[Starhawk]

2433.6 Cataclysm in Sadalmelek
A tearful face appeared on the vid screens as Janet Cranston put the flexi down on her desk.
“Citizens of the Empire, ladies and gentlemen it is my terrible news to report to you that this day is one of the darkest in Icaran history, the Sadalmelek system suffered a Catastrophe the increasing solar flare activity that has had Icaran State scientists worried for the last few months took a sudden turn for the worst last month as the flare activity spiked, evacuation ships were sent to retrieve the former Earth Corps citizens but it was too late…..” she paused and wiped her eyes as she cleared her throat “The Sadalmelek system went nova at 06:30 AM Imperial Standard, on the 3rd of March, estimated casualties are currently at one point six billion, and rising, but worse then these deaths….if there can be such is that the Praetor himself was on an inspection tour of the newest provinces of the Empire……” Cranston’s voice went cold and tears began flowing again “I’m sorry it’s just…..” she broke down into tears and someone came from behind the camera and ran over to embrace the young woman.
An older man with gray hair stepped in front of the camera, his face set in stone yet his eyes also smoldering with tears “Ladies and gentlemen, citizens of the Empire it is my terrible duty this day to tell you that Praetor Leonidas the sixteenth chosen by God, was killed in Sadalmelek along with his senior aid and Duke Cromwell….by noon today Crown Prince Rodrick will become Rodrick the 2nd Praetor chosen by God…..please bow your heads and pray for the sake of our Empire in the coming days……” the screen went blank for a moment as the sound of many sobbing people could be heard over the holocam’s audio pickup.

The loss of Sadalmelek would have been but a small tragedy within the Empire had it not been for the fact that Praetor Leonidas had insisted on touring the newest provinces of the Empire, to establish the true power and glory of the Empire to it’s newest citizens, instead now he was dead and his eldest son whom was presently only seventeen was now taking his place as the Praetor of the entire Icaran Empire.

Crowning a Praetor:
The Praetor’s Own regiment was turned out in full on the 3rd day of Solaris in the year, 6433 IY (Imperial Year, 2433.10 AD) in the courtyard of the Imperial Palace on Icara. Millions of Icarans were also present forming a seemingly endless sea of people around the Palace perimeter, banners waved and flapped in the wind as well as people showed their support for their new Praetor.
Inside the perimeter of the Palace a thousand nobles formed two great columns on either side of a long scarlet carpet which ran the length of the courtyard, from the outer gates of the palace to the traditional throne of the Praetor. Each column of nobles had a line of the Praetor’s Own in front of it, the soldiers wore the formal scarlet and gold armor their kind had for centuries whenever carrying out the formal responsibilities their duties required.

As trumpets blared the lines of soldiers drew their long sabers and held them high in salute, the massive palace doors opened loudly as their armored locks unsealed and their mechanisms hummed. The sound of drums beating turned the heads of the nobles toward the doors, it had been seven Praetors since anyone had heard those drums beat, seven Praetors since anyone had seen the regalia of the two drummers who marched in step through the armored doors, followed closely by the Praetor, Rodrick the 2nd himself, he was wearing the golden and engraved armor of an ancient Lord Marshall except in that the Praetor’s helmet bore the crown of his office. The Praetor was flanked by eight guards all dressed in the crimson and gold of the Praetor’s own, and all marching in a smart lockstep.
As the Praetor passed nobles dropped down upon one knee and bowed their heads in salute, the soldiers flanking the carpet all held their sabers high with pride as the new ruler of the Empire passed by them.

Rodrick though only seventeen was already the height of his father, he was well muscled and toned with years of physical exercise in the training yards of the Praetor’s Regiment, he kept his hair close cut much like the male soldiers he enjoyed training with so much, and his right cheek bore a deep scar from where a saber had cut into his face when he was twelve, despite the requests of his father he had refused to have the scar removed and said he would wear it with pride as the soldier who had given him the scar was one of the best commanders and swordsmen in the Praetorian Regiment before his unfortunate death in the latter stages of the Phong crusades.
Rodrick was almost the antithesis of his father and brothers where they were so concerned with politics and statecraft Rodrick was concerned with practicalities and martial training, where his father had been an excellent “tap dancer” of politics, Rodrick was a blunt straight forward young man who would take no disrespect from his peers. But perhaps more importantly Rodrick was unlike his father in that he was a man who would not settle for anything less then absolute victory, though it had never been publicly discussed Praetor Leonidas had actually considered pulling the Icaran military forces out of the new provinces and ordering them sealed off from the Empire for all time.
Rodrick was ambitious yet also cool headed, he knew it may take a century or more but he would not rest until Icara ruled the galaxy, there would be no giving their enemies the chance to eventually build warp point starships and invade Icara it’s self, for if the peace movement had their way Icara would seal it’s self off from the universe and dismantle it’s military.

The trumpets stopped blaring and the drums fell silent as the Praetor and his guards reached the dais that held the thrown of the Praetor, Rodrick swallowed hard as he stepped between the two drummers and took the short walk up the three steps that would forever change his life.
A man wearing white and gold robes stood next to the thrown, Rodrick recognized him as the highest priest of the Church of the Path on Icara and stared for a moment at the short old man who somehow held a calm sort of dignity that required no trumpets, no thunderous roar to be powerful. The young soon to be Praetor Rodrick the 2nd felt as if he should smile or bow to show the old man respect but he forced himself to keep the stone face and rigid back this specific duty required of him. The priest stepped forward and lifted the coronation crown high in the air as he said something in the ancient language that Rodrick couldn’t quite understand.
Then the old priest cleared his throat and looked Rodrick straight in the eyes “Lord Rodrick the second, son of Leonidas the sixteenth, Praetor chosen by God and ruler of the most holy empire of Icara, you stand now before the nobility and people of your Empire, you stand before the eyes of your God and you stand before the eyes of his church, your duty is clear by your blood, you are to be ruler of these people and of your Empire in the service of the almighty.” the Priest lowered the crown and Rodrick removed his helmet with respect.
“Do you swear to fulfill this duty with all your heart and soul, may you be damned if you lie before the eyes of church and empire?” the Priest’s voice had taken on the tone of a challenge as he stared into the eyes of the future Praetor as if he were trying to tear Rodrick’s soul out and examine it.
“I do so swear it before the church and Empire.” Rodrick said, managing to keep his voice calm.
The priests voice rose again “Do you swear to protect and rule your people with mercy and justice, to lead them against their enemies and guard them against treason may you be damned if you lie before the eyes of church and empire?”
“I do so sweat it before the church and empire” Rodrick replied
“And do you swear in turn to answer to the justice of the empire and people should you lead them astray, may you be damned if you lie before the eyes of church and empire?”
Rodrick swallowed hard again, that last sentence had resulted in the execution of three Praetors throughout history and he knew all too well that when they said “may you be damned” they meant it.
“I do so swear it before church and empire.” he managed to keep his voice strong, though his heart raced slightly as the priests gaze once again returned to the coronation crown.
“Then I say to the people of Icara as leader of the most holy church of the path on this world that you are fit to rule, all hail Praetor Rodrick the second, may he rule with wisdom and may his reign be long and glorious!” the Priest’s face wrinkled with a brilliant smile as he placed the coronation crown on the bowed head of Rodrick the second, and ushered in a new era for the Empire of Icara…..