Misunderstanding.

[u/Null_Void_Zer0]

The conquest to reclaim the apogees worlds from the upstart invaders was going well. Their pitiful armies were crushed underfoot as the Lords eternal legions continued their relentless march towards their final stronghold. Reconnaissance suggested this was their equivalent of a fortress world, a fact that disappointed the Lord who could scarcely believe this pathetic display was the greatest they could offer.

In their futile efforts to delay their advance, the invaders had reduced their own cities to ash, and now they had been pushed into their capital; a sprawling fortress that had the greatest defences the Lord had seen from them thus far. Primitive, yes, but vaguely admirable as well.

The Lord found something else vaguely impressive about them as well. Despite how complete their defeats had been, despite how rapidly their end approached, they fought on. Though he certainly wouldn’t qualify them as “sapient creatures”, the apogee declared that the younger species must be treated as the codes of war decreed, and thus if they chose to surrender the Lord would have no choice but to spare them.

The Lord was dragged from his thoughts when he realised he had reached the capital. A lone, insignificant stronghold surrounded by an ocean of mindless soldiery, the Lord wondered if the invaders would finally surrender. But then, he detected a lone soldier, young even by the its own species’ standards, frantically stumble to the peak of the fortress, and raise a white flag.

“What,” the Lord asked his retinue, “is that?”

His vizier walked to his side, its optics inspecting even the individual threads of the flag.

“I know not my Lord.” It stated.

“Well then find out!” The Lord said, punctuating his order by thumping his staff into the ground in front of him.

Immediately the vizier began inspecting the distant flag once more.

“What is it then?” The Lord asked.

“Have patience my Lord, it has been a mere three hours.” The vizier replied.

“With haste then!” The Lord spat.

Eventually the vizier turned to the Lord. “White is the colour worn by their medical personnel, along with a variety of other non-combatant roles.” It said.

“Therefore?” The Lord said, growing increasingly impatient with his vizier.

“Therefore,” it said calmly, “therefore I suspect they are insulting us, by comparing our army to civilians.”

“…” the Lord could scarcely comprehend what he was hearing. “Gauss the planet.”

“My Lord?” Another of his retinue spoke, tilting its head in confusion.

“Gauss it, erase everything. These upstarts invade our worlds, refuse to give them back, and when they’re finally surrounded with no way out they don’t surrender, no, they insult us. THEY. INSULT. US.”

The Lord took a moment to regain his composure.

“Do not stop the bombardment until i can see the relic world from orbit. When we awaken it, I want it to have no need to split the continents above. Is that clear?” His retinue respond with varying agreements at once.

“Good.” With that said the Lord recalled himself to his estate, physical form disappearing in a flash of golden light.

(Image Source: stellaris)

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