Fiat Justitia..Ruat Caelum.

Triangulum, Karsopolis, Confederate Space

Applause from a sea of admirers.  Holocams flashing by the thousands.  Two sets of footsteps echoing, one heavy, one light, across the same enormous stage.  A weary, weathered man walked beside a youthful, imperious woman.  The man wore a suit of dark grey, which hung attractively off his tall frame.  His dark blue eyes carried regret and fatigue, and streaks of white could be seen in his dark brown hair.  In spite of all this, his spirit seemed strong and his smile was genuine.  Even if a lifetime of leadership had taken its toll, Governor Karson Sharp still enjoyed the spotlight, and he still flourished in its glow.  

He turned to the young woman at his side and asked, "Are you ready, Kendra?"  

As soon as he asked the question, Karson knew his daughter's answer was yes.  Kendra wore a rainbow of metals and gemstones in her jewellery, all strategically placed to accentuate her natural beauty.  Her skin was fair, her hair was a platinum shade of blonde, her eyes were stone grey, and a golden dress flattered her body.  "I've never been more ready, father," Kendra answered.  "We're still not sure what's risen.  But it's evil, and you know I'll fight it better than you could."  

"Of course," Karson said.  "I'll get started then."  With that, the Confederate ruler approached the podium, and activated a microphone.  When the applause had died down, he began to speak.  "Greetings, citizens of the Confederacy. You who are at once subjects, friends, and countrymen. First, let me thank you for the undeserved praise. I am not an infallible saint or a perfect leader. That figure exists only in the media and the minds of patriots. No. I am only a man, who has spent his life doing all in his power to serve the people. Not as a servant to your whims as in some nations, but as a champion who won you a better life. Most Governors would be this champion until they died. But a lifelong crusade is not why I've gathered you here."

He then continued, "My goals of helping the nation never faltered, but I failed all of you in many ways. I promised we would return to the Milky Way as conquerors, and we did. In that moment in history, that First Intergalactic War, my stubbornness clouded my judgement, and my baseless anger eclipsed my heart. For a short time, I was someone else, and took advantage of the situation in the Colonies. This shadow hung over my soul until the Eve of the Second Intergalactic War, when the Enemies Of Humanity awakened me to what myself and the rest of the nation was becoming. The hate for Terra that had driven us for centuries was beginning to poison us. Our ancient driving force now became a possessive demon, one that had to be faced lest it overtake us. And at my direction, face it we did. With armour and the rifle as our talismans, we exorcised this demon and slew all of his servants. You know this as the Traitors' War."

"As the Keltaken Empire burnt a thousand Colonial planets, the Confederacy tore itself apart. The war ended with a great engagement, where both Emperor Kazaal of the Keltaken Empire and Hegemon Raphael Verayne of the Federated Colonies were killed. They were succeeded by Empress Zora, and the late Hegemon Julius Verayne. A brief peace followed, marked by fear, distrust, and rash decisions. This peace was shattered by the Second Great War and the Abyssal onslaught. We learnt at last that the Colonials had been truthful during the First Intergalactic War, as impossible to believe as the Abyssals were. Now they were right in front of us to see. Our soldiers mobilised, although in spite of this we lost the planet Maarlox along with several others. In our desperation, we deployed a clone army created shortly before the Second Great War. Our scientists and engineers raced to improve our equipment, trying to bridge the gap between us and the Invaders. And then, the turning point. The Reconquest of Line Maria, where an Abyssal-held Colonial defensive line was liberated by the Confederate soldiers of Nightmare Company and Archene of the Acruani Collective.  Zora has vanished, Hegemon Julius Verayne is deceased, and Zlasa was killed in the Drathian Civil War."

"This means that I am the last relic of a bygone age, an era of fear, hatred, and distrust. An era of darkness, and an era of war. For some reason, of all the leaders from the time of the First Intergalactic War, only I remain. But all of you saw what occurred on Xalion.  It was an evil that knows no borders, no boundaries.  Just like the Invaders, they will hurt everyone in their path unless we stop them.  To the citizens of the Colonies who still regard us with suspicion and fear, I hope you're watching, because I want you to hear this. If you ever feared the Confederacy, or are worried about what we may do in the future, they are now baseless. Our military is decimated. Most of our population lies dead on distant battlefields. More than anywhere else, the Confederate dead are piled on Terra Nova, where they served as our final attempt to stop an invincible adversary. Our Navy is in ruins, and the Subjugator, which I stole from the Colonies, has been returned. We have trillions of cloned and natural human children without parents to care for them. And lastly, I, the man who embodies everything you may hate about us, am leaving the picture. I am giving control of the Confederacy to my daughter Kendra, and I hope that Governor Kendra Sharp will achieve what I never could: peace and harmony. For whatever reason, God decided I wouldn't die like the other leaders. But I've done all that I can, and it is time for me to step aside."

With that, the old ruler sat down, and Kendra stood up.  When the applause had stopped once again, she said in an even tone, "Thank you all for your confidence.  And my father is right.  The evil we've witnessed tonight will not go unanswered.  Whatever has destroyed the Federated Colonies, in spite of our weakened state, the Confederacy remains strong.  And at every turn, we will oppose you.  The Federated Colonies were a democracy.  The Confederacy is something else.  Power has always rested with the Governors of Karsopolis.  But today, I will revive a position not seen since the Confederacy was founded.  The position of the ancient rulers of the Dothvalians, before the Triangulum colonists ever met them.  The Governors Of Karsopolis are no more.  I and those after me will be known as Shaalra, the wise, powerful rulers of old.  I will reshape the Confederacy to face what's at hand.  Let the will of Shaalra Kendra Sharp be done!"