Chapter 18 - Mephistopheles
The Emperor emerged from his quarters, striding silently to the bow flight deck, watching the Elite Guards go by on daily work, looking into one of the training simulator rooms, decked out with holographic training sims, currently the group was working on boarding tactics.
My Elites...the best of the best...he thought. In training and resolve they are unbested. They are my Immortals...should one fall there will be another to take his place.
The emperor's mind wandered off to the days of before, when he had power over millions, no, billions, and all feared his name and fleets. He could feel it...the day would be so soon. But, the key was secrecy. Nobody must know. The Imperium generally abhorred the Emperor, they aborred him, for what he'd done. His deeds...but they respected his positive aspects. Now the goal would be to minimize the negatives.
He would use the beast to silence his enemies. Then later...silence the Beast.
He would come out on top, as the "Savior of the Galaxy" for vanquishing the beast. Then he would move in...politically, wrapping the tendrils of manipulation around his assets, like Machiavellian, everything around him would be reduced, for analysis, into "items" of tangible value. Some; more then others. These "lessers" would then be extinguished for a grander scheme.
The Flytrap had been destroyed. Or so he thought...
The Emperor wondered if the Beast knew of his thoughts. So cunning...the Beast would never know.
He arrived in the cavernous hangar bay, watching everything like a child on Christmas day, the dull roar of a Fiirkan being launched caught his attention, the black craft being catapulted off the mag-launcher, joining the patrol of strike craft that made its never-ending vigil of omnipresence, watching for the enemies of the Emperor, should they be seen or unseen.
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Onboard the Naggarok, the Beast lay in reflection.
The Naggarok had hyper spaced out to a safe place, shortly after the defeat of its mighty hordes at the Unbound's home.
All that was left was its 5 massive carrier groups.
The Bound ones...fight very so against me...but why? Why do they not like me? What do they hide? thought the Prime-Mind of the Beast.
We must find out why...said a second voice.
The Unbound...the Bound will lead to the Unbound...we will bind both to us nonetheless. These Imperials are our pawns, having pledged themselves so eagerly. We will use them as our own pawns. They do not suspect.
They will pay for their stupidity.
It does not matter. They will die too. ended the third voice.
And that discussion was ended.
The ships engines rumbled, the giant craft engaging hyperspace yet again.