Chapter Thirteen
The Prime Insulaes, once a singular supercontinent, had long since fragmented into a vast super-archipelago, and its political landscape fractured into numerous competing factions. For decades, the region had been embroiled in a Cold War. The Empestad Empire held dominion over the southern territories, while the Western Coalition had united the western and northern regions under a tenuous alliance. Meanwhile, the eastern sector remained divided among various empires: the Amagostafa Empire, the Second British Empire, the Tessodi Empire, and the Bubunne Empire. This precarious balance was violently disrupted when a Tessodian naval fleet intercepted a Hanian passenger ship, leading to a horrifying incident that would ignite a full-scale war.
The Tessodian forces mercilessly attacked the vessel and captured its 58 passengers, taking them hostage. The Hanian captives were subjected to brutal treatment, and forced to divulge their technological knowledge to the technologically inferior Tessodians, who still operated with 1990s-era technology. For months, the prisoners endured relentless coercion, their knowledge exploited to advance Tessodian military and industrial capabilities.
Tensions escalated further when a Hanian diplomatic envoy arrived via seaplane to negotiate the hostages' release. The delegation carried an air of disdain, having already received veiled threats from the Tessodians. They were met by Hargulas, a wealthy nobleman and Tessodian auditor infamous for his sadistic cruelty and countless criminal atrocities. Hargulas, reveling in his power, arrogantly presented the stolen Hanian television sets, using them to broadcast a horrifying messageâfootage of the captured Hanian passengers being tortured and executed.
Hargulas outlined his grotesque demands to the Great Hania Empire, presenting terms that were nothing short of an act of war. The Tessodians demanded that the Great Hania Empire surrender 80% of its resources and wealth, supply 100,000 slaves per month, and grant the Tessodians unrestricted rights to kill, oppress, and brutalize Hanians and other peoples at their discretion. Furthermore, the Tessodian Empire insisted that all diplomatic relations involving Hania be subject to Tessodian approval. The terms were nothing less than outrageous, an affront to all sense of justice and morality.
The Hanian ambassadors, filled with revulsion and disgust, outright refused. In response, Hargulas orchestrated the execution of the hostages before their eyes, sparing no oneâmen, women, children, and the elderly alike. It was a display of sheer barbarity that sealed Tessodi's fate.
The Great Hania Empire's response was swift and decisive. Within a day, Emperor Nicholas Liao Cheng declared war on the Tessodian Empire. A combined Hanian military force, numbering 540,000 strong, descended upon Tessodi with unparalleled efficiency. The campaign was brutal and short-lived. In just two weeks (measured in Terria's unique time scale, which operates seven times faster than Earth's), the once-proud Tessodian Empire lay in ruins, utterly capitulated under the might of the Hanian war machine.
With Tessodi's fall, the balance of power in the Prime Insulaes shifted dramatically. The Great Hania Empire, already in possession of 2030s to 2100s technology, far outmatched the capabilities of its neighboring nations. Among them, the Greater Pardevonese Empire wielded technology from the 1990s to early 2000s, while Neues Reich, a Nazi-ruled state, had access to 1980s to 2000s-era advancements. The Greater Satam Empire, possessing demonic powers, remained confined to 1990s technology. Despite these varied levels of development, none could rival the overwhelming might of the Great Hania Empire.
In the wake of the war, the Amagostafa Empire was quick to act. Recognizing the inevitability of Hanian supremacy, Amagostafa's leadership extended an official invitation to Nicholas, hoping to align with the new global power. Upon his arrival, he was met with an unprecedented display of reverence. The entire population bowed before him, their devotion absolute. Every woman within the empire was enamored with him, obsessed with the divine presence that Nicholas exuded. Within a day, Amagostafa formally joined the Great Hania Empire, surrendering its sovereignty willingly.
The Bubunne Empire, having previously issued death threats against the Great Hania Empire, suffered a less diplomatic fate. Hanian forces swiftly moved in, bringing Bubunne under Hanian control with little resistance. This left only one remaining power in the eastern region: The Second British Empire.
King Cutler Beckett, the ruling monarch of the Second British Empire, found himself facing an insurmountable dilemma. He had long prided himself on his power, but the rise of the Great Hania Empire threatened to overshadow his dominion completely. For weeks, Beckett grappled with the inevitable, his anxieties mounting as he watched his neighboring empires fall like dominoes. Ultimately, he conceded to the unavoidable truthâhis empire could not stand against Nicholas's rule. In a shocking turn of events, he chose to secede, relinquishing control of the Second British Empire to the Great Hania Empire. Beckett, defeated in spirit, retired from his position, vanishing from the public eye.
By the conclusion of the Cold War in the Prime Insulaes, the political landscape had been drastically altered. Originally comprised of 76 independent nations, the region had been reduced to just three dominant entities: The Great Hania Empire, controlling the entirety of the east; the Empestad Empire, retaining the south; and the Western Coalition, holding onto the western and northern territories. The geopolitical realignment solidified Nicholas's empire as the premier superpower of the Prime Insulaes, while the Western Coalition and Empestad Empire stood as the only remaining challengers to Hanian supremacy.
The calendar marked the date as the 67th day of the 13th month in the 6th year of the Imperial Era (6 IE). Even as the dust settled on the Prime Insulaes, the Great Hania Empire's ambitions extended beyond terrestrial conquests.
While wars and diplomacy reshaped the landmasses of Terria, the Hanians had already begun their ventures into space. On a nearby habitable moon, Hanian spacemen established a thriving colony, expanding their dominion beyond their home planet. Meanwhile, an identical yet uninhabitable moon, positioned on the opposite side of Terria, was also secured for strategic purposes.
Back on Terria, the Hanians turned their attention to newly discovered landmasses. Satellite imagery revealed previously uncharted territories:
The Great Desert Continent â A vast supercontinent, characterized by wet deserts and subtropical climates, located approximately 1,553 km southeast of the Supercontinent.
The North Wasteland â A supercontinent bearing resemblance to the icy landscapes of Tibet and Siberia. Its far-northern regions experience extreme cold, with temperatures plummeting to -40°C. Positioned 1,076 km north of the Supercontinent, it presented a formidable challenge for exploration and settlement.
The Rift â A mysterious and expansive oceanic anomaly at the center of the Supercontinent. Recognizing its significance, the Hanians dispatched a fleet of military and expeditionary drones, along with trained personnel, to explore its depths and uncover its secrets.
With the integration of new territories, Nicholas found himself deeply engrossed in the administration and governance of his empire. His responsibilities extended across diplomacy, technology, economic development, and military strategy. Despite his overwhelming power, he remained dedicated to ensuring the prosperity and advancement of his people. Whether by overseeing policy decisions, guiding scientific progress, or expanding Hanian influence across Terria and beyond, Nicholas's reign was defined by boundless ambition and unwavering dedication.
Thus, with his empire thriving and new horizons awaiting exploration, Nicholas stood at the precipice of an era that would redefine the very fabric of Terria's future.
(CHAPTER THIRTEEN END)