A flickering, icon appears on screen of a figure, bearing a sword before it fades and Arline’s face appears. She appears tired and gaunt, taking just the briefest of moments to acknowledge that her system is now live, a podium made up of simple wood, unadorned by anything
By Divine Providence and in Service to Her Imperial Majesty, Catiz I, the Holy Empress of the Amarr Empire, I, Arline Kley, il-Khan of Raravoss and Paladin Ordinary of the Sacred Throne Order, hereby declare, with great sorrow and regret, the withdrawal from Raravoss of Excubitoris Chapter forces.
For five long years, the resistance of Raravoss has burnt strong in the hearts of the faithful of the planet. I have, as best I can, stood in rule for four of those years, fighting alongside my fellow devout believers that we would succeed and return Raravoss back into the light of the Empire.
For those years of resistance, the Triglavians, monsters beyond hope of redemption, have sought to bring the people low, to bend them to their twisted ideology. Some, found wanting, bent the knee, and when their treason was discovered, it was excised. Those that allied themselves to the Triglavian cause abandoned the Empire, and worst of all, God’s Light. As such, they have been subjected to the most severe of judgements.
Speaking those words, her hands are seen to grip that podium tightly, before they relax
Having taken the position of il-Khan of Raravoss one year after it was left vacant, surrounded by those Holders and Amarr that clung true, we forged the resistance that survived to this day. The Light of Amarr became a shield for the faithful, a guiding light in the darkness of Pochven.
The remaining population of Raravoss, subjects of the Empire, those caught in the invasion, and those that fought back, are being returned to the Empire as I speak, via transports provided by The Excubitoris Chapter of the Sacred Throne and our allies within Khimi Harar, to which I am thankful. These people have suffered greatly over the years, and will be provided care and assistance, from the honoured deSilvestris family, notably from Lady Ekaterina deSilvestris, a fellow Paladin of the Order, as well as countless other individuals.
Their healing will take time, and as such, whilst I no longer can declare myself il-Khan of the Raravoss System, I will maintain such a title for the people of that planet, for as long as they desire me to be known as such. My ship was the last to leave the planet, having made sure that everyone we could rescue had done so.
I must also mention that I could not save or rescue everyone. Some decided to remain on Raravoss, not wanting to die in exile on another planet, or simply unable to leave for other reasons. To those that remained, I turned over all our remaining supplies, for I could do no more with what I had, and I have no right to remove those that wished to stay.
A detachment also remained in Port Sarum, to operate the remaining defences, to deny the Triglavian hordes a chance to overrun our landing ground. I also gave them knowledge of the failsafe that I had planned since I first took charge. Underneath Port Sarum I had positioned 10 antimatter devices, each bearing a 500 gram charge, to be detonated should the Port fall into enemy hands, a final act of sacrifice against them.
she pauses, head bowing and speaking in a grave tone
These devices were detonated four hours after our final lift.
Their sacrifice will be remembered and raised up for all time, for they martyred themselves so that others could survive.
This means that the Port, its surroundings and other facilities are now no longer there. This includes the Grand Temple, deconsecrated before final departure to ensure the Triglavians could not befoul it with their presence, nor use it as a propaganda piece.
The relics contained within the Temple, as well as other pieces of import that we could find were taken and placed within the transports, spread evenly so that if our ships were struck and destroyed, that the culture of Raravoss was not eliminated in one fell swoop. Alas, the Grand Temple’s bell, wrought from silver and erected there several centuries ago, was unable to be saved, its weight too great for what machinery we had left. The lesser bells were rescued however, and I hope to one day hear them ring out once more in joy.
Once more there is a few moments pause, her shoulders slumping a touch, her voice sounding somewhat dejected
I wish that I had been more successful in what I have accomplished. In what I could have brought to the Empire. I bring salvation to over three million faithful of the Empire, free from death at the hands of a horrific enemy, lives to be lived in peace, and the spirit of Raravoss endures, but I still feel the shame of withdrawing from that place.
I hope that God shows kindness to me when I finally pass from this life, for I know I have not the cleanest of souls, but I do what I must for God and Empire.
“Which test reveals more of the soul, the test that a man will take to prove his faith, or the test that finds the man who believed his faith already proven? If you know this answer, then you also know which of these challenges bear the greatest penalty for failure. The gates of paradise will open for you one time only; woe to the soul who dares to knock twice.”
- The Scriptures, Book of Missions 5:14
the transmission ends