11

Planet Tannas

27 November 3748 AD

----------------------------------------

Tannas was abuzz with activity, both in space and on the ground.

From orbit to the surface, ships of various sizes ranging from small cargo vessels to imposing dreadnoughts arrived through the hyperspace windows.

Some ships proceeded directly to the planet's surface, while others remained in orbit near the spacedocks.

The spacedocks is summoned by the imperator, but many construction droids worked to make changes and additional upgrades to accommodate the needs of the numerous ships currently in orbit.

Meanwhile on the ground, new headquarters, still under construction, was gradually taking shape amidst the ruins of the former military base, utilizing some of the surviving structures as a foundation.

While parts of the headquarters were ready for use by high-ranking officials, the construction work continued to expand and improve the facilities.

The scene on the ground mirrored the bustling atmosphere of the spaceport. People moved quickly, focused on their respective duties. Cargo was unloaded from the landed vessels, while soldiers disembarked from their carriers and made their way to the dedicated military base situated north of the main headquarters.

The entire area was filled with a sense of purpose and preparation as the Aurelius group made final arrangements for their impending campaign.

Titus Norin stood in the courtyard of the headquarters, observing the bustling activity with a mixture of hope and apprehension.

In the decades that he has been fighting with Aurelian Primus, it finally time to strike a killing blow for the kingdom.

Titus was born on the mining planet of Sorada, where its citizens were essentially enslaved to a lifetime of labor in the mines, starting from a young age.

Raised in a loving family, Titus, like everyone else, was forced into the grueling work of the mines at a young age. Tragedy struck when his parents were killed in a mining accident with many other miners.

The kingdom's authority doesnt even bat an eye. They simply closing off the section of the mine and leaving the bodies entombed within.

Titus was devastated, his parents has been working for all their life in this mine, the least they could be given is a proper burial, at least that is what Titus said to the mine supervisor.

Which he just laugh and said that his parents is already have a proper burial, in the mine where they will always belong.

It filled his heart with rage that he attack the supervisor. Of course being a child he was quickly subdued and detained.

As punishment, Titus was sent to the more perilous area of the mine, where he toiled with minimal provisions. Fortunately, his survival was ensured by the solidarity of fellow miners in the same area.

With each breath he took, Titus's hatred for the Kingdom and its injustice grew. He knew his individual efforts would amount to little, so he wait. He wait for years for opportunity to come.

That opportunity came with the arrival of Aurelian Primus and his rebel group. Its the time when they number still few so they launched a daring raid on the planet, liberating the miners, and hoping to recruit some of them.

For Titus though, sensing a chance to enact change, he incited a riot in the mines. Lives were lost that day, but their objective was achieved.

The Aurelius group offered the miners a chance for a new life, but having known nothing beyond the confines of the mine, they lacked the skills for a different existence. So primus offer them a chance to join his cause, and all of them including Titus eagerly joined the rebellion.

From that point on, Titus fought unwaveringly in the rebellion, rising through the ranks and developing a deep friendship with Aurelian Primus.

Together with couple others, they build the group as it stand today.

He also witnessed the little Aurelian's transformation from a child always at his father's side to the competent leader he had become.

Aurelian confided in Titus about his ambition to build his own empire, and Titus wholeheartedly supported him.

He couldn't have been prouder.

Now, with a formidable force at their disposal and the assistance of the powerful devices that had proven invaluable thus far, they were finally poised to bring down their enemies. Titus had gradually grown to trust the laptop and the system, despite his initial guardedness.

Suddenly, an aide approached Titus, interrupting his thoughts and bringing him back to the present moment.

"Magister, the Imperator has summoned you for a meeting," the aide informed Titus.

Titus nodded in acknowledgment and swiftly made his way into the headquarters building.

----------------------------

Stella Astra stood on the bridge of her flagship, overseeing the coordinated maneuvers of the fleet as they arrived in orbit around Tannas.

She donned a new uniform that had been introduced by the Imperator, distinct in its black and red color scheme.

The ensemble consisted of a single-breasted jacket with a high collar, high-waisted trousers, sturdy black leather boots, and a cap. Various insignia and badges adorned the uniform, serving to denote rank and authority.

