Free Atlantis Rising by Michael McClain

“You
can guess, right?”
    “Certainly, three hundred and
four years if it is not still going on. If the war is still ongoing, the
Eutharan people have been at war for over two thousand three hundred and four
years. Give or take a day,” Atlanta said.
    She smiled at the person who had
asked the question.
    “Was that humor?” someone said
loud enough for Atlanta to hear.
    “Yes,” Atlanta said.
    A few people chuckled as someone
spouted off another question, “Why were they at war?”
    Atlanta looked at Jon as she
spoke, “That is a rather involved tale.”
    Jon just nodded.
    “However, the Commander has given
me permission to tell it,” Atlanta said.
     
    “Four thousand years ago, a great
empire policed the galaxy in an attempt to maintain peace. The Manseesa Empire
was able to unite over twenty different species, building what was later to be
called the Galactic Senate. The Manseesa were an advanced civilization who was
happy to share their technology with any who became part of the Senate. They
were a passive race who hated fighting. Highly advanced in every aspect, they
were the most advanced civilization besides one, the Eutharan Empire.
    “One of the things that drew the
different empires together, was they were allowed to exist under their own form
of government. Galactic law allowed each empire to appoint a delegate to the
Galactic Senate. The Manseesa Empire, with the other species, created the
Senate to solve disputes between empires, and their word was final. Empires flourished
under the watchful eye of the Senate but there were always some border disputes
or fighting that called for attention.
    “Three thousand years ago, the
Invaru petitioned the Senate for entry. The Senate debated their petition for
months. Other Empires knew the Invaru for their hostility, because they had
been raiding the boarders of several of the members for many years. Some of the
senators thought they should be allowed to join, they saw this as a way to stop
the border raids. However, through the persuasive arguments of the Eutharan
senator the Senate declined the petition. The Eutharan were one of the
strongest and largest Empires belonging to the Galactic Senate.
    “The Eutharan people were known
for their telepathy and technology. Most Empires followed their lead, while a
few were jealous of them. The Buranis were one of the most militaristic
members of the Galactic Senate. They held key places
in the space the Senate controlled. Members of the Senate recognized the
Buranis as strong supporters of the Eutharan Empire. They were strong allies
working well together, a mixture of might and technology that was close to
unstoppable.
    “Once the Invaru heard of the
rejection they attacked the Eutharan Empire, destroying most of
the Eutharan core worlds before the Senate could move
to protect them. In a major battle outside their home system, the combined
might of the Senate’s fleet and the whole of the Buranis home fleet stopped the
Invaru. The victory was great, the empires of the Senate suffered minor losses,
and the Buranis were untouched. What happened next crushed the Galactic Senate.
The Buranis turned on the Senate’s fleet, no ship survived; they destroyed over
two thousand ships.
    “The Buranis had received an
ultimatum, prior to the battle. Join the Invaru and reject the Galactic Senate,
or the Invaru would destroy their core worlds. The Invaru had sent most of its
fleet to the home systems of the Buranis. Only a small portion had been to the
Eutharan home world. The Buranis had no choice. They reacted quickly, crushing
the Senate’s fleet and blockading the Eutharan home world. Later, the President
of the Buranis signed a treaty with the Invaru that effectively made his whole
race slaves.
    “The Invaru moved quickly, they
disrupted the trade routes and blockaded planets until the empires belonging to
the Galactic Senate surrendered. With the support of the Buranis fleet, it took
less than two hundred years to