Fealty of the Glory

The man woke up in his bed, the Maega, the twin suns of Skandra shining through the curtains. Turning to his left, he caressed his wife's scarlet hair and got up, ready for another day like any other.  But, unbeknownst to him, this would be the day that would irreversibly change Absalom Vaughn's life.  Entering his study, he found his advisor Tobiah Stolar already waiting for him, pacing in the room. His close friend and minister seemed visibly anxious 'What is perturbing you so, my friend? I hope you don't have bad news for me this early in the morning.'

'Not necessarily bad news, but certainly strange. You see, earlier today a ship entered our airspace and hailed us…'

'And why is that a cause for concern?'

'Because it claims to come from outside the system.' Absalom turned to Stolar with a shocked expression.  'Are you sure? This hasn't happened once in thousands of years'

'See for yourself.' Stolar handed him a tablet, with photos of a strange landing craft unlike any other in the Seven Planets.

'And the crew? If there was one…' '

'About that…Their leader requested a meeting with you. In private.'

'I see. That can be arranged, but under no circumstances will I meet them alone. We cannot trust them. Where are they now?'

Stolar turned his gaze to the ground, concern clouding his eyes. 'In the throne room, waiting for you…'

Absalom's eyes widened in disbelief at this statement 'You allowed potential invaders or assassins in my throne room? What were you thinking?'

'Once you see them for yourself, you will realise why we couldn't object.' Angered at this seeming intrusion, Absalom stormed down the corridor towards the throne room, eager to meet this stranger that was infringing on Skandran hospitality.

Angered at this seeming intrusion, Absalom stormed down the corridor towards the throne room, eager to meet this stranger that was infringing on Skandran hospitality. Entering the grand hall, with its walls of pure white marble adorned with banners of the seven planets, ornate chandeliers, he found a mysterious man standing in front of the throne of ebony and gold, observing it intently. In the middle of the room stood two beings who might have been considered humans if not for their prodigious size, being almost as tall as Absalom himself and clad in brilliant armour in the colours of the blazing sun. Both of them were armed with massive spears, with what seemed like firearms attached to their tips. As for the man himself, he was wearing a decorated, ceremonial military uniform, long black hair tied in a ponytail. His face, strangely enough, seemed clear but simultaneously impossible to actually see. As if it shifted imperceptibly. Just like his men, his size was much taller than ordinary, though still not as tall as the gold-clad warriors. Noticing Absalom enter the room, he turned towards him with a warm smile, and spoke:

'It is a pleasure to meet you Absalom Vaughn. I am the Emperor of Mankind, and your true father.'  Absalom was stunned by the man's proclamation. Indeed, a stranger claiming to be his true father was ludicrous.

…Yet, something deep in his soul told him otherwise. He could feel his connection to this visitor from the stars 'My father died seven years ago sir. In this very room. He fell to assassins sent by our loathed enemies.'

'That man took you in, raised you into a fine man, a brilliant leader and commander and for all that I am grateful. But he is not your true Father. You are my son, created by my own genetic materials back on Terra, our races homeworld. And now, I am here to show you your true calling, to make you one of my illustrious generals who lead the armies of Man to greatness!'

Afterwards, father and son talked for hours and hours, discussing matters such as Mankind's fate, the Emperor's plans for the race's future, the gravity of Absalom's mission. And by the end of their meeting, Absalom had come to deeply respect his father and Emperor as an equal, the first equal he had ever met.  'So, what say you, my son? Will you join me? Help me realise a better future for us all?'

Ecstatic with joy, Absalom replied,  'I recognise you, Father, as the rightful leader of all mankind, and i pledge my all to your Crusade. Let us bring a golden age where mankind rules the stars!'

The two men embraced, and thus the story of the Amber King began.