The descent towards Gallinore was a slow one, the jetstreams of his escort fighters nearly hiding the Siths craft from view. The last time he was on Gallinore, millions had died, and the economy was crippled as Lupercus had stolen thousands of Rainbow Gems. Now he was coming on a peaceful mission. Well, peaceful only directly.

As the craft descended, and finally landed, Lupercus knew the others were waiting. Kyric Zen should be there, in preperation for his meeting with Hapes for planning resistance. Lupercus had been invited to discus his future. And now he wanted to thwart those who would thwart him.

Hapes is mine! I wont have some tinpot dictator take what i have fought for all my life!

The craft landed slowly, their repulsorlift drives kicking in with a thud. The landing gear locked in place and the boarding ramp lowered, to reveal Zen already waiting.

"We have much to discus Lord Admiral..."

"We do don't we?" Zen remarked to the younger man. It was strange. Kyric had never really thought of himself one day scrapping the bottom of the galactic barrel to pull together defenses; but in all fairness the former Lord Admiral knew that soon Chadd Fearsons-- the powerfed maniac that he is-- would strike Hapes over a simple matter about ships.

"I will need a full manifest of all the ships and positions of the ships we have available." He paused to let that sink in to Lupercus, "Oh, and don't call me Lord Admiral. I have no rank now, I am just Kyric Zen."

"Indeed."

Lupercus nodded, pulling out a datacard.

"On there are the full details of the Shadow Fleet. And my own fleet. Remember why i am doing this. Hapes will be mine in due time... Until then, i will not see some tinpot halfbreed dictator steal my jewel."

He paused, a sinister smile appearing on his face.

"The rage i fell into when i heard what was happening has been one of my worst. I sent Ominii on a mission that should see the Rogue Imperials truly embarrassed. My next stop is actually Charubah to link up with the resistance.

Fearsons may believe he is a great leader, but no Hapan would be loyal to an alien, let alone a halfbreed of the worst kind."

The smile disappeared, but a twitch remained curving the edge of his mouth upwards.

"Do you have any suggestions of action?"

War was coming.

It was, now more than ever, ineveitable. War was on the wind, and it would soon come... here.

"Will the Emperor strike at Gallinore, Zen?" The voice was that of Hiram Drayson, Lord Protector of the Industrial Worlds and commander of Gallinore's defence forces... among other things.

Zen's reply was short.

"Yes." Drayson laughed.

"Fearsons would be a fool to strike us here. The Home Defence Corp. protects their interests here with a certain... passion. If he attacks Gallinore, the Emperor runs the risk of drawing the Corporation into a war. And I daresay he cannot afford our involvement in this turkey shoot."

There was silence, all but for the wind whistling in the trees...