Imperial Palace, two hours after victory over the last defenders:

"I didn't kill him."

The emperor's corpse had been taken out under the watchful eyes of the cameras, the bloody bedsheet thrown over his body doing little to lessen the shock of the situation. The Federal commanders had been wanting to capture the emperor alive and use him as an extra bargaining chip. His death had shocked and annoyed them greatly, and the first one to get the blame for the incident was Aya.

Aya stood, armourless and dressed in standard army fatigues, near the place where the emperor had been killed. Around her were agents of the SIA, clad in stark grey uniforms.

"You told us someone else killed the emperor...do you have any idea who it might be, comrade Valmora?" asked one man with cold blue eyes and a scar across his face.

"Of course not", retorted Aya, "he just flew in, shot the emperor, then flew out again. I think he had some kind of optical camouflage, since he seemed to flicker whenever he moved. He also had an FAAM, the standard issue infantry rifle."

"Examination of the corpse showed that the emperor was killed with an FAAM", said the SIA agent, "but you and your comrades were the only ones present at the man's death, and none of you had an FAAM like the one used to kill the emperor. This is most strange."

Aya shrugged apologetically.

"I don't know anything else, comrade", she said.

"It is embarrassing for the Federation", said the agent, "but the emperor's death seems to have had a definite impact on Imperial morale. I've had reports of a squad of legionaires surrendering to our forces! It has to be the first time this has ever happened. Anyway. You gave us all we needed to know, comrade Valmora, you may now leave."

As Aya left the silent imperial quarters, her mind boiled with unanswered questions. What had happened today with the emperor? Who had ordered the old man's death? She'd probably never know. In any case, it seemed to show that the Imperial ranks were not as unified as they seemed.


Over the next week, Imperial resistance continued in various occupied areas, but dwindled steadily after news of the emperor's death reached them. Federal troopers began to report forts, bunkers and camps filled with dead legionaires, legionaires who seemed to have committed suicide. Other waves of suicides swept through civilian populations, further showing how devoted to their emperor the Aresian people were. In other news, the Federal forces made isolated incursions into the Southern and Eastern sectors of the Imperium.

The bigger news, though, came when the Imperium sent a delegation to Federal space. The delegation was then sent to meet the Federal government on Arion, in the planetary government building. The day the delegation arrived, the Premier was present, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips. The mood that day was one of elation and triumph. The Imperium had been crushed by the Federation's superior way of life and its courageous soldiers. The revolution had prevailed over the reactionary forces of the eagle.

As the delegation's ship landed atop the building's pad, the Premier declared:

"It is a glorious day for the Federation. Let it always be remembered!"