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  Chapter 4

  Word has come that one of the Core Worlds, Onogoroshima, has fallen to the Umpala. I had been assured by our best minds repeatedly that the Umpala clans would never maintain their unity, that we were looking at just another border war with the Umpala. Nothing to threaten the Empire. As High Chancellor, I personally had assured the Emperor of this. And now defeat is looking increasingly likely. The Emperor apparently has reached the same conclusion, today bringing forth yet another contingency plan, this one more personal in nature. While the High Council has been briefed concerning the rudimentary essentials of the Phoenix Initiative, only I know of the Emperor’s other contingency.

  - Archives of Lord Dakshu Pran Ashoka, High Chancellor of the Empire of Man (from 354 to 367 P.D.)