The Royal Fleet of Rhodull, True Division, Inner SURTR Space The fleet was cruising ahead at sub-light-speed, and the majority of crew were already in stasis. The journey would't be too long, once they made the jump, but the True didn't respond well to warp-speed. The residual energy fields created by the Human technology caused a great deal of disorientation for them. As such, most True soldiers preferred to sleep through the entire process. One True who preferred to endure the discomfort was Archpriest Rhomaera. He sat, slumped over on a chair that was far too small for him, and beneath a metallic ceiling that was far too low for him. Next to him, seated far more comfortably, was the middle-aged human admiral.
"You know," the man began, "we humans have a saying, passed down from one of the old religions of Earth."
"You
Humans are full of sayings", the Archpriest commented, in his usual deep, echoing voice. "We True live far too long, to bother with such things. Each True's life is a legend of its own."
"So how old are you, Archpriest?", the admiral inquired.
"It is difficult for me to say. In my youth, I possessed no calendar. My life was for Rhodull, praises to him, and time was irrelevant. Time matters very little to the True. We measure ourselves not by years, but by those we've converted to the Faith."
"So how many have you converted then?"
"Before I lead the church, when I served Rhodull only as an individual, I converted many thousands. Many, many thousands. Then came the Great Church, and my congregation brought billions into the faith... Now tell me, young
Human, what is this 'saying' you hold so dear?"
"It comes from an old, religious wisdom-book, that was once very popular on Earth. It says, that it is one thing to be a fisher-man, but it is far greater to be a fisher
of men."
The Archpriest contemplated this for a moment, emitting a low, resonating hum from his exoskeletal head.
"This is what we are, then.", the large alien concluded. "Fishers of men, casting our nets through the fallen Empire."
"I believe we are." The admiral responded calmly.
The Archpriest began his deep, constant hum again, this time for much longer.
"I wish to see this Earth for myself." He resounded, finally. "Admiral, you will report to Rage-Channeler Fen from now on. I will brief him on the mission going forward. I sense the will of Rhodull, and I do not believe he wants me to enter into the Second Imperium. Rather, I must go to the Dominion. To bring the light of Rhodull into the heart of the old Empire... it would be unspeakably glorious. I will depart now, before the fleet enters warp-speed, and I'll be taking this division's flagship, along with three of your warp-capable human vessels."
"As you see fit, honourable Archpriest."
The expressionless, featureless face of the True made it difficult for the admiral to judge his mood, but he believed that Rhomaera was pleased. The tall, imposing Archpriest hoisted himself up from his chair and made his way out of the room, slouching forward so as to not bang his head on the ceiling.
___________________________________________________________________
Days later, the SURTR fleet assembled at their border with the Second Imperium, ready to invade. Meanwhile, Archpriest Rhomaera and his congregation, split between four large ships, made their way into Dominion space.
Dropping out of warp-speed, the stasis chambers opened, and the congregation assembled upon the flagship. The crowd was an even mix of True and Human, with only a couple Herfiligr present. The False were generally prohibited from prosthelytization missions, unless military conflict was expected.
"My brothers", the Archpriest began, "today we bring the unfathomable love of Rhodull, to those who have never known such radiance. Today we extend our hands, in friendship, to the lost. In an age of war, of suffering, of betrayal, we show those around us that their is another path. Now, in Rhodull's holy name, let us go out, and bring millions of new members into our blessed congregation!"
The crowded vessel erupted in chanting "
Rho-dull, Rho-dull, Rho-dull".
As the chanting died down, and the service was concluded, the ships branched outward in four different directions, searching for planets to prosthelytize.
@Monkeypants