The End of the Empire

The End of the Empire Volume II

It has long been thought that General Seru's growing distrust of Tsaph Katta, Imperator of the Combine Empire, was fueled by another,

though no one has yet identified the traitor.

As the day of the Combine Summit grew ever nearer, Seru's disposition grew darker. Katta's closest advisors forbade Seru from addressing their leader in private.

Even those closest to Seru recognized that his constant chatter and ranting warned of a man descending into obsession and madness. His state of mind was never revealed to the public.

Even in that volatile condition, Tsaph -- our greatest champion of compassion and acceptance of ideas -- allowed Seru to be admitted to the summit.

As the guests arrived, a great entourage approached Tsaph Katta led by General Seru. With words of friendship dripping like venom from his lips, he raised a hand to his friend and sealed the doom of the Empire with a handshake.

Not only had Seru worn a gauntlet dusted with Empolomine, a slow-acting deadly hallucinogen, he brought kegs of wine for all the guests laced with it too.

Tsaph detected a falseness to Seru, but continued on with this great event and stood at the podium in front of his guests. His opening words entranced the empire.

He spoke of truth, acceptance, trust, and a world where all intelligent races would embrace their differences for a brighter future. Then, he lifted a gilded goblet of wine out to the summit attendees with a marvelous flare of jubilation and then to his mouth to drink. He spoke his last words, "To all and to the empire -- we unite for a better world!"

While the thunder of applause and cheers rattled the hall where the meeting was held, none heard Tsaph choke and plead for breath. His throat began burning and his mind was failing. In a matter of mere moments, Tsaph's life and the future of the Combine Empire were at an end. The Combine Empire splintered into fragments -- those that took Seru's side and those that remained loyal to Tsaph and his ideals.