The Fall of the Subspace Empire began, some say, the same moment it's rise did.
The Empire was built by those who first threw off the yoke of colonial oppresion, who harnessed new technologies to strike back against the tyrants that ruled us all from distant Sol.
When the fleet of the High Marshal held orbit above Old Earth and laid the once grand palaces of the colonial overlords to rubble and ash, there began the Empire's reign. Three times did the High Marshal pause the bombardment to demand surrender from those below. Three times, silence answered. Three times the guns spoke again, until finally all governments, all military bases and all starports were ash and dust.
This is true.
Thus it is written in the histories, thus it stands on the stele in Memorial Plaza.
But there is another truth. One that begins earlier, when the Fleet first entered Sol and met the last defenders of the old regimes. Before battle was joined, dozens of messages were received, offering peace talks. Offering terms of surrender. Attempting to end the war with some measure of dignity.
When the Home Fleets of Sol were cooling wrecks in the outer belt, when the High Marshal burned for Old Earth, more messages were received. Offering vassalage. Offering unconditional surrender. Begging for mercy.
When the first missiles came down, they targeted not the palaces, or the starports or the mustering fields. They targeted the antennae and dishes and relays.
Three times did the High Marshal demand surrender that had already been offered. Three times he was answered with silence of his own making.
This is true.
Thus it was written in the secret histories, kept by those in his court who wished to wash their hands of this barbarous act. Thus it stands in the diary that has now been uploaded to every public library in human space.
This, too, is true.
The Empire was founded on a Lie.
A Lie told to make people trade one distant Lord for another, a Lie told to make a Hero of a Butcher, and to make his children rich on the spoils of those that came to believe it.
The Fall of the Subspace Empire, some say, began the same moment it's rise did.
For it rose on a Lie, and when that lie is revealed, the Truth will not be so gentle.
