Frontline

The Golden Imperium covers nearly twice as many worlds and species as the Empire does. Each species, when it is discovered, is evaluated to determine what role it will serve in the Imperium before it is assigned to that task. Once a world’s task is assigned, that is the only job its race is permitted to perform. Its citizens have no say in how their government is run, nor are they allowed to explore or trade with outsiders. It will be a blessing indeed when the Empire liberates these worlds from their tyrannical rulers.”

-Excerpt from The Newcomer’s Guide to the Empire

Everything was going according to plan. The Throneship was on course for its destination where forces outside its control would seize the opportunity to maneuver the vessel to its destruction. Once it reached the frontlines, the only threats to their plans would be eliminated.

True, things weren’t going quite to plan. The squad of insignificant soldiers had intercepted incriminating data that threatened the whole operation, and Reno had so far been unable to eliminate them, but they were of little concern. That they had survived this long was indeed impressive, but even if they managed to rendezvous with the Throneship, they would be arrested as deserters, and probably executed as well.

Still, it was unlikely they would make it that far. Reno had been designed to be the perfect hunter, and he’d already managed to eliminate a top Imperial agent. No doubt the squad’s continued survival was simply fortuitous luck on their part. But luck couldn’t keep them alive forever. Either the hunter would catch his prey, or the fools would be killed by the very Empire they were trying to save.

No need to worry. Everything was going according to plan. The voice said so, and the voice couldn’t be wrong.

COMMAND: Eliminate targets.

COMMAND: Preserve the silence.

COMMAND: Ensure the arrival.