"Aff...that is to say, the ancestors of the clans–the men and women of the Star League–fought one such as Han Zhi."
He launches into a historical lecture that, to anyone else, might be a little off-putting.
"Stefan Amaris was the ruler of the Rim Worlds Republic, a minor star nation and protectorate of the mighty Star League, which was led by First Lord Richard Cameron, a young and troubled soul newly risen to the throne.
The vile heart of Amaris saw opportunity, and so, he cultivated the attention of Richard Cameron with gifts and flattery, supporting him in his rasher and more foolish political actions, and acting as Cameron's only ally whenever the Great Houses checked his influence. He started minor revolts all along the Periphery–save in his own nation, of course–so that General Kerensky and the S.L.D.F. were fighting never-ending suppression campaigns. And then he 'graciously' offered his own armies to help garrison Terra."
Matthew snarls quietly.
"Within a few months all members of the Cameron family line were butchered, and his forces drowned all opposition within the Terran Hegemony with their own blood. He 'offered' an alliance of power to Alexander Kerensky, but the Great General would not let his duty and honor be soiled by such an offer.
Though it took him 13 years of roaring civil war, he and the S.L.D.F. drowned the Rim Worlds Republic in flames, and wound their way through the core of the Hegemony to Terra itself. The would-be Emperor and his forces fought to the last, but were finally put down."
Matthew hesitated. "And yet the dream of the Star League was already lost..."
no subject
He launches into a historical lecture that, to anyone else, might be a little off-putting.
"Stefan Amaris was the ruler of the Rim Worlds Republic, a minor star nation and protectorate of the mighty Star League, which was led by First Lord Richard Cameron, a young and troubled soul newly risen to the throne.
The vile heart of Amaris saw opportunity, and so, he cultivated the attention of Richard Cameron with gifts and flattery, supporting him in his rasher and more foolish political actions, and acting as Cameron's only ally whenever the Great Houses checked his influence. He started minor revolts all along the Periphery–save in his own nation, of course–so that General Kerensky and the S.L.D.F. were fighting never-ending suppression campaigns. And then he 'graciously' offered his own armies to help garrison Terra."
Matthew snarls quietly.
"Within a few months all members of the Cameron family line were butchered, and his forces drowned all opposition within the Terran Hegemony with their own blood. He 'offered' an alliance of power to Alexander Kerensky, but the Great General would not let his duty and honor be soiled by such an offer.
Though it took him 13 years of roaring civil war, he and the S.L.D.F. drowned the Rim Worlds Republic in flames, and wound their way through the core of the Hegemony to Terra itself. The would-be Emperor and his forces fought to the last, but were finally put down."
Matthew hesitated. "And yet the dream of the Star League was already lost..."