Anthem's Fall

Chapter Two

        Once the entire War Council was assembled, Emperor Faris Epsilon entered the hall accompanied by the enormous heights and broad shoulders of his Royal Guard. A son of the purest Sejero family lineage, Emperor Faris was shorter than many of the unnaturally gargantuan generals and soldiers that made up the War Council’s ranks. Nevertheless, he commanded their respect. Though lacking in size, the Sejero blood of the few remaining Royal families ran pure—and potent. Such uncouth qualities as height and bulky muscle were no match for the inherent Sejero virility of a Royal child, whose lineage could be traced to the first Sejero warriors.

         Emperor Faris had a muscular frame and a thick graying beard hanging from his aging features. Small scars were visible on his face and arms, old wounds from his prime years long healed over. A giant ring gleamed on his left hand. The Blood Ring of the Epsilon. Through generations, the illustrious Blood Ring had been bequeathed from father to son since the very beginning of the Epsilon line, an heirloom from the first Sejero titan that had started the Epsilon lineage. The Blood Ring was worn as a signifying adornment like a crown. It boasted an enormous and exquisitely cut deep-red diamond. The intense red hue of the Blood Ring symbolized the purity of the Epsilon family’s Sejero bloodline. Precious few families in modern times could claim such pure heritage, dating back to the same faces staring eternally down at them from the stone walls.

       The councillors and generals stood and saluted Emperor Faris with a thundering hail. He returned their salute and proceeded to his throne, making his way across the circle in wide strides. An aura of anxiety exuded from him, and the sound of his boots on the floor echoed in the tense silence that descended upon the hall.

         All eyes shifted uneasily to the vacant seat beside Emperor Faris as their leader sat on his throne. To his right, the opulent seat of Emperor Faris’s only son was empty. Subtle concerned glances were exchanged between the highest-ranking generals. The absence of the powerful Prince Vengelis Epsilon was worrying. They would need his strength in this hour.

       Emperor Faris took a long breath, resting his arms on his throne and regarding the many trusted faces of his councillors and generals.

       “This is what we know.” The Emperor’s voice was deep, and carried easily across the hall. “Municera has fallen. There seem to be no survivors. Whatever happened, it was efficient and deadly. The latest intelligence out of the Twin Cities leads us to believe that the citizens and local Imperial soldiers have all fallen there as well. We have reason to believe the attack did not originate from any nonnative force.”

          A wave of relief passed across the faces of the hall. Behind their stalwart facades there had been an unmistakable fear of the worst—the unknown. Emperor Faris allowed that heartening knowledge to sink in before continuing. Anything that originated within their world could be stopped by a power from their world.

         “None of our satellites or radar systems have detected any recent inorganic or organic entity entering into Anthem’s atmosphere.” Emperor Faris looked to each intent gaze in turn. “Meaning whatever this attack is, it originated here on Anthem.”

      “My lord,” General Barlow, one of the most decorated generals around the circle interrupted Emperor Faris. The decorum of the moment was evidently lost on him. “Only we have the power to destroy cities in the manner we have witnessed today. The kind of power we have seen only resides in Sejero blood. I have heard talk of some sort of sickness, an insanity of sorts that is turning our people mad. Is there truth to this?”

      “Unlikely,” said Councillor Harken without looking up, his chin resting on his outstretched fingers and his eyes lost in concentration. Councillor Harken was the head of scientific research, and the intelligence in his voice resonated in stark contrast to the misinformed conjectures of General Barlow. “The speed at which the attacks spread, and the degree of total devastation caused, each rule out biological possibilities. All civilians living in the lands between Municera and the Twin Cities remain unharmed. This means the attack is moving directly from city to city, intentionally bypassing sparsely populated areas. It’s impossible for a microorganism to jump locations in this fashion. No. The attacks are directed and intelligent.”

         “The pattern of the attack leads us to believe the assault we are seeing is consciously controlled. We are being attacked by someone, not something,” Emperor Faris said.

          General Barlow shook his gigantic head and sighed with aggravation. “Doesn’t anyone recognize this strategy? The attack resembles the procedure we use when invading new systems. To me the pattern of attack is indicative of a powerful group of soldiers that are limited in numbers.”

          “I agree with Barlow,” said Councillor Maudlan. “Hit a city. Hit it hard and fast. Fly straight to the next city and repeat. It is directly following our invasion protocols. The main goal of our first attack on new systems is always to cause confusion so the enemy doesn’t know what is attacking them. If you ask me, that is exactly what’s happening here. We have to act immediately and reinforce the Twin Cities with everything we have before this attack is allowed to spread further.”

           Grunts of agreement filled the hall.

          “I’ll tell you what I think.” General Portid, the largest and most decorated general of the circle stood to his full eight feet. A large scar ran across his face and a scruffy brown moustache hung below his bulbous nose. Being the most powerful man in the room, save for the emperor, the War Council grew quiet out of respect. “There is only one logical source behind this assault or invasion or whatever the hell we want to call it. Emperor Faris said just now that nothing has recently entered Anthem atmosphere. Is that correct?”

        Emperor Faris nodded.

       “Then to me it is clear,” General Portid said. “The attackers are Primus. We have all agreed that only beings with the power of the Sejero could inflict this kind of carnage. The attack must be some unusually powerful group of separatists that have slipped under Imperial radar until now. Separatists aiming to rouse panic in the heart of the empire’s populace. That is the only possible explanation. Only Primus can cause this kind of destruction!” His expression hardened as he looked to the other councillors, the passion rising in his voice. “And there is no reason to sit idly and talk as these terrorists continue this rampage. I say we mobilize the Imperial First Class and end this today!”

      His fervor was met with resounding encouragement from other military personnel around the circle.

      Councillor Harken lifted his chin from his hands and stood. “I do believe you are right General Portid. The Imperial First Class should be sent to action. However, we may know more about the nature of this attack than you all are currently aware of. I think it’s time to play the recording, my lord.”

        Everyone straightened and looked to Emperor Faris, their faces incredulous.

        “What recording?” General Portid angrily vocalized the consensus of the room.