Prologue

On the homeworld of the reptilian species known as the Race...

"I humbly disagree Exalted Councilor Strava," Fleetlord Atvar said politely to his superior. "True, the strange readings probe recorded, as well as its mysterious destruction, warrant investigation, but I fail to see why you want to triple our invasion fleet."

"The reasons for this are quite obvious to me." Strava replied to Atvar. "First, the species we will be conquering are located at such a vast distance from Home, the invasion will be completely on its own for at least sixty years before the colonization fleet arrives. Second, the species we will be conquering, despite their primitiveness, are very different from our two previous subject races, the Rabotevs and Hallessi. Notice they are much larger than we are, along other clear physiological and biological differences. Finally, the odd unknown energy readings our probe detected are a complete unknown and the probe's destruction are clearly a cause for concern."

"But, Exalted-" Atvar started to say.

"I believe that the Emperor should have final say in this decision." Strava interrupted.

Atvar felt rather annoyed, but he did not show it in the least. The Race, while they did not always like their superiors, their orders were absolute. If Atvar had not been named Fleetlord of an invasion fleet, he would not have ever consider arguing with a member of the Emperor's Council. However, his rank was now high enough that Atvar could argue. However, all bowed to the Emperor. His majesty, the 37th Emperor to bare the name Risson.

"I agree with you, Councilor Strava. Sending more troops than are initial plans called for is not a bad idea." Emperor Risson said. "However, tripling the current amount of troops, weapons, etc. would be too much. The Race needs more than just soldiers you know."

"I have a solution to this, Exalted Emperor." Strava replied. "I intend to use divisions of Rabotevs or Hallessi or both. If we do this, our infrastructure will remain intact."

Atvar was speechless. True, the Rabotevs and Hallessi were ruled by the Race, but that was not the same as being a member of the Race. Having them become part of their military was something profoundly new and unexpected. For Atvar and Emperor Risson both. After a moment, the conversation was resumed by the Emperor.

"Councilor Strava, I have always respected you for your wisdom and ingenuity." He said, his tone clearly showing the Emperor was carefully considering the proposal.

Atvar felt he could say nothing. He simply waited for Emperor Risson to make his decision.

"Very well, you may put this plan into action. Begin integrating Rabotevs and Hallessi into the invasion force." Emperor Risson said as an imperial decree. "And when the fleet is ready you will share command with Atvar."

"Yes, Exalted Emperor Risson." Councilor replied, lowering both his eyes to the floor in salute.

This was exactly what he wanted, minus sharing equal authority with Atvar. Now, he would have a place in the history of the Race as a world conqueror.

In the Tosevite system, many years later…

The soldiers of the invasion force awoke to quite a shock.

"This can not be possible!" Atvar exclaimed, as he looked at the images being sent to the invasion fleet's computers by a probe.

It was not the same probe that had been destroyed, but a new one launched from one of the fleet's vessels. This was a precaution set up due to the mystery surrounding the first probe. The images of the surface of Tosev 3 made no logical sense. These were images of armored fighting vehicles, exchanges of bullets, and even primitive combat planes. This contradicted the images sent back by the earlier probe sixteen-hundred years ago, which would be eight-hundred Tosevite years. The images from that probe indicated that the Race would be waging a war against savages armed with swords and arrows. Not guns and explosives and vehicles.

"They have advanced quite faster than we expected." Former-Councilor-now-Fleetlord Strava said, his tone revealing nothing but annoyance. "This war will be harder than we thought."

"Are you certain we should continue the mission of conquest in the face of this, this insanity." Atvar tried to figure out not only what to say, but what to do.

"It is our mission, Atvar." Strava said. "Just because they have advanced technology than we expect, it does not, by any means, dictate that we cancel the war. The colonization fleet is sixty years behind us. When they arrive, they will find a new planet added to the empire, just as they were promised. Even though the Tosevites possess technological weapons, they are clearly still vastly inferior to ours. Besides, we are the Race. Conquering, then civilizing them is both our right and our sacred duty."

Atvar could now see why Strava how become a member of the Emperors Council. The male could remain composed in even such unfortunate and unprecedented circumstances as these. He even made a rather inspiring speech. Atvar felt as though the Emperor had reassured him himself. Perhaps, Strava was not quite as unpleasant as Atvar had originally believed.

"Exalted Fleetlords," Kirel, a Shiplord who answered to Atvar, made his way over to them. "We are detecting the same bizarre energy readings our first probe discovered. It appears to be centralized opposite of Tosev 3 on its rotational axis."

"Bring up video from a probe." Strava commanded.

"Yes, Exalted Fleetlord." Kirel replied, then pressed a few buttons on the holographic display.

Suddenly, there was a malfunction causing all the Race's censors and communication systems to shut down for just over ten seconds. When the systems began operating normally again, the entire invasion fleet was shocked into utter silence. Understandable, since there were now two Tosev 3s.

"Are our instruments suffering from any sort of malfunction?" Atvar inquired with barely a whisper.

"We are running diagnostics, but so far, there does not seem to be any problems with the equipment." Kirel answered.

"Then what in the names of all the blessed Emperors passed is happening?!" Atvar exclaimed, in such panic that he almost forgot to lower his eyes in salute to the sovereigns.

