No-one could have predicted such an attack. It came without warning. There was rumours of an enemy over the containment wall, but it had always seemed like more of a myth than a reality. It was a well known fact that no one could have survived in the conditions over the wall. The conditions were toxic, poisoned by radioactive fallout from the Final War. The wall protected the people from the poison. It was the reason they were safe. Lena never would have believed that there was any living thing on the other side, let alone an army. That was until their so-called leader had appeared on stage, behind the consul during his address and snapped his neck smoothly, like he was greatly familiar with the motion.
It wasn't the sound of the Consul's neck snapping that had sickened her. As an apprentice surgeon Lena was used to such sounds. It was the ease at which it was done. With as much effort is it would take for her to open a jar, a man she had once looked up to as the leader of the Republic had been reduced to a vacant eyed, lifeless body in front of the thousands of gathered people, and the multitude more watching the broadcast. It was an undignified ending for an honourable man, made worse as he was forgotten in the pandemonium that followed.
It should have been a happy occasion. It was the 100th anniversary of the formation of the republic, the creation of the sectors, and the end of a long and costly war which had almost cost the entire population their lives. Thousands had flocked to Sector 1 from across the republic to celebrate. There had been parades and concerts across the sector for days, with the entire week designated a national holiday. All of this was quickly forgotten. Hysteria reigned as gunshots rang out and more bodies hit the floor until the stage was littered.The previous sounds of revelry were abruptly replaced with cries of terror It didn't take long for the crowd to scatter, in fear of their own lives. The Great Auditorium which had been so beautifully decorated with flowers and banners in the purple and white colours of the Republic, had become a warzone. The once beautiful decorations lay torn and trampled within minutes, as the masses scrambled and fought for their escape.
In the chaos of the running and screaming masses, it was easy for the intruders to collect a few unarmed hostages. Lena had tried her best to find her way out of the crowded auditorium, but as the daughter of the Vice-Consul she had been sat in the front row in a position of prominence that she had often resented. It didn't take long for two bulky men to corner her. No matter how hard she had kicked or trashed or screamed, she hadn't stood a chance. They were so much bigger than her, and she was a healer, not accustomed to violence. Despite this she fought as hard as she could, and even had a vague recollection of biting one of them, but eventually she found herself subdued and on her knees in front of a man the men called Emperor with around a dozen hostages. Glancing around, she realised she knew or knew of most of the people on their knees beside her. They had obviously targeted officials and their families. The selection implied insider knowledge, a fact that she remembered for future use.
Her eyes were then drawn to her captors. Their crude, black uniforms made their immense stature all the more imposing. She had never seen such large men before, not just in height, but in size too. All of the intruders seemed almost impossibly muscular, but even amongst his followers the emperor seemed to stand out. Perhaps it was that he towered at least two inches above any other man that drew her attention, or perhaps it was the crumpled red cape that stood in stark contrast with the aggressively black garments of his followers. More likely, it was the completely calm and controlled facade that drew her attention. The world around him was loud and chaotic, but there he stood perfectly still, his brow set, stoic. It was as if he didn't comprehend the thousands of people mere meters away scrambling to get away from him and his men. Or worse, it was a sight that he'd seen too often to mention. He looked like the kind of man people would run from, she thought.
As if he could feel her gaze, his eyes snapped up to meet hers suddenly. Dark and indescribable, they pierced her to the spot as he appraised her. Lena's breath caught in her throat at the intensity of his stare. The moment passed as quickly as if began, as he turned to face a group of his men.
"Gather the hostages. We need to move on before the peacekeepers arrive," he ordered. His men sprang to action, urging the kneeling hostages to their feet.
"Wait!" Called the gravelly voice of the hostage beside her. Snatching his arm free, a balding middle age man stepped forwards. She recognised him as Senator Wade, a kind eyed man who had championed education reforms that had seen schools constructed in even the most distant sectors. He had been a regular guest at her father's Friday night poker games. The Emperor turned sharply to scrutinise the man before him.
