NationStates Jolt Archive

Bed Chambers of Prince Hidenen

The Talaaxian Prince Hidenen was the man considered most likely to succeed to the now vacant Imperial throne. Most offworld political analysts put him in a commanding lead. He was the favourite son of the late Emperor, held the most government positions and commanded the 2nd largest fleet in the Imperial Navy. All signs pointed to him being the next emperor.

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It was late and Hidenen should have been asleep. He was up reading intelligence reports about pirate activity on the periphery of the Empire. Pirates were never any real problem, but he liked to keep up to date with their activity. He wasn't expecting any visitors.

It came as a suprise then when the door console rang, announcing a visitor. Who the hell is disturbing me this late? If it's that damned servant again it will be his last visit... he thought to himself as he stood up and strolled toward the door. He pressed the door open button and was suprised to see his younger brother Cradoss across the threshold.

Brother! What brings you to my chambers at such an excentric hour?

I have some rather urgent business to discuss my brother. - Private business -. May I come in? Cradoss whispered, leaning closer to avoid anyone overhearing.

Of course, enter please Hidenen lowered his voice to his brother's level and stepped aside to allow him entry. The two brothers entered the chamber, seating themselves beside each other next to the window. Looking down on the millions of lights of Canagria, the two conversed for several minutes.

Conversation wasn't what Cradoss had really come for and he faked his way through some conversation about an incident on Talaax Beta. For several minutes Hidenen bought it and seemed genuinely concerned about the colonists apparently taken hostage. Finished his lies, Cradoss took leave to go. Hidenen stood, shook hands with him and turned away, staring out the window. At that moment Cradoss struck. Striking his older brother in the back of the neck at the base of his skull. Hidenen dropped immediately, taken by suprise but not incapacitated. Cradoss leaped on top of him, using his weight to pin his brother to the ground while he strangled him. For several minutes the two fought desperately, one for life and one for death. In the end, Hidenen lay dead in a heap on the floor. Quickly Cradoss left the chambers and left his brother to be found in the morning. The first stage of his plot to ascend to the throne was complete, but he still had more than thirty siblings to compete with, each just as power-hungry and bloodthirsty as he.

Welcome my brothers! Please sit down! I have had soup brought up for our enjoyment. Cradoss greeted his two oldest, and most influential, brothers - Commair and Viklin - in his private quarters. He had invited them up for a discussion of increased security in the wake of Hidenen's death. The three of them sat down around a table, exchanging pleasantries.

If I may brothers, I would like to get right down to business. The breach of security that resulted in our dear brother's death has prompted me to look over the security arrangements of the Imperial palace. I must say that in some areas security is lacking. Take for instance ventilation. Virtually no security clearance is required to reach the ventilation controls. Anyone could inject a nerve gas into the palace ventilation system and kill us all. Some of these lackings are incredibly disconcerting.

Indeed, brother. Something must be done, but increasing security is not the only thing. Viklin pointed out, preparing to eat his soup.

Viklin is right. Security is only one issue, it's obvious that the people are at least somewhat dissatisfied with the Imperial family. We must work to increase our popularity, more funding to propaganda is needed. We should also crack down on dissident news services.

Your point is valid, brothers. But let us concern ourselves with only one issue for the time being. I propose we double the palace guard and increase threefold the security clearances in all private and maintenance areas. I have already prepared a battalion of Tal Shiar troopers to ship out to the palace. They can be hear the day after tomorrow. Cradoss watched his brothers intently across the table as they began to eat. Everything was going as planned.

Straight-forward and simplistic as usual my brother. Perhaps a bit heavy-handed as well, but your solution is acceptable. Viklin looked across at his brother, while tasting his soup.

"I should have killed you with my bare hands, like Hidenen, you wretch... Should have squeezed the life out of you with my own hands..." Cradoss thought, while feigning a smile. He had always hated Viklin.

The conversation drifted off to a discussion of intergalactic politics as the brothers finished their soup. It was almost a half hour later, just as Commair and Viklin were getting up to leave that the poison slipped into their soup began to take effect. Both collapsed to the floor in agony, clutching their chests in much the same way the late Emperor Tryleem had died. As they drifted away into unconsciousness and death, both looked up to see their brother Cradoss standing over them, an evil smile and look of satisfaction on his face. Part two of his plan was now complete. Two more obstacles out of his way.

