u/Medical-Low-1370

It is believed they're going to become "Caf'Likk" or whatever it is. For some reason you were invited to see it.

Amongst many portraits they hold:

Joshua Abraham Northon, the first emperor of United States

Nikolai Alexandrovich Semashko, basically the founder of modern healthcare​

Stanczyk, the Polish jester

And also, as an old member of society, Jesus of Nazareth himself, who's still upset

"Then you don't know shit about history. All this elite troops go away in the first months. Every major war was won by​ a bunch of clercs, workers, teachers, engineers​, just young men and any other civilian who'd rather do anything but war. Every time governments aassemble their armies of elite ​​soldiers and every time WE have to come and clean up the mess because you were too dead to be around."

"Greetings, Arxidd, the keeper of causality and wielder of time,

When I heard about the Ultimate​ Execution​, I couldn't get myself to believe that. Is it true that the worst people in the universe are erased from existence that way so they never existed?​

Because if it is true I'd like to request to be erased from existence by my own will. Yes, I believe that the world is a better place without me at any given moment. Yes, I'll have to "deserve" it if i get declined. Yes, my suffering is unbearable.

I hope my letter would be taken to consideration and I get a reply ASAP.

Sincerely,

George Spots"

A short detour.

Hor regretted every decision that led him into this situation. What was he thinking when this scumbag offered a dirt cheap escort through what was the Amido Empire for a favor? Of course he was going to help kidnapping people! He looked in the unusually comfortable cell. Two women and their children, two boys and one girl, were visibly scared despite the fact that all their needs were met. The captain Erxi entered the "prison" and said something to the captives. Hor didn't understand it, yet women, still nervous, calmed down a little.

– Guarding the prisoners? – Erxi was unusually calm about everything that happened in recent time

– No, just regretting every decision.

– Ha! These are the customs here. Amido dynasty should've never been taken human space. I remember how it was before, and, I suppose, it'll never be the same since. Want to hear a story?

– Why not, I'm already here, listening to you, going whatever you want to take a detour?

– Well, buckle up, because I'll tell you how it ended.

The Crucifier.

The offshoot of human empire called Sol was crushed by Amido, war torn planets were treated harshly, human homes destroyed and population, well, some were enslaved, some were killed and some escaped the territory. It was utter defeat. The resistance groups were popping out here and there, only to be crushed. Then, nothing. The nobles declared the conquered territories pacified and moved on. Then, exactly 1 Sol year after the government surrendered, the humans struck back. Have you ever heard of FTL Acceleration Drives? Well, these humans strapped a bunch of those on a small planetoid and rammed it straight into our capital planet. It went straight through, killing everyone. Without the center, the Amido Empire gone instantly once this rock hit the administration. The chaos got loose, resistance groups, loose imperial flotillas, pirates and slave traders started fighting against each other for dominance. I was a small officer of one those Amido remnants when I've got to fight one who will to this day be the biggest rebel-born group: Impero di Laurel. This one truly broke me. I lost contact with a military base on the border, and when we came to check, we were horrified. Every resource we had was taken and our soldiers were nailed to the metal crosses, many were already dead, the rest died shortly after. My lord immediately declared war, and I gathered every officer I could and defected. Last I heard, every one of them ended up on the cross as well. Laurel forces were targeting Amido remants and showing no mercy to humans who dared to oppose their rile, in goal to crucify every single noble or enemy, to the very last one. In this area Imperio di Laurel makes sure that the anarchy stays unchanged.

Many human kings were called great, one was called the Impaler, and this one, I guess, didn't want to copy. I set my goal in destroying the empire that has no goal but nailing my people to crosses. I tried to find out everything about the Crucifier and found out that he was a soldier of Italian heritage named Giuseppe Barzagli who lost his family in the fires of Amido conquest, grew in the ranks of human resistance, proclaimed himself as the Lictor of the Void, formed an empire in his image and started his revenge against those who took his family.

