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Location: STRATCOM Headquarters, Kalidan

The main meeting chamber within the headquarters of Strategic Command (STRATCOM) was adorned with all manner of Imperial regalia, along with an ornate map of the territory formerly under the influence of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. The visage of Reinhardt Ström - Baron of the Imperial World of Sondheim, Overseer of Imperial armed forces; was visible behind the central dais of the chamber. He himself was adorned with the uniform of his military rank, bedecked with all manner of ornate finery and decorations detailing a record of service all but unmatched by his peers. Disquieted conversation could be heard amidst the assembled military officers comprising the upper command structure of STRATCOM as they awaited the announcement to begin. Under normal circumstances, the inner workings of Imperial High Command was kept highly classified from the general populace, but this was a special exception which garnered the approval of the Empress herself.

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In due course, the feed of the Imperial State Broadcasting Service would burst to life upon holo terminals across the Empire, beginning with a display of the Eternal Armed Forces logo, along with orchestral music combined with vocalizations in High Nelvaanian. After several minutes, the feed transitions to a panoramic shot of the meeting chamber. The resolute form of the Baron dominated the center of the shot, with banners flanking him on either side. A few moments after the initial shot, the music died down and the Baron began his speech: "Citizens of the Empire, hear me. I address you today, not as a nobleman; not as a military leader, but as a fellow citizen. Most of you are aware of the brazen, unprovoked attack by the terrorist organization known as 'The Mandalorian Enclave' against the Imperial World of Panatha. Despite their best efforts to undermine our influence and power, the Empire stands stronger and evermore resolved. But I am not speaking to you today about Panatha. Rest assured, those who murder and pillage our people will be repaid ten times over. No, today I will speak to you about the Confederacy of Independent Systems."

Silence had already filled the chamber during the beginning of the Baron's address, but the silence which prevailed after his last sentence appeared to suck the air out of the room. It was true - to many within the Imperial Elite, the attack on Panatha was not the focal point of the invasion - even though it should have been. Instead, it was the treachery of the Confederacy which had caused the larger stir. They had come to Panatha to aid the Imperial defenders, and almost as soon as they had arrived - they had left; they had turned their back upon the allies they had previously bonded in blood with. "Their treachery will not be forgiven or forgotten, despite the fact their state has disintegrated due to the same opulence and corruption which undoubtedly led to their betrayal. It is with this foremost in our mind that I - with the power invested in me by Her Imperial Majesty Lady Ingrid L'lerim; declare the Eternal Empire's resolve to bring peace and stability to the worlds who had only recently been oppressed by the yoke of their former overlords." The Baron rose his hand, as if reaching out to save a drowning man from freezing waters: "We offer our hand in friendship to those who wish for it."

He held his gaze into the camera for a few moments, slowly clenching his hand into a tight fist as he added: "And we also offer fire and blood to those who will oppose us, be they enemies old or new. We will not be stopped, and we will not be interfered with! We will unite the region under the values that have secured our Empire for decades, regardless of any efforts to oppose us." The Baron's voice rose a few octaves as he reached the final few words, which caused the assembly to erupt in thunderous applause. Despite the obvious grandstanding and propagandization of the event, the intent of the speech was quite clear. The Baron, if his words of holding the support of the Empress were true, had put the entire galaxy on notice. To the worlds of the former CIS, they could either join or fight. To those who intended to interfere, or even attempt to prevent the Empire's expansion, their actions would not be tolerated. The public session of the meeting appeared to be over, as the music rose again from the applause, with the same Imperial symbol fading into the picture whilst a wide shot of the applauding military leaders faded to black. Soon thereafter, the logo of the Imperial State Broadcasting Service appeared near the bottom of the screen.

The screen closed out the program with transitional, stylized shots of the 'Heroes of Panatha' - dramatised scenes of Imperial Ultranauts holding the line against grotesquely bloodied and battleworn 'Mandalorian Invaders', with one of the foremost of the defenders holding a battle-scarred Imperial Banner. As a finale, a somber message appeared underneath the pictures:


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"Resolute we stand firm."


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