The Empress herself was expected. Everyone was on high alert. A sea of uniforms filled an amphitheater dressed with Imperial flags and banners. Harsh red light fell on a stage where five Captains sat. Above them were suspended banners of the names of their ships. The first Hades Class vessels to leave the dock. An Admiral walked to the middle of the stage. A hush fell. The Admiral, Tobias Wynter, took on a wicked smile. He spoke “Today is an auspicious day. We are dedicating the Empire’s greatest creations yet.” A cheer echoed through the room. “These ships, these magnificent machines, will lead our Empire into a new age. And it will be glorious.” Another cheer rang out.

Armed guards took over the stage and ushered the Admiral off. An anticipatory silence fell. A shuttle pod descended and deposited its passenger onto the stage before departing. Whispers. As the dust settled, the figure became clear. The Empress. Empress Ayaka had inherited the throne recently from her blood relation, through means unknown. There were swirling rumors, though those were tantamount to dissent, and therefore spoken in hushes. She was severe in appearance and demeanor, and took her security very seriously. She took center stage. “Hades. Hell. Fire. War. The rewards for resistance is pain. These ships are pain. They are the instruments of our conquest and our victory.” The amphitheater was filled with raucous cheering. “I dedicate these ships, in the name of the Terran Empire, the ISS Hades, the ISS Cerberus, the ISS Nyx, the ISS Charon. May these vessels lead the Empire to excellence.”

-GM