Shoring Up Your Flanks

Preparation was a key aspect of any war. Whether it be preparing the necessary supplies to feed your army, the resources necessary to fuel your ships, the training of your troops and support staff. All of it was highly important to a successful war machine, individual parts both large and small that would determine victory or defeat.

My enemies right now were the Vrangs and with my second conquest of the Viltrum Empire, it also meant the Coalition of Planets, something I had completely forgotten about the first time around. From what I had also learned, the Vega System led by the Citadellians were also still at war with Vrangs, the two sides relatively equal and engaging in light skirmishes. No major conflicts just yet, which was good news.

I had killed Tyran'r the Mighty, a well-respected figure within the Green Lanterns I would suspect, considering he was one of the seven original members. Even if he wasn't, he was still a Green Lantern and would elect a response from the Lantern Corps.

They would send a message no doubt.

A message that someone couldn't just kill a Green Lantern without consequences, that's what I would do anyway. If someone didn't know the consequences of attacking you and your allies, they would just keep doing it. That's why I had chosen to make an example of the Viltrumites, future races of my Empire, including those slave races conquered by the Viltrumites would understand the consequences of betraying me.

So the Green Lanterns coming to confront me was only a matter of time now. I couldn't afford to also have dozens of more enemies at this point in time. I didn't have the strength to fight wars on every front against Green Lanterns, Viltrumites and so on. It would leave me spreading myself so thin and all I would be doing was rushing.

The last time I rushed things, I became a slave.

I had no intention of repeating that mistake and besides, as a Kryptonian, I had all the time in the world. So long as I was exposed to yellow sun radiation I could live forever. Taking things slowly in the beginning, building alliances and so on would be the best bet for now as I focused on sustaining my grip on power.

Korg had already been dispatched with the Spikes to defeat the Vrangs. They were a populous race with a serious overpopulation problem that fed their need for conquest. Plenty of perfect hosts for the Spike Children to possess adding to my army of loyal soldiers.

From the reports I had received, things were progressing well, though the closer they got to the Vrang homeworld, Mobile, the more resistance they faced. However, I had every faith that Korg would succeed, I needed to be able to delegate responsibility to other people in order to succeed. I had already left Sakaar to Caiera to oversee, providing a campaign for one of my future generals, Korg was the only sensible decision to make.

Like I had said, I couldn't fight in every conflict, I needed capable generals around me that could do what was necessary.

Beta Ray Bill meanwhile had been dispatched to Ysmault. It would not be a short journey, the Empire of Tears quite a ways away from the small empire I had carved out for myself. It would take him at least a few months, but he was the only person who had the strength to fight his way out of that conflict if necessary. I doubt though Atrocitus would try anything, not when he was been handed a weapon that he could use to get his revenge on a silver platter.

I had every intention of using the Red Lanterns for my own means. In fact, I had every intention of linking our borders to one another. The Empire of Tears was much like my own, a small little empire carved out in the unconquered regions of space left untouched by the likes of the Kree, Shi'ar and Skrulls. If I could propose an alliance, both my Kryptonian Empire and the Empire of Tears performing a pincer attack on the planets between us, it would make a stable ground. Allowing much easier means of providing aid for one another should one come under attack.

In the future, it would also provide a much easier means for me to launch an invasion of my own. Allies were a temporary measure, all it meant to be my ally was that you got to go unconquered for a little while longer than the rest.

Finally though, there was me.

Where was I you might ask, well I was making my way towards Sakaar. It was on the outskirts of my empire, a little exposed and vulnerable for sure, something I wasn't overly pleased about but for now, not something I could easily solve. However, it did kind of share a border with the Coalition of Planets, just a few lightyears of space and a dozen or so planets laying between them.

Here I would be meeting with the leading figure of the Coalition of Planets, Thaedus.

Tyran'r had proved little threat to me, but more than one Green Lantern could prove challenging, especially if they weren't some nameless grunt but one of their elite members. I had Mark already taken alongside Korg, ensuring that Nolan wouldn't act up. However, during the conflict against the Green Lanterns, if it came down to that, it could lead to some devastating losses. Something that could cause the Coalition of Planets to launch their own invasion against us.

