The Meant Empire seemed to come out of nowhere. For a long time it was simply known as the kingdom of Meant. It appeared to be just as docile as its neighboring kingdoms in the outer rim. The Meant Kingdom was one of five small kingdoms that occupied the tail of the Perseus arm and parts of the Cygnus arm in the Milky Way Galaxy. Not long after the Meant kingdom started to call itself an Empire, it seized political control of three of its four neighboring kingdoms. These kingdoms were Nane, Belma and Lena. In only a few years, each of these kingdoms where swallowed up by the Meant Empire. They became three of the four providences of the Empire. The remaining kingdom known as Omal, did not allow itself to fall under the Meant's influence and still remains an independent kingdom. During this great expanse the Meant Empire also laid claim to vast areas of unoccupied space. Their new extended borders now meet up to the remaining free kingdoms of Terron, Deveron, Lenard and, of course, Omal.  For the last few years, this has kept the tensions high between the Empire and all it neighbors. In response, some of these kingdoms have made counter claims to territories beyond their borders too. In a number of cases, they and the Empire have claims on some of the same star systems. The Planet Lail, once merely the ruling world of the kingdom of Meant, is the capital planet and nerve center of the ever growing and powerful galactic Empire. This blue green planet is the largest of four worlds in its solar system and is the only one that can support life. Its diameter is just a mere seven thousand kilometers and it is dwarfed in comparison to its huge red giant sun for which it is named. Lail is now known for having the largest capital city in the known universe. This one hundred kilometers circular city is called Menar. It was built at the equator of the planet to take advantage the warmer climate. Strategically placed in the heart of this city is the Imperial Palace and on top of it is the Imperial control tower. This large silver shaft stretches for almost two miles above the city and stands like a giant needle pointing up into the pale orange sky. The red sun was now starting to set in the east.  The tower sparkled in the light of dusk. Another night was falling on the capital. However, very few in the tower were thinking about taking a nightly rest. The Royal Imperial throne room looked like a huge bridge in some ominous spacecraft. Its floor was littered with control consoles and work stations. They were even embedded all along the curved walls, except for one large section, that was taken up by a huge view screen. Emblazoned on it was the emblem of the Imperial seal, a dragon's head overlaying a field of stars with a Meant warship traveling through them. The ship was just within eye shot of the dragon's angry gaze. The Emperor's large command staff, including a few robots, filled the room. All of them even the robots were dressed in the pale colored uniform of the Empire. Most of them were placed at the many control consoles and work stations in the room. Others were busily going from station to station, relaying orders and exchanging needed information. At the center of the room was a round stage surrounded by rows of ascending steps well above the room's main floor. On that level, seated in a large blue throne, was the Emperor. His long hair flowed down the left side of his face, covering his left eye. It was long enough to wrap around his neck and looked like a lion's mane. On top of his head he wore a bright red cap. It gave him such a regal appearance. He sat there staring off into the distance. Three enormous well armed guards, also dressed in red, surrounded him. They were keeping a watchful eye as they protected their ruler. From the midst of all the commotion in the room a small thin blue skinned person made his way towards the Emperor. He appeared to be waving something in his hand. In a blink of an eye, the Emperor's guards sprang to life and grabbed the little blue person. One of the guards grabbed the thing from their captive's hand. “It's a message, Sire,” said the blue person very slowly while looking down at the floor. After a few moments the Emperor finally snapped out of his blank stare. “What?” the Emperor said standing up and grabbing the note. Before he even began to read it, he muttered. “Oh, let the poor little bastard go.” After the guards let go the blue person fell to the floor, hitting his head on the bottom step. Slowly he got to his feet and stumbled off holding his head. The tall muscular Emperor stood reading the message while rubbing the long scare on his small chin. Once he finished, his face turned a dark red. While crushing the note in his hand, he yelled, “Neva!” Suddenly from nowhere a tall, fair haired plump man quickly made his way over to the Emperor. He wheezed from the strain of his jog, and his normally warm pink cheeks were bright red. He was dressed in a blue cape with gold trim. This symbolized his rank of First Admiral. Neva was the Emperor's right hand man. At least that was what Neva thought and bragged. He bowed before the Emperor. His weak back cracked from the strain. The Emperor tossed the crumpled note to the floor and stared red-faced at him. “Um…,” Neva paused. “Sir, since the First Fleet is about to claim a system in Terron space is it from them?” There was no reply, only a cold glare. Neva pondered a moment before he asked the next possible reason for the Emperor's anger. "Are the Terrons giving us trouble?" He asked as delicately as possible hoping to avoid the Emperors rage.      “What?” the Emperor shouted. He sat back in his chair and tried to control his rage. His face slowly returned to its normal golden tone. Then he started to laugh. Neva and the guards looked at each other puzzled. Then, just as quickly as the Emperor started to laugh, he stopped. “Those damn Terrons couldn't defend a mouse from a toothless cat,” he said as he started laughing again. “Then what, if I may ask, is it?” Neva inquired. “Oh, ha, ha, of course,” said the Emperor after he ceased his second round of laughter. “It's the Ocitegon traders.” “Do they want to renegotiate our latest deal? I suppose they want even more agricultural goods in trade for the raw ores we use to build our fleets and the Boriam needed to power them,” Neva speculated. “Ha, soon we won't be paying anything for those goods Neva. Once my plans have been completed we will just take what we need. However, that is not which has stirred my anger.” “Very well Sire, then what is the problem?” Neva asked. “It's those damn Deverons. They've raided another group of the Ocitegon trading ships bound for the Empire. Prepare a fleet to patrol the trading routes. The Deverons seem to think they own the trading route near their territory now. I want those supplies to get through. Is that clear?” ordered the Emperor. “Uh..., why yes sir, I'll do it right away!” the First Admiral said hurrying over to his command station nearby. Once there, between his wheezes, he barked out orders. The Emperor turned to look at the huge view screen. The image on the screen faded and a view from space replaced it. It showed a fleet of Meant ships in orbit above the small blue-green world of Lail. Neva turned to face the Emperor. The usually noisy command center was now silent as they all waited. “They signal `Ready' Sire. Hyper-subspace channels are open. The Sixth fleet awaits your command,” Neva said.  The Emperor sat calmly for a moment, and then suddenly yelled, “Launch the fleet!” On the screen they could see all of the ships engines flicker to life at the same time. Slowly the huge ships trudged out of orbit and headed into open space. “They report `All go, course set, ready for sub-space jump now', sir,” Neva reported. “Get those scum! Jump!” he bellowed at the view screen. “Fleet Commander Uiop has acknowledged, Sire.” Neva said looking at his console read outs, and then looked up at the wall screen. Suddenly the fleet disappeared in a dim flash. The view screen only showed the planet Lail and a few nearby stars. The image then faded and the Imperial Seal once again popped back in its place on the screen. The large room came back to life. The noise of the busy command staff filled the room once more. The Emperor swiveled around and looked at Neva with his stone cold eye. “Neva!” he beckoned for the First Admiral. Quickly Neva went over to the Emperor and noticed that he appeared tired. Then suddenly the Emperor's skin took on a soft yellowish glow. After a few moments the Emperor once again looked refreshed and strong again. Neva had seen this happen many times before since he swore his allegiance to his Emperor and the Empire. Neva then replied to the Emperor, “Yes, oh great Emperor Margo, what is it that you wish?” Slowly Margo said, “I want to talk to the Fleet Commander.” “Sire, of course you know that isn't possible. The Sixth fleet is now in sub-space. There is no way I can contact...” “No, damn it, Neva!” Emperor Margo shouted over Neva's jabbering. Immediately the First Admiral shut up and bowed before him. “I wish to contact the First Fleet, Neva. They are at an assigned post at the moment. Get me its Fleet Commander, now!” “Yes sir, right away!” Neva replied. With a small crack, he carefully stood up and then quickly moved to his console. Once there he gave out more orders. The screen went dark. Silence took over the room once again. “I have established contact with the Flagship Nikiala. First Fleet Commander Yet is now available and responding. The channel is open, Sire,” Neva said to the Emperor. Margo turned to the screen and saw the face of an old, white bearded man. He had a long scar that stretched across his forehead. A crackly voice came from the screen. “Yes, oh great Emperor, what do you wish of me?” It could have been a bad Hyper-subspace transmission or maybe it was just Yet's voice cracking on its own. “Yet, the plan has changed. I grow tired of waiting. Instead of waiting two more galactic days, I want you to attack now!” the Emperor bellowed. “But Sire, the time frame of the plan will be…” “No arguments Yet, that is an order! Am I clear?” “As you command Sire,” cracked Yet's voiced. He bowed and quickly faded off screen. Once more the dragons head reappeared onto the wall screen and the noise of the busy command staff returned. Leaving his station, Neva approached the Emperor bowing and then asked. “Will that be all, Sire?” “Yes Neva, for the present.” Emperor Margo said with a grin. “The Terrons and Deverons will soon know my power as will the rest of the galaxy.” Margo began laughing once more.  Neva quickly returned to his post as the laughter echoed loudly above the noisy Throne Room. © Lee Crystal's Outpost 13 All rights reserved