Former Emperor Ranzaer of the Akun Empire stared at the televisor within his room, he had been removed from power and now was forced to stay within a room at the Crystal Palace as the local Eponites called it. If he was being honest it was rather impressive, made completely of some crystal like substance and being a mile in height, and four miles wide making it a truly impressive palace, since it used no stone, no concrete or wood, just crystal and metal. He was disgusted with himself, how would he ever think anything the Eponites had created to be impressive? When his Empire was supposed to be the most advanced within the entire known universe, his Empire was supposed to be the point from which culture and civility flowed throughout the galaxy, to civilize primitive barbaric species and teach them the proper ways of the Akun.

Ranzaer sighed, no longer even allowed to wear his golden body paint to signify his place as Emperor, he truly had no power left, worse yet he hadn't yet been able to sire a clutch of eggs with his former harem to produce an heir to the throne, Lorenzo had forbade it and simply removed him from his harem before locking him into this room, it was more like a small apartment for one with rather good plumbing, and automatic food dispensing systems, but still. Ranzaer signed again, thinking back to that fateful day 48 eponite years ago.

Emperor Ranzaer looked down at Issit as he skittered into the Imperial Palace's throne room, without command Issit bent himself into the proper position of respect and lowered his eyeturrets to the floor, he held this until Emperor Ranzaer spoke. "Stand yourself up, I wish to discuss something of great importance with you Issit."

Issit stood up, keeping his eyeturrets to the floor. "Yes My Emperor, what is your will?" Issit kept his voice submissive as he had been taught to when taught about addressing the Emperor.

Emperor Ranzaer looked Issit over, before he continued. "I have decided you will be the Exalted Fleetlord of the Conquest Fleet, I entrust to you something only one other male of the Akun has ever done, and from your record I know you will not fail me."

Issit's eyeturrets both shot up to Emperor Ranzaer before they quickly looked back at the floor. "I thank you my Emperor for allowing me to be within your presence, let alone how unworthy I am to be Exalted Fleetlord of the Conquest Fleet, your will shall be done my Emperor."

Emperor Ranzaer waggled one of his eyeturrets. "It shall, now go, I've already sent forth the proper official to apply your new body paint patterns and a book about what they mean you can and can not do, and how to have someone else apply the paint for you after the Conquest Fleet has left."

Issit bent himself into the position of respect once more. "At once my Emperor, your will shall be done and it will be swift." Issit skittered out of the throne room after getting permission to do so. He had to ready himself for his new responsibilities. He was given a task by his Emperor and he was going to complete it.

He had declared it time to take another planet into the Empire, the Conquest Fleet would spread his light and glory to another planet, a planet filled with fur covered savages, Epona being the star system, and the Eponites would be brought into the Empire as happy subjects just as the Letera had 25 thousand years ago. They now served the Empire as any Akun male or female would. Of course, they where blocked from gaining any position in a government or military force, otherwise any job they wished to pursue was open for them to do so. By the time the Conquest Fleet was done with the primitive spear and sword using savages he was likely to be of very old age, already being old by Akun standards, his scales less vibrant and duller, once it was estimated the Conquest Fleet would be done wiping the floor with the Eponites, he would sire a clutch of eggs with his Harem, too carry on his genetic line for his was the only that mattered in the grand scheme of things.

He looked out upon his grand throne room, and his snout turned green beneath his golden body paint, he was where he belonged, doing what he was hatched to do, this would be his entire life, as would the first male hatchling that used its egg tooth to break the shell of its egg and skittered into the world still wet with the juices of its egg. He would be taught when he was properly able to learn how to be the Emperor, how to rule the Akun Empire, history, culture, proper etiquette.

Then he stopped remembering as the bell to the door which held him within the room buzzed, before sliding open. Meal time again, at least he could order what he wanted, and thankfully the taste of home was easy to get his clawed hands on. A large platter of Thalaill ribs seasoned with falcane peppers and various other spices and herbs from Vanov. Along with a fancy glass of the wine he enjoyed with every evening meal. Despite being held here until his death, which he'd estimate would be rather soon due to his age now, he at least was treated with decency and even like an important guest. The strange ball of metal with three long eyestalks not unlike mechanical versions of a Letera's eyes set the tray down on a small table he had been provided with, before hovering out of the room causing the doors to close with the resounding click of a maglock.

-------------------------------------------------------Canterlot Castle, Princess Celestia------------------------------------------------------------

Princess Celestia was looking over some X-rays taken of dead Akun with Princess Luna. "I expected life on other worlds to be a possibility since we couldn't possibly be alone in the universe, but to think that they could show up here and be hostile as well? It truly was a shock to me that a species advanced enough to travel the grand distance between the stars could be hostile." Celestia said as she set down the X-ray.

Princess Luna rolled her eyes. "You're too optimistic sister, remember intelligence is often the mark of a predator, of which this small species clearly is."

Princess Celestia looked over to Luna and flicked one ear to the side of her head. "You're likely correct sister, I'm just glad Lorenzo had taken care of them before I'd have to have done so, I don't like the thought of me having to travel to their home world only to glass it with a blast from my sun, but if thats what I'd have to do to keep Equis safe, I'd do so without hesitation."

