Eleani System, 2173 A.D.


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    It has been eight solar months since the Battle of Eleania, and I can barely recognize my own home. After the battle ended, tens of thousands of our civilian ships streamed out of our world and their hiding places deep in the system to help the Republic fleet search for survivors among the wreckage and bring their wounded to our medical centers.


    What remained of our contingent that was detached from the Commonwealth fleet arrived a day after the battle, limping into the system and in no shape to fight after their prior combat against the Insectoids in Commonwealth space. They received a hero’s welcome, and the Republic fleet, seeing the sad state that they were in and their willingness to confront the Insectoid fleet alone, rendered them honors.


    My friends,


    I wish to explain to you why I removed the Commonwealth Envoy from your space. After almost two hundred years of loyalty to the Commonwealth government, they showed their true nature when you needed them the most.


    You answered their request for more ships, stripping your home world of the defense fleet that was guarding you, and sent them to the core worlds to do your part. When the insectoids changed course and you were faced with extinction, they callously declined your pleas for aid.


    For almost two centuries, your government faithfully paid the taxes that were levied upon you and followed the laws that were crafted on the Commonwealth capital over a thousand light years away. You fulfilled your duty as Commonwealth citizens, and when the time came for the government to fulfill its end of the bargain, they failed to uphold their promise of protection and fidelity.


    They have proven to be unworthy of your loyalty, and they do not deserve citizens such as you. The Commonwealth has lost all rights to govern you, and we will vigorously defend your newfound independence until the time you no longer require us to do so.


    Admiral Karl Thompson.


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    "There is a Xenxin delegation on its way to Eleania, and it should arrive in two days. The Xenxin ended their membership with the Commonwealth when they found out you were abandoned and seized control of all Commonwealth military vessels within their territory. They are bringing those ships with them and are also coming to form an alliance and to sign a mutual defense pact with the Republic and the Eleani sovereignty.”


    There were loud hoots of approval from the council interspersed with laughter, as the Xenxin were well known to be an unruly member and a constant source of exasperation to the Commonwealth government.