S2, 17.5 Galactic Imperium Broadcast

Corresponding text underneath each picture.

**24th September 2095: Present Day**

And now for an official announcement from the Galactic Imperium.

Councillor Worthington: “Citizens of the Galactic Imperium and neighbouring planets, I speak to you now to confirm the announcement that we all heard on Tuesday afternoon.

Worthington: “In the afternoon of Tuesday the 20th September 2095, events took place on our homeworld, Earth, which led to the downfall of The Collective Archmage, Azgoth. While our brave soldiers of both the Galactic Imperium and Aurelia were battling Azgoth’s forces on the ground, a stealth mission was also being put into motion by a covert strike team, to take down the leader of The Collective forces.

This mission was not planned by us, nor was it carried out by our forces. However, to those who were involved, we all owe our thanks.”

Worthington: “Without that mission, we would surely still be at war and Earth, our beloved home, may well have been, by now, under The Collective’s control.

This strike at the very heart of The Collective came not a moment too soon, and the outcome has been a most welcome, if unexpected, one.

It has taken until now to make this official announcement, as The Collective’s new Archmage was recovering and the Imperial Council had matters to discuss with her first, before delivering this news to you all.

However, now it is official. Our war with The Collective is over. It has been long and arduous and at times, seemed like defeat was inevitable. However, thanks to our brave men and women on the battlefields and to the strike team who took it upon themselves to take out the enemy leader, we have prevailed.”

Worthington: “But although the war itself is now over, we still have much to be done. Firstly, there is the order of working out the logistics of how The Collective can live in harmony with us. After discussing matters very briefly with the new Collective Archmage, Eris Arathon, we have concluded that we *will* try to find a way to incorporate them into our society.

As you will well remember, in her message to the system on Tuesday, Eris stated that The Collective were to be a force for good from now on. They will aid us in re-building what we have lost in this war and they will also help in other ways, yet to be decided.

What is decided, however, is that they are here to stay. They are to be treated fairly and equally. There is to be no prejudice against them and they are to be respected as any being of this system is. I understand that there may be tension to begin with – that is understandable, considering everything that we have been through over the past months. However, the war is now over.

Their forces were merely following orders, just as soldiers of the Imperium and Aurelia were, so there is to be **no** discrimination. Anybody found to be discriminating against them will become subject to the full extent of the law.”

Worthington: “Now, the second announcement that I am here to make, is regarding our temporary alliance with Aurelia.

I am pleased to announce that following our joint success in the war against The Collective, we, The Imperial Council, are to begin peace talks with General James Corvin and the other leaders of Aurelia.

The ceasefire between our two great factions has proved to everybody just how well we work when we are working together. If that ceasefire could remain and become a permanent truce, then another of the wars that have plagued us so would be over, and we could return to a time of peace and happiness as we rebuild what these terrible wars have taken from us.

Peace is an ideal that very few get to turn into reality, however, now we have a chance for it to be so. For now, the ceasefire remains in place and when an outcome is decided, it will be announced.”

Worthington: “Citizens, for the first time in many, many years, happiness may be upon us. I have faith that our peace talks with General Corvin and the Aurelian Council will be successful and when that time comes, we will have reached a new era in our society’s history.

Until then, however, there is much to be done. But through it all, remember, that together we have passed through dark times. The night is darkest just before the dawn – dawn *is* coming, my people. Keep the faith.

Long live the Galactic Imperium. Long live planet Earth.”