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Ezhar VIIEmperor of The Known Universe- Posts : 29
Join date : 2018-10-29
Location : The Imperial Throneworld of Kaitain
The Collapse
Mon Oct 29, 2018 8:33 pm
Be careful what you wish for, woe betide you should it come true.
-Unknown
-Unknown
Deep in the bowels of the Imperial Necropolis, a young man barely thirty knelt in front of a sarcophagus. It was the year 8759 A.G. and he was Ceres Corrino paying his final respects to his predecessor. This was not the first time the man had been in this position. Several years ago as Duke Atreides, Ceres had claimed descent from Atreus-Corrino to challenge the former Emperor and another Prince for the Empires ultimate prize. In those final hours before his defeat was assured, Ceres had knelt before his Atreides predecessor praying for strength to overcome his opponent. Ceres could taste the irony on his tongue as his chin sunk lower into his chest. Despite the outcome and his very vocal campaign, Darius had spared his life and allowed him to live in servitude, giving him a second chance to make a life for himself as the Count Fenring. At the time his fate seemed all but assured but Destiny had other ideas for the defeated Count and his future.
Not long into the reign of Darius the Second, the Imperium was invaded by an ancient human coalition known as the Muadru. Their first target was the Planet of Arrakis. Under the leadership of Archduke Alexander Radentia, the Arrakis Defence Initiative managed to stem the Muadru Vanguard and expel them from Arrakis. However, their victory was short lived. The Muadru Empress, Inaq Pal'Durath managed to evade capture and escape and reunite with her Consort and the Muadru Armada. A year and a half later, Inaq returned to the Imperium. In a devastating attack that lasted two hours, the Muadru Armada laid waste to the Radentian Fiefdom of Thanis and destroyed the planet and the heart of the Dominion. Despite holding Arrakis, House Radentia had been all but crippled with the loss of its Core World.
A week later, Inaq appeared in Orbit Above Kaitain and launched a surprise attack on the Imperial Capital. Her first and only target was the Imperial Palace. The Muadru Vanguard ran rampant through the streets of Corrinth, butchering anyone that got in their way. By sundown Corrinth had been subjugated and both Emperor Darius and Empress Alexia were murdered at the foot of their Thrones in the Imperial Audience Chamber.
The tragic loss of the Imperial Sovereigns triggered a sudden and rapid collapse across the Imperium. The Muadru quickly took control of Kaitain and all of its major institutions. In a brutal campaign that lasted two weeks, the invaders slaughtered the Nobility of the Landsraad, took Navigators of the Guild hostage and plundered CHOAM of all its liquid assets. With the Guild in their control, the Muadru were able to engage and systematically eliminate any resistance among the House Major. The notable exceptions were those Houses that had heeded Radentia's call to defend Arrakis and those Houses that had been quiet enough to escape the Muadru's notice.
Cut off and mistrustful of the Guild, Alexander Radentia with the assistance of House Ganeva fought a series of guerilla battles over the course of the next few years. The Archduke's strategy involved ignoring sectors with concentrated masses and isolating them via encirclement. Alexander's strategy was successful due to his Siridarship of Arrakis and his connections to the Guild High Council. Using his influence and the threat of cutting off the Guild's melange supply, the Archduke managed to contain but was unsuccessful eliminating the Muadru entirely. As time rolled on, it looked as though the Archduke's strategy would devolve into a war of attrition. Desperate and running out of favours, the Archduke was on the brink of an atomic solution until the re-emergence of House Tanaka.
The reappearance of the former Siridar of Arrakis proved to be a turning point in The Collapse. With most of its Armies and resources intact, House Tanaka presence on the battlefield was a welcome relief to the Allied Houses on the verge of capitulation. Kimodo's Might was able to finally realise the Archduke's strategy and finish off the Muadru invaders in their enclosed sectors one by one. The campaign was ruinous to every single sphere of the Imperium, not a single entity had escaped the touch of The Collapse. The Great Houses that once were had fallen into ruin and insolvency and those that had survived were greatly diminished.
