Echoes of Harmony

Imperial Command

New Athens, Hyperia

17 December 3296

For the third time in the last month and a half, Imperial Command under New Athens was filled with the members of the Council of Hyperia. Only during the time of the wars with the Solar Empire had there been so many full meetings. Legate Marius Habricht, while he enjoyed wargaming and scheming as much as anyone else, did not enjoy the political theater some of his colleagues so often turned the meetings into.

This time, however, they had been called by Void Warden Braken Platecrusher, the diplomat from the Druthagar Kingdom. It was the first time Habricht had seen an outsider gather the council. The dwarf refused to elaborate on the purpose of the meeting. Instead, he simply stated every member needed to be there. Given the still tense climate from the last meeting, however, Habricht ensured Zorn stayed at Vertyn above Stariek to prevent any mishaps.

He found his seat near the center of one of the long sides facing the holoprojector. Behind him and slightly to his right sat the Emperor on his balcony. Flanking him were two of his royal guards, stoically standing nearly motionless.

When Habricht arrived, most of the council was already there. Several of them milled about in small groups, discussing a variety of different matters. On the far side of the room stood the Void Warden, his black beard speckled with flecks of white from age. Jewels of blues and greens and reds that sparkled in the light of the room hung from strands of hair. His robes were a blood red color, and his torso was covered by what looked to be a mithril breastplate. Around his neck was a diamond hanging on a golden chain. Behind him sat an ornate stone box decorated with runes Habricht did not understand but recognized as belong to the Druthagon language. In front of him was a stone podium Habricht was sure had been imported judging by the craftsmanship. Atop the podium was a single clawed base almost like that he would expect a crystal ball to lie within.

Slowly, the last few seats were taken as the rest of the Council filtered in. Councilor Feilhaber was one of the last to enter. Habricht watched as he took a seat near where the Druthagar diplomat stood, noting the brief look the pair shared before Platecrusher turned his attention to the Council at large.

“Councilors of the Hyperion Empire,” the dwarf started, “I come bearing something that may be a gift or a weapon. The Astral Lords of the Druthagar, with the support of High King Runeflayer, have invoked an ancient rite, that of the Mithril Hammer.”

Platecrusher turned and grabbed the box carefully with both hands. He placed it on the podium and opened it slowly, staring at the contents with something approaching vain as he lifted them out to show the Council. In one hand was a large diamond the size of his fist, its multifaceted surface glittering in the light. In the other was a double headed war hammer. Runes danced over the metal. The silver head was speckled by blue flakes, glittering as if imbued with sapphires. It had a cylindrical shape to it near the metal handle, flaring out to squares at either end of the head. Around the handle was wrapped a scarlet cloth. The bottom came to an end with a spiked pommel.

Habricht rose an eyebrow at the gesture, unsure of what to make of it. On one hand, Hyperia and the Druthagar had never been on friendly terms. Even the diplomat exchange was a tenuous relationship at best. If this were a gift, he failed to see the point of it. To him, it seemed more like a trap than anything.

“Contrary to tradition, I have been given instructions to explain the meaning of this ritual.” Platecrusher placed the diamond in the clawed base on the podium, walking around the holoprojector with the hammer sitting in his outstretched hands to allow everyone to glimpse it. “When the Druthagar were divided thousands of years ago, we settled disputes by issuing a challenge to another individual. We would craft a fine hammer, one that could be used in combat if necessary, and send it to an adversary along with a diamond from Druthagon. By tradition, the hammer is made of our finest mithril. If the individual accepted the hammer and diamond as a gift, then the receiver would acquiesce to the sender, and any dispute was settled in favor of the sender. If it was declined and the diamond broken by the hammer, then a duel to the death would commence.

“With that information, I present the Mithril Hammer to the Emperor of Hyperia, or, in his stead, the Supreme Commander of Hyperia’s military, Legate Marius Habricht. The decision is yours, but it must be made today.”

Platecrusher held the hammer out to the Emperor, though their leader was much too far away to grasp it. Instead, the Emperor made a gesture of dismissal, indicating for Habricht to take it. He stood and made his way over to the dwarf, towering more than half a meter over him. Carefully, he took the offered weapon. It was heavier than it looked, forcing him to adjust his grip to avoid dropping it. He turned it over a few times to look at it from all angles. Overall, the build of it impressed him. Though he did not know the slightest about crafting a weapon, it felt solid and powerful.

Habricht rose his eyes from the weapon and met the diplomat’s. The dark brown made them appear almost as empty pits.

“I take it this is the Druthagar’s way of declaring war,” Habricht stated more than asked. The dwarf nodded. “Allow me to make sure I understand correctly. If we break the diamond, it means war. If we keep the hammer without breaking the diamond, it means peace.”

“More or less,” the gruff voice replied. He shrugged. “If you do not break the diamond, it means you concede to the Druthagar.”

