As Arcadia’s pride and joy, the flagship of Arkhan himself, entered the system, the living crew aboard it and all escorting vessels felt a tinge of anxiety that was entirely out of place for their intended role. It was a kind of feeling every single one of them could identify as a bit of ‘Newtype Space Psychic Mumbo Jumbo’ as people tended to call it, the kind of instinctual gut feeling that was on a level altogether different from the norm. They all knew that something bad was going to happen, but none of them could identify what that something could be.

Deciding to take this gut feeling as a glimmer of precognitive truth, the ‘parade’ fleet immediately took a defensive formation, readied its weapons, set its shields to full power and sortied a great many Mobile Suit Golems and Mobile Armor Golems. They were not about to take any chances, especially now that their beloved God-King was just a few hours into celebrating his 25th birthday. This was supposed to be a time for nationwide enjoyment and revelry, and they were not about to let some upstart pirate or terrorist spoil this joyous mood.

Almost immediately after taking their current formation and preparing for combat, sensors indicated that a decently sized and completely unarmed transport was headed towards the fleet. Arkhan and all the other living people aboard his ships could sense the malign intent of those on board the transport, and sent out a hail to the ship.

…

The goal of the plan was simple. They were to have their ship dock inside of the colossal flagship of the evil Arcadian Galactic Commonwealth and, once on board, attempt to lure the ‘God-King’ into a secluded spot before assassinating him. Once this was done, a signal would be given and the ‘unarmed’ ship would activate its ‘special cargo’, sending the entire flagship to oblivion in a massive explosion of monumental proportions. The resistance and its allies had hoped that they could have gotten closer and that the AGC fleet would be less ready for them, but almost a minute after entering the system where the assassination was to take place the AGC armada assumed a defensive formation and was seemingly ready for a fight.

This would make their jobs all the harder. However, if they could just manage to get close enough to the flagship, the Adeptus Deorum, they could blow a decent chunk of it and the fleet to bits. After their noble sacrifice, the rest of the Free Galaxy Resistance would be able to jump in and, hopefully, deal a decisive blow to the remaining AGC fleet. Even if that could not be done, the death of the evil tyrant Arkhan and the destruction of his flagship would be enough of a symbol to spark a mass insurrection against the Arcadians. That was the hope, at least.

On board, one of the former diplomats of the once-great superpower that was the United Galactic Nations tapped his foot. He was concerned that the enemy had somehow found out about their plans and was ready to attempt to stop them. Then again, even if the Arcadian pig-dogs did know about the plans they would be powerless to stop them. Fate and Destiny were on their side, and the plan was therefore fated and destined to succeed.

“Sir, we’re receiving a hail from the Arcadian flagship. Shall we respond?”

Damn!

“Very well, put it through.”

“Yes sir! Opening comms channel… now!”

The holoprojector in the center of the bridge flickered to life and a hologram of the despotic and tyrannical monarch appeared. The former diplomat could barely stop himself from scowling at the one who had brought low his nation and caused him and his companions to lose practically all of their power and influence over the contemptable masses.

“Ah, Sir Arkhan! A pleasure to see you on this fine day. I and my fellows had come out here to join in on your celebrations and help mark this historic day for the galaxy. Do you mind terribly if we were to come aboard and-.”

“Yes, we would.”

“… Excuse me?”

Arkhan’s cruel gaze seemed to drill into the former diplomat’s soul through the hologram.

“I said we do mind. We would very much prefer if you left immediately and did not try whatever you are going to.”

“I-I’m not sure I follow. We are just here to-.” The former diplomat stammered, trying desperately to keep himself composed. How had these Arcadian bastards found out about their plot?! It was supposed to be a secret! Who?! Who snitched?! WHO~?!

“I don’t care what you are here to do.” Arkhan growled. “All I know is that I can feel the malign energy flowing from your ship and crew. I have learned to trust my feelings, as have we all, and we feel that you have hostile intentions for us. You have five minutes to change course and stay far, far away from us. Failure to comply and/or a continued advance in our direction will be seen as a threat to inflict harm upon us and will be responded to with all due force. Make the right choice.”

With that, the call ended and the hologram of the terrible and monstrous ruler faded away.

The former diplomat stood in silence for a bit before turning back to his comms officer.

“Send the signal. Our trap has already failed to achieve the desired results, so we have no other choice but to either go all in now or lose the one golden chance we have forever. While the bastards of the AGC are fighting our comrades-in-arms we will rush the flagship and take as many as we can down with us. Glory to the UGN!”

“Yes, sir! Glory to the UGN!”

The comms officer flipped a switch and a signal was sent from the high-powered transmitter that was jury-rigged onto the ship. Mere moments later, a large number of various ships dropped out of hyperspace at various angles and began to power up their systems. If the suicide transport had managed to complete their mission, the FGR fleet would have been able to use the ensuing confusion to give them time to restore power to their ships’ systems, but the sacrifice had not been made and the AGC fleet was ready for them.

The moment after they dropped out of hyperspace, Arcadia’s armada began to lay into the FGR fleet. The motley mix of various different ships barely withstood the initial salvo and it was only after the MSGs and MAGs began to close the distance that the Free Galaxy Resistance got its act together. While the two sides, the mix of rebels, pirates and other malcontents and the AGC government fleet, began to slug it out, the supposedly unarmed diplomatic transport moved closer and closer with its crew holding their breath and waiting for the chance to send Arkhan to the depths of hell.