The uniform is very reminiscent of certain group in 20th century earth.

While their action is not to be celebrated, but Aurelian find a liking to their style of clothing. So he try to replicate it while making modifications to make it their own. One notable change was the incorporation of Roman-style eagles as imagery, reminiscent of the ancient symbols of power and majesty, and remove the armband.

The uniform was primarily worn by high-ranking members of the Aurelius group.

Stella couldn't help but experience the same feeling as Aurelian. The uniform evoked a certain emotion in her heart that was hard to describe. It made her feel like it was her first day on the job.

"Ma'am, the battlecruiser-class vessel registered for this campaign has been accounted for."

Her crewman reported.

"Good. Instruct them to stand by for further orders."

She replied, her gaze shifting to the battlecruiser docked in the spacedock for maintenance.

While not all of the fleet would be brought to this location, the majority of them would be present.

The Imperator had entrusted her with the command of another fleet for a separate theater, in addition to the overall command that he would oversee. Stella accepted the responsibility graciously.

Reflecting on her past with the Imperator, Stella couldn't help but chuckle silently.

She hailed from the planet Astra, a relatively affluent world under the strong presence of the kingdom.

From a young age, Stella had harbored aspirations of becoming a pilot or officer aboard a spaceship. She joined the kingdom's military and, thanks to her skills, was accepted as a junior officer in the kingdom's Crescent-class fleet.

However, it was during her time in the kingdom's military that Stella witnessed the harsh reality behind the propaganda. The constant betrayal and atrocities committed by the military against its own citizens disgusted her.

It was at this point that she had the fortunate encounter with Aurelian Primus, back when he was still an admiral in the kingdom.

Stella idolized him and admired his dedication to justice.

When news reached her of Primus raising a rebellion against the kingdom, she knew she had found her purpose. Stella joined his cause without hesitation.

Under Primus's tutelage, she honed her abilities and skills, earning his trust and respect. He even gives the command for all the fleet in the rebellion, a testament of trust that Primus has for her.

The death of her idol was a hard blow for Stella. She was ready to lead the fleets to the capital world of Tula and bring justice to the king, but luckily Titus Norin stopped her.

After the funeral of Primus, Titus announced that Aurelian, Primus's son, would assume leadership of the Aurelius fleet. Initially, many high-ranking officers, including Stella, believed Aurelian was too young and inexperienced to lead them, despite having been tutored by his father.

Several officers, including Stella, filed complaints. However, due to Titus's influence within the group, they were unable to do anything but accept the decision and hope that the rebellion wouldn't crumble under Aurelian's leadership.

To their surprise, Aurelian proved himself to be a capable and skilled leader, on par with his father. Although Stella initially had some disagreements with him and even engaged in arguments, professionalism prevailed over personal feelings. Aurelian's mature handling of the situations gradually earned Stella's acceptance of him as the leader.

As time went on, Aurelian continued to prove himself through every operation conducted by the rebellion. Stella finally considered him a worthy leader, deserving of her loyalty and support.

It brought her to the present day where they would embark on their final campaign against the kingdom. With the additional help of the sacred device that believed to have come from Primus, Stella believed their campaign would be successful.

A warm smile crept onto her face as she reminisced about the now divine Primus. After all of his deeds, Stella thought it was fitting for the gods to embrace him.

The bridge door opened, capturing Stella's attention as she looked to see who entered. It was her executive officer.

"Fleet Admiral, the Imperator has summoned you for a meeting at the headquarters."

The XO informed her.

Stella nodded in understanding and made her way to the shuttle bay for transport down to the headquarters.

---------------------

General Alexios sat in his private office on the new military base, going over reports and preparations for the upcoming campaign. His aide, Lieutenant Valgus, entered the room and approached his desk, giving a short salute.

"General."

Lieutenant Valgus greeted.

"Good morning, Lieutenant. What can I assist you with today?"

General Alexios responded.

"Good morning, General. I wanted to provide you with an update on the army's readiness and provisions for the campaign."

Lieutenant Valgus replied.

"Excellent. Let's go through it. How are our blaster supplies? Are we well-stocked?"

General Alexios inquired.