As the Defence Initiative stamped out the final pockets of Muadru Resistance, power brokers sensing the coming peace began to plot for power. The deadly incursions had been ruinous to all but House Corrino had suffered most in those dark days. Entire Cadet-Branches and Splinter Families had been destroyed in line with the Muadru doctrine that demanded the extermination of the Imperium's ruling line. There were very few Corrino survivors once the fighting had died down. Initially Ceres had avoided any claim to the Throne but Bene Gesserit manipulated events behind the scenes to assure his Ascent, eager to avoid another Age of Pretenders and its resulting hangovers that lasted decades thereafter. From their Chambers on Wallach IX, the Sisterhood worked behind the scenes to discredit more prominent members claiming the Throne and elevated Ceres' own in the process. Once the way had been cleared to assure Ceres' ascent, the Bene Gesserit made their move, triggering the recovery of the Imperium under the guiding hand of Ceres Corrino.
For the past year, Ceres had visited this site daily, to pray and seek strength from a man that had fallen to soon. As he prepared to don the Crown of a Million Worlds, the Emperor-in-Waiting knew the worst was yet to come.
Feeling a hand upon his shoulder, Ceres raised his chin.
"It is time, your Majesty." The voice spoke, female, soft and considerate. It belonged to Sarina, a long time friend and faithful servant to both House and the order.
Arising from his knees, he dusted his knees and nodded his head once he had assumed to his full height. "Summon my wife and notify the Houses that remain." Ceres spoke reverently in front of Darius' sarcophagus. "It is time we start putting the Empire back together." He spoke to himself, taking one final look at the resting places of Darius and Alexia Corrino, he bowed head and departed in silence. It would be the last time he ever saw them.
Viscount Jopar Tanaka- Posts : 4
Join date : 2018-10-31
Re: The Collapse
Thu Nov 01, 2018 2:26 am
The invasion by the Muardu had devastated the Empire, in a way it hadn't suffered in thousands of years. Shortly before it all began, as the Siridar of Arrakis, Jopar had sensed that something was wrong. Several of the survey ships that House Tanaka sent beyond the rim, looking for new planets and resources, had gone missing. They had disappeared without a trace, and for a reason he couldn't explain, Jopar knew something was terribly wrong, he knew it in his bones, deeper than anything else he'd ever felt. It frightened the Viscount so badly that he'd left Arrakis without warning or reason. Leaving only a skeleton force behind to maintain order, long enough for the Emperor to step in. He'd taken the Tanaka fleet, most of their ground forces, and disappeared beyond the rim.
There the Viscount had discovered one of the planets that was being used for the newly launched invasion, and did the only thing he could, attack. It was a vicious battle from the moment the two sides engaged. From deep space where ships were being turned into debris, landing pods being shot at as they plummeted toward the ground, to the land battles themselves. Even the Viscount was not spared the horrors of war as his flagship was shot down. Being pulled into the atmosphere by the planet's gravity, the massive Monitor burned through the skies like a meteor from the heavens itself. In a ball of smoke and fire it plummeted toward the earth, but even then Jopar refused to so much as give an inch.
He managed to direct the dying craft so that its path drove it into one of the larger Muardu military bases, leveling it, and anything else within a one mile radius. Most of the ship's crew escaped through the use of pods and regrouped on the planet's surface. From there they established a base camp and began to launch an all out offensive against the Muardu forces on the planet. It was a pitched battle with each side fighting to the bitter end in each conflict they found themselves in. There was no retreat, no quarter, no mercy, only bodies littering the land, and rivers of blood that were often ankle deep.
Jopar realized that the relentless war was beginning to take a toll on his soldiers, and for the first time since becoming the leader of House Tanaka, he personally led his men into battle. Standing at the forefront, flanked by the best soldiers the Army of the Silver Dragon had to offer, it brought them a newfound vigor and determination. Though Jopar thought the battle would be won in time, he didn't realize that it would in fact take years to destroy the Muardu threat beyond the rim. Every time he would gain ground, they would be reinforced, and the Viscount himself repopulated his army through drafting the local population of the planet, who hated the Muardu to begin with. Using semi-permanent facilities he trained the people there on the planet.
In a few short years many of the draftees saw more combat than most do in a lifetime, becoming battle hardened veterans in years rather than decades. Regardless of their point of origin, those that proved themselves in battle were treated like brothers in arms, and seen as no less. In time the Viscount was able to finally drive the Muardu off the planet and completely destroy their foothold there. Though it seemed like a victory, he knew the truth. They had stopped reinforcing the planet because the Muardu had turned their attention elsewhere. Upon returning to the Imperium, Jopar found his own domain under attack by the Muardu, the capitol world of Kimodo II itself had been invaded, and they were closing in on the Jade Palace and his family.
