[geoschmo]

The Sallegan Republic had seemed a mighty empire. This was an impression that the Republic did it's best to reinforce in it's neighbors whenever possible. By stationing many ships in conspicuous locations throughout the border systems, and by sending scout ships to the far reaches of the quadrant they gave the impression of strength. But in fact this strength was a lie. The Republic was a bubble. Once popped, it contracted with a startling rapidity.

By making many treaties with the other empires, and by making constant and aggressive efforts to maintain the stability of the quadrant, it gave the Sallegans an air of authority and statesmanship with the other races. In fact the Republic depended heavily on the trade income from these treaties, and it's diplomatic efforts were simply a struggle for self preservation.

They were particularly dependant upon the good graces of the Norak. The treaty with the Norak accounted for almost 18% of the GDP of the Republic at the height of their growth, shortly before the first battle of Cephredi.

The Sallgans had been boxed in to their small part of the quadrant, an unable to expand and colonize. All the worlds they found early in their existence had been either occupied, or claimed by others. They could not take these worlds openly, as this would show them to be an aggressive imperialistic race, and force the others to band together early and eliminate them. And when they were provoked, by the Xi'Chung and the Sergetti into wars, the Norak were always there. Snapping up the best worlds that the Sallegans had fought to open up before they could get there.

The result of all this was that whenever the Sallegans did manage to expand a bit, the Norak were expanding right along with them. And when they were not able to expand, the Norak still grew. Not being able to compete economically, they attempted to compete militarily. But any accountant can tell you can't do one without the other.

When the end came it came quickly...

Year 2415.0

Captain Dravis Josephsen of the S.S.S. Ushphada was the ranking member of the Sallegan Space Service. He didn't know it for sure, but he suspected it. His ship had been part of the fleet tasked to finally bringing an end to the scourge of the Sergetti Empire in the eastern systems. He had actually been fourth in command of the fleet, but when the fleet was pounced by the Norak on the way back to Sallegan space the Admiral Grover's and Captain Robertson's ships had been destroyed. That left him in charge.

In fact, as there was currently no civilian authority still operating on any planet in the republic, the rioting was that complete, he was the ranking authority in the once mighty Sallegan Republic.

The call had come when they were just 3 days short of the eastern most Sergetti world. Tensions had been high, and Admiral Grover was not happy about being so far away from Sallegan space with things as hot as they were. When the broadcast came that the Norak had attacked and destroyed the fleet in Cephredi, Grover ordered the eastern fleet to make for home at top speed. The Sergetti were left to their own devices, they weren't the real threat anymore, as if they had ever been.

When the combat occurred in the Nizzarum system between the Sallgean and Norak forces, it was one of the few successes of the war for the Republic. Unfortunately the success was brief, and the heavy losses had put Captain Josephsen in charge.

About that time the Space Service went off the air. The Last communication received from the Narcisston system was that the Norak had glassed several colonies and were approaching the Homewolrd with a large force. The worst was assumed. Billions of Sallegans dead, the homewolrd a radioactive ruin.

The initial plan was for a fighting withdrawal through the Norak colonies in Usphada and to hopefully make it to the former Xi'Chung homeworld and to link up with any remaining stragglers from Narcisston and make a Last stand there. This plan was successful initially as the Nizarum and Usphada systems were lightly defended by the Norak. The fleet fought there way through several engagements, taking losses, but always being victorious. They were taking a big chunk out of the eastern part of the Norak empire. However shortly before reaching Organtrix, they received a message from the Xi'Chung homeworld, from some organization calling themselves the Xi'Chung liberation organization. They had resumed control of their planet and had signed a treaty with the Norak.

That left only one planet in the entire Sallegan Republic with more population greater than 100 million people. And it fell the next month. Josephsen knew they were whipped, and there was nothing he could do about it.

He was considering his options with his officers when they received a signal from the Norak requesting their surrender. The Norak representative that came aboard his ship gave the captain proof that the Norak had not in fact glassed the homeoworld. Many smaller colonies had unfortunately been lost, on both sides. But the bulk of the Sallegan race was still alive, and though they were now under the authority of the Norak, that was better then being dead Josephsen thought.

His men agreed, for the most part. It was one thing to give your life in a hopeless cause to exact revenge for the deaths of your entire family. But it was quite another to throw your life away when you could simply stop fighting and go home to that family, quite alive and well.

The flags were transferred, and the sun set on the Sallegan Republic for the Last time.