The Empire's Descent

Chapter 4: Answers

As the deafening hum of the strange craft pushed away debris and loose foliage around the Emperor's Royal Garden, exotic plants and hand-designed hedges were forcefully flattened, a craft of unpleasing proportions landed on it's previously maintained grass, maiming the garden's flawless appearance.

Soldiers, both from the city's garrison and the emperor's palace guards, surrounded the grey vessel, pointing all sorts of weaponry against the unknown menace.

With a burst of released gas, the rear of the craft hissed and dropped mechanically, revealing a dark void that was the interior. From the unsightly darkness, emerged figures in glistening white armor, impractical in true war due to their eye-catching color, but it was undeniable that it did a good job intimidating the untrained mind. Combine that with the fact that these unknown individuals stood a head and shoulder above the average man, even the veteran and elite soldiers that made up the palace guards felt the stinging sense of slight fear cut away at their thoughts.

"Halt! You are trespassing on sacred grounds! Take even a single step — and you will be fired upon!" A Captain belonging to the garrison regiment warned the soldiers in white, his initial fear dissipating with every word, as his hold on his mana pistol tightened.

"What kingdom do you serve?!" He continued, as he stepped forward to venture closer to the unknown.

Another figure emerged from the craft upon hearing his words. A man dressed in noble gray trekked his way towards him, his lanky frame being slightly taller than his armored brethren.

"...To whom am I speaking?" The man dressed in gray spoke, as he, quite literally, looked down upon the captain. If the captain were to guess, then this newcomer's height were equal to that of orcs, with his frame being significantly lankier compared to those brutes.

"Captain Leo Smith of the 34th Garrison Brigade, do you know who's lands you have tarnished?" Captain Leo asked a question that was slightly fueled by anger, as his steely glares were met with the calm blue eyes of his counterpart. The utter gaul that these people have to disrespect one of the most powerful empires in the world... is outstanding.

"I'm afraid not... 'Captain'. I am Lieutenant Smithe Deru of the Imperial Navy's 44th Expeditionary Fleet. Could you perhaps tell me where in the galaxy are we?" His counterpart responded, subtly letting his stature loom over the captain, as his polite words were betrayed by a strained, cold tone.

"For your information, heathen," Captain Leo carefully made sure his comment was no more than a whisper, before he continued, "You currently stand on the most powerful empire on the Hyperion continent."

The Lieutenant's eyes flickered, "...I take it that your people have no means to achieve space flight yet?" This question confused the magna captain greatly. What was this thing called... 'space'?

Picking up on the Captain's confused expression, the Lieutenant released a brief sigh of disappointment, "Just what we needed... stuck on some backwater planet..." He muttered to himself, as he whispered a few orders to a nearby soldier on his side.

"Well then, Captain. Apologies for the rough impression me and my men have on your people. Allow me to introduce myself once again. I am Lieutenant Smithe Deru of the Imperial Navy's 44th Expeditionary Fleet, and we hail from an empire very much like yours — albeit much... much... larger. We hail from the Galactic Empire and I have been sent here by my superiors to greet the people of this planet." The Imperial Lieutenant lowered his head slightly in gritting respect, as he tried his best to mask his feelings of discontent. Even though doctrine dictates his actions when it comes to first contact with a new planet, why should he begrudgingly give respect to people who haven't even begun thinking about reaching the stars?