C Company on final approach. ETA 1 minute. The voice crackled across the palace guard communications net. The new battalion of Tal Shiar troopers had begun arriving the day before. They were being brought in, on Cradoss' orders to strengthen palace security. The battalion already assigned to the Imperial palace had also been rotated out and replaced with a Tal Shiar battalion.

The Tal Shiar are Talaax's best troops. Acting as an intelligence service, a fleet, an army and an internal security force, the Tal Shiar had many duties within the Empire. Whether seizing dissidents in the night or crushing pirate's dens without mercy, the Tal Shiar performed their duties without question. Currently loyal to Cradoss, the Tal Shiar troopers would follow his orders to the letter, no matter what they were.

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Private Quarters of Prince Cradoss

Have all your men arrived Major? Cradoss inquired, staring into the empty visor of the Tal Shiar officer.

Yes, my lord. All troops have arrived and have positioned themselves according to your wishes. We are awaiting orders now. The Major replied, more than a little nervous to be standing infront of the ruthless head of the Tal Shiar. More than a few officers in his position had never returned to barracks.

Excellent. Excellent indeed! Have the men execute order 221. Make sure they are thorough. Cradoss smiled broadly as he gave the order, relishing every word of it. With that ther Major saluted and swiflty walked off to his command post to issue the order.

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The Talaaxian Imperial family consists of 32 sons and 27 daughters of royal blood, all eligble to be the next Emperor or Empress. What decides the next ruler is influence amongst the government and his/her own family or unchallenged power within the workings of the Imperial government. Very few of the children of the Emperor possess these attributes. Only Hidenen carried the power to become Emperor and only Commair and Viklin the influence. The rest were minor parties, still eligble and capable but less so than their more influential brothers. A new and larger power struggle had begun between them all, with each struggling to amass the power or influence necessary to ascend to the throne.

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Execute Order 221. Seal off the perimeter and move in sector by sector. Be thorough in your searches! No one is to escape. The order sounded across 1200 different comm links around the palace and suddenly the guards moved into action.

Within minutes the palace was completely sealed off, no one was permitted entry or exit. Detatchments of troopers immediately set about searching the palace, looking for the Princes and Princesses. When they found one the target was ostensibly told that there had been an attempted attack on the palace and they were being moved to a secure location. Those who questioned the movement were shot on the spot, the rest were carted down to the palace's immense wine cellar. Servants and other palace workers were also arrested and brought to the wine cellar.

Once they were all gathered there, they waited only a few minutes before Cradoss arrived to inform them of the situation.

Brothers and Sisters! ... Hired help ... I am here to inform you of two things, firstly there is a new Emperor! The room gasped in suprise, glancing around to see if anyone knew who it was.

That's right! I am the new Emperor! Where Hidenen, Commair, Viklin and the rest of you have failed, I have succeeded. Yes, I am not the most influential or powerful of you all, but as you can readily see - The troopers raised their rifles and trained them on the gathered host of royals and servants - that really doesn't matter at all. The second piece of news I have to give you is that you have all been sentenced to death. For some of you it pains me to watch you die - a lie - and for others I shall enjoy it. Please, do die with dignity. Don't bother attempting to struggle, it really is now use. Men, you may begin firing.

With that the gathered troopers opened fire on the mass of bodies huddled in the center of the wine cellar. Men and women began to drop incredibly quickly, torn apart by blaster bolts tearing through them. Within a minute the huddled mass had turned into a broken and bloody pile. The troopers worked their way through the pile, killing survivors. After about ten minutes, a slightly bloody sergeant approached Cradoss and gave his report. 28 male heirs killed, 27 female heirs, sir. 114 servants as well.

Very well. Cradoss dismissed him and surveyed the fruit of his plotting. Such a waste some would say, not Cradoss, however. All of these deaths had served to increase his power and cement his control over the Empire. No one stood in his way now. In a matter of days he would be crowned Emperor and all his hard work would bear fruit.