"I don't know who you are, or what you aim to achieve here but I wish to negotiate. I am a senator of the republic, and I have authority to negotiate with you..."
She didn't see where the Emperor had produced the gun from, but before the senator could finish his sentence a bullet tore through his chest. His body fell at her feet. Instinctively she dropped to the floor, applying pressure to the gaping wound over his heart. His blood flowed freely, so freely that he gagged and choked on it. She knew there was too much blood, but she had to try.
Heavy footsteps echoed across the stage towards her. Crouching on the balls of his toes, the Emperor's eyes once again pierced hers.
"Let go of him", he ordered coldly, rage seething behind his calm facade.
"He'll die," Lena mindlessly protested.
"That was my intention," he stated evenly. She met his gaze for a long second, then looked down at the Senator. His blood no longer gushed through her fingers having slowed to a trickle, and his eyes had clouded over. He was already dead. She sat back, defeated.
The Emperor stood, turning to address the hostages.
"Consider this your only warning. If you try to run, if you try to fight, if you try to talk back, you will share the same fate as the late Senator here. Now get moving."
Dragged to her feet by strong hands, Lena was half dragged, half herded forwards. The blood staining her hands and clothing had grown cold. She stumbled forwards, numb with shock.
The hostages were hastily lead out of the back door of the auditorium. It was surreal that outside of the auditorium everything seemed so normal, when the entire world as she had known it seemed to be coming to an end. She had expected to see burning buildings and bodies in the streets, or at least some sign of a struggle. But for all intents and purposes, it seemed like the invaders had just appeared from nowhere, uncontested.
Lena couldn't help but wonder what these men wanted with them, or where they were being taken. Merely minutes later, one of her questions were answered as they were led up The Parade, a long, broad stretch of paved road leading up to the Palace of the Republic, the official residence of the Consul. Lena has been there just the month before at a reception for the Estrayan ambassador, celebrating a new trade agreement between the republic and Estraya. There had been food, drinks and dancing. This visit was unlikely to be so pleasant, Lena thought to herself.
As the grand cast iron gates opened before them, her eyes weren't drawn to the landscaped gardens and beautifully manicured flower beds as they usually were. Today they were drawn to the bodies littering them, all peacekeepers in the pale blue uniform of the Consul's Guard. Once again she felt sickened. How many families would be missing a son, husband, or father tonight? Her captors dragged the hostages forward, seemingly unphased by the sight. Who were these monsters and why had they come here?
As the Emperor and his men approached, more and more of the black uniformed invaders spilled out of the palace, gathering on the stairs that led up to the buildings grandiose pillared entryway. There were easily a hundred men, all as large and imposing as the ones holding the hostages, only these ones were more heavily armed with big guns, doubtlessly courtesy of the dead peacekeepers. Many of them also had blades longer than her arm strapped to their hips. They were a formidable sight, but unless they had more men hidden away in the Palace, they didn't have nearly as many numbers as the peacekeepers in this sector. Hope began to blossom deep within Lena. All the hostages needed to do was hold out until the peacekeepers came, and stay out of the line of fire when they did. Excited murmurings passed among the amassed men, who fell silent as the Emperor stood forwards to address them.
"The Consul is dead!" The Emperor declared triumphant. His men cheered and hollered.
"Each if you is here because you believed that we could achieve the impossible. It is because of you that we stand here today, having taken the land which belonged to our enemy. But our work is far from done. We have made the first strike and have dealt a wounding blow to our enemy, but this is only the beginning. The Republic will fall," The Emperor paused as his men cheered once more,"but there is a long battle ahead of us. Each and every one of you must be prepared to fight, and to lay down his life for the cause. Are you prepared to fight or die?"
"Yes!" his men roared.
"And what do you fight for?"
"The Free Empire!" They called back.
"Return to your posts. I anticipate that we have a few hours before we are located. Rest while you can, and be prepared to fight," the Emperor ordered, and his men dispersed.
