NationStates Jolt Archive

The Imperial citadel was quiet, an icy tomb of efficiency and calculation. Lightning struck the super structure without mercy or regard for those within. High winds laced the walls and reinforced duraplex while the tactful minds of the empire consulted on their latest endeavour.

News was coming through of plots and rumours of disregard for the emperors protection and his loving embrace of order. Whispers in a far of land of treason and sedition on such as scale as never to have been witnessed before.

Information was near, its arrival imminent, tell tale signs of this heresy would be given, and the emperors sweet justice delivered, released, and sentenced without any opportunity of reprieve.

Deep within the chasm of the black order, hidden within the darkest corner of the palace, was a docking bay, now in use for this first time in over fifteen years. Gaping hanger doors closed slowly, a shuttle cloaked rumbled as its engines started the descent. And her crew emptied, unloaded, delivering the empire a message, a warning, and a token of loyalty.

A Crane-class civilian shuttle, acquired for just this mission by ONI, rocketed out of the hangar of the ITS Hummingbird, an Imperial prowler which hung in orbit above the planet, delivering its small, but vital, cargo. Inside this little vessel was one of the most important people in the Imperium. Daniel Ferethi, now leader of ONI, sat in the command chair, guiding the shuttle into the hangar. What he was doing was something many would consider wrong and immoral.

But it was all for the good of the Terran Imperium.

Upon landing, the ramp opened to the floor and his security detachment, four Helljumpers, crack soldiers who lived through the Xeno War twenty years earlier, stood at attention. Reaching over, he pulled a chip out of the slot in the holo generator and exited. Nodding to the soldiers, two remained behind to guard the shuttle. The other two followed him to meet the escort sent by the Imperials. Saluting, he spoke.

"Daniel Ferethi, Imperial head of the Office of Naval Intelligence. I have something vital to report to the Empire."