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Zultas Heart of what remains of the Stellar Khanate Lor time mark 1487.3 [March 28, 2016 (Terran Calendar)] S'zan Sar moved to his assigned location in a formation that included dozens of his fellow Khanate soldiers. Sar's platoon was just one of hundreds that was gathering in the large courtyard of the Star Khan's reconstructed palace. Like many of the core worlds of the Stellar Khanate, Zultas had been one of the first hit by the Communion when it suddenly arrived, sweeping aside Khanate defenses and assimilating both ships and personnel. Luckily for Sar, he had been aboard a starship assigned to one of the border regions, and thus had escaped the fate of many other Khanate soldiers and citizens. While under Communion control, the cyberforming of Zultas had begun, turning large regions of the world into computonium. Since the Communion's defeat terraforming of the world had begun to reverse the damage, the computonium buildings and terrain stripped away to be reused or sold on the black market. Sar's starship had been among the forces that had stayed loyal to Star Khan, although the Khanate’s ruler had been severally weakened as a result of the cybernetics the Communion had implanted in him. Had the right opportunity presented itself, Sar might have considered deserting from the Khanate forces, as many had done. Several warlords had declared their dominion over the Khanate, but in reality only brought a limited number of systems under their control. Other worlds had simply declared themselves independent from the Khanate, often reforming the governments that had been in power when they had been conquered by Star Khan. Now, Sar was back on Zultas, his unit among the many recalled to the Khanate capital. Countless rumors had spread through the Khanate forces about why they had been recalled and consolidated around Zultas. Some had said that Star Khan was dying, and his potential heirs wanted as many loyal troops nearby to help them retain power once he died. Others claimed that one of the warlords challenging Star Khan's rule was preparing strike directly at the Khanate capital. But even as rumors ran rampant among the gathered forces, the appearance of Justicars among them ensured that order and obedience remained in place. Even as the thousands of Khanate troopers gathered into formation within the courtyard of the Khan's palace, Justicars could be seen moving among the ranks. Dressed in teal, black and white armor similar to that worn by Star Khan himself, and carrying power staves, the Justicars were among Star Khan's chief lieutenants, serving to ensure order and discipline throughout the Khanate. Although many had been killed during the Communion invasion, the remaining Justicars had been one of the key factors in preventing the Khanate from completely disintegrating. Sar was pulled from his thoughts, as a figure appeared up on a large balcony that overlooked the courtyard. Kinan Khan, dressed in his powerful power armor with the large white six pointed star on the chest, moved out toward the edge of the balcony, overlooking the massed troops below. Two other unusual figures could be seen just behind and to either side of Star Khan. On his left stood a massive figure easily over seven feet high, a Kovald heavy-worlder with a massive, muscular build. Over one shoulder the hulking figure had a thick metallic club with multiple studs along one end. To Star Khan's right was a lean female figure, a four-armed humanoid known as a Shoon, a popular choice as gladiators in Zultas' game-pits. This Shoon was dressed in a black reinforced bodysuit, and carried a staff in two of her four hands. Although the thousands of gathered Khanate soldiers had been quiet while standing in formation, an even deeper silence seemed to gather over the courtyard as Star Khan reached the edge of the balcony. Gone was any evidence of the alterations the Communion had made to Star Khan. Dressed once more in his regal power armor, the Zultasian ruler stood proudly, his coldly intelligent black eyes looking out over the crowd below...