(Turn sent.)
High above the smoky skies of Vril-ya the fleet of House al-Malik had just received a coded transmission from a courier ship on the edge of the system.
It passed to the computer onboard the flagship Vicious Return Policy and to the waiting eyes of nobleman in charge. In that transmission was security footage and last minute instructions received from spies on Byzantium. It would seem that the Emir Arus had not been nearly so well hidden as he had hoped. Recordings showed the Good Emir had been gunned down while supping upon an impossibly rare mahogany dining table from Ancient Urth. And if that was not enough to dismay any member of the al-Malik family, secretly a Great-Uncle of the Caliph had been sent as extra insurance. He too had been killed after a rigged explosive device had erupted while smoking his favorite hookah.
As these terrible tragedies enfolded before him, Haroun al-Malik smiled.
"Two less threats to my succession." he quietly whispered to himself.
Catching his attention, a bridge officer saluted and announced, "My lord, the attack was a success, the enemy lies before you."
Looking up Haroun had almost missed the end of the battle. Once proud warships that had fought numerous campaigns against Symbiot, Vau and Rebel alike now lay shattered and burning in the orbit of the planet below, the only ship that remained was the enemy dreadnought. Pitted and scarred from conflicts all over the Known Galaxy it stood as the last of its noble brethren of the Imperial Fleet.
"Shall we demand their surrender sire?"
With a lazy flick of his hand Haroun commanded, "No, destroy it and any pods it jettisons. The last of the Old Emperor's Legacy dies here. Then set course for out of this system."
"We have much to do."
Arrogant maybe, but I have to fluff my own pompous importance while I can.