Malaran

CHAPTER FOUR

  The Emperor and I have kept many details of the Phoenix Initiative hidden from the Mega Oikogeneia. We had to, of course, reveal the general aspects of our rebuilding plan to convince the other Great Houses that biding time on the Refuge Worlds and avoiding provoking the Umpala would be in everyone’s best interest, but if they were ever to learn the full extent of our plans, the full extent of our desperation, most would likely question our wisdom while some, perhaps many, would openly rebel. Desperate times call for desperate measures, however. We will just have to do everything in our power to prevent the High Council of learning just how extreme our measures have become.

  - Archives of Lord Dakshu Pran Ashoka, High Chancellor of the Empire of Man (from 354 to 367 P.D.)