Luna nodded. "I know this sister, even Discord would step in should something horrible have happened, I may despise Lorenzo but he has proved useful to us, I find it strange he allowed us to keep the military technology we captured, or some of it at any rate, while refusing the same for the Griffon Empire." Luna sat down in a comfortable recliner.

Celestia chuckled. "I think he did so because he knows just what I can do, but also because Equestria and the Crystal Empire are allies, perhaps not as good as the Abyssinian Empire, but better allies than the Griffon Empire has been to his Empire so far, remember Luna it wasn't even a few years ago they attacked him with everything they had, he isn't going to just trust them with military technology, not with how fast they can advance themselves if given a reason."

Luna just shrugged and popped open a bottle of wine before taking a swig. "I can see the logic behind that, we have not attacked him yet, and as far as I know have no plans to do so, it wouldn't be wise to even complain about the Abyssinian Empire getting Akun Starships for their own use, for our ponies have little desire to leave their own cities and villages, let alone the planet they inhabit."

Princess Celestia nodded. "Indeed, however this was a rather rude wake up call, we can't sit idle like we have before, we have to advance faster than we did before the past two thousand years combined if we want to advance to the point we stand a good chance of going hand to hand with some alien invaders from beyond the stars, their tanks armor and main gun are eons ahead of our own and we are trying our absolute best to understand them and their aircraft we obtained, their radar blows ours out of the water! Their own automatic rifles blow anything the Abyssians have right out of the water as well, but they likely are getting better weapons from Lorenzo now, since they are his first real allies on this planet, and they have done quite a bit for him in terms of trade." Celestia knew Lorenzo's Empire didn't NEED to trade with any kingdom, empire, country, or nation on Equis, it could always produce what it needed and wanted, but sometimes trade was just beneficial to both parties, from what her spies had found out the only thing the Abyssians had been trading Lorenzo for in return for the technological help he was giving them was simply rare and exotic foods and fruits they kept and grew in the desert climates.

Princess Luna nodded. "I quite agree, we need to advance faster to defend ourselves, it almost makes me think Lorenzo's Empire advances because it, or at the least, he, knows of some great threat on the horizon or something like that, I'd go into his dreams and simply pry the information I want from his skull.....but, I'm never making the mistake of entering his head again...never." Luna shivered as her face went a tad pale before she took a rather large gulp of wine to calm herself.

Celestia chuckled. "I told you doing that was bound to end up with you being put into an unpleasant situation one way or another, now I must be off little sister, I actually booked a short day long trip to the Akun's home world of Vanov to see what its like and see their own culture!"

Luna shrugged. "Alright, then I will be off to sleep, so I may commence my duties tonight, farewell sister and enjoy your trip." With a flash of white magic Princess Luna had teleported into her own royal chambers to slumber the day away.

Princess Celestia just smirked as she checked the time, it was only 7:30 AM, she had already eaten a light breakfast of Cake and Tea, not something she did as often as she'd like, however that didn't matter at the moment as her horn lit up with a golden glow, and with a flash she was gone, standing next to Lorenzo, and scaring the absolute crap out of him causing Celestia to just giggle and Lorenzo to roll his eyes.

King Lorenzo looked over to her, his emerald green eyes glaring into her very soul. "Oh grow up Celestia, you act like a foal over half the time I swear...now, take this." He handed her some sort of pin to put on the chest of her shirt. "It'll inform the Akun your a VIP, and as such will mostly do what you want unless its unreasonable, your transfer of bits has gone through and you have about 3 thousand bits to spend, on Vanov, be warned its rather hot on their planet, almost being a complete desert for the entire planet with only the polar caps having any amount of snow."

Princess Celestia nodded. "Of Course King Lorenzo, I shall be off then, I'll inform you before I go back to Canterlot." Since the conversation was over, she stepped through the portal gate hooked into a wall, the turrets sticking out on either side of it continuing to swivel about in their emplacements on the device, as if to shoot something that came through without authorization. The two large robotic soldiers being what she recalled to be named 'sentry bots' ignoring her as she stepped through, two more in the exact same position sat on the other side as well, protecting both ends of the gate.

Akun stared at her, she was obviously strange to them, seeing as how she was almost eight feet tall, that was with the horn which was a foot and a half long, while they where a measly four and a half feet tall, they where the size of a three year old foal to her and she wanted to pick one up and pet it, she refrained from doing so however. Upon exiting the portal gate and onto an entirely new world, she almost didn't notice the difference in temperature, sure it was hotter, but she was used to much hotter temperatures than this, she controlled an entire star after all. One Akun, female by the likes of it due to the shorter tail, skittered up holding a picture of her. "You are." She looked down to the paper again. "Princess Celestia?" It spoke Equish much to Celestia's surprise, she nodded without much thought.

