THE EMPEROR'S HAMMER CONQUERS THE AURORA SYSTEM!
The Emperor's Hammer, in a swift and unprecedented Combined Arms Assault, took the Aurora System with relative ease and minimal losses to equipment and personnel. As elements of Delta and Rho Squadrons penetrated the System perimeter defenses around Eos to the final acceptance of the Aurorans' surrender planetside a few days later, the Second Combined Arms Battle of the Emperor's Hammer went exactly as planned. The Operations Officer (OPS/VA Melan Pyr/CF-7/SSD Avr) is to be commended for the remarkable efficiency of this operation and has been promoted to the Rank of Vice Admiral for his extraordinary efforts on this project.
The following was excerpted from the Grand Admiral's acceptance of the unconditional surrender of the Auroran's yesterday evening:
<<ATTENTION ALL FLEET PERSONNEL>>
As VidScreens in every ship of the Emperor's Hammer Fleet seemed to simultaneously turn to the broadcast from planetside, Grand Admiral Ronin entered the Auroran High Council Chamber...
The High Council Chamber of Aurora was as silent as it had been for the past 1,000 years. The Aurora System had never been visited by an Imperial envoy let alone be attacked with such swiftness and precision. The Aurorans had been caught completely off guard and had presented only a token defense to the overwhelming might of the Emperor's Hammer Strike Fleet. The Auroran High Council and its President stood at the podium in the Council Chamber as they grudgingly greeted the Grand Admiral and the other Command Officers of the Hammer. The Imperials present were in full Dress uniform and did not speak a word other than the obligatory introductions and honorifics to the Auroran High Council.
The Grand Admiral immediately proceeded, flanked by his ever watchful Honor Guard, to the podium and began to speak to the collected crowd of 3 million civilians gathered outside the Council Chambers to listen to their conquerors...No less than 40 AT-ATs and 200 AT-STs were stationed in a ring outside the Council Chamber to preclude any reprisals by the Aurorans. An additional 6 Divisions of Imperial Army and several battalions of Stormtroopers were finishing mop-up duties in Aurora City. Six full Garrisons had already been constructed on the ashes of several other Auroran cities. TIEs were flying over the Council Chamber in rapid formations.
Although Ronin knew his speech to the Aurorans would surely invoke anger and fear, it would also promote respect. Ronin knew he would need respect to hold this gem of a system. Not catalogued on Imperial or Rebel star charts, this system will become an ideal haven for the Emperor's Hammer and would become its new home. Since the Hammer, as mighty as it was, had never been assigned to garrison duty before, he would need the Dark brotherhood and Imperial Security Bureau to help subjugate this System...
The Grand Admiral continued...
"Citizens of Aurora, I am Grand Admiral Ronin of the Imperial Navy and you have been conquered."
"Already our Star Destroyers and TIE Fighter Squadrons have eliminated your First and Second Fleets. Our Stormtroopers and Imperial Army Divisions have razed your major population centers. Your leaders and military have been disbanded. All you have remaining is your lives and our Imperial guidance. From this point onward, the Empire shall be your rulers and the Emperor's Hammer the instrument of that Empire. By adhering to the following Articles of Surrender, as signed by the Auroran High Council, you shall be allowed to continue your lives, undisturbed by our presence. However, any Aurorans not abiding by these Articles shall be hunted down and eliminated as Rebels to the Empire. You may find alliance with the Empire economically and socially beneficial. Within the next two weeks, our Corporate Division will be constructing factories and technology centers which will not only advance your civilian technologies but will employ millions of your citizens with excellent wages and benefits. In addition, members of your Citizenry may apply to our Fleet following initial screening by our Inquisitors.
Your High Council will remain in power so long as your Citizens adhere to these Articles of Surrender. In addition, a Planetary Governor is to be named who will protect Imperial interests on Aurora. In conclusion, the Emperor welcomes you to the Galactic Empire...
The following are the Articles of Surrender:
I) The Aurora System and all its planetary bodies, industrial facilities and Citizenry are Members of the Galactic Empire and swear fealty to the same.
2) The Auroran Planetary Defense Force has been disbanded. Only a non-lethal armed civilian police force will remain.
3) The Citizens of Aurora shall not gather in public assemblies of more than 50 persons without an Imperial Security presence and approval from the Office of the Planetary Governor. The Imperial Security Bureau will oversee all other civilian relations.
4) An Imperial Products Tax of 10% of the Auroran GNP shall be instituted to defray the costs of the Imperial garrison presence in this system.
5) The Emperor's Hammer Corporate Division will have unlimited access to any and all natural resources in the Aurora System, at no additional cost to the Empire.
6) Imperial military personnel shall have unlimited access to any and all Auroran facilities without prior notice, as warranted. Any Imperial losses attributed to Auroran resistance will be inflicted on the Auroran Citizenry a hundred fold.
7) The Dark Brotherhood shall be constructing a Shadow Academy on the planet of Aurora and a Dark Hall on your moon of Eos. They shall be ever watchful in your night skies...
8) A Planetary Governor will be named by the Fleet Commander who shall institute all Imperial policies on Aurora. The Auroran High Council will report dirctly to the Planetary Governor.
9) The Auroran High Council will exist so long as these Articles are followed by the Citizens of Aurora.
10) The Empire reserves the right to change these Articles without prior notice or approval.
Aurorans, you have been conquered by a force of superior military might and technology. We have fought wars in thousands of star systems such as yours and we have united the entire Galaxy in the name of peace and order...The New Order...You can choose to be part of the New Order or you can be trampled beneath it. The Emperor's Hammer represents the best of elite of the Imperial Navy and has never been defeated in Battle. Any resistance is futile and will be punished most severely...
The Grand Admiral pulled his cloak about his shoulders as he finished his speech and a chill breeze blew through the Council Chamber. The Aurorans were still silent as they slowly began to disband. They had been defeated and realized that they were under Imperial rule. The Hammer had done its job, but Ronin couldn't help but think that he would eventually have to win the Aurorans over to the Imperial cause with means other than military might. If the Hammer would call Aurora home, the Aurorans will have to become our allies. A battle for another day, Ronin thought as he and his Honor Guard left the Council Chamber and the Imperial troops outside began to disperse...