Pax ImperiaChapter One: A Clean SlatePrologueAfter years of wasting away on this insignificant backwater planet, the Emperor finally decided to deem the Heron quadrant worthy of attention. He has granted me starships to explore the surrounding sectors, as well as funding to rise my own armies. From the bridge of the starship Indomitable I will survey the construction of a mighty fleet, to crush all minor species beneath my boots and show them the glory of the Empire.
But first, the evaluation of the resources at hand. The Heron solar system is small, with two distinct asteroid belts. I have ordered construction of mining bases, using convicted criminals as cheap workforce. On Heron itself, huge factories are being build, after the image of the forgeworlds in the heart of the Empire.
The primary focus of research lies in more efficient engines. The Empires doctrine always was to hit its enemies fast and hard. While the ships that the Emperor graced us with already are faster than that of other races we know of, I want an even better advantage.
Year 2226The sensors of my starship read a feeble image of an alien vessel. It barely crossed our sensor rage, but it appeared to be unarmed. Its course has been dutifully logged for later analysis.
In early summer this year, we stumbled upon the Florin system, with two colonisable planets, recorded as class XII and XIII by our exobiologists. Immediately, I ordered all population under age of 25 from Heron put on colony transports in order to have a strong, ablebodied starting population for these new colonies. It has been less than a year, and already I am expanding the reaches of the Empire.
My efforts have not gone to waste. One of the Librarians that He sent as my aides lead us to a distant planet that seems like paradise. Lasitus IV is classified as a class XXVI planet with utmost priority for colonisation.
In rapid succession, we made contact with an alien species calling themselves the Korx, as well as a dissident sect of humans. They hail from a planet called Terra, mocking the great Old World of the Empire. I will make sure to induct them into the Empire as soon as possible, then put them to work in the forgeworlds. They even had the audacity to send colonists to Lasitus I, a small world that I had planned to use as supplement for Lasitus IV.
Year 2227All kown ressources have been charted and are being mined. The forgeworld of Heron was able to produce enough construction starships that only a handful of ressources are not under my control. In addition, only hostile planets remain uncolonised. The Librarian insists that research should focus on making them habitable, but I disagree. Time has come to build up a military to show those miscreants of Drath, Korx and especially the Terrans the might of the Empire.
In July, the first Cobra class destroyer was launched succesfully from Heron. With massive solid ammunition accelerators and advanced propulsion devices, it will be the mainstay of the navy for the next two years.
Now, I have to ponder where to concentrate on in my conquest in His name. The Emperor expressed His will to expand our borders in this qudrant, and that is what I will do.
The military comparisons show that the Terrans apparently think they are safe, while the Korx have a purely defensive force. The Drath seem to grasp the danger they are in, but it will not help them.
Economy. The basic foundation of every great Empire. The Korx are definitely the weakest here. I estimate that a forced war will quickly drain their financial capabilities.
The technology race so far is inconclusive. Without better data, I cannot discern who has an advantage here.
Hand in hand with economy goes the manufacturing potential. Clearly, our dedicated forgeworlds give us the upper hand here. The Korx, in addition to being poor, also have little production values.
The conclusion is simple. Either the Terrans with their nonexistant military or the Korx with their weak economy will have to go. Looking at the strategical map, it becomes clear that the Korx are the logical first choice.
In winter of the year, the Korx finally have realised they are the bottomfeeder of the quadrant. They try to make up for lost time by building capitals. It will not safe them.
Year 2228In April, Space Marines arrived. A whole chapter, sent by Him to help me conquer the enemies of the Empire after wiping their fleets from the orbits. They immediately set forth to construct training facilities on Lasitus IV.
September 8th. I gave the signal to start Operation Nachtigall. The first strike at Korx fleets to render the planets defenseless against invasion. I formed up two Taskforces with Eight Cobra class starships each. Five dropships filled to the brim with Space Marines will follow and crush all opposition.
October 1st. The Korx have launched a feeble attempt at resistance. A single interceptor heads towards the spearhead. Intelligence reports them as having significant advances in miniaturisation at the cost of slower propulsion. They employ beam weapons instead of mass drivers, and even their troop ships are armed and armored.
October 15th. Space Supremacy of the Korx homesystem has been won at the cost of three Cobra class starships. The lives lost have been given to the glory of the Emperor, they should be happy to join the untold legions of heroes that gave their lives before them.
October 22nd. The Korx have been conquered. Korx I was won by the Inquisitors, showing the population the haven that the Emperor promises. Korx II was resistant to enlightenment, so I had to send in the Marines. They made short work of the aliens and even recovered beam technology for use on my starships.
Year 2229The Cobra class destroyers have been refitted to make use of new propulsion technology as well as advanced Mass Drivers.
In August, Operation Kurfürst began. The annihilation of the Drath. Since they are militarily strong, I called the Terran envoy. He agreed to go to war with the Drath as well, still in the wrong belief that we can coexist peacefully. I know that He frowns upon breaking treaties, but these dissidents shun the light of the Empire and thus are not worthy of open and truthfull negotiation.
I use the Andersona system as a staging area. Dropships as well as the improved Cobra destroyers will wait until the Terrans have launched their first wave.
The Librarians give an estimate of military power for the Drath navy of 116 fleet points. While commendably, the Imperial navy in this quadrant measures 436 fleet points. The outcome of the war is clear, it is only a matter of time.
November 15th. The siege of Drathis has begun. Together with the Terrans, the Imperial fleet pursues Drath defense fleets. From my vantage point upon the bridge of the Indomitable, the starburst of explosions litter space, with coloured streaks marking the flightpath of starships.
November 22nd. Dratha IV is conquered. The space marines overrun a prototype testing facility, salvaging an engine even more advanced than that currently in use on my starships. I will make sure to send the design back to the forgeworlds.
December 1st. Dratha I falls. The entire Drathis system is now under my control. The Terrans fought bravely, but it will not change my plans.
Year 2230In February, the Terrans managed to conquer the last remaining Drath planet. They have finally built up a decent military. But already, with the completion of the Hyperion Shrinker, I am able to order the construction of the new Lunar class destroyer. Using captured propulsion systems and a new generation of weaponry, codenamed Singularity Driver, they will shatter Terran defenses.
September sees the start of Operation Sommernachtstraum. The blitzkrieg against the Terran dissidents. First to fall is Lasitus I, already having a strong internal conflict due to the closeness to Lasitus IV.
On October 8th, two taskforces set forth from Drathis, heading towards Sol system. IT takes two weeks, until October 22nd, to gain space superiority against the Terran fleet. One more month, and space supremacy ensures that our dropships will have safe passage to their assign dropzones.
December 8th. Mars, the smaller of the two Terran colonies, is conquered. The next wave of dropships is enroute to Terra itself.
December 22nd. The first invasion of Terra fails. Resistance has been harsh, and in my attempt to destroy as little of the planets surface as possible, the orbital bombardment was ineffective.
The war lasts until February 1st, 2231. The Terran envoy surrenders on that day. I have conquered the quadrant in the Emperors name. Now I will return to my seat on Heron, waiting for the Emperor to give me new orders. I am sure that my success in this part of space will commend me for more important tasks.
