Post by EmperorMyric on Mar 22, 2021 17:24:29 GMT
Imperial Palace, Celefra: Capitol Space
Inara sighed.
It had been a long day, and she was in pain.
The bandages and nanomedicine had done what it could on her arm, but it still hurt her with its constant nagging pain, it would be annoying in the days to come. She chuckled slightly, if she even lived that long of course.
The palace was secure. That much was known, the fighting in the main city area had also died down but Celefra was far from secure. Certain regions of the planet or divisions of forces were unaccounted for, still fighting against the loyalist forces fanatically just as Inara had lost many of her allies, it had been worse than she thought. Illian had been reported dead, and the Hydra HQ complex found totally destroyed, untold piles of thousands of soldiers had been found piled to the wars and lining corridors as they had died. Whatever titanic battle had transpired there it was clear someone powerful was behind it, while they had not been properly identified Inara had an idea of who it was.
Laikos. That sick bastard had made his move at last. She should have killed him, but that was a mistake that was already made. She mourned the loss of Illian and as far as it was known he had managed to at least help avert whatever information Laikos was trying to steal, the Brotherhood of the Great State would be a terrifying future for Capitol, but one that Inara would be hard pressed to stop.
Still she sat in the wrecked and burnt out ruins of the meeting hall, it seemed like a lifetime ago when she had met Skalia and the Eos representatives here in the vaulted ceiling and the intricately carved table being laid out before them. It was all gone now, and she sat on a metal stool as the wood of the smashed table still smouldered in front of her. At least Elena and Alaca were safe. With Skalia gone and even the Eosians having left for safer pastures Inara was left all alone.
For the first time in a long time she felt vulnerable, truly alone. It didn’t help what she was about to do or make it any easier.
A small hovering orb sat humming in front of her in the air. She stared at it for a bit, how cold and empty it felt despite the fact that she was about to address the galaxy, a rather strange concept. She was about to surrender to the allies, a lot had happened since the old days.
This was it. This was the end of the road.
She took a deep breath, thinking of everything that had happened, of everything that had transpired.
Then she activated the link.
“Citizens of the galaxy. This is Empress Inara of the Grand Empire of Capitol. I speak to you now as someone who has seen the truth in things. Who has realised that the very actions I condoned were the very thing I was hoping to avoid. I sit here in the ruins of my palace, my nation in flames and my people dying, just as I inflicted upon many others as you well know. I am here to say that I am sorry.” She paused taking a moment.
“I hereby formally declare the unconditional surrender of the Grand Empire of Capitol to the allied nations. The AGA may do as they see fit. I submit myself to a public war crimes trial and open my nation’s borders for occupation. I promise forces loyal to me will not fire on allied forces, however not all are loyal to me and may have to be subdued. The burden of this war, all rests on my shoulders. The only thing I ask is to treat my people fairly. That is all I ask as a final request as Empress.” She paused again and sighed.
“I am truly sorry. I will await occupation forces. Inara out”
Inara sighed.
It had been a long day, and she was in pain.
The bandages and nanomedicine had done what it could on her arm, but it still hurt her with its constant nagging pain, it would be annoying in the days to come. She chuckled slightly, if she even lived that long of course.
The palace was secure. That much was known, the fighting in the main city area had also died down but Celefra was far from secure. Certain regions of the planet or divisions of forces were unaccounted for, still fighting against the loyalist forces fanatically just as Inara had lost many of her allies, it had been worse than she thought. Illian had been reported dead, and the Hydra HQ complex found totally destroyed, untold piles of thousands of soldiers had been found piled to the wars and lining corridors as they had died. Whatever titanic battle had transpired there it was clear someone powerful was behind it, while they had not been properly identified Inara had an idea of who it was.
Laikos. That sick bastard had made his move at last. She should have killed him, but that was a mistake that was already made. She mourned the loss of Illian and as far as it was known he had managed to at least help avert whatever information Laikos was trying to steal, the Brotherhood of the Great State would be a terrifying future for Capitol, but one that Inara would be hard pressed to stop.
Still she sat in the wrecked and burnt out ruins of the meeting hall, it seemed like a lifetime ago when she had met Skalia and the Eos representatives here in the vaulted ceiling and the intricately carved table being laid out before them. It was all gone now, and she sat on a metal stool as the wood of the smashed table still smouldered in front of her. At least Elena and Alaca were safe. With Skalia gone and even the Eosians having left for safer pastures Inara was left all alone.
For the first time in a long time she felt vulnerable, truly alone. It didn’t help what she was about to do or make it any easier.
A small hovering orb sat humming in front of her in the air. She stared at it for a bit, how cold and empty it felt despite the fact that she was about to address the galaxy, a rather strange concept. She was about to surrender to the allies, a lot had happened since the old days.
This was it. This was the end of the road.
She took a deep breath, thinking of everything that had happened, of everything that had transpired.
Then she activated the link.
“Citizens of the galaxy. This is Empress Inara of the Grand Empire of Capitol. I speak to you now as someone who has seen the truth in things. Who has realised that the very actions I condoned were the very thing I was hoping to avoid. I sit here in the ruins of my palace, my nation in flames and my people dying, just as I inflicted upon many others as you well know. I am here to say that I am sorry.” She paused taking a moment.
“I hereby formally declare the unconditional surrender of the Grand Empire of Capitol to the allied nations. The AGA may do as they see fit. I submit myself to a public war crimes trial and open my nation’s borders for occupation. I promise forces loyal to me will not fire on allied forces, however not all are loyal to me and may have to be subdued. The burden of this war, all rests on my shoulders. The only thing I ask is to treat my people fairly. That is all I ask as a final request as Empress.” She paused again and sighed.
“I am truly sorry. I will await occupation forces. Inara out”