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[b]GRAAL HEGEMONY[/b][/center]

[i]Gruul H'ea, Gruul System[/i]

The homeworld of the Hegemony had long turned from a dusty, dune trodden planet into a world thriving with smog and the breathe of industry. Towers clung to the ceiling as craft darted to and across a hazy backdrop of factories and work complexes. Paved roads carved themselves through the concrete jungle like errant streams and the streets were packed with automobiles of every sort. This world was alive, but not with the natural flora and fauna of an uninhabited terrestrial planet. This planet was alive with the heartbeat of the Graal.

The recent appointment of the new Gnatar was one that came with subtle trepidation. The lifeblood of the entire Hegemony stemmed from the heartbeat of the Gnatar, for he was both the brain and the brawn of the entire Graal civilization. While not a dictator in a traditional sense, the Gnatar exercised largely unrestricted power in all affairs diplomatic and military, while legislation of the economy was regulated to the Interplanetary Councils. A major loophole that existed and that nearly ever Gnatar since the unification was aware of was that the Gnatar could displace and replace members of the Interplanetary Councils at will -- and this usually occurred when a certain councilor refused to bend to the whims of the Gnatar. Gnatar Gorgoth would be no different, most surmised.

The cramped elevator held many prestige faces -- chief among them was the Gnatar, flanked by an armed entourage and followed by a half dozen Graal who wore black and silver gauntlets and pauldrons. Military officers. The ubiquitous term was Mognosh and was often interchangeable from the various branches and often used to serve as more a term of respect than of true military discipline. The elevator reached it's destination; the top floor and the doors slid open. The floor was a single room, sizable and spacious with windows in nearly every direction overlooking the megalopolis. Near the center of the room sat an immense chair, over seventy chairs present. The congregation moved in and filled the chairs, though there were plenty left even as the Gnatar took his spot at the head of the table.

"Let this meeting come to order," one of the Graal near the head of the table motioned, pounding a closed fist against his left breast. The rest, save for the Gnatar, did the same.

"Gub-Mognosh Torth, your report on the status of the Hegemony Army," the Gnatar commanded. An older Graal a few seats down stood, his black pauldron was decorated with several crimson stars and a pair of hammer emblems.

"We are numbering seven planetary armies with an excess of fifteen million soldiers. We are the fiercest fighting force in the galaxy, Gna -- "

"Then why have we not conquered our neighbors and expanded to the stars, Gub-Mognosh?"

The commander's eyes, already fuzzy with age, seemed to carry no answer. He began to stammer an answer together, but the Gnatar answered the question for him. "The truth, my esteemed councilors, is this; the Armies of the Hegemony have long been allowed to live under a guise of comfort and corruption for the last decade. My planetary commanders on Kylox III and Sorguth Prime report that thirty percent of all soldiers have effectively gone AWOL but remain on respective rosters. This," he growled, "is not acceptable."

The Interplanetary Councilor of Sorguth Prime, the most resource laden planet in Graal space sat several seats down and started to reply, "These reports may have [i]some[/i] truth, Gnatar, but rest assured, we are still a largely potent fighting force."

A whirring sound at the far end of the room indicated the elevator was in use. Coming up.

"No. Even now the stench of corruption fills my nostrils. I fear that the rot has grown too deep." The Gnatar's eyes prodded the individual members of the Council respectively, but as their eyes met they turned their gaze away from him.

The elevator was halfway up now.

"Perhaps a requisitioning of new officers from Gruul H'ea to replace those officers who have become too lax?" The offer came from Jugg Kug, the councilor of Farg IV, a terrestrial colony world on the edge of Graal space. Reports that reached the Gnatar's desk not two cycles ago had named Jugg Kug in a financial scheme that saw milions of Hegemony credits reach his pockets and be written off as "necessary expenses." There were no saints at this table.

"The problems of the Hegemony would not so easily be dismantled. I do however, have a plan for you all, Councilors," he stood from the table and turned to face out the window. The distinct [i]JUUUUM[/i] of the elevator abruptly stopping as it reached the top floor caused all eyes to turn toward the elevator. The Gnatar remained peering out the window. A dozen armed Graal exited the elevator -- rifles in their hands -- and surrounded the table. They were Graal Regulars, 744th Regiment of the 12th Infantry Division; Planetary Home Army.

"Councilors, you have been found to be traitors to the Hegemony on the grounds of treason and corruption," the Gnatar turned to face the surprised and weary faces of those responsible for the woes of the Hegemony. The assembled soldiers cocked their rifles and took aim. The sounds of twelve automatic rifles in the enclosed room was deafening.

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-- A new [b]Gnatar[/b]* (Graal word for Great Lord) is appointed and adjourns the first Immediate Council of Home Systems and Interplanetary Affairs
-- Responsible for widespread corruption, financial ruin and military decadence, the Gnatar has these corrupt figureheads [i]purged[/i] in order to begin to turn affairs around in the Hegemony.