The female looked pleased at this. "Good...good, please come with me, I have been instructed to take you to any location you desire to see with the use of an automobile which will be able to hold you comfortably." She skittered off and Celestia followed. The car she was brought to did indeed fit her, the back was opened in a manner that Celestia could sit and have a good chunk of her torso poke out from the vehicle, the seat had been modified as well, since Akun seats had an indent for their tails. "Where too first Princess Celestia? And before I forget, my name is Vilo, you're personal guide."

Princess Celestia smiled, which seemed to just confuse Vilo, before she spoke. "I'd like to see your most interesting sights."

Vilo waggled one eyeturret and spoke. "It shall be done Superior Female." Vilo started the car and the hum of the hydrogen engine pleased her as she began to drive, this would be an interesting day indeed Celestia thought looking at the uniform cube like buildings which drew closer, having no decoration on the outside, being in the capital of Vanov however the Akun's more Ancient buildings still stood through the test of time, such as the Imperial Palace which happened to be their first stop.

Vilo turned an eyeturret to the palace. "This has been the home of Emperors all the way from before the unification of Vanov into a single unified effective government five hundred thousand years ago, um...in eponite years that would roughly be one million."

Princess Celestia's eyes widened in shock and surprise for a few moments, before she pulled out a camera and took a photo of the palace. "This is rather interesting Vilo, my old castle is in ruins and looks almost nothing like this Palace."

Vilo waggled an eyeturret. "Emperors have lived and died here for hundreds of thousands of years, each one has been cremated and is in the Hall Of Past Emperors, for the most part no one is allowed within this hall, for respect of the Spirits of Emperors Past."

Celestia nodded. "Alright, this is interesting, moreso than I expected when I left this morning."

Vilo turned the car off the side of the road and went back to driving. "Now I will show you a factory which produces telivisors and other consumer goods, then the fusion power station which produces the hydrogen our vehicles run on."

------------------------------------------Lorenzo's Empire, Candy Shop-------------------------------

Sweetroll watched as an Akun skittered into her store, she smiled kindly at the little fella. He seemed to absolutely love dark chocolate and every time she made more he'd always somehow know when it was ready and come in to purchase it, so as normal she had begun to set aside a bag containing 25 medium sized chocolate bars of the stuff for him. "Here ya go darlin." She bent down and hoofed him the bag filled with the chocolate delights he seemed to enjoy so much.

Zoroill reached out and took the bag before handing her his charge card, letting her scan it and charge him for the appropriate amount required to buy the treats, had she known just why he wanted so much dark chocolate all the time Zoroill doubted he'd sell to him, so he kept his maw shut and took his card back after she had scanned it and skittered out of the candy shop. When he got around the corner and ducked down into an ally he pulled one of the delights from the bag and carefully peeled back the wrapper before tossing it aside and jamming the entire dark chocolate bar into his maw. Near instantly the effects began to take place as he felt like he was the mightiest of all Akun and could take on anything standing in his way, ideas coming and going with such speed he thought he might out do a computer, he knew it was only the chocolate making him think and feel these things, he knew it was in his head, but he didn't care it felt good.

---------------------------------------------Lorenzo's Throne Room-----------------------------------------

I watched as Blue Gadget barged his way into my throne room without warning, almost HALF of his fur completely gone leaving pink flesh behind! I also could smell the burnt fur and hair. "Lorenzo! I finally completed my Microwave Gun!" He held up the device, which looked like a pipe with a satellite dish on the end and a fusion cell on the side like an old AER-9 laser rifle, and several wires and tubes hooked into the back of the dish.

I facepalmed. "Oh Faust Damn it Blue Gadget I told you not to make that!"

----------------------------------------------------Diamond Dog Empire, 50 miles from Equestrian Boarder---------------------

Denmother Green Ruby looked over at the researchers and scientists whom had informed her their first detonation was ready to commence, and one of them handed her a pare of goggles which acted as very powerful sunglasses. A lean white furred diamond dog male looked over to Denmother Green Ruby. "Denmother these will help protect your eyes, just remember you can't look directly at the blast for the first five seconds unless you wish to go completely blind."

Denmother Green Ruby nodded and slid the goggles onto her eyes and then hunkered down with the other scientists in the tunnel that had been dug, 15 miles away sat a round ball filled with wires, tubes, circuitry, all hooked up onto a tall 50 foot high metal tower.

The white diamond dog pressed a button, and with a bright flash a yellow mushroom cloud began to rise into the sky, and several seconds later Denmother Green Ruby and the other scientists and military personal looked up and over to the explosion and grinned in awe at the powerful atomic blast. Denmother Green Ruby looked over to the white diamond dog. "Oppenpaws, You have outdone yourself." She also wondered how the mining teams sent to the abandoned Crystal Empire had been doing, but for now this was more important than a few dogs with mining gear.

Author's Notes:

What did do ya'll think? Ya like the chapter? Also if you read the story don't forget to follow me and like the story, it tells me that you guys are reading, I hope you enjoyed this, who knows what'll happen now that the doggos got atomic weapons? And no, they won't become hostile to the Empire lol. Regardless, leave a comment! lemme know how ya liked the chapter and all that, if you want an invite to the discord server for the story series, pm me and I'll give you my discord, you can add me, and I'll invite ya!