Empire: Difference between revisions

To deal with the rapid rise in population across many worlds, the Empire began terraforming of [[Cemiess]] 2 in 3080. This put paid to Federal ambitions in the system. A colonial charter had been established since 3055, but lack of funds had prevented any expansion. The act of approving the Imperial settlement proved to be the last of Gaylen Trasken Duval who died shortly afterwards, he was 109 years of age.<ref name=":9" />

In 3300, Emperor [[Hengist Duval]] fell gravely ill, throwing the Imperial succession into question as his son and designated heir, [[Harold Duval]], was widely viewed as unsuitable to rule the Empire.<ref>[http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=dcbf6b86b4b0c7d1c21b73b1e&id=560d50221f Newsletter #52]</ref> On December 19, Hengist appeared before the Imperial Senate to decree Harold was not of sound mind and could not succeed him to the throne.<ref>[http://elitedangerous.com/news/galnet/?read=19DEC3300fce3b0de3f373020e6cf3b5c58d73141 Heir to the Throne Officially Mad]</ref> Senator [[Arissa Lavigny-Duval|Arissa Lavigny]], Hengist's illegitimate daughter with [[Florence Lavigny]], was touted as likely to be named the next heir, and on December 22, Hengist announced he would marry Florence and thus solidify Arissa's claim; Arissa changed her last name to Lavigny-Duval.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/news?read=22DEC3300f8b120575cdb102684c7d394a21de3e8 Emperor To Marry Sweetheart]</ref> Hengist's illness subsequently worsened and he entered a coma, causing the wedding to postponed through July 3301.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/27b34f18704d470bd0e0f8a09721a81f488b7ee4 Emperor in Coma]</ref>

On January 25, 3305, Patreus personally executed Mordanticus for treason on the floor of [[Senate House]], before the members of the Imperial Senate and Emperor Arissa. The [[Imperial Guard]] then proceeded to gun down any senators who had previously expressed support for Nova Imperium, among them [[Pal Vespasian]] and [[Eloise Winterstone]]. Political [[Journalism|journalist]] [[Cassia Carvalho]] reported that mass arrests and public executions of Nova Imperium members and sympathizers took place across Capitol, and Nova Imperium strongholds throughout the Empire were eliminated from the inside by infiltrators who had been placed by Patreus.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5c485c99128401188a499c82 GalNet: Blood on the Senate Floor]</ref> The following week, Hadrian Duval broadcast a message stating that he had assumed leadership of the remnant of Nova Imperium in Paresa and would continue seeking to become emperor.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5c52c4a1231ede6f495e2c75 GalNet: The New Imperator]</ref> In April 3305, Princess Aisling unexpectedly reached out to Hadrian in an apparent bid to boost her image by helping Nova Imperium soften its stances.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5ca70cbdb0aea02ac026e55a GalNet: Aisling Duval Contacts Hadrian Duval]</ref><ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5cade9e46239f914ad4b8ed3 GalNet: The Princess and the Imperator]</ref> Imperator Duval subsequently announced a tentative non-aggression pact between Nova Imperium and Aisling's supporters, and promised to review his organisation's policies.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5cb88b4d5da4892b03080cb8 GalNet: Hadrian Duval Confirms Pact]</ref>

The Empire was shaken by a series of terrorist attacks on four [[starport]]s on September 10, 3306 that were carried out by the [[Neo-Marlinist Liberation Army]], an extremist paramilitary faction dedicated to abolishing the monarchy by force and replacing it with a system of representation by elected senators.<ref name="Terrorist Attacks">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5f59df9848baea0ae33e1e05 GalNet: Terrorist Attacks on Imperial Starports]</ref> Four days later, the NMLA also assassinated Prince [[Harold Duval]].<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5f5f5a4a838b10170647e29b GalNet: Prince Harold Duval Assassinated]</ref> In response, the [[Imperial Navy]] embarked on a widespread anti-terrorism operation to root out the NMLA. Believing that supporters of the more moderate [[Marlin Duval|Marlinist]] ideology were collaborating with the radical and violent NMLA, the Imperial Navy attempted mass arrests of Marlinists. Millions fled their homes to escape persecution, sparking the [[Marlinist refugee crisis]], and by October 20, 3306, many had arrived in several outlying Federal systems. The Empire formally requested that the refugees be returned, but Federal Ambassador [[Jordan Rochester]] refused and asked [[Federal Congress]] to grant them asylum.<ref name="Refugees Flee">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5f8eccd964813d010413e662 GalNet: Marlinist Refugees Flee to the Federation]</ref> On October 26, Federal Congress granted the Marlinists temporary Federal citizenship at the request of [[Shadow President]] [[Felicia Winters]] despite [[President of the Federation|President]] [[Zachary Hudson]]'s stated intention to return the refugees to the Empire.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5f96dae3c5f82d16485c8ba7 GalNet: Congress Votes to Accept Marlinist Immigrants]</ref> As a result, tensions between the Empire and the Federation increased, with some fearing that the Empire could declare war to recapture the Marlinists.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5f9c3b09f940387d9539a785 GalNet: Empire and Federation Clash Over Marlinists]</ref> The situation worsened on November 5, 3306, when the Empire invaded LTT 1935, a Federal system in neutral space that the [[Imperial Internal Security Service]] had reason to believe contained multiple hidden NMLA bomb-making facilities.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5fa3f841861db67e3c548667 GalNet: Federal and Imperial Forces Engage in Battle]</ref> The conflict ended on November 12, with the LTT 1935 Confederacy securing a decisive victory and preventing an Imperial occupation.<ref name="FedResists">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5fad25247ca22b31b03796c3 GalNet: Federal System Resists Imperial Takeover]</ref>