While the other strike teams move in bursts of heroism to confront their foes--Independence and Sui Juris respectively--the remaining group has a more protracted task at hand: Ensuring the safety of millions evacuating to the surface of Quire.

Commander Pure Cascara leads the effort from above, while broadcaster Gig Kephart, pathfinder Echo Reverie, and the living ship Myriad--all knowledgeable about Quire's surface--begin to educate and organize evacuation groups.

Unfortunately, they have to do this in the face of secession, military invasion, and the first public encounter with one of Volition's Axioms, a being beyond easy comprehension. While they can rely on the Beloved Ivy's military specialist, Waltz Tango (Cache) for some support, they'll need more help than that yet. And they find it from an unlikely source: Former New Earth Hegemony ace pilot Declan's Corrective.

There's a bull and a matador dueling in the sky,

Inhale, in hell there's heaven

This week on Friends at the Table: The Miracle of the Mirage: The Siege

EMERGENCY HEARINGS REVEAL NEW INFORMATION ABOUT INVADERS DAY AFTER WARSHIP'S ARRIVAL

Newly declassified documents and expert testimony have brought both detail and confusion about the NEW EARTH HEGEMONY.

Memorious, Quire System

BY ACTIVATION STEVENSON, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

For years, the so-called "Earth Cult" was a common figure across two prominent genres: children's fiction and conspiracy theory. Yesterday, the arrival of the warship Season's Juniper changed that, sending shockwaves through the fleet, and confirming the existence of a long rumored nation and the strength of its attendant military.

Today, after a seven hour public hearing held in the Grand Hall of Memorious, the citizens of the Divine Fleet know the truth behind the legend.

"Though commonly referred to as 'the Earth Cult,' the group in question is a sovereign nation called the New Earth Hegemony," said Scholar of Galactic Nations Callum Enli, whose presentation bore the speed, clarity, and practice of an academic who long hoped their work would find mainstream relevance.

Enli and the other presenters outlined the nation's key characteristics: A population of trillions spread across the body of Earth, space colonies throughout the system; a complex and bewildering relationship between government, business, and faith institutions, all of which places a great deal of power in a single executive figure called the Hegemon; a great deal of technological strength, but no known Divine population to speak of; a generally strong quality of life for the nation's massive population, but a fault social safety net.

If children expected monsters and the conspiracy theorists expected puppet masters, the truth is all the more disappointing--and all the more real: The New Earth Hegemony seems to be filled with people a lot like us. Which does little to explain this new act of aggression.

While it was common knowledge that a force claiming allegiance to the planet Earth--humanity's ancient home--had harried the fleet a number of times over the last millennium, there was little common knowledge about the group's identity. Partially, numerous Cadents and other state officials kept information about the attackers carefully controlled and protected.

For nearly an hour, attendees pressed the sole governmental official, information specialist Sierra Sienna, about those past attacks. She responded with droll wit, which only seemed to agitate those demanding answers.

"They have always sent the hornet, never the nest. Their attacks have always been seen as anomalous," she said. " Despite its imposing name, clearly capable military technology, and a population in the trillions, the Hegemony has stayed within its borders for thousands of years, never making move to conquer any of their galactic neighbors, let alone the Divine Fleet."

The scholarly experts attending the event confirmed this analysis, though bent their assessment towards the concerns of those gathered. "Ms. Sienna is right, of course," said Enli. "But if they have sent only hornets, we have been only flowers."

Hosted by Austin Walker (@austin_walker) Featuring Keith Carberry (@keithjcarberry) and Sylvi Clare (@captaintrash) Produced by Ali Acampora (@ali_west) Cover Art by Craig Sheldon (@shoddyrobot)

Episode description by Austin Walker

Music by Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal)

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