Krioval
19-03-2005, 05:59
All had gone as it was planned. Nations, even nearby planets, thrown into turmoil only to be "rescued" by the benevolent smiling faces of Krioval's leadership. And so easily it was accomplished. Isolationist or diplomatically-inclined, open or secretive, they all danced to the tune of one man's creation: Raijin Dekker.
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Six Months Earlier - Planet of Crysalia - 13 April 2006
"Of course we will respect your faith," the Kriovalian trader said emphatically. "Krioval believes in total freedom of religion, and national sovereignty. All we wish is to expand trade to your empire."
Like other predominantly Christian worlds, this one had a local religious leader, entertainingly enough called a Pope. As if there weren't at least a hundred "single representatives of God" in the galaxy. "Your assurances mean a great deal, but what would happen if the population got their hands on this stuff? It would ruin everything we've worked so hard to create."
"Holy One, the last thing I'd want is to destabilize your God-given authority," the trader said, his voice silken. "I will leave it to you to decide who gains access to our goods, after all."
"And what will you have in exchange?"
"A few trifles, really. Raw materials, so we can continue to develop more things like this." He placed a device in front of the 'Pope'. "Go ahead, it's a small force shield generator. You have such a nice city. I bet that if security weren't a concern, you'd be able to so much better minister directly to your people."
The Kriovalian watched the leader's resolve crumble, slowly at first as he examined the generator, and then by larger degrees. "What about power for your devices?"
"A Krioval-style power plant, of course. Think of how glorious your empire will be with our technology combined with your vision!"
"Yes," the religious leader said, his imagination now freed. No more bowing and scraping before other powers. He would be ascendant, even with this heathen's technology. "May I have your name, in case I would like to order more items?"
The Kriovalian smiled. "Call me Johan."
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Crysalia - 2 May 2006
Crysalia's economy had tripled in less than three weeks, and more construction was scheduled. Kriovalian survey teams had revealed mineral and metal deposits that Crysalians would never have thought to tap - and in such remote areas. Certainly the environment would take a hit, but the price of progress was not zero. And so the Pope of Crysalia sat and reveled in his good sense. Soon, they would even be able to expel the heathens who had been duped into helping them. And then, Crysalia would carve out an empire that would glorify the one true God.
Or so the Pope thought.
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Crysalia - 25 May 2006
"What in hell is going on?!" the Pope of Crysalia screamed. "The children are doing what?!"
A bishop stood before his leader. "Holy Father, the children no longer seem interested in church services. And they play abominable games, sometimes even discussing the profane name of pagan Gods!"
"Pagan Gods?!"
"And the young men no longer use the phrase 'brother-in-Christ', either. They call each other," he hesitated out of sheer disgust, "Valiyos."
"How is this possible?!"
"Some of the people feel that Krioval has fulfilled a prophecy. They arrived from the sky to show us wondrous things. And now they long for more, always more - technology, liberal thought, contact with the heathens!"
"Put an end to this at once! Get me the leader of Krioval!"
--------------
Torokara - 27 May 2006
"I have been informed, Holy One, that your government wishes to cease trade with Krioval?" Koro asked.
"That's right! Keep your evil heathen 'merchants' away from Crysalia!"
"Is there no other way? Reduction of contact, perhaps?"
"No! Just stay away from us! Your kind have led us down the path of temptation and decadence. We don't need your help any more!"
Koro smiled. "As you wish."
--------------
Crysalia - 5 July 2006
It had started slowly. The portable generators were the first to go, in the middle of June. The shiny weapons ran out of ammunition during a campaign on a nearby world later that month. Household appliances, one by one, suffered any number of minor flaws that could not be repaired by Crysalian technicians. The parts were simply too exotic or too advanced. Krioval hadn't bothered to teach them how to deal with the intracacies of a more advanced economy, either. The stock market hurtled on the third of July, with fears that the entire country would soon be in the grips of industrial failure. A run on banks on 5 July confirmed people's fears, and panic set in.
Crysalia declared war on Krioval.
