Part 2
By the year 2250 the Scyldari Confederacy had built a sizable fleet of its new destroyers in order to check the imperial ambitions of any galactic empire wishing to challenge the status quo and by extension the will of the gods. Originally built to counter any challenge from the space lobsters, Scyldari diplomats and the priests on the sacred bench’s of the Scyldari parliament deemed that these sentient crustations of the deep were likely too far away to pose much of an immediate threat. Nonetheless it was barely the first year into the 2250’s when word of belligerents in the galactic neighbourhood reached the Scyldari homeworld.
The Bruggan Interstellar union had declared war on the Human United Federation of Planets! These so called pacifists who insisted on implementing their ill thought out will upon the federation through force. The Scyldari parliament immediately debated on the best course of action, those in the wealth promotion lobby calling for no rash action to be made by the Scyldari lest they be roped into a war that would drain valuable resources away from an emerging Scyldari middle class that since the discovery of all the wealth that could be harvested in neighbouring systems had bettered themselves and quickly developed a thriving civilian commerce system. The Alien Freedom Party agreed that offering aid to the Federation of Planets was a more acceptable route in order to assist. The Alliance of the Exalted Clery on the other hand called for intervention, that the federations independence must be guaranteed and while still in control of the growing Scyldari navy and still having the support of the majority of the population, quickly issued diplomats in order to sign a blank check to the federation. Whilst not enlightened, the federation threatened by the nasty Bruggan Interstellar Union and their warped form of pacifism was an afront to any rules based society and had to be protected.
Navy personnel were recalled from the prayer rooms, kissed their family’s goodbye and all shore leave was revoked for those below the rank of cardinal. Ships were given overhauls and last minute upgrades and set course for Federation space. Word had it that our neighbours the YV' ZORAK CONFEDERATION had also guaranteed the federations independence and allowed access through their space due to our joint altruistic mission!
Meanwhile the Scyldari eyed with great interest into expanding into the galactic south. Having no rivals in that direction the vast wealth and exotic goods was this civilisations opportunity for the taking. Such things as Exotic Gas and Living Metal were found in abundance, what was more was the black hole known as ‘Heavens Gate’ that would form the centre of the civilisations empire. Once an observable anomaly in the distant past on the Scyldari home world that philosophers, scientists, poets and kings had described and pondered upon in countless texts over the centuries, now harboured a sacred research temple devoted to learning its secrets so that the galaxy and thus the greater garden of Eden could be better protected from those who would see it harm.
The Scyldari also integrated themselves in something called the ‘Galactic Council’ a community of a number of races that could be found in the galaxy and quickly found themselves the Naismith of the community. Though it was a clear opportunity to see how the Gods plan had developed and took hold in the wider galaxy, it was clear that the Scyldari were the only ones of pure mind and thought to uphold the sacred texts as they had been written.
A number of motions were brought forth in front of the Galactic Council and the delegation of Scyldari sent to negotiate and ‘teach’ the sacred texts to the other races it was clear to see that there was a lot of work to do.
Bill for Intergalactic trade organisation – whilst there were those in abstention The Scyldari opposed (purely from a position of not bolstering those at home who valued wealth over piety)
Bill for the Abolition of Slavery and Charter of Workers Rights – The Scyldari surprisingly being the only civilisation to believe strongly enough that a persons rights were ordained by the gods and not by some mortal decree. The great diplomat Reverend La-Glainguie regaling the galactic community with an amazing speech recital that lasted a blessed 16 hours of how ‘Work will set you free’ that ushered an hour long applause from the Scyldari faithful in the diplomatic halls. Not so much other members of the community who’s faith was obviously lacking. No matter though… as so long as one stayed true to their beliefs and of course the scared texts all would find comfort in their work, no matter how arduous! However bringing the rest of the galaxy into the Scyldari way of thinking and by extension complying to the sacred texts would be an arduous task indeed… one that only the true faithful and purest of belief would succeed.