Kirel had no answer to give him. No one in the invasion fleet, or on the surface of the two alien planets could give him an answer. Atvar wished more than anything he had a means of asking Emperor what to do in this situation. Strava felt the same.

"Exalted Fleetlords, may I have permission to send a probe to the… new Tosev planet? Kirel asked.

The two looked at each other, then made gestures of approval.

Mere hours later…

"Exalted Fleetlords, a situation such as this is truly unthinkable. No, it is completely unimaginable." Kirel said. "Both of the Tosev 3s are geographically identical, but there is a clear gap in technology. The first Tosev 3 we encountered is not the primitive as we thought it would be. They possess radio and radar, but no satellites or computers. Also, no evidence of nuclear weapons or power plants. However, the second Tosev 3 has a number of satellites and primitive space stations. There is even evidence of landings on their moon. We have also detected an incredible amount of wireless broadcasts and communications. Finally, we have discovered what we believe to be nuclear power plants."

"To make matters even more bizarre, from the information we have picked up from radio transmissions, these Tosevite worlds share common languages, terms and names." Kirel continued. "I consulted some of the few scientists who were sent along with the invasion fleet. One of them has a theory- or part of a theory, at least -that explains some of this strangeness."

With a quick gesture, the scientist, Havta, stepped forward and spoke. "Exalted Fleetlords, merely a few years prior to our departure, a scientific theory was compiled. The Parallel Timelines Theory. This theory hypothesizes that our reality is but one of infinite alternatives. To simplify, imagine our entire history is just a story. Then imagine some tells the story to another, then that individual tells it to another, but changes a detail. And so the cycle continues on and on and on, forever and ever. That is the basics of parallel timelines."

"I grasp the basic idea." Atvar said. "Continue, Scientist Havta."

"I can not possible begin to guess how, but it seems that a version of Tosev 3 from another timeline has come to be transported to this timeline." Havta said. "So, it is similar to the first Tosev 3 in some ways, but different in others. The gaps in their technological development, yet the sharing of languages and geography are evidence of this."

"We understand you, Havta. You are to begin an investigation into this unprecedented phenomenon." Strava commanded. "Begin at once."

"It shall be done, Exalted Fleetlords." Havta promised before departing.

Once he left, Atvar, Strava, Kirel and all the other assembled Shiplords started a discussion on their future actions. To be more precise, how should their invasion fleet proceed. Right at the beginning, Strava stated, "We must complete our mission and claim Tosev 3 for the empire."

"Which one?" Atvar snorted, then continued. "With the appearance of this new, more advance Tosev planet, I believe we should give serious consideration to cancelling the invasion and heading for home."

"Nonsense!" Strava raised his voice to a near shout. "We came here to expand to Emperor's domain. We came here to conquer this world and be remembered as champions of that conquest. If we flee, history shall remember us as cowards. Do you want that for yourself and the men you command, Atvar?"

"Of course not, Fleetlord Strava." Atvar replied. "But, you must admit, these circumstances are beyond anything we expected while planning this campaign."

"Yes, but I see these circumstances as more reasons to go through with an invasion of Tosev 3. Both of them, as a matter of fact." Strava said.

"I fail to understand your reasoning, Fleetlord." Kirel said.

Atvar agreed with Kirel. "Please, Fleetlord Strava, explain your reasoning to us."

"Very well." Strava replied. "First, we clearly can not leave the Tosevites to their own devices. Look at all they have accomplished on the first Tosev 3 in merely a sixteen-hundred of our years. If we do not conquer them, they will continue to advance, becoming an increasingly dangerous threat to the Race."

Many of the assembled Shiplords hissed in concerned agreement. The Race had not known the presence of an enemy empire for a hundred thousand years. True, it had waged war on the Rabotevs and Hallessi, but they were practically bloodless, so the two subject races were never really considered threats to the Race.

"Second, the unusual phenomenon which have occured in this region of space need to be investigated. We can not do this confined to our space vessels."

Again, the Shiplords hissed in agreement.

"Third, while the technology of the to Tosev planets is advanced, ours is still superior. We will still be able to win a war of conquest against there two worlds. Especially, considering we came here with a force three times what we originally intended to bring. So, let us claim these two planets for the Race and our Exalted Emperor."

After a bit of deliberation, Atvar and the Shiplords made gestures of agreement.

"How do you propose we go about this campaign, Strava?" Atvar inquired.

"I believe when should have you take the originally planned forces and use them to subjugate the more primitive Tosev 3. I will use the remaining two-thirds to launch a simultaneous invasion of the more advance Tosev 3." Strava explained.

"Why not divide our forces equally between the two of us?" Atvar asked.

"Because the natives of the second Tosev 3 are more advanced and more heavily populated than the first. Therefore, more soldiers and equipment shall be required." Strava answered.

Strava made a credible argument. Estimates had already shown that the first Tosev 3 has a population of around two billion, while the second possessed nearly four times that amount. Factoring this and the technological gap, Strava certainly would need the extra resources.

"So be it." Atvar said to Strava. "Now, let us commence with the invasion. Or rather, invasions."