Interstellar Age
Chapter 377 A New Galactic Power

The war with the Yokai Ascendency, and the traitorous Sub-Galactic Power's subsequent annihilation, had a far greater effect on Lunaria's control over her sector of space than she previously thought.

By making her public decree of open hostility towards the Ghimderi Trade Union, and its attempts to steal her vassals from her. Along with the overwhelming display of violence that the Germanic Armed Forces engaged in during the brief conflict. The entirety of Alfheim Space began to break ties with the Ghimderi Trade Union.

1/4th of the galaxy, which the Ghimderi Trade Union previously held control over had suddenly vanished overnight, as the thousands of civilizations within Alfheim Space suddenly defaulted on the debts to which they owed the Ghimderi.

This was a devastating blow to the Ghimderi Trade Union, and, of course, the galactic economy as a whole. And while the remainder of the galaxy reeled from the sudden crashing of their central currency, the Alfheim Dominion began to implement a policy of economic selfsufficiency based upon the Germanic Star-Empires as the norm within their quadrant of space.

This allowed the Alfheim Dominion and its own isolated sector of space to spare themselves from the economic crisis that the rest of the galaxy was currently suffering from. The worst fears of the Ghimderi Trade Union had been realized. The economic policies of the Germanic Star-Empire had begun to spread. And now 1/4th of the galaxy was no longer willing to engage with them in trade or banking.

Unlike in the previous timeline, where Bixle was held responsible for the economic crisis, something that resulted in his assets being cannibalized by the other Ghimderi Trade Princes. Bixle managed to stay in firm control over the Trade Union, as he outright called the Alfheim Dominion's decree to be a matter of economic warfare against the entire galaxy.

Because of this, the Galactic leaders were once more in a conference, albeit, this time, Daelia was not present, which caused some confusion among the members. In her place, the actually elected president of the Svartalfheim Federation was standing in for her, as he explained why his shadow queen was absent from these discussions.

"You will have to excuse us.... Daelia is currently preoccupied with some personal matters and can not attend this conference. In her stead, I will be speaking on behalf of the Svartalfheim Federation and its allies.

Now... I believe I speak for everyone here, when I say that the Alfheim Dominion's sudden withdrawal from the galactic economy is an outright declaration of war on the rest of us. Lunaria, are you really willing to throw away a million years' worth of galactic stability over this small slight against you?"

Lunaria, however, was not the least bit concerned. The Germanic Star-Empire's display in battle was easily on a par with a Galactic Power in their own right. She had been in regular communication with Erich, not only about his plans for dealing with the Naraku but also about the important matters of galactic politics that they were currently facing. And as a result, Lunaria was convinced if she combined her forces with the Germanic Star-Empire's they would together have a good chance of emerging victorious against the rest of the galaxy.

Or at the very least, be able to maintain authority over their own quadrant of space. Because of this, she had a smug smile on her beautiful face, as she made a shocking comment to the rest of the galactic leaders.

"Hold on a second... I believe one of our members is currently missing from this critical discussion. I will be patching him in right now..."

After saying this, another hologram appeared, projecting the authoritative figure of someone everyone else in the call was intimately familiar with. Erich appeared sitting in his desk chair. He was resting his chin on his fist, while one of his legs was crossed horizontally over the other.

There was a confident expression on the man's face as he introduced himself to the other galactic leaders. Something he had been waiting nearly two lifetimes to achieve.

"I would say it is an honor to be here with the rest of my peers, but judging by the current circumstances which we face, that would be an empty platitude... So... We are here to discuss the recent trade dispute between the Alfheim quadrant, and the Ghimderi Trade Union are we not?"

The rest of the Galactic leaders were stunned by the nerve of Lunaria. And Bixle was quick to lash out at what he perceived to be an insolent and taunting action.

"How dare you bring one of your puppets to this sacred conference! Have you lost your mind, woman!?!"

And while Lunaria furrowed her brows with a wrathful expression on her otherwise beautiful face, it was Erich who spoke up on her behalf, making a shocking announcement as he did so.

"I believe I have a right to be here... After all, Empress Lunaria has been kind enough to release the Germanic Star-Empire from our oaths of vassalage, and has even granted us the right to colonize and terraform the former territories of the Rylonian Imperium, and the Yokai Ascendency.

She has also granted us the right to preside over the nearby interstellar civilizations. Thus, the Germanic Star-Empire now owns 1/4th of Alfheim Space and, by extension, 1/8th of the Galaxy, making it a Galactic Power in its own right.

I assure you, though our ships are not nearly as large as the behemoths you all wish to exert your authority in, they are capable enough of punching through such wasteful vessels. If you wish to test the capabilities of our armed forces, you are all free to do so..."

The other Galactic Leaders all gawked at Erich and Lunaria. They had no idea what had compelled the Alfheim Empress to give away such a large chunk of her territory to one of her vassals. Or why she had elevated them to the Status of a Galactic Power.

One thing that became abundantly clear to the rest of these galactic leaders, albeit a major misconception. Was that Lunaria was the reason the Germanic Star-Empire had progressed to such a powerful state in only a mere five centuries of existence?

This was, of course, partially true, as Lunaria had given significant aid in resources and technology to the Germanic Star-Empire over the last five hundred years. But it was truly the efforts of Erich and Tia that allowed the Empire to become a galactic power in such a short amount of time.

As for Lunaria, she bit her lip in frustration, and eyed Erich with an anxious look in her golden eyes, almost as if she were waiting impatiently for the man to make the next major announcement. One that would throw the entire galaxy into a state of upheaval.