Havok Bringer

Solaris Dantaris stormed into the council chambers of his personal palace, located on his own personal planet, Dunamis. The Galactic Monarch had operated in shadows for his entire life, much like those who preceded him in power.
The Dantaris line had ruled the galaxy for nearly a thousand years and, in all that time, had never been public-facing in their rule. No, they had instead managed to create the fallacy that was the Galactic Council and fill it with those who were sympathetic to their cause. After all, democracy was such an outdated political structure. A Monarchy, however, would allow the rich to continue to stuff their pockets. It would keep the low-born low and let those loyal to the Dantaris line continue consolidating power.
None of the citizens had questioned it. Sure, there were conspiracy theories on the net, but any time someone got close to discovering the truth, they had a tendency to disappear suddenly.
Solaris's rule had been much like his father before him. He directed the Council from behind the scenes, ensuring that the flow of power remained uninterrupted. A flow that led directly to Solaris.
During the last Reaping, that had all changed. An insignificant human, of all species, had managed to not only win the Reaping Dungeon but also to assassinate nearly one-third of the sitting Council members. This, surprisingly, didn't trouble Solaris much. He understood the need for some new blood on the Council, and since he would be the deciding factor in filling those seats, it would actually empower him even further. The fall of Lucida and eventually Boutelerien was a much bigger concern, however.
The True Havokium had returned six months ago. To the majority of the Galaxy, this held no significant meaning since they had no idea who the True Havokium actually were. Solaris knew, though, and this knowledge had stolen sleep and injected fear and paranoia into the core of his being since they returned.
Solaris entered the council chambers to see his daughter, Calista, already seated, awaiting his arrival. The other eight seats were filled with dignitaries hand-picked by Solaris himself to help attend to matters of state.
Calista stood, smiling as her father entered the chambers. "Father, it is goo.."
"Sit down, daughter. This meeting has no positive news to be shared, and I have little time or patience for niceties."
"Monarch, I have news of the defense of our allied planets if you would like an update." A rather plump Boutelerien man said.
"News? You have news, Vermilius? I should like to share my news first." Solaris glowered at the man. "I have just received reports that the True Havokium force has not only secured their stronghold on Boutelerien, but they have now begun an offensive on the outer colonies. Would you care to know who is leading that offensive, Vermilius?"
"Monarch, this was all in the report I had prepared for our meeting today. If I could jus.."
"Silence, you beast!" Solaris slammed a hand on the ornate wooden table that served as the centerpiece of the council chambers. "You serve only because your father was a trusted ally of my father before me. You have neither proven yourself capable nor clever during your time serving me." Solaris stood erect, straightening the extravagantly tailored jacket he had worn to the meeting. "Let me tell you all, so there is no misunderstanding of the facts. BD-001 is currently leading the strike force on Rerek outposts near the rim on Council territory. To this point, our forces have neither been able to foresee nor forestall the attacks of the Havokium. While we sit here, pondering our next steps, BD-001 is undoubtedly leading an attack on another defenseless outpost. We must find a way to disrupt the Havokium offensive!"
Vermilion held his hand to his mouth and cleared his throat sheepishly. "Monarch, are we to believe that you hold the safety and sanctity of the outlying colonies as a primary concern of our republic?"

Solaris glared at Vermilion with contempt bordering on hatred. "Vermilion, in all your years serving me, have you ever once thought to believe that I value the lives of the lesser as a paramount concern during my reign?
Vermilion flushed at the question. "No, Monarch. I just assumed that your stance on the subject of your less affluent citizens may have…"
Solaris walked to Vermilion as he spoke, slapping the man's face before he could finish the thought. "That, Vermilion, will be the last time you test my patience today. Do I make myself clear?"
Vermilion fell to the floor, cowering on all fours, refusing to meet the eyes of his monarch. "Yes, Monarch. Thank you for correcting my behavior. I will strive to serve you better in the future."
Solaris turned to the rest of the gathered council, who now sat uncomfortably, adjusting clothing and refusing to so much as make eye contact with Solaris—all except one person, the daughter and future Monarch of the Galactic Republic, Calista. She stared on in reverence, a look of utter ecstasy on her face.
"Do you have any counsel for your monarch, daughter?" Solaris asked as he made his way back to his seat at the head of the table.
Calista shrugged, looking around the table in disgust. "Father, it seems to me that our cohort of councilors has grown fat and slothful with the power they have been granted." Calista stood, gracefully walking around the table to stand behind the now seated Vermilion. "Take Vermilion here, for example." She placed her palms on the man's shoulders, allowing them to slide seductively down to his chest. "This man has done nothing to earn his station, no, I fear instead that he was given title and position and has come to be no more valuable than the chamber maids we employ throughout the palace."
Solaris raised an eyebrow and took a stinger from his lavishly expensive case before a masked butler extended a lighter in his direction. Taking a long drag of the stinger, he exhaled slowly and waved a hand in Calista's direction with a flourish. "Explain, child."

