Chapter 37: First Anniversary
With the passing of the first Imperial year, a massive celebration was thrown across the planet celebrating the new year and the first anniversary of the Imperium's founding. For the first time in thousands of years, the Gen'Dai were united under a strong leader and had a future to look forward to.
It was also during this celebration that the name 'God-Emperor' started to emerge. During the initial founding of the Imperium, Daimon took the title of Emperor, however because of the religion centered around him, the people combined both the words in recognition of his authority. All work was paused across the planet and Daimon made sure that everyone had a reason to participate and celebrate.
In the first year, the once primitive Gen'Dai developed drastically, not just physically but mentally and culturally. The plans that he and the high council came up with were going to bring about an age of rapid industrial and technological revolution.
Marketplaces had begun to form and bustled with activity as the first Impera coins changed hands. New professions emerged, and schools were established to educate people and produce skilled workers to continue the drive towards progress.
The Forge Master, Telys Kaor launched the first institute of Science and Technology that year too. People who showed and proved their ability to grasp advanced concepts were assigned to the institute and began learning. Here, they received training in sciences such as physics, chemistry, biology, and even highly theoretical fields like astrophysics and quantum mechanics.
Using the Force, Daimon imbued some of the individuals with enhanced learning abilities. This allowed them to process and retain a vast amount of information in a short span, effectively creating a core of highly skilled scientists that would spearhead research and technological advancements.
40% of the fertile land on the planet was filled with a variety of crops, bountiful thanks to careful planning and efficient workmanship. The Minister of Health Darek Thalor, spearheaded tons of medical treatments through gene manipulations that helped manage minor diseases.
He had also begun his research on studying how to decrease the chance of a Gen'Dai becoming mad after living for thousands of years. While this wasn't a problem now, it was better to get something like this solved before it became a massive problem.
Infrastructure which had been non-existent till now was also being built on all 4 continents. Airways were set up to connect all parts of the continents, allowing seamless transportation around the entire planet with public shuttles and airspeeders. For the ground Landspeeders, hover trains/trams, and speeder bikes were also being built for private use by civilians, allowing them to save money on public transportation.
(Cities Appearence)
Telecommunication lines were laid out and several broadcasting stations were erected allowing anybody anywhere to communicate with their friends or loved ones across the planet.
Children were mandated to attend school and receive education up until they reached adulthood at an age deemed appropriate by their species' lifespan.
While progress was rapid, Daimon continued to maintain a cultural heritage through things like traditional customs, festivals, and arts were cherished and respected, ensuring that the Gen'Dai's historical and cultural legacy remained intact. Maintaining a strong spiritual connection with the past would motivate those to progress towards a better future.
With all this development and progress, Daimon didn't forget about the military as it would be the backbone of his Imperium and would become a big part within the culture in which he was building. The 10 million soldiers, their support staff, and the 400 ships had officially become a part of the Veldari Imperium Armed Forces (VIAF).
The VIAF was split up into 5 different branches, the Imperium Navy, Imperium Army, Imperium Marine Corps, Imperium Starfighter Corps, and the Imperium strategic command.
All branches are overseen by the Imperium High Command which consists of the Warmaster, and the Supreme Fleet Admiral which has been renamed to Grand Admiral. Daimon thought about it and felt that Grand Admiral flowed better than Supreme Fleet Admiral.
———
Within the streets of Aeteris City, the capital of the Veldari Imperium, towering buildings had masterfully been built from the rich minerals that Veldari's landscapes provided. Walkways above head were filled with speeders, the people moved swiftly, dressed in clothes representing the new culture that had been created. Since it was the new year, people were wearing the colors of the Imperium flag, black and blue.
Families gathered around holographic boards, their voices filling the city with laughter as they competed in games with each other. Markets were busier than they have ever been, with the chatter of merchants calling out to entice potential buyers with the promise of exotic goods harvested from the lands around the world that were uninhabited by anybody.
The air was filled with the smells of various traditional foods being cooked in open stalls. The first year of Daimon's rule had brought an era of prosperity and peace to the Gen'Dai.
Meanwhile, Daimon was also enjoying himself. Unlike most leaders who would have their own celebrations with the elite within their palaces and such, Daimon decided to celebrate with the public.
He was currently with the other members of the High Council and other high-ranking officials who were sitting down at the surrounding tables. They were currently at a local restaurant which was famous for its traditional Gen'Dai food.
Sitting down at the table Daimon looked at the holographic menu in front of him trying to figure out what he wanted to eat. He scrolled over the menu almost a dozen times before he turned to the waitress standing beside him. "What would you recommend I get for this great day," Daimon asked.
The waitress, surprised that God-Emperor asked for her recommendations, quickly composed herself and responded with a smile, "Given the celebration, I'd recommend the Zhymorr Bonebroth Stew, My Lord. It's a traditional thick, nutrient-rich stew made from the marrow of massive subterranean creatures, slow-cooked with Zenthic mushrooms and Crythium root, giving it a nice flavor."
Daimon nodded, looking at the stew on the menu before agreeing with her recommendation. "Well then, the Zhymorr Bonebroth Stew it is, and add a drink of your choice to that as well." he decided.
She quickly jotted down his order before moving on to the next person. Turning to Sera, Daimon asked her what she got as she had ordered while he was busy looking through the menu. "What did you get Sera,"
"I got the Emberfang Spiced Meat as I have heard that it is quite spicy." Sera responded. She had heard about this spicy stew for months, but only now got a chance to try it.
Daimon nodded at Sera's choice, a slight smirk appearing on his lips. "I hope you can handle the spice," he teased, recalling the dish's reputation among the Gen'Dai.
Sera raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "We'll see, won't we?"
As the celebrations continued, the streets of Aeteris City glowed with an array of lights, casting a warm color upon the jubilant citizens. Grand displays of holographic projections retold the story of the Imperium's founding, showcasing the triumphs of the past year. Children pointed excitedly at the floating images of towering starships and valiant warriors; their young minds filled with dreams of what their future held.
In the heart of the city, a grand stage had been erected, where musicians played traditional Gen'Dai symphonies infused with newly composed symphonies honoring the Imperium's unity. Dancers clad in ceremonial attire moved in synchronized harmony, their movements a fusion of old tribal traditions and modern expressions of the evolving culture.
Daimon leaned back slightly in his chair, watching the people revel in the celebration. He had spent countless hours strategizing, building, and preparing for this very moment, a time when his people could look forward to something greater than mere survival. And now, the Imperium was no longer just an idea; it was a living, breathing force shaping the destiny of its people.
Liraen Vos, the newly appointed Lord Marshal, sat beside him, sipping from her cup of Daskari Spiced Mead. "It's remarