The first two Angelus Holy Union systems to have their Space Force destroyed were only the beginning. The live-fire testing of the new tactics had worked flawlessly, but while it would have been easy to assume everything left in Holy Union space would be just as frail, Arcadia’s military was preparing for a forceful and potent counterattack. The name of the game was not to take the systems as one normally would, but instead to gauge the strength of the Holy Union and their defensive capabilities.

The battles fought in the first two systems were tests and nothing more. The void beyond the planets was easily occupied, but there was zero intention to hold it if things began to go sour. Sure, beachheads were wonderful and all, but Arkhan was not going to throw everything into a Space-based blitzkrieg if there was ample reason to suspect it would go poorly. The space in those systems could, at any moment, be filled with the warships of the Angels, so it was in Arcadia’s best interest to play it safe.

Did Arkhan and Arcadia have a ton of ships and Mobile Suit/ Armor Golems? Yes, but simply throwing bodies at the problem was not the best way to handle things. Were those systems occupied? Yes, but Arkhan had no presence on the various planets and both he and the rest of Arcadia did not want to risk Arkhan’s survival and mental state. After all, it was a near certainty that the same Anti Summoned Being weapons used by their soldiers were on those planets, likely in the hands of garrisons and police.

So, when faced with the fact that mounting a standard invasion would be suicidal, what was Arkhan and his nation to do? If invasion was not an option and the people on those worlds would never surrender, there was only one solution that was feasible for ending the conflict. The Angels cleansed worlds of life so that they could xenoform them into something that they desired. They wiped worlds clean of all life and brought apocalypse and armageddon to every other race they came across. With the Oculus-class Spy Ships informing Arcadia of the fate of dozens of worlds in the United Galactic Nations and invasion unfeasible, there was only one real option left.

It was time to teach the Angels the golden rule; Do unto others as you would have done to yourself.

…

Destruction, death, pain and sorrow. Also, profit. These were the words on the lips of the member nations of the UGN. The damage done by the AHU was immense, but due to some twist of fate the Angels had pulled back behind their original borders. No one was sure of what to make of this, but there was one thing that everyone agreed upon.

The losses were immense, but the potential gains were even greater.

Barren, lifeless worlds that were in the process of being xenoformed were useful in their own ways. Yes, the cities and populace on those dead planets were gone, but that just mean that they were open to redevelopment once the process the Angels had started was done. Special Interests had a stranglehold on the UGN, and this made the various nations bicker amongst themselves over which of them should have which system and which company and/ or group should be given rights to do what and where.

Instead of capitalizing on the withdrawal of the foe and trying to either push into Angel territory or shore up defenses, there was focus put on things that did not matter nearly as much. Systems that once belonged to X nation were being sought after by Y nation because that system was now devoid of sapient life. However, much to the dismay of the actual nations, a new solution was devised. This solution was put form by a large collection of companies that had banded together when they saw a potential profit.

The solution was to create an eleventh nation; a nation built on the ashes of the string of systems that had been purged. As it would only take a few years to set up all of the pre-fab space stations, the Omniconpro (Omni Consolidated Products) Corporate Sector would be able to stand on its own two feet just in time for the xenoforming to end.

Unfortunately for them, the vigorous back and forth in the UGN regarding other matters meant that by the time they had started sending the initial Private Military Forces of the new Omniconpro Corporate Sector, there was already someone occupying their prize.

…

The small group of OCS (Omniconpro Corporate Sector) ships entered into the system, only to realize that there was a fleet of ships waiting for them. These were not the smooth, rounded and brilliant metallic white ships of the AHU, but ones belonging to some other groups. Maybe they were just very well-off pirates?

Either way, it did not matter. All that mattered was getting these squatters out of this system, and by any means necessary.

“Unknown vessels, you are occupying space that rightfully belongs to the Omniconpro Corporate Sector! Leave immediately or face the full force of the United Galactic Nations!”

The hail was sent, but for a good three minutes there was no response. After what was, to the OCS ships’ crews, an ungodly amount of time, there came a wide-band response.

“Dear Sir or Madame. You are incorrect. This system and all others that we have begun occupying belong to the Arcadian Galactic Commonwealth. We have already begun colonizing these systems, and as you and the rest of the UGN had abandoned them until now, these systems were fair game. As per the laws of the UGN; ‘Any system with no structure owned by any nation or group that still exists is property of whichever group and/ or nation that occupies it first. If the system was originally a part of one nation or group but has had all stations and people within said system destroyed, that system rightfully belongs to whomever or whatever replaces it.’ Therefore, by your own laws, we have the right to claim this system and all others we currently occupy.”

There was logic to the unknown being’s words, but potential profit outweighed any logic. The megalithic company that was Omniconpro had paid good money to get these systems, so screw the laws and rules. If they flexed enough influence and greased enough palms they could, and would, get those laws removed. In fact…

“Send word up the line. We have pirates occupying our rightful clay. We will need the full might of the UGN to be brought to bear. Also, tell corporate that a few outdated laws need to go.”

The OCS ships remained in their places and did not budge. The unknown vessels seemed to just want to stand back, but this had an unintended effect.

“Wait. I get it now! Those guns don’t work! They don’t even have a single weapon, these dumb pirates! This is a bluff, and those ships are likely just a façade covering something much smaller and weaker! Now that corporate knows the situation, lets earn our pay. Advance! Blow them out of the void!”

A few salvos from the Beam Lances and Missile Batteries on board the corporate ships did little to faze the unknown vessels. Beams seemed to bend around a bubble that enveloped the ships while guidance systems in the missiles failed as their sensors got scrambled.

“OCS Vessels, you have fired upon the Arcadian Galactic Commonwealth’s military. This can and will be seen as an act of war. Cease your actions or face the full might of Arcadia’s finest.”

But the OCS ships did not stop.

At least, they did not stop until they were torn to shreds by fire from all directions.

By the time their reinforcements arrived, there was little left of the 15-ship group aside from twisted metal and sputtering electronics. And, in the distance, was a fleet that waited like a hunter for another group of arrogant bastards to try testing their luck.