the outlines of his musculature still visible despite the ornate coat and gilded mantle that he wore over his spotlessly white military uniform. He had an aura of natural charisma and all his actions from the smallest step to the most grandiose flourish seemed to inspire others around him, for even his stride was purposeful and filled with regal strength. He silently gestured for me to stand beside him as he took a seat before the transmitting module of the broadcasting station. I did so just as the machinery hummed to life, bathing us in a dim cyan light.

My father's face wore a sombre expression as he prepared to address the denizens of the planet. "Greetings, aliens. I am Deusicar Caer Aurun Saryun Darbhr Ceres, Fleet Commander of the fleet Raudrev Aulcaer and Prince of the Holy Empire of Sol. It has come to the Empire's attention that your planet has developed spacefaring technology, and thus it is my duty to announce to you that your planet must be assimilated into the Holy Empire as per the Empress' will. However, we are not without mercy. We are willing to speak with your designated representatives regarding any concerns you may have. The deadline for communication is exactly two planetary rotations from now. If no representatives have contacted us by that time, we will assume you have accepted imperial annexation willingly and begin sending armed forces to occupy and secure the planet."

Although my father's speech had not deviated from his usual spiel which followed the imperial colonization protocol to the letter, it seemed as if there was something different and amiss. Whatever it was, I felt with a sense of certainty that it would definitely forge our destiny in the stars.