Sanctum system
The capital of the New Empire was not as beautiful as Earth, covered by a myriad of city lights in the years before the Invasion, but it was rapidly approaching the same splendor. Sanctum’s greatest pride, however, was the system of orbital defense stations and dozens of shipyards that had been created over the years to replace the ships lost in the Invasion. A system of powering the shields from the orbital stations was developed for the safety of the fleet within the system. At first, the Consul was considered paranoid for this precautionary measure, but when a destroyer accompanied by crystallid hunters entered the system during the second Invasion, the defense system of the new capital showed itself in all its glory: the Alien was destroyed in a few minutes, even before the fleet arrived, and not a single civilian ship was seriously damaged. The shield support system worked perfectly.
The Consul’s personal ship hovered near the planet’s equator in a stationary orbit, in the heart of the defense system. There, the Senate was preparing to decide the fate of the divided Empire. The leaders of the Northern Empire and Sparta had already arrived in the Sanctum system: Generals Kodrat Verner and Thomas Alderi, as well as representatives of the Holy Empire and the Steel Legion. Alfred Warren rejected the offer of negotiations as usual. The only one still awaited for the negotiations to begin was General Ironside. The Consul opened a channel of communication with the ship’s captain to check on the preparations for the negotiations.
“Ironside’s first ships are about to arrive, your honor.”
“Very well. I hope this time you won’t make any mistakes and won’t let anyone from his convoy launch fireworks with spy bots?”
“Of course not, your honor! We took all the precautionary measures. Moreover, Ironside will leave hyperspace in a specified location this time. A corridor of ships is already in position. The beacon for his convoy is already set, too. We’re simply waiting for their arrival.”
“We have a lot to discuss today. And check the ship’s emergency systems, just in case. I wouldn’t want any surprises.”
The Seeress class scout ships were the first to arrive to the system, followed by the Scylla and Dragon frigates. At a certain moment, something happened that no one from the Empire could have expected: Jericho frigates from the Patriarch series appeared among the arriving Ironside escort.
The captain of the Consul’s ship demanded a response from them.
“Jericho vessels, identify yourselves.”
“We are Emperor Ironside’s guards. Transmitting codes.”
“Alright. Codes are in order.”
As the ships took their positions in a semicircle, Ironside’s cruiser arrived into the system.
“This is General Ironside. Requesting permission to dock with the Consul’s ship.”
“Permission granted, docking bay 8 is ready for you. It’s the one closest to you.”
As the docking airlock opened, Ironside’s ship immediately went through the corridor, followed by Jericho escort. It was hard for the Legion soldiers to stay nonchalant, but their discipline was stronger than surprise. When the General entered the Senate chamber, he did not follow standard diplomatic procedures and got straight to the point:
“Good afternoon, honored Senate and rulers of the Empire. I would like to introduce you to one of our former enemies, an oracle of Bartle. His presence at this meeting is of utmost importance. I will now make my proposal and justify its necessity.
I have become aware of previously unknown Precursor artifacts that have appeared in the Frontier systems. With the help of the Oracle, I was able to figure out the purpose of the artifacts, and my independent research departments later verified the assumption. These “columns” are the navigational beacons of the Precursors. Their activation indicates the imminent arrival of the former masters of the galaxy, who have been hiding in a far corner of the universe until now. Their strength and numbers are unknown to us. Only one thing is certain: they are the creators of the Bions. At the moment, we are not sure whether they control the Bions now or they will be able to take them under their control after they return. Their arrival is months, weeks, perhaps days away. The location of their return is roughly determined by beacon routing calculations. I will now display it on the screen”
“But there is nothing there, except... That place... Intelligence fleets of all nations have scoured that Alien-infested place repeatedly, but could not even conceive of its purpose,” said the Consul.
“Yes, that is correct,” replied the Emperor, “Intelligence fleets of all nations have been there. It was there that thousands of people searched for the truth almost as fiercely as they did in Sector 1337. But they have not found it. Oracle, I give you the floor, tell us what you know about the arrival of the Precursors.”
The Jericho man raised his head and began to speak in a mechanical voice:
“The Precursors use a technology similar to subspace pockets for hiding and travelling. Alien portals work on a similar principle. So, after a while, the Precursor portal can be opened either by itself or with the help of the Sleeper. Isn’t that what she was awakened for?”
The representative of the Inquisition turned pale and muttered:
“We did not know that the Sleeper’s true purpose was known to anyone. But no, she made her way on her own with the help of the crew of the ‘Scotland’ dreadnought.”
“And that led to the first Invasion, I know,” continued the Oracle. “So, the portal can be opened. It will allow the Precursor fleet to arrive to our galaxy. Perhaps, they can enter in several places at once. Now, there is something to be said for what has been learned about the Precursors during the events in Sector 1337. Their defenses don’t have much range, so their fleet will be vulnerable in a system they haven’t prepared in advance.”
“Wait, you want to fight the Precursors?” the Consul asked. “Wouldn’t Jericho have to be an ally to them?”
“Of course not,” replied the Oracle. “What alliance can there be with the creators of the Bions? What alliance can there be with Gods who deceive their followers? Back to our targets; their fleet will be vulnerable. It’s incredibly strong, but the number of ships in it is not that great. They’ll probably try to get the biomorphs and crystallids on their side if they have to fight.”
“Thank you, Oracle. Let us now turn to our plan,” Ironside said. “Deny them the opportunity to get reinforcements. Tie up the Alien forces with a large fleet of combat troops. Set up a blockade of the system. Attack the Precursors with elite units as soon as they are left with no reinforcements.”
“So you are proposing to engage in a full-scale war with the Aliens and the Precursors?” asked the Consul. “That is the kind of suggestion I would accept from our Emperor, but not from a general.”
“Respectable Consul of the Senate of the New Empire, I am pleased to hear these words. I have with me here an order from the Emperor, properly formalized. You wouldn’t mind if your ship sent a communications request to the Imperial flagship, would you? Besides, our forces will be supported by the Raid and the Families of Jericho, such is Bartle’s word.”
“Captain, requesting communications with the Imperial flagship. Establish a communications channel.”
“Yes, Consul. Trying to contact the Emperor. Unbelievable... The connection is there. The Emperor is ready to speak with you.”
The Senate chamber fell silent. Everyone waited for the words of the man thought dead or on the run.