Debauchery Worlds 61 (Patreon)

Commissioned by michael stitcher

Debauchery Worlds

Chapter 61

-VB-

Alan Marris

Luthien, Draconis Combine

2983.04.28

Imperial City burned. 

Over the course of a week, we forcefully relocated everyone within a five mile radius of the Unity Palace. We didn’t care about their wealth, status, livelihood, or anything else. 

We just wanted to get this over with. 

We made a promise, and this was merely us carrying out that promise to a T without being … too big of an asshole about it. If we were assholes about our promise, then we would just carry out our promise regardless of the mass casualties our act might cause. 

Not that the snakes cared when they nuked us but, hey, someone had to be the better people here, right? 

But if these fuckers keep doing their bushido bullshit suicide runs, then I’m just going to asteroid bomb them to hell.

Bushido was … it was definitely a warrior culture. It was, however, a warrior culture that imposed itself onto those who weren’t warriors, and time and time again it surfaced in the worst ways possible. 

“{Commander, preparations are complete.}”

That came from one of my non-clone soldiers, one of those piloting the mechs remotely. If I remembered the call id and voice correctly… this was one of the highest ranking ones. A dwarf from Falmart, actually. 

“Can you bet your life on that?” I asked in return.

“{Yes, commander. I made sure of it.}”

“Good,” I said. “Make sure to fall back yourself.”

“{Of course, commander. We’ll be waiting.}”

I took a deep breath in.

It was time. 

I ordered my clones to cease jamming the radio.

And then I played a pre-recorded message for everyone to hear. 

“This is Prince Alan Marris of the Coreward Principality,” I heard myself talk. “Today, you are hearing my voice because of a very good reason. Before I founded the Coreward Principality, I was a mere mercenary and factory owner. I was happy to remain that way. However, that changed… when the Fire Nation attacked.”

A pause.

Before I heard myself laughing like a hyena. 

“Sorry, sorry. Had to do that. Because I can’t  - I refuse - to give this moment the seriousness it wants! Because I refuse to consider the Draconis Combine as anything but a laughable existence depending on a culture and mindset that have already failed its people before. But an attack did happen. The Draconis Combine nuked me, a mercenary. Not a military installation of a rival power, not an impenetrable fortress, not a strategic asset. Me, a mercenary trying to get by.

“And it pissed me off.

“This… all of this happening because of that one nuke. That’s why I have been attacking your jumpships. Because I am more than fine with letting your nation break apart. But I’m not so cruel to be impersonal about killing you. That’s why I ordered my soldiers to evacuate everyone away from Unity Palace. Except for one man. 

“He should be inside a small armored car sitting right at the front of the palace gates. Tied up and unable to leave. That man is Hohiro Kurita, the Coordinator of Worlds. The bastard tried to off himself but we kept him alive just for today. He will die with Unity Palace because I made a promise with myself. 

“I promised to make those responsible for the nuke have a taste of their own medicine.

“So my warships on in orbit… Fire at will.” 

The recording cut out, and immediately, the radio waves filled up with people demanding answers from all over Luthien, including the HPG station. 

But I didn’t care.

I watched dispassionately as the sky lit up with the telltale signs of an orbital strike and -.

BBOOOOOMMMM!!!!

-and struck Unity Palace. 

Then more strikes came down.

For a full hour, low caliber (for a warship) orbital strikes struck the Unity Palace again and again and again. It felt like an earthquake with how the ground shook. It rippled around the palace from the kinetic energy of the orbital strikes, but for people outside of the evacuation zone, it was just a constant tremor.

And when it was done, there was nothing left of Unity Palace. 

This time, I chose to speak in person. 

My admiral clone in the Pilum-class Heavy Destroyer flagship linked the ship’s PA system with the planet’s PA systems, thanks to a number of my power-armored clones and remote controlled mechs making sure to seize them during the battle six days ago. 

“This is what will happen to anyone else who thinks they can use weapons of mass destruction and think they can get away with it. I will shatter your nation. I will ruin your people! I will make you wish eating animal feed is a fucking blessing! I will burn your nation and desecrate everything you hold dear!” I sniffed for effect. “And when it is all done, I won’t even give you the chance to beg for surrender. I will simply watch you starve from afar and snipe any and all attempts at rebuilding. Prince Alan Marris, out.”

Finally, we began to pull back. This wasn’t a retreat; we accomplished what we came here for. 

No one on Luthien dared to stop or attack us after our latest show of force. 

-VB-

Precentor Luthien

Trevor trembled as he watched the Coreward Principality leave Luthien.

As an advocate-precentor of the First Circuit of ComStar, he knew exactly what happened on David II. And apparently, that was the spark that lit Marris into becoming this monster that was sweeping across the entirety of the Draconis Combine. 

“P-Precentor, what do we do?” 

The long bearded and white haired Precentor turned to look at his most trusted adept. 

“We must warn the First Circuit,” he said warily as the last of the dropships ascended into the sky, leaving behind only the columns of smoke rising from all corners of the Imperial City that he could see from his office’s balcony. “War is coming to Terra once more.” 

The adept’s mouth opened and closed in horror before middle-aged adept turned to look at the Imperial city… and the distinct lack of the Unity Palace that once towered over it all.