(Thaedus POV)
Lord Argall is dead. The Emperor of Viltrum lies dead at my feet, with a deep wound from my dagger in his head. I did it. Finally, after 4'000 years of serving Lord Argall, I have finally ended his cruel leadership over all Viltrumites and have made the first step towards peace in the galaxy. I have planned this for years; millennia have passed with me preparing for this precise moment. I knew that it would be hard, as Argall was loved throughout all of Viltrum and his rule was a strong one, filled with military and economic success.
I grew up as a nobody. I wasn't particularly intelligent or strong. I was nothing special, but I was different nonetheless. Unlike most Viltrumites, I didn't take pleasure in our conquering ways, and the subduing or slaughter of entire species and civilisations wasn't what I wanted. Those who didn't particularly like it either, focused on other things, academics, technology, strategy, research or exploration. But it was Emperor Argall who focused the Viltrumite species and made them into the conquering race that we are known as today. He was a great warrior, but despite not being the strongest, he was wise and a strategic genius. He could formulate plans to best use our strengths to conquer races that might have been too technologically advanced for us to conquer without great losses.
That's why I knew that I had to take him out of the picture and eliminate him. I worked long and hard to finally get into a position where I was close enough to him to do what I had to do when the time came. But despite all my efforts, Argall remained vigilant around me and simply used me as a servant without giving me much authority. Still, I managed to give him bad counsel a few times, to stop, or at least slow down our expansion effort. I was the one who told Argall about the dangers of understanding Smart Atoms completely and weaponising them. I fuelled his fears of what might happen if others learned about it and used it as a means to destroy the Viltrum Empire. Despite being thoughtful for long, Argall eventually relented and ordered the leading scientist, Barnuf, to halt all his research due to the massive danger it brought with it, which wouldn't outweigh the benefits enough. What a fool, the benefits would have been incalculable and may have established the Viltrumites as the rulers of the Universe in a matter of millennia.
Not all was this successful, though. Our encounter with the Geldarians has shown us once again that Viltrumites aren't immortal and can be killed if a race is technologically advanced enough. Geldarans are physically weak, but their use of what they call Tech Jackets is impressive, and in a one-on-one, not all Viltrumites could deal with it. The Tech Jacket is a vest that every Geldarian is equipped with upon birth. The suit grants them a series of weapon systems, flight, self-sustenance and enhances their strength by roughly 100 times if not more. But Argall, the wise and intelligent man, started developing a counter-strategy that would have surely dealt with the Geldarians efficiently. So I had to act, and as luck would have it, an opportunity arose and circumstances favoured me greatly.
Roughly two years ago, Conquest stormed into the royal quarters and started shouting at Argall. He told him that his son had been in some form of accident and was in the medical department being treated. It didn't look good for the heir, and some form of weight crushed him. Argall, however, said the usual Viltrum doctrine: "If the child dies, he never deserved to live."
I knew that Argall was ruthless when it came to Viltrum's enemies and even Viltrum itself, but to say the iconic doctrine when the life of his own son was at stake, that I didn't see coming. I watched as the Emperor grew angry at Conquest, who had been loyal to him and Viltrum for thousands of years, but was now holding on to his collar and shouting at him. Conquest seemed to have grown attached to something that wasn't bloody slaughter. Argall punched Conquest hard and yelled at his old friend, reminding him that he was the ruler of Viltrum, and he was but a weapon for his cause. I knew those words well, as I was being told the same ones many times over the years. I didn't think the situation could have gotten more out of hand and better for my plans, but they did.
Conquest started to prove why he was one of the most powerful and retaliated. He punched Argall a few times and was only stopped when the guards arrived. Argall, whose pride had been hurt, didn't allow them to imprison or punish Conquest; he would do that himself. So he sent the old man off-world for two years as punishment. Conquest completed his mission a few days ago, giving me the perfect chance to complete my plan. I surprised Argall and plunged my specially designed dagger into his brain, making sure he was dead.
*BOOM*
The door breaks open and the guards enter, looking around and seeing me with the dagger in hand and all the blood on my hands and the floor. I act as I prepared.
"It was... Conquest... he arrived and shouted and attacked Argall before I could stop him... find Conquest..."
The guards still remember the savage fury Conquest unleashed on them two years ago and nod their heads. My story makes perfect sense to them, as they have never learned to think independently, but always follow orders. So, seeing me with a knife in my hands and full of blood, telling them that it was Conquest, they believe it. This is the window I need. After they all leave, I walk through the doors, exiting the royal chambers and going to my secret base, where I have been preparing for this. I have contacted several planets already, and they are ready for the change.
Quickly, I get all of my things and then press a few buttons on the large computer. All of the research I have done while I was here, doing what I have to, is downloaded. Finally, I enter a specific code and activate the final piece, guaranteeing my escape and slow response from Viltrum.