And right now we're going to get his family back. Don't worry, I'll make sure you'll be safe.

The imprisonment.

Alessandra and Sofia tried to stay calm, but when a band of former Amido soldiers takes you out of your life because they we're going to bring them to their father. They might be lying, but the cell was too comfortable for slaves. Children were even more scared. First they lose their fathers in a span of two months to gangsters, then all this kidnapping. The captain Erxi entered the cell again.

– Soon we will get to our destination. Get ready to step off board, in case you need anything before we land-

– What do you take us to Laurel territory for? – Sophia asked.

– As I said, I am taking you to the Laurel because your fathe-

– How can we be sure that you don't lie? – this time Erxi was cut off by Alessandra.

– I am many things I hate but I am not a liar. – Captain reassured the family. Hope that they understand his shoddy Italian.

Shortly after, women with their children were led to a corvette which flew on a station that was decorated with Laurel insignae and empty crosses. The tension grew with each passing second. It's gonna be over soon, in case anything happens cameras will send a footage, all his ships would go under his right hand's command and they will escort Hor's fleet to his destination.

Erxi, who was piloting a corvette, felt uneasy as well. He pulled a microphone to his mouth and started talking.

– Erxi, a former officer of Amidi, requesting a safe landing on a port of Impero di Laurel. I'll just drop some humans here and I'll be on my way.

– What?! And what do you think is stopping me from just opening fire, Amido?

Ok, the easy solution is off the table.

– The fact that you'll end up on a cross once your scavengers go through debris. – Erxi almost yelled at a dispatcher – Listen, I know he's here. Just let me land. This corvette is unarmed.

The radio feed was filled with silence for the next couple of minutes.

– What is it that you want in my realm? – another voice barked.

– Two women and their children, 30 and 27 years old. I'll drop them off and disappear forever. It'll ring the bell for you if you are who I think you are. – Erxi was ready to land without permission.

– ...Permission granted. – said the voice turned off the communication. The captain put a glass vial inside his mouth.

– Gotta get ready I guess.

The corvette landed on the base and shortly after the docking the captain and his guards led the prisoners on the base. The worst part has begun. The women stared with their eyes wide open on an armored man that held a hammer. It's him! It's actually him! Of course this lowlife would send them to the most ruthless person of this part of the galaxy! They tried to calm their children, but they started crying. Erxi tried to gather the words that wouldn't sound like nonsensical ramblings.

– Crucifier. I know many years ago you've lost your family. In your grief, you climbed to the top of your band and nailed many relatives of mine to the crosses. I searched for them and all of them I did find.

The helmet decorated by laurel wreath(an old Italian custom bach on Earth) turned to the prisoners, then on Erxi. The women stood still. The Captain went on.

– I sent spies to find every clue that could lead to them. So here they are. In exchange I expect safe passage through your territories.

The Lictor of the Void started walking to the corvette. Erxi was reaching his limit. Here goes nothing, he took out his glove revealing the nobility brand.

– If you're going to kill me, spare my men! They have nothing to do with the war, I am the only one who fo-

The Crucifier took off his helmet. Alessandra and Sophia were struck by awe. It was their dad! Aged, yes, but it was him!

– Girls? Is that really you! – the voise of the most feared warlord cracked, he embraced his daughters he thought he lost and his grandchildren he thought he never got to see.

Erxi looked in complete bewilderment on a scene that unfolded before his eyes. He expected nothing but dry proclamation of brief mercy, but how the scourge of this places could react so... Alive? Didn't his plan go too well? Giuseppe let go of his daughters and turned to the captain.

Epilogue.

Erxi was spared in the end of the day, he soon became a merchant as Hor. Hor's fleet reached its destination, and Hor started a big merchant company outside of Amido remnant territory. The family incident was forgotten. And so, after a couple of generations, were the crosses, Laurel Empire stayed as such, but this time instead of vengeance it sought compassion, and peace took its root in the vastness of space.