Realizing this, Jopar deployed the one group of soldiers he'd always held in reserve, the Djarin Zhara. They were the utter best that House Tanaka could produce, and though not the equal of the Sardaukar in battle, they were more than a match for the Emperor's best in zealous loyalty to lord and family. The Tanaka home sustained considerable damage as the fighting broke down into a vicious melee of man against man in the halls, and soon the Jade Palace had been turned into a crimson tomb. Jopar was able to evacuate his family, but remained behind to fight with the soldiers. Determined to kill every last Muardu who had dared to set foot upon his world or threaten his people. They put up a vicious fight, but with the Viscount returned, the forces of Kimodo II only drove on that much harder, fighting for home, family, house, and lord.
After driving the Muardu forces from the Tanaka domain, and keeping his family close by, Jopar took the time to rest and resupply his forces, before turning his attention to the Empire at large. The Muardu had caused considerable damage to the capitol, but were driven off before a full siege could be mounted. Overall the Tanaka domain had escaped with little injury. Determined to drive the Muardu to the brink of extinction for what they'd done, he found Archduke Radentia and Marquise Ganeva engaged in a stalemate with the remaining enemy forces. Bringing the full might of the Kimodo armies to bare against them, and with the help of what allied houses remained, they were finally able to rid the Empire of their hated enemy.
Standing upon the balcony of what was left of the Jade Palace, Jopar looked out over the Jade City. The once beautiful jewel of the Tanaka domain had been reduced to near ruin. What buildings weren't laying in heaps of rubble, most had entire sections missing, and more families than he could count had been displaced, common and noble alike. So long as he drew breath, the Viscount would never stop, never give up, or abandon his people. Using what money he had left, Jopar watched the massive construction equipment working night and day to clean up and rebuild what was lost.
“Give it time brother, it'll be as it was before,' Richard said, walking up next to him.
“No it won't, it'll be better. I'll make sure of that.” Without even looking over he continued to spin the metal stress balls in the palm of his hand, and watched the reconstruction. He meant every word of it too. One way or another, Jopar would make sure that Kimodo II was rebuilt, bigger, better, and stronger than ever before.
“You received a letter earlier today. The new Emperor has summoned you to Kaitain.”
That was enough to get Jopar to pause and look over at his twin brother. “We have one already?”
“Yes, Ceres Corrino, formerly Ceres Atreides.” That caused Jopar to laugh as he thought back to the debacle that brought that idiot Darius to power. He had been weak and impotent, a ruler in name only. The Empress had been the real power in the Imperial House. Darius' loss would turn out to be little more than a footnote in history in the decades and centuries to come. Alexia on the other hand was a tragic loss. While they may not have always seen eye to eye on things, the woman had a pair of brass as big as he did. That was something Jopar respected.
“Right then, let's go see what our new 'beloved' emperor wants.” Turning on a heel, Jopar walked back into the palace and prepared to leave. He didn't have anything against Ceres personally, what had once passed between them seemed like a lifetime ago now. This would be a interesting meeting as Jopar had an idea of why the new emperor would want to see him. Pin a medal on his chest maybe, say some nice things, then chew him a new one.
There the Viscount had discovered one of the planets that was being used for the newly launched invasion, and did the only thing he could, attack. It was a vicious battle from the moment the two sides engaged. From deep space where ships were being turned into debris, landing pods being shot at as they plummeted toward the ground, to the land battles themselves. Even the Viscount was not spared the horrors of war as his flagship was shot down. Being pulled into the atmosphere by the planet's gravity, the massive Monitor burned through the skies like a meteor from the heavens itself. In a ball of smoke and fire it plummeted toward the earth, but even then Jopar refused to so much as give an inch.
He managed to direct the dying craft so that its path drove it into one of the larger Muardu military bases, leveling it, and anything else within a one mile radius. Most of the ship's crew escaped through the use of pods and regrouped on the planet's surface. From there they established a base camp and began to launch an all out offensive against the Muardu forces on the planet. It was a pitched battle with each side fighting to the bitter end in each conflict they found themselves in. There was no retreat, no quarter, no mercy, only bodies littering the land, and rivers of blood that were often ankle deep.
