Emperor Diego’s accession to the throne of Polaris Prime produced a boisterous reaction of his opponents. The majority of Lords-Governors declared that they were not going to recognize the usurper, who so cynically treaded down the Empire traditions. Some of them even announced their intention to dethrone this new Emperor by force, but they didn’t hurry with any concrete actions. Those of the Lords-Governors, who even under Nikon often ignored the Counsel’s orders, simply stopped paying any attention to the requirements of Polaris Prime. A few Lords-Governors announced openly that they leave the Empire – obviously, with the star systems, which they headed.

The majority of fleet commanders were waiting for the situation developed. Only a few of them joined the Lords-Governors, some chose remote star systems as their bases having established their power in those worlds and some, however, decided to come back to Polaris Prime and support new Emperor.

Emperor started zealously quite justifying the hopes of the oligarchs, who had promoted him. A fairly good part of the cut down military budget was transferred at the disposal of the corporations. Many warships were sent for demolition or shifted to merchant fleet and peace was made with “barbarian kingdoms” of the Edge, which was shameful in the opinion of the majority of the Lords, who had waged war there. The corporations received numerous benefits, they even were preparing a law, which would actually allow the corporations rent the whole areas of Frontier and establish their own order there in exchange for more than frugal assignments to the Empire treasury. From bad to worse – there were rumors that corporations would be permitted to have their own fleet and “police forces”. Anyway, agents of the corporations actively bought up removed from the Empire fleet warships and took them to unknown places, as if for utilization.