”Breaking news. Our honorable leader and savior, Arcturus Mengsk, was assassinated this morning 7:40 in his own palace. Survivors, including the prince of the Dominion and the heir to the throne, Valerian Mengsk, and special agent Nova Terran, recognized the assassins as Nerazim dark templars. Footage from the suits of the special agents that gave their lives to protect their emperor, as well as the examination of the bodies, also proved that. Kate, how will this tragic event shape the future of the Dominion?”

“After his father’s death, prince Valerian had claimed the throne as the emperor of the Terran Dominion. In a decisive manner, he announced to the world that his father’s death will not be forgotten. The assassins and those who sent them will pay the price. That, combined with the theory of protoss involvement, might suggest a war between the Dominion and the Daeleem protoss, the new combination of the Nerazim protoss and the Aiur protoss.”

“How is our military? In this desperate moment the people of the Dominion needs to know they are well protected. How does the armed forces respond to this sudden change of event?”

“General Warfield had publicly announced his support of the new emperor. General Davis, on the other hand, seemed to be suggesting there was something odd about the assassination. She suggested a full examination of the event. Response from emperor Valerian is still unknown.”

...

“Valerian.” An old woman with white hair and a straight uniform was on the computer screen. She spoke with little respect to the new emperor. In fact, she barely acknowledged Valerian’s place as the emperor. “You and I both know something is wrong with your father’s death. There is no way for a Nerazim to slip behind the protection of armies of elite Dominion troops and attack our leader.”

“It’s emperor Mengsk to you, general Davis.” Valerian fought back by emphasising their ranks.

“I will not recognize you as my emperor until I can make sure you played no part in Arcturus’ death.” Davis didn’t yield either. She had half a fleet behind her back.

The situation was complicated. Most of the fellow Dominion planets have declared their allegiance to the new emperor, but they weren’t really the key to power. In order for Valerian to really control the Dominion he would need the support of the fleet.

The entire Dominion fleet included over eight hundred battlecruisers and thousands of other support ships. This was the hammer of the central Dominion government. There were battlecruisers in other planets, but only in small amounts. They were too few to matter. Two hundred of the eight hundred battlecruisers were part of the Pride of Augustgrad elite fleet, which was previously under the direct command of Arcturus Mengsk. After the old emperor died, the entire fleet, leaderless, pledged their allegiance to the new emperor. Valerian happily gained two hundred powerful battlecruisers just because of his last name.

The rest of the Dominion fleet was controlled by two generals. When Arcturus was alive he was too suspecting to hand over all six hundred ships to a single person, so he divided the fleet into two to decrease the chance of a full on betrayal. General Warfield controlled half the fleet while general Davis held the other half. Each general had around three hundred capital ships.

General Warfield pledged his loyalty to Valerian almost as soon as the news of Arcturus’ demise got out. The old soldier didn’t mind who was the leader of the Dominion as long as he or she could protect the people of the Dominion from outside alien threats. Arcturus or Valerian, as long as he could protect mankind Warfield would support him. And so, despite knowing that something might be fishy about the assassination, Warfield handed over his 300 ships to Valerian and returned to the Korhal palace by himself. Valerian didn’t disappoint him as he appointed Warfield as the admiral of the entire Dominion fleet.

General Davis, on the other hand, was quite different. She cared more about herself than about the overall good of the Dominion. When Valerian demanded her to hand over command of her part of the fleet and report back to the palace, she refused to do so. Instead she ordered the three hundred ships under her command to remain in battle condition and prepare for war. Davis knew if she had given up her ships then she would be easily disposed off. If she had the ships she would be a powerful general. If she returned, she would be no more than an old lady. A single marine could destroy her. She held on to her ships and used them as a bargaining chip. She thought Valerian wouldn’t dare attacking Davis’ ships because that would ignite a civil war and, whatever the ending, weaken the Terran Dominion.

“What are you suggesting?” Valerian asked with tight lips.

“Apart from you there were two more survivors. Agent Nova Terra and prisoner Jean Turner. I want them delivered to my ship. I will interrogate them and find out the the emperor’s real cause of death. If, and only if, you took no part in the assassination I will hand over my ships.” Davis said cruelly.

“I don’t take orders from you. Pass off command to your lieutenant and return to the Korhal palace now. That is an order.” The new emperor said with determination and authority. There was no way for him to hand over his best agent and his new partner in crime. Nova chose to help Valerian after he disabled the inhibitor chip inside her brain. The inhibitor chip made Nova a slave of Arcturus, and the agent was grateful of regaining her own will. In return Nova helped Jean and Valerian in their plan.

Davis smirked. “The only reason you would refuse is because you have something to hide. What is it? Perhaps...perhaps you killed your father and took his place. Perhaps you are the real traitor to the Dominion.” Behind the screen and outside Davis’ line of sight Jean tilted her head. Davis wasn’t exactly wrong on that aspect. Valerian seemed to be taken back, so Jean said something to him with her psi energy.

“This is your final warning. Lay down your arms or you and everyone that supports you will be deemed a traitor. There will be war.” Receiving the contents, Valerian dodged the question and instead brought the battlefield to Davis.

“Then so be it.” Davis turned off the comm.

Valerian looked at Jean. “Now what?” He didn’t want to attack fellow terran, but apparently he didn’t have a choice.

“Now we show the world what happens to traitors of the Dominion.” Jean replied lightly, but her tone was cruel. “Carolina Davis has to die.”