He went that way

It all begins with a marriage as many stories do. This marriage was something unique though, the heirs of the two largest factions on a world discovered beyond the political usefulness of their shared positions, that they loved each other. The first, Farrow Reginald Clay a man with a dream, a dream to unify a planet under one banner and to lead a stable and lasting government. The second , Tiana Beautrez Tessier, a woman who sought, the same as Farrow did, to build a lasting empire, an Empire that spanned the stars.

Their marriage and unification of forces sealed the end of the Unification War, and with it, opened up a new age of opportunity. The world was christened “Imperra” and Farrow is crowned Emperor Farrow I with Tianna as Queen by his side. Though Farrow took direct charge of the empire, being the more well-known and fiery personality. Tianna has a secondary role in the governance of the Empire and although more in the background is no less important, preferring to handle the inter-nobility politics of the Imperial court that has sprung up around Farrow and his wife.

Farrow does not heed the squabbling on Imperra. He is busy assessing the military situation of the Empire. On Imperra there  is an Imperial Legion, made up of commoners, but nonetheless an effective force. Additionally, there is a Legion of Noble Knights, the landowners of Imperra well armed and well led.

In orbit of Imperra is a rough collection of Gunrships that serves as the Imperran Navy.

Farrow observes these things and begins preparations. He orders the construction of dozens of more modern vessels including up-gunned Warships. He announces in a speech at an orbital dockyard to the assembled men and women hard at work building what will become the Magnanimous, a modern Warship.

During the speech  Farrow declares that “the path to glory is paved with victories! Our destiny among the stars can nly be achieved by reached up with both hands and bringing the stars to us.”

While Farrow is busy marshaling the Navy to his purposes, Tiana has unified Impera’s various military academies under one administration. The Imperial Military Academy is founded and soon new classes of officers are graduating and filling the ranks in Farrow’s new army.

Among the instructors at the academy, Tiana comes across a man who draws her attention. This man, Araman Gallan, a greying general with a penchant for grand strategy has been teaching ancient military manuevers for years. Gallan has a proposal for the Queen she finds noteworthy.

Gallan’s military reorganization plan calls not only for a draft among commoners in the Empire to fill out the ranks in additional two legions, but also for the formation of a General Staff to draft and review war plans. Finally, and perhaps most noteworthy, Gallan calls for something he has christened Plan Red, the invasion and annexation of two neighboring Kingdom-Worlds, Arcadia and Concordia.

After consulting her husband, Tiana accepts Gallan’s plan en toto and appoints him as the head of this new General staff where he earns the rank of Grand Marshal of the Empire.

Under Gallan and Tiana’s planning the Imperial military is again increased by two legions, filling out the ranks with conscripts from the population centers of Imperra and volunteers from rural, resource gathering areas like miners, farmers, and hunters.

Under what would be known as the Gallan Reforms, the Grand Marshal gives special attention to these common legions, expecting them to remain at the same standard as the Nobles. During their creation ceremonies, the 2nd Legion is made, “The Emperor’s Legion” and declared his own personal bodyguard. The 5th Legion, recruited mostly from Tiana’s home province, is made “The Queen’s Legion” and swears undying loyalty to the Queen of the Empire.

The army is thoroughly drilled and prepared for the coming invasion while the Navy conducts orbital maneuvers. The flagship Empire waits to lead the invasion of the neighboring Kingdoms while Farrow and Tiana together see their dream of one star-spanning Empire draw closer to reality.

(via timekiller21)