---------------
Torokara - 7 July 2006
"Evade their ships and do no damage whatsoever," Kiv Andros said. "They will suffer no casualties and lose no territory. They will not gain either. Instead, they will pour nonexistent resources into a stalemate while their economy rots out from beneath them." The General of Krioval smiled.
How long could they sustain this, with their interplanetary empire forged with Kriovalian weapons?
---------------
Crysalia - 13 October 2006
The expected came to pass. Crysalia's outer planets rebeled first, opting to take their chances under Krioval's wing. The inner planets now realized that the noose was tightening, but it was, of course, too late. Their fury at Krioval abated as no soldiers died, no ships were destroyed, and no cities were bombarded. Yet industrial and military accidents chipped away at morale. In September, the planet of Akenar renounced the state religion and declared independence. Later, in a desperate attempt to rescue the economy from total collapse, the Akenarian leader agreed to Kriovalian annexation. And on Crysalia itself, the situation was grim.
"Nothing works any more, Holy Father. The lights have been out for almost two weeks!"
"Why can't you get them back on? We had power before Krioval came!"
"The old power plants were deconstructed. The new ones have broken down." The priest turned to the Pope of Crysalia, and in an uncharacteristic rage, continued, "You thought you would beat these foreign devils, but your greed and their temptation have destroyed us all! They will land here any hour now and we are defenseless!"
An hour later, Raijin Dekker, Commander of Krioval, landed in the desolate capital. The coup was complete. Without a shot fired, Krioval had added nearly twenty systems to its original six. And the final scene in the drama was about to unfold, as the Pope of Crysalia, now reduced to madness, barred himself in the magnificent basilica. "You'll never take me, or defile this building with your evil heathen presence!"
He would prove to be correct on both counts. The explosive pack on the former ruler detonated, blasting the church and leaving little remaining. The Kriovalian delegation stood impassively as blocks of concrete and marble whizzed past them, safe behind their invisible barrier. When all had settled, Raijin walked to the rubble.
As he reached what had been the heart and soul of a misguided empire, he paused. A formal address would cement Krioval's claim, and security forces were already in place around most of the worlds. By the time others were aware, the Armed Republic of Krioval would have grown by over a factor of four. The Commander smiled.
-------------------
Six Months Earlier - Planet of Crysalia - 13 April 2006
"Of course we will respect your faith," the Kriovalian trader said emphatically. "Krioval believes in total freedom of religion, and national sovereignty. All we wish is to expand trade to your empire."
Like other predominantly Christian worlds, this one had a local religious leader, entertainingly enough called a Pope. As if there weren't at least a hundred "single representatives of God" in the galaxy. "Your assurances mean a great deal, but what would happen if the population got their hands on this stuff? It would ruin everything we've worked so hard to create."
"Holy One, the last thing I'd want is to destabilize your God-given authority," the trader said, his voice silken. "I will leave it to you to decide who gains access to our goods, after all."
"And what will you have in exchange?"
"A few trifles, really. Raw materials, so we can continue to develop more things like this." He placed a device in front of the 'Pope'. "Go ahead, it's a small force shield generator. You have such a nice city. I bet that if security weren't a concern, you'd be able to so much better minister directly to your people."
The Kriovalian watched the leader's resolve crumble, slowly at first as he examined the generator, and then by larger degrees. "What about power for your devices?"
"A Krioval-style power plant, of course. Think of how glorious your empire will be with our technology combined with your vision!"
"Yes," the religious leader said, his imagination now freed. No more bowing and scraping before other powers. He would be ascendant, even with this heathen's technology. "May I have your name, in case I would like to order more items?"
The Kriovalian smiled. "Call me Johan."
--------------
Crysalia - 2 May 2006
Crysalia's economy had tripled in less than three weeks, and more construction was scheduled. Kriovalian survey teams had revealed mineral and metal deposits that Crysalians would never have thought to tap - and in such remote areas. Certainly the environment would take a hit, but the price of progress was not zero. And so the Pope of Crysalia sat and reveled in his good sense. Soon, they would even be able to expel the heathens who had been duped into helping them. And then, Crysalia would carve out an empire that would glorify the one true God.