Jopar realized that the relentless war was beginning to take a toll on his soldiers, and for the first time since becoming the leader of House Tanaka, he personally led his men into battle. Standing at the forefront, flanked by the best soldiers the Army of the Silver Dragon had to offer, it brought them a newfound vigor and determination. Though Jopar thought the battle would be won in time, he didn't realize that it would in fact take years to destroy the Muardu threat beyond the rim. Every time he would gain ground, they would be reinforced, and the Viscount himself repopulated his army through drafting the local population of the planet, who hated the Muardu to begin with. Using semi-permanent facilities he trained the people there on the planet.
In a few short years many of the draftees saw more combat than most do in a lifetime, becoming battle hardened veterans in years rather than decades. Regardless of their point of origin, those that proved themselves in battle were treated like brothers in arms, and seen as no less. In time the Viscount was able to finally drive the Muardu off the planet and completely destroy their foothold there. Though it seemed like a victory, he knew the truth. They had stopped reinforcing the planet because the Muardu had turned their attention elsewhere. Upon returning to the Imperium, Jopar found his own domain under attack by the Muardu, the capitol world of Kimodo II itself had been invaded, and they were closing in on the Jade Palace and his family.
Realizing this, Jopar deployed the one group of soldiers he'd always held in reserve, the Djarin Zhara. They were the utter best that House Tanaka could produce, and though not the equal of the Sardaukar in battle, they were more than a match for the Emperor's best in zealous loyalty to lord and family. The Tanaka home sustained considerable damage as the fighting broke down into a vicious melee of man against man in the halls, and soon the Jade Palace had been turned into a crimson tomb. Jopar was able to evacuate his family, but remained behind to fight with the soldiers. Determined to kill every last Muardu who had dared to set foot upon his world or threaten his people. They put up a vicious fight, but with the Viscount returned, the forces of Kimodo II only drove on that much harder, fighting for home, family, house, and lord.
After driving the Muardu forces from the Tanaka domain, and keeping his family close by, Jopar took the time to rest and resupply his forces, before turning his attention to the Empire at large. The Muardu had caused considerable damage to the capitol, but were driven off before a full siege could be mounted. Overall the Tanaka domain had escaped with little injury. Determined to drive the Muardu to the brink of extinction for what they'd done, he found Archduke Radentia and Marquise Ganeva engaged in a stalemate with the remaining enemy forces. Bringing the full might of the Kimodo armies to bare against them, and with the help of what allied houses remained, they were finally able to rid the Empire of their hated enemy.
********************
Standing upon the balcony of what was left of the Jade Palace, Jopar looked out over the Jade City. The once beautiful jewel of the Tanaka domain had been reduced to near ruin. What buildings weren't laying in heaps of rubble, most had entire sections missing, and more families than he could count had been displaced, common and noble alike. So long as he drew breath, the Viscount would never stop, never give up, or abandon his people. Using what money he had left, Jopar watched the massive construction equipment working night and day to clean up and rebuild what was lost.
“Give it time brother, it'll be as it was before,' Richard said, walking up next to him.
“No it won't, it'll be better. I'll make sure of that.” Without even looking over he continued to spin the metal stress balls in the palm of his hand, and watched the reconstruction. He meant every word of it too. One way or another, Jopar would make sure that Kimodo II was rebuilt, bigger, better, and stronger than ever before.
“You received a letter earlier today. The new Emperor has summoned you to Kaitain.”
That was enough to get Jopar to pause and look over at his twin brother. “We have one already?”
“Yes, Ceres Corrino, formerly Ceres Atreides.” That caused Jopar to laugh as he thought back to the debacle that brought that idiot Darius to power. He had been weak and impotent, a ruler in name only. The Empress had been the real power in the Imperial House. Darius' loss would turn out to be little more than a footnote in history in the decades and centuries to come. Alexia on the other hand was a tragic loss. While they may not have always seen eye to eye on things, the woman had a pair of brass as big as he did. That was something Jopar respected.
“Right then, let's go see what our new 'beloved' emperor wants.” Turning on a heel, Jopar walked back into the palace and prepared to leave. He didn't have anything against Ceres personally, what had once passed between them seemed like a lifetime ago now. This would be a interesting meeting as Jopar had an idea of why the new emperor would want to see him. Pin a medal on his chest maybe, say some nice things, then chew him a new one.
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