“Concede what exactly?” Habricht asked, raising an eyebrow. “Last I checked, it has been ten years since the last war, and neither of us owns any territory that belongs to the other.”

“Some of the Astral Lords disagree, Legate. Your acquisition of Stariek has made them wary. Being so close, especially with your fleet still in the system, would indicate to some a possible hostile intent. By conceding, you would withdraw your forces from the Draconis system and release any claims you hold to the system.”

Habricht couldn’t keep the smirk from coming to his face. A bold maneuver, but not as bold as he would have expected from the Druthagar. If Zorn’s messages were accurate, the boy was in their possession and aboard Vertyn. With him removed, there was really nothing special about Stariek other than its tritinium. The space station was fully constructed and fairly immobile, though. Their withdrawal of the system would result in billions of credits being wasted in the materials and labor of putting it together at the breakneck pace that saw it assembled in a week’s time. If they withdrew, they would need to destroy it to keep it from falling into anyone else’s hands.

If they withdrew. The previous wars against the Druthagar always ended in the Hyperion forces being spread too thin to mount a proper defensive whenever the dwarves pushed back, allowing for their removal from Druthagar territory. But they had always been attacking from a distance several dozen light years from the border. Now, they had a staging ground for a proper assault, something they sorely lacked the last few times. Add in the expertise and ships of Stariek, perhaps they could finally make some headway into their kingdom.

“I will put it to a vote of the Council,” Habricht said, turning to look over the other leaders. “Either war with the Druthagar or our withdrawal from Stariek. For the sake of time, a simple yes or no to war. The floor is open to debate if desired. Diplomat, if you would be so kind as to leave us while we deliberate. We will call for you when we have our response.”

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

The dwarf scoffed at him as he walked out of the room, but he ignored it. Habricht returned to his seat, gently rotating the hammer between his hands. His eyes flickered to the diamond several times, and his arm ached to slam the weapon down onto the precious gem. It would be so easy and satisfying. But he resisted the urge, sitting just as Councilor Feilhaber stood. A frown immediately crossed Habricht’s face.

“While no offense is meant to Diplomat Platecrusher,” Feilhaber said, bowing his head slightly to where Platecrusher exited the room, “I think my feelings on the Druthagar have been made quite clear. Their presence at our border has been a long contested issue. As the Legate was so kind to remind us two meetings ago, I was one of the proponents of the last war against the Druthagar. I believe this will strengthen our position in the galaxy. There have been rumors of possible attack from Zadia and Styvia. Better to show them our might now than to wait for them to launch an offensive.”

“If they may attack,” Habricht mused, his voice carrying through the room, “why should we devote our forces to this endeavor? Would it not be better to prepare for whatever attack the other nations are planning?”

“If we strike a decisive blow against the Druthagar, it will solidify our place in the galaxy,” Legate David Ganex said, hitting the table in front of him with his fist. “The other nations see us as weak. Now is the time to show them they are wrong.”

“Not to mention, we have never been as well-footed in a war against the Druthagar as we are now.” Feilhaber folded his hands behind his back and walked over to stand in front of Habricht. Part of him wanted to reach up and slap the smirk off the councilor’s face. “Our recent acquisition of Stariek under the guidance of our Supreme Commander has left us with a staging ground for a proper attack against the Druthagar. I’m sure Legate Habricht already considered the notion, as did many of the others, but one of us should at least say it aloud.”

“If you desired my opinion, Councilor, you could simply ask for it rather than beating around the bush.” Habricht scowled at the man before turning his gaze to look over the rest of the Council. “I’ve previously been outspoken about my opposition to fighting the Druthagar. I frequently remind the councilor here of the foolishness he led ten years ago against them the last time.

“However, I am nothing if not open-minded. As Councilor Feilhaber stated, the fact of the matter is we just put much time and money into capturing Stariek and constructing a new training facility there. It would be more foolish to simply abandon it when we have no way of moving the resources we have devoted into it.” Habricht folded his hands and looked up at the holoprojection of the Hyperion Empire in all its glory. “The Seventh Fleet’s location in the system for at least the next month can be extended as necessary to lead an endeavor against the Druthagar. By repositioning some of the other fleets nearby, such as the Third and Sixth and the new additions from Stariek, to reinforce the Seventh’s position, we can carve a path of destruction into the heart of the Druthagar Kingdom before they have a chance to properly react. It will take time to get it into place, but the Event Horizon is also a new addition from a few years ago that could turn the tide as needed.”

Habricht himself found it hard to believe he and Feilhaber were actually on the same page about any topic. Issues typically ended with both of them on the opposite side of a spectrum, possibly spitting barbs at one another. Now, he could see a look of surprise on the councilor’s face.

“Well put, Legate,” Feilhaber muttered. He replaced his surprise with his typical stoicism. Walking around the room, Feilhaber looked over the rest of the Council. “Does anyone else have anything to add?”