Or so the Pope thought.
--------------
Crysalia - 25 May 2006
"What in hell is going on?!" the Pope of Crysalia screamed. "The children are doing what?!"
A bishop stood before his leader. "Holy Father, the children no longer seem interested in church services. And they play abominable games, sometimes even discussing the profane name of pagan Gods!"
"Pagan Gods?!"
"And the young men no longer use the phrase 'brother-in-Christ', either. They call each other," he hesitated out of sheer disgust, "Valiyos."
"How is this possible?!"
"Some of the people feel that Krioval has fulfilled a prophecy. They arrived from the sky to show us wondrous things. And now they long for more, always more - technology, liberal thought, contact with the heathens!"
"Put an end to this at once! Get me the leader of Krioval!"
--------------
Torokara - 27 May 2006
"I have been informed, Holy One, that your government wishes to cease trade with Krioval?" Koro asked.
"That's right! Keep your evil heathen 'merchants' away from Crysalia!"
"Is there no other way? Reduction of contact, perhaps?"
"No! Just stay away from us! Your kind have led us down the path of temptation and decadence. We don't need your help any more!"
Koro smiled. "As you wish."
--------------
Crysalia - 5 July 2006
It had started slowly. The portable generators were the first to go, in the middle of June. The shiny weapons ran out of ammunition during a campaign on a nearby world later that month. Household appliances, one by one, suffered any number of minor flaws that could not be repaired by Crysalian technicians. The parts were simply too exotic or too advanced. Krioval hadn't bothered to teach them how to deal with the intracacies of a more advanced economy, either. The stock market hurtled on the third of July, with fears that the entire country would soon be in the grips of industrial failure. A run on banks on 5 July confirmed people's fears, and panic set in.
Crysalia declared war on Krioval.
---------------
Torokara - 7 July 2006
"Evade their ships and do no damage whatsoever," Kiv Andros said. "They will suffer no casualties and lose no territory. They will not gain either. Instead, they will pour nonexistent resources into a stalemate while their economy rots out from beneath them." The General of Krioval smiled.
How long could they sustain this, with their interplanetary empire forged with Kriovalian weapons?
---------------
Crysalia - 13 October 2006
The expected came to pass. Crysalia's outer planets rebeled first, opting to take their chances under Krioval's wing. The inner planets now realized that the noose was tightening, but it was, of course, too late. Their fury at Krioval abated as no soldiers died, no ships were destroyed, and no cities were bombarded. Yet industrial and military accidents chipped away at morale. In September, the planet of Akenar renounced the state religion and declared independence. Later, in a desperate attempt to rescue the economy from total collapse, the Akenarian leader agreed to Kriovalian annexation. And on Crysalia itself, the situation was grim.
"Nothing works any more, Holy Father. The lights have been out for almost two weeks!"
"Why can't you get them back on? We had power before Krioval came!"
"The old power plants were deconstructed. The new ones have broken down." The priest turned to the Pope of Crysalia, and in an uncharacteristic rage, continued, "You thought you would beat these foreign devils, but your greed and their temptation have destroyed us all! They will land here any hour now and we are defenseless!"
An hour later, Raijin Dekker, Commander of Krioval, landed in the desolate capital. The coup was complete. Without a shot fired, Krioval had added nearly twenty systems to its original six. And the final scene in the drama was about to unfold, as the Pope of Crysalia, now reduced to madness, barred himself in the magnificent basilica. "You'll never take me, or defile this building with your evil heathen presence!"
He would prove to be correct on both counts. The explosive pack on the former ruler detonated, blasting the church and leaving little remaining. The Kriovalian delegation stood impassively as blocks of concrete and marble whizzed past them, safe behind their invisible barrier. When all had settled, Raijin walked to the rubble.
As he reached what had been the heart and soul of a misguided empire, he paused. A formal address would cement Krioval's claim, and security forces were already in place around most of the worlds. By the time others were aware, the Armed Republic of Krioval would have grown by over a factor of four. The Commander smiled.