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It is clear, then, that <span class="mu-i"><span class="mu-s">war</span></span> is coming to the Hegemony. The exact scale and goals are yet to be determined, but it is coming.
With Wrix Val's taking of this small mining colony during his reign, and your defense of it, you have created an untenable situation. You will not relinquish this Azurium source at any cost- it's too valuable and your current long-standing empire projects are reliant upon it too much. You are both unable- and certainly unwilling- to bend the knee to the Consortium and attempt a peaceful resolution. They attacked first- “compromise” would mean giving in to demands of a hateful aggressor and ideological enemy- it's not going to happen. No man who could call himself “Supreme” would try to get a “permit” or “permission” to use what is rightfully yours.
However, despite how clear and obvious this situation is to yourself in your position- the war is fought on two fronts. In the physical realm, and in the hearts and minds of the people. Both nations already have created their covering story- for the Hegemony, its as cut and dry as can be. But the relatively minor nature of the offensive plus the fact you “muscled in” on Consortium territory to steal it from them in the first place isn't necessary to be included in the official narrative. The Jaxtian people know that the Consortium is evil, a threat, scheming capitalists with no honor stealing rightful Jaxtian clay for no purpose other then pure evil greed and aggression. Blatant and ugly.
The Consortium has a counter narrative. You aren't 100% on the specifics, but the signals you can pick up from within the Consortium paint the picture well enough. The Jaxtians are an unlabeled, illegitimate race of brutes, who loot and steal without a single thought to the law and intergalactic community. Of course, you aren't a part of that community and not by choice. It's not like there is anyone there voicing your side of the story- this is an easy spin operation for them. The Consortium's hard-working population would hate a dictator if they were living under him or not- the cultures are just too different. The capitalist is inconsolable when one says “no- and not for any price”.
Perhaps it is stupid to go to war between galactic powers for a single colony. But you would say it is stupid to give up this opportunity to gain something. <span class="mu-i">Threemind</span> explains further.