[Self-destruct sequence activated. T minus: 00:02:00:00]
[Bombs armed... ready for activation.]
I fly through the air, towards the hangar, where I hid my personal vessel with many technological appliances to help the resistance when we create our base of operations. Technology is the way to fight Viltrum. I have realised that much, but not only that, I am working on another project, and if I succeed, it might just end the war before it starts. I enter the vessel and launch off-world, leaving Viltrum behind for a very long time. The next time I return here, it will be to destroy it, that I vow.
"Activate bombs!" I command the board computer.
[Bombs activated.]
*BBBOOO----OOOOMMM*
All over Viltrum, bombs explode and do damage to the structure, and if I'm lucky, injure or even kill people. I don't like doing what I am forced to do, but for the good of the galaxy and the Universe, I am willing to do everything for peace, even if it means killing my own kind.
I connect my board computer with the ones I left behind to make sure everything worked out now, and see that the bombs have done their job of sowing chaos. No one will remember a single ship leaving Viltrum, and no one will remember that it was me, as I have prepared something to make it seem that I was killed in the explosions. I thought of everything and have someone to blame. Until they find out that it wasn't Conquest, but someone else, I am long gone, and since Thaedus will officially die, no one will come looking for me.
.
After a long travel, my spaceship finally approaches the planet, and a few others and I have chosen it as the headquarters in the fight against the intergalactic threat of the Viltrum Empire. Talescria is the planet I chose, since its inhabitants are technologically advanced, not too advanced, but that's alright, and have a functioning civilisation. I have already decided on a name, and thanks to the Talescrians, I hope it will work out. For now, I will keep my location and the creation of a new force hidden from the wider galaxy and the Viltrum Empire and use this short period of civil unrest to my advantage.
I land on the planet and exit. Already, a welcome party is waiting for me, and they bow their heads.
"Welcome, Great Thaedus. We have been awaiting your arrival, and I am glad that the time has finally come for us to form this coalition you spoke of, against the tyranny of the Viltrumites."
"Thank you, Woaot, for this welcome and thank you all for coming here," Thaedus answers.
"Please, come this way; the others are also eagerly awaiting your arrival." Woaot, says and leads the way into a large building.
Talescria was an industrious planet, and the advanced technology allowed them to create a society with functioning cities and large skyscrapers. Resources would be needed if we want to increase our efficiency and make better and stronger weapons to fight Viltrum. But it looks good already. I walk into a large hall with hundreds of people waiting for me. Woaot shows me to the podium where I will be expected to say a few words.
"Dear Talescrians. Thank you for such a grand and warm welcome. I am honoured to be here today, on this monumental occasion, where we will finally create a counter force to the Viltrum Empire. For millennia, the galaxy has had planets... have you been forced to live in fear of an arriving Viltrumite squadron ordering you to submit or die? How long have those less fortunate had to suffer and prostitute themselves and their entire planet for the greed and bloodlust of the Viltrum Empire?
My arrival here is the turning point. I am here to tell you that today marks the end of such fear. We will not curb it but instead make it our strength to stand united and fight evil with our hands. In time, I will approach other systems and planets, hoping to have them join our cause, our coalition. The Coalition of Planets!"
"OOOOHHHHH"
"AHHHH!"
My words are met with thundering applause and support from the Talescrians. This is good. I planned on taking on the leadership role, but whether the other races and planets will agree to this is questionable. I am not interested in power per se, but if it allows me to organise and prepare for the inevitable confrontation and gruesome war with Viltrum, I will take it. I wave at the people and then leave the podium, walking out of the hall and waiting for Woaot to lead me to my personal research facilities.
"Woaot, could you please lead me to where I will conduct the experiments? There is no time to waste, I'm afraid." I say, to which he nods.
"Of course. Your equipment has already been transported from your ship to the laboratory. No one has used it yet, and it uses the best and newest technology on Talescria. I hope you will be pleased."
I observe the surroundings and memorise the path we took. As we move deeper and deeper underground, we cross a section that has clearly better and stronger materials and higher security than before. They listened to my instructions to keep this a secret and fortify it as well as possible. Woaot spoke the truth, this lab is truly an advanced one. I see the tools I might need and walk to the big metal cupboard at the far end. This is the most important thing I took with me from Viltrum.
*TSSSHHH*
The compartment opens up after I enter the code and reveals a few test tubes filled with a shimmering liquid.
"Project: Scourge. What is it?" Woaot, asks me.
"It is our best chance at defeating and ending the Viltrumite threat... for good," I tell him.
"Truly? When will it be finished?" he asks excitedly.
"Not in a long time, I'm afraid. I have tried to understand Viltrumite - my DNA for centuries, trying to find a way to break us. This is the best chance I have found, but it will take a long time."
"You will succeed, Great Thaedus. I know you will." he says.
"Let's hope you're right, Woaot."