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Calista smiled as she bent down and inhaled deeply, devouring the scent of Vermilion as he sat, shuddering. "Vermilion sits in his power. He grows fatter at the toiling of those lower than him. He spends his days lying around the palace," Calista raised a hand to his mouth and squeezed his lips like she would a child that had put something in its mouth that needed to be spat out, "Eating fine foods he didn't earn." She slid her hand down his chest, over his bulbous stomach, before finally letting it come to rest on his crotch as he flinched. Calista squeezed. "He fucks women he didn't earn." Vermilion yelped sheepishly. "In all his wasted years, he has never once shed blood for something he believed in. He has never stood against power for what he believes in."
"I assume there is a point to be had in all this, daughter." Solaris exhaled deeply again, motioning Calista to continue.
Calista stood straight and smiled with devious intent. "Yes, my monarch." She looked around the table to see the eyes of men and women alike staring like sheep that had come face to face with a ferocious, starving wolf. "I fear that our years of opulence have rendered our leaders weak and toothless. They have neither the aptitude nor the appetite to do the things that make legends."
"What would you have us do, child?" Solaris asked.
"I would have you strengthen your inner circle, Father. The Galactic Council has fallen. The ruse is over. It is time for us to emerge from the shadows and take public control. Our people are in need of strength; they are in need of direction. Now, in the time that they fear for their lives and livelihoods, it is time to bring the monarchy back to the forefront."
Solaris frowned at the words. "Calista, it took centuries to install the falacy of democracy throughout the Galaxy. Now we should, what? Destroy what our forefathers worked so hard to build?!"

"Yes, father. That is precisely what we should do. We must separate ourselves from our enemies, the True Havokium, the rebellion, and its so-called leader, Danae. We must emphasize the failures of democracy to the masses. The people will be desperate for leadership, desperate for protection. The kings, queens, and emperors of the enlightened races are already aware of who truly rules the galaxy. It will be a test of loyalty when you make the decision. Those who are loyal will be greatly rewarded, and those who oppose the transition will be removed."
"And how do you suggest we enforce this change, daughter. To pivot from democracy to an open monarchy, the citizens will likely revolt. They will feel that their voice has been stolen. We cannot rule the masses if they rise up as one in defiance."
Calista smiled down at Vermilion as she reached behind her back and pulled a dagger. She looked back toward her father, who noticed the weapon and nodded slightly. "We rule, father. We don't ask permission, we don't succumb to the will of the lesser. We rule!" Calista reached around and slid the dagger across the blubbery, oily throat of Vermilion. The man gagged and sputtered as he reached for the wound that was now showering the table with hot blood.
The other eight council members looked on in shock as masked butlers approached silently from behind with daggers of their own. Screams filled the council chamber, followed by their sputtering, gagging, final breaths. In minutes, the remainder of the Monarch's council lay dead on the floor.
Calista smiled as she wiped her dagger on Vermilion's green jacket sleeve before pushing him out of his chair to fall limply to the ground, dead. "A long overdue change was in order, Father."
"I agree, child, though I fear we must now fill these empty seats." Solaris sat, seemingly unfazed by the carnage around him as he spoke. "Calista, you will need to muster the Scandare to the palace. We must show strength, and we must show it now."
Calista leaned over and grabbed a stinger from her father's case. Another faceless butler emerged from the shadows to light it. "I have a plan, Father."
"Am I going to be graced with hearing this plan?" Solaris asked.
"The Scandare will be dispatched to hinder the advance of the True Havokium. We have 100 members in their ranks, and they are a weapon that has never once been defeated. We will, of course, need to make their presence known to the general public. If we are to rule, then we must be seen to have an iron fist with which to injure those who oppose us."
Solaris nodded in agreement. " I agree, daughter. However, as powerful as the Scandare are, 100 of them will not be enough to defeat the True Havokium. Surely, this isn't the extent of your plan."
Calista leaned back, resting her legs on the blood-soaked table. "This part you won't like, father." Solaris grunted, but nodded for her to continue.
Calista took a long drag of her stinger and blew it into the air. "I will seek out Andrew Dawes."
"Dawes?!" Solaris growled and shifted in his chair.
"Yes, Dawes," Calista responded nonchalantly.
"Dawes is a human! He is reckless and is singlehandedly responsible for bringing down the Galactic Council!"
"Exactly," Calista responded.
Solaris relaxed into his chair. "Continue."
"If we are to move into a position of open power in the galaxy, what better way to do it than by presenting Dawes as one of our own? The man who brought down the entirety of the Galactic Council. The man who openly opposed the True Havokium and lived. He has become a figure of legend within the galaxy." Calista threw her stinger to the floor as a faceless butler rushed in to take it away. "I will offer him my hand in marriage. I will take this hero, this figure of legend, and absorb him into our monarchy."
"And if he resists?" Solaris asked.
"Father, I am many things." Calista chuckled, running her fingers down her neck and between her voluptuous breasts with a wry smile. "Resistible is not one of them."