The Tajerian command was in a buzz as this message played on screen along with reports of other empires moving in to provide support to the indeendance worlds, many officers were arguing about pulling back while others were suggesting the fleets push forward, Ilyich had enough and turned up his mike "QUEIT!" He yelled as the room died down to a silence, Be walked up to a holotable displaying fleet information and examined it for a momment, He swiftly drew a line across the map and said "We take these, the opposing fleets won't be able to get their in time. We will dig in and prepare for a drawn out fight. If this rebel group assaults us then the other factions will have to choose their true colors and pull back or go all in. Move now" with that he walked out of the room to his waiting ship, he had a speech to tell.Professor Fenway wrote:Randall slowly mounted the steps of Antioch's former capital building. The city never recovered from the impact, and was abandoned after it was deemed a loss. Rubble was still strewn around the building, but he got to the top without issue. A small camera crew followed him up the steps. He stopped, gave a gesture to the camera crew, and turned to face the city. He cleared his throat and the crew activated their equipment and began the broadcast.
"This message," he said, "is directed to both my fellow friends and family, and the governments of the galaxy. My family was never an urban one." he paced around. The camera's stayed trained on him, just barely keeping the rubble out of sight. "We grew up on border worlds, backwater planets. We had our fair share of pirates, unknown threats, everything from Cuuyth and back. Sure, it could be dangerous, but we could always rely on the military to keep watch over us. I never truly forgot that, in all my years of life. Even as I was sworn in as President, of the world of Antioch, I never forgot that." He moved a bit closer towards the city, the cameras trained on him.
"And that, friends, is why I am speaking to all of you today. With the Hierarchy's dissolution, we were given an opportunity, a chance to forge a new path, whether with the sector, or alone. A path nobody here may ever witness again. And this is what the sector thinks of our freedom." The cameras panned over to the main Antioch center, showing the ruined city.
Randall had made sure that the ruined city was prepared for this moment. He had it destroyed some more, set fires, created plasma burns. Everything necessary to make it look as if it was attacked. As a bonus, he modified the skyline; few would be able to tell that this was Antioch.
"We get attacked. Enslaved. Those that rise up are destroyed, beaten down. Our freedoms are taken away. And WHAT do the other nations do?" He was very close to the camera at this point. "Nothing. They do nothing for us, nothing to stop or even protect us from some backwater empire nobody cares about!" He wore an expression of pure hatred now.
"Well, I have a message for the sector. And for the Tajer. As of now, I declare the formation of the Antioch United Federation, consisting initially of no less than 15 former NeoRoman worlds. More join our cause every day, and it won't stop there. We will drive out the invaders, these "Tajer," we will beat them into submission, and we will show the sector that we don't need their support or their permission! We will forge our own path! Together, we stand united!"
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Ilyich walked up to a high podium with a waiting crowd below after the rebels message had been played, he cleared his throat and said:
"New citizens of the Tajerian Republic, and Future citizens. I have come here today to warn you of these fools, these rebels who are trying to lead you astray! Your old government abandoned you to space! Left you to die separated and alone! Yet here you let the same fools lead you again!? Who's to say they don't abandon you to at the first sign of trouble?! Here we try to bring forth to you a new age! A Golden age! An age that will not die as long as we remain united! They say we take away your freedoms? Have we not fed you?! Have we not given you shelter and work?! Have we not crushed the pirates and crime that had plagued you since the abandonment of your government!? Yet here these fools, these, these rebels! Dare try to hold against the might of the epic dynasty of the Tajerian Empire!?" He said arms gesticulating almost wildly by this point "Your cities could look like this!" He said gesturing to the massive city behind him with huge towering spires of glass and alloy rising into the heavens "but yet you would rather join a group that will just result in anarchy! What will you do when you don't feel safe in your homes at night!? What will you do when your money is worthless and you are starving?! If you want to join the rebels then fine, but remember that the Tajerian government will never leave its people abandoned until the last man falls! Heil Tajer and let the rebels burn!"
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The Tajer fleet claims the last few worlds close by and haults in a defencive line. Small scouts shoot forward to the other worlds and broadcast Ilyichs speech then retreat back to the line.
OOC bleh Firefox crashed and ate my post just put anchy whatever on the defense line
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The Admiral of fleet 3 watched disgruntled as the rebel fleet warped in, The planet below him was a smoldering dead rock, freshly nuked which meant he had no solid defenses to fall on, luckily though it also meant he could abandon it and not get executed. "Fleet three retreat back to previous position and deploy mines on retreat" he sent the message through secure channels to the rest of the fleet. He sent out SOS orders to the other three fleets and highcommand petitioning for emergency help and ordering the stationed rear forces to prepare for a heavy fight.