Lieutenant Valgus consulted his datapad before responding.

"Yes, General. Our blaster supplies are in good shape. We have received the latest shipment, and we have enough to equip our soldiers for the initial phase of the campaign."

"Good to hear. Do let me know if we still need more blasters. If necessary, I will personally speak to the Imperator"

General Alexios assured.

Valgus nodded in confirmation.

"Our walkers and tanks will play a crucial role on the battlefield. Are they in optimal condition?"

the General asked, leaning forward with interest.

Lieutenant Valgus nodded.

"Yes, General. Our maintenance teams have been working tirelessly to ensure that all our walkers and tanks are fully operational. Thorough inspections have been conducted, and necessary repairs have been made. The vehicles are ready to support our troops."

General Alexios sighed with relief.

"That's reassuring. We cannot afford any equipment failures during the campaign, even though they are newly summoned from the Imperator. Maintenance is crucial to keep them in perfect condition."

At this point, many of the higher-ups in the Aurelius group are already aware of the laptop and system that the Imperator possesses, and they have welcomed it with enthusiasm.

Lieutenant Valgus made a note to double-check the maintenance efforts and ensure ongoing inspections. He continued the conversation.

"Additionally, General, our soldiers' gear and personal equipment are being regularly inspected and maintained. Our medics are well-prepared with medical supplies and equipment to handle any casualties or injuries during the campaign," Lieutenant Valgus reported.

General Alexios nodded approvingly.

"Good work, Lieutenant. The well-being of our troops is of utmost importance."

Lieutenant continued his report.

"Additionally, General, our new recruits have been undergoing extensive training in utilizing the weapons of war."

With the newly summoned weapons and ships, Aurelian realized that although he could summon them as much as he liked, he didn't have the manpower to effectively utilize those weapons.

So he initiated a recruitment drive a couple of months ago, attracting individuals from worlds that had suffered under the Pharaohan rule and were ready for the challenges ahead.

They have been trained alongside the veterans in the use of the newly summoned weapons.

The General nodded approvingly.

"Good. Our soldiers must be well-prepared for the challenges ahead. What about our provision supplies? Do we have enough to sustain us in the field, at least in the initial stage?"

Lieutenant Valgus checked the inventory reports.

"We have been closely monitoring the provision stocks, General. The Imperator has been responsive in summoning the requested supplies. However, I recommend that we keep a close eye on it and request additional supplies as needed."

General Alexios nodded in agreement.

"Very well, Lieutenant. We must ensure our troops are well-fed, not just well-armed, throughout the campaign. Keep a steady watch on our provisions and submit the necessary requisitions promptly."

Lieutenant Valgus acknowledged the order.

"Understood, General."

He glanced at his datapad before addressing the General again.

"That is the current report for now, General. I will provide further updates if necessary."

"Excellent work, Lieutenant. Your diligence and attention to detail are commendable. Keep up the good work."

General Alexios praised him, giving a kind smile.

"Thank you, General. It is an honor to serve."

Lieutenant Valgus replied with a nod.

"Dismiss."

As Lieutenant Valgus left the office, Alexios mind wonder to the past where it all began.

He like a couple member of the higher up is calling the origin member because of their time to joon Primus is the earliest.

Alexios himself is a former guard for the governor in the planet Doruna, where the Dorunan massacre happen. He was there when the governor order Primus to shoot the civilian, to shoot his people. He also there to witness Primus's difiance of the order and subsequent arrest.

It is him also that liberated Primus from his holding cell and from then on joined him in rebellion.

He also one of the higher up that complained about the questionable leadership of Aurelian, which he was glad that he is wrong.

He hears about Aurelian ambition to build his own empire, replacing the kingdom.

Remebring Aurelian deeds so far, a vicious smile that looked scary because of his kind face creep into his face.

If empire is what you desired i will build a golden throne for you.

He silently swear.

General Alexios then refocused his attention on the upcoming campaign, confident in the readiness of his army and the dedication of his officers.

Its not a couple minutes later that liutenant Valgus come back.

"General, the Imperator has summoned you for a meeting."

Alexios giving a nod and stand form his desk, tidy up his clothes and make his way to the headquarters.