The Divine Voyage of the Hearos Fleet
The Imperial Expeditionary Fleet of the Holy Dominion of Hearos surged through the void at near-light speeds, piercing the darkness of the cosmos like divine spears hurled by the gods themselves. Their purpose was clear, their mission righteous—to claim what was promised to them.
The one-way jump gate had brought them to this system, the data whispering of habitable worlds, abundant resources, and perhaps even the means to construct another gate—a bridge home, a stable trade route between what was and what would be.
To the Royal Commander of the Fleet, High Lord Ascarion Vos-Kyros, this was destiny. The universe belonged to the Hearos, as ordained by the Holy Scripts. The cosmos was but a vast dominion, granted to them by the Celestial Lords to rule over lesser beings, to shape existence in the name of divinity and progress. His purpose, his divine burden, was to ensure the success of the mission, to lay claim to another jewel in the expanding crown of the Dominion.
For the thousands aboard his fleet, however, there was no purpose but servitude.
The Fleet of the Righteous Path
The Imperial Fleet was built for endurance, for conquest, and for complete autonomy. Each vessel was a marvel of precision engineering, designed not only to traverse the stars but to survive indefinitely in deep space should the return route prove impossible. The fleet itself was a microcosm of the Dominion—a hierarchy of unwavering faith and absolute control.
1. The Holy Ark - Ascension of Pyraethos
The flagship, an immense command vessel nearly 30 kilometers in length, adorned with massive cathedral-like spires, its hull gilded in sacred scriptures. Equipped with self-sustaining life systems, sprawling hydroponic bays, and an entire deck dedicated to religious observances. Its bridge resembled a grand temple, where High Lord Ascarion Vos-Kyros ruled from a golden throne, surrounded by his most trusted clergy and military officers.
2. The Divine Spearhead - Legions of Heaven
A battleship formation, housing the most formidable weaponry in the fleet—kinetic acceleration batteries and fusion lance projectors, designed for planetary bombardment and orbital superiority. Carrying 1,500 combat slaves, bred for war, armored in sacred steel, wielding weapons as extensions of divine will.
3. The Harvesters - Blessings of the Creator
A flotilla of automated refinery ships, capable of atmospheric entry and resource extraction. Built to deploy massive drones, stripping planetary surfaces for minerals, gases, and water.
4. The Watchers - Eyes of the Divine
Reconnaissance frigates, agile and fast, moving ahead of the fleet to map the system. Equipped with long-range gravitational sensors, tracking celestial movements and potential threats.
5. The Servant Wombs - Faithful Born from Ashes
Population maintenance carriers, sustaining the continued production of slaves through carefully controlled breeding programs. Aboard these vessels, generations of indoctrinated laborers were engineered for loyalty and unwavering obedience. A Journey Without Time
Though the fleet had only experienced the passage of six months, relativistic effects meant that centuries had passed beyond the light barrier they pushed against. This was the cost of divine expansion, a one-way journey forward, never backward.
To those aboard, it was of no consequence. The slaves knew nothing but the present. They were born into servitude, their minds sculpted by genetic conditioning, cognitive reformation, and the teachings of the Hearos clergy. To them, their existence was sacred, not as rulers, but as gifts to be offered to the Divine Masters.
In the breeding stations of the Servant Wombs, entire bloodlines were cultivated, producing laborers, warriors, engineers, all assigned to their roles before they were even born. Intelligence beyond what was necessary was culled before it could develop.
Rebellion? The word did not exist to them. They could not conceive of it.
As the High Lord had once proclaimed: "A slave that does not know freedom cannot seek it. This is the natural order."
Arrival at the Promised System
The long-range scanners had confirmed the presence of multiple planets, three of which showed undeniable signs of habitability. The fleet, still moving near light speeds, began its deceleration sequence, a process that would take weeks, but would eventually bring them into position for a full system-wide assessment.
High Lord Ascarion stood upon the observation deck, the artificial stars within the ship's cathedral-like chamber shimmering in a glorious, simulated night sky. Before him, a massive holographic display showcased the first glimpses of their new dominion.
One world, lush with green landscapes and vast oceans, teeming with life. Another, a frozen titan, its surface locked in perpetual ice, but rich with minerals beneath. A third, barren and harsh, yet bearing all the raw elements for industry.
He exhaled in reverence.
"This," he murmured, "is my destiny."
The slaves kneeled before him, their heads bowed in silent prayer, their voices chanting in harmony.
"Blessed are the Masters, who take what is given. Blessed is the Dominion, which shall never know defeat. Blessed is the Holy Conquest, for it is righteous."
Ascarion Vos-Kyros smiled.
They would claim this system, as they had claimed so many before.
For the universe belonged to the Hearos.
And nothing would stand in their way.