The 2250’s also saw a slight shift in political thought amongst the Scyldari… by the mid 50’s a sizable portion of the population (as an increase in wealth had led to avenues of frivolity and hedonistic activity) started attending artistic events that led to a group called ‘The Manifesti’ to emerge. What started as music festivals and carnivals amongst the youth in and around the old street corner temples on Scyldari quickly manifested into something that the Scyldari parliament on the sacred benches recognised as a threat to international security. Some Scyldari who were led astray quickly spent more time listening to music and attending party’s rather than prayer and confession, calling for dancing to be allowed in the sacred cathedrals of the faith. Therefore a quick and swift clampdown on these so called ‘Manifesti’ was required… ringmasters and instigators were soon rounded up by enforcers and thrown into the confession rooms to be purged of their heretical thoughts. Some known followers also put into re-education and flagellation programmes to ensure future compliance with holy doctrine. After which vandalism and civil unrest appeared to be checked and the majority of the populace grateful not to be led further away from the rest of the flock. So called ‘art’ was purified or kept in the faults of the most holy, ready to be re-fashioned into holy relics at a later date or of course kept in order to scrutinise so in the future such deviation from the faith could ‘Better recognised more efficiently’.
By 2257 the grande fleets of Scyldari had fully integrated themselves into the war plans of the Federation acting as a support fleet in its attacks to reclaim systems lost to the nasty Bruggans. These fleets fought well with their Federation counterparts, cardinals hosting Federation admirals on some of our strongest war ships. Admiring the Federations flagship that was of peculiar design… much larger and blessed with greater firepower than the destroyer class, these humans named it a cruiser. Awed by the design and military capability of the so called cruiser Scyldari cardinals and war planners quickly got to work in sending news back to the Scyldari home world, commissioning plans to be drawn up and resources to be spared for our own cruiser project!
In a swift campaign lasting no more than 3 months the joint forces of the Scyldari Confederacy and United Federation of Planets smashed the fleets of the Bruggan Interstellar Union and pushed borders back to pre-war positions. In this endeavour the Scyldari only lost one Corvette and were surprised at the relative ease of the task… surely god was truly on their side! However after this attack the Scyldari fleets had to withdraw back to Scyldari space in order to repair and refit… a chance for sailors who had spent long way from home to return to their families to be told of the carnivals and heresy that had been quashed in their absence. And no sooner had the last UV-Laser had been placed onto the last Corvette… The Federation decided to settle for a white peace, content that its borders were reclaimed and secured! Grateful for the help that the Scyldari had offered at a trying time for their empire.
The Scyldari parliament however took this conditional peace between the belligerent Bruggans and Humans as a sign of relative weakness in faith on part of the Federation… no matter as their faith would be reinforced and bolstered in due time! Yet the threat from the ‘Aggressive-Pacifists’ of the Bruggan Interstellar Union remained and the Scyldari elected to continue this now Holy War to check the Bruggans ambitions and to truly show the nasty Bruggans the error of their ways by introducing the word of the sacred texts by way of the sword! These Bruggans must be taught the way of the gods for the benefit and peace of the galaxy!
By 2264 the entirety of the theological republic of the Scyldari Confederacy rejoiced… for the time had come! Years of observing and directing the culture of the Beldross race on their home world of Uthan III had come to a culmination, the great sacred benches decided that it was time to uplift this civilisation into the stars so that they may too complete their destiny. A once warlike race had over the last 60 years had undergone a massive demographic and philosophic shift, copies of the sacred texts finding their way into education, entertainment and political institutions in order to teach them the true way of the gods. Quickly the small, fractured nation states and conglomerates declared peace and pooled their resources to better the lives of their people. And by 2264 it was time for the Scyldari to help them take the next logical step into the stars for the Beldross to answer their true calling!
Whilst still at war with the Bruggans, The Great Beldross Empire as they named themselves started immediately to produce armies to bolster and support the Scyldari Confederacy… ready to answer the call to war from the gods themselves! Ready to be welcomed as a new warrior class, as was written… in the sacred texts themselves!