General Liliana Kindler, Habricht’s protégé, stood. Habricht inclined his head slightly to her when her eyes met his own. It was good for her to voice her own opinions every now and then, especially if she were slated to become Supreme Commander herself someday.

“I find it abhorrent the Druthagar even thought about sending us such an insult,” she said. Her face set in an expression of determination Habricht always saw from her before battle. “They dare come to us and expect us to just roll over and acquiesce to their demands? Perhaps it is time to show them exactly what happens to those who oppose the Empire.”

A few cheers of agreement went up from several of the Council, primarily those lower-ranking generals who hadn’t experienced a full-blown war like many of the others. Let them celebrate. Habricht saw no point in ridiculing their chomping at the bit for war. When they experienced it firsthand, they would realize what they were agreeing to. Conquering a single planet was one thing. An all-out war with another major power in the galaxy was something else entirely. He wouldn’t wish the horrors he had seen on anyone. Time for them to get the experience necessary to survive or die trying.

Kindler sat down, a confident smile on her face as she looked to Habricht for encouragement. It was in moments such as these he remembered how fast she rose through the ranks in just eight years of military service. She was still practically a child. Untarnished by the rigors of war.

“If there is nothing else, shall we call a vote?” Habricht asked.

No one raised any objections, and Habricht sent the vote to everyone’s CAMs. He played with the hammer in his hands, looking over its finely crafted surface, as he considered his vote. Feilhaber always desired war with the Druthagar. Habricht thought he remembered something about the councilor’s family being attacked by them, spawning the long-lasting hatred, but he couldn’t place it. This time, though, it felt different. In none of the previous wars did he attempt to get Habricht himself on side. Instead, he focused on getting the other members to side with him.

What game is he playing? Habricht let the thought shift around his head in much the same way the hammer did between his fingers. He watched as Feilhaber talked quietly with Legate Ganex, both of them keeping their voices low so as to prevent being overheard. After a moment, the councilor turned his gaze to Habricht, giving the man a barely perceptible smile, before looking away again.

Sighing to himself, he looked to the vote tally to find it already unanimous with nearly three quarters of the Council having voted. He failed to see an actual reason why they should not destroy the Druthagar once and for all. Without giving himself time to change his mind, he cast his vote for war.

After another few moments, all votes were cast. Every member of the Council voted for war. It did not come as a surprise to Habricht; after all, he was one of those that voted as such. And he looked forward to what he would do. Not just in a few moments with the hammer, but on the battlefield.

“Retrieve Diplomat Platecrusher,” he called out. One of the robotic soldiers around the exterior of the room moved to the door to carry out the order. After a brief silence, the dwarf entered the room, his swaggering steps echoing in the large chamber. Platecrusher stopped behind his podium and looked at Habricht. “Diplomat, we have voted and are prepared to give our answer.”

The legate stepped forward, moving to stand in front of Diplomat Platecrusher, the hammer cradled in his hands. In its cradle on the podium, the diamond sparkled. Its size and brilliance were even more impressive up close.

It’s such a shame to put it to waste, he thought. In one swift motion, he brought the hammer up and down. The gem shattered into a million tiny pieces, scattering over the ground like shattered glass. Habricht held the hammer out to the diplomat. Platecrusher took it, a smile touching his lips. Habricht couldn’t wait to wipe the grin off the dwarf’s face.

“Return to your High King and tell him Hades is coming for him.”

#

ISV Liberator

Hyperia Orbit

Alpha watched the proceedings through the eyes of one of the robotic guards around the chamber. None of the security analysts monitoring the Hyperion networks and soldiers noticed the intrusion, as expected. Many of them were too overworked to catch the small hiccup that resulted during the moment of insertion. As the vote went through, he wasn’t surprised at the result. The act, however, still made him clench his hand until a trickle of blood oozed between his fingers.

They still were not heeding his warning.

If they knew what he knew, if they saw the galaxy the way he did, perhaps they would finally understand. But when they adamantly refused to do so at every turn—whether through ignorance or stubbornness, he didn’t know—they were doing nothing more than perpetuating their descent towards destruction.

Alpha turned in his chair within the cockpit of the frigate to face Omega. The androgynous robot made no indication it was upset over its previous failures at Stariek. Alpha reassured the android it wasn’t its fault, but it didn’t seem to make a difference. Omega did not have the same self-admonishing mindset that many humans had. Perhaps that was for the better.

“Omega, I believe it may be time to teach them another lesson. After all, we can’t be having them think the Singularity went and slunk off back to a random rock again. What do you think?”

“I would be honored to assist you in this endeavor, Creator.”

As always, the robot was ready to please Alpha. It brought a smile to the older man’s face. Turning back to the controls, he input a series of commands to gain clearance to leave the system. The gears within his own head turned with the expert precision he expected, formulating a proper response.

If his last plan did not work, he would just have to come up with a better one. One that would make the galaxy listen.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!