I had dispatched Korg to the Vrangs, taking them out of the equation. Beta Ray Bill to Ysmault to gain the Red Lanterns and the Empire of Tears as a future ally to oppose the Green Lanterns. But I alone couldn't take on the entirety of the Green Lanterns and the Coalition of Planets.

So, for now, I would bring an end to this war between the now-disbanded Viltrum Empire and the Coalition of Planets.

Entering Sakaar's atmosphere, I descended towards the ground, Nolan and Anissa by my side. The capital city was bustling with life and activity, something I was happy to see. It also looked more technologically advanced, no doubt using the advancements that the Red King had learned and kept to himself for the betterment of the people. A very good thing indeed, Sakaar would be the shining beacon of my empire in the future, a showcase of what loyalty can afford you. On the other hand, Viltrum would show what disloyalty would offer.

In a situation like that, it was obvious what other planets and races would choose.

-X- Line Break -X-

Sitting upon one end of the table, Caiera by my side, I looked across to the other end where Thaedus sat, Allen the Alien stood behind him. I recognised them both, especially the latter from the Invincible Comics, two people who would play a key role in the future events of the Viltrumite War, one that I intended to avoid altogether.

It was clear from the seating arrangement where the power lay. I had far more people on my side, Caiera to my immediate right. Then Nolan and Miek were on the sides of the table, Hiroim, Anissa and Lucian acting as guards.

We outnumbered them, a showcase of strength and unity. But I had no intention of killing the two, that would make them martyrs and I had no intention of dealing with the aftermath of that. No, right now my intentions were to end this longstanding war and focus purely on preparing for the arrival of the Green Lanterns that would come to investigate the death of Tyran'r the Mighty.

No doubt, Kregg or one of the Viltrumites would attempt to reveal the truth, that I was behind it. In that event though, I had already anticipated and prepared for such a thing. If it did happen, all it would do in the end is benefit me further.

You see, a deceitful pawn could often be of great aid if you knew how to manage their actions. "Welcome, Thaedus, leader of the Coalition of Planets." I greeted, the aged but still strong man bowing his head in greeting.

"Tah-Zod, I have heard much of you and your exploits," Thaedus responded in kind.

"Tah-Zod was simply a name I assumed in service of a greater cause, please call me, Tah-Rao." Correcting his little mistake, I continued on with the talks. "I have called you here due to the longstanding war between the Viltrum Empire, and the Coalition of Planets you formed to oppose them."

Thaedus nodded his head. "You wish for peace?"

"I wish for a non-aggression pact at the very least," I replied. "The Viltrum Empire is no more, but that does not erase the centuries of bad blood that has existed between the two factions." That was an understatement, despite their few numbers, the Viltrums had slaughtered millions, if not billions of lives, many belonging to the forces and planets of those that fled to the Coalition of Planets for protection, or revenge.

Expecting an alliance to form, one that would actually work was all but impossible. However, a non-aggression pact would mean a period of peace between us, one that would bear repercussions on those that broke it.

"The Viltrum Empire is no more?" Thaedus questioned, trying to understand my meaning.

I smiled. "The Viltrum Empire has been swallowed into my Kryptonian Empire. It operates under my rules and I have no intention of continuing my war with you and your people. What I intend is to simply ensure the prosperity of my planets and deal with those that would oppose us. I would like to ally myself with you, but I doubt it would bear fruit. So I would instead prefer to settle for a non-aggression pact. An agreement to not attack one another."

Thaedus hummed, considering the idea. "For how long?"

"For as long as possible," I answered truthfully. "It is my hope that the period of peace that results from this leaves both sides unwilling to pursue war once more. But for how many years do you believe that you can convince the council of the Coalition to put aside their revenge for?"

"I believe I could secure a few years, five at most."

That was perfect, more than enough even. If Thaedus really believed I would leave the Coalition right on my doorstep for so long then he was sadly mistaken. This peace would simply buy me the time to deal with the Green Lantern force that would no doubt be sent to investigate and to ally with the Empire of Tears. Lucky for them, they didn't stand between my planned invasion path to link up with said empire.

If they had, the war would be coming to our two empires much sooner. However, once I had secured the alliance of the Red Lanter Corps, using them as a buffer between myself and the Green Lanterns, I would take care of the Coalition then. Perhaps if they were unlucky, some other capable and powerful figure would come along that was open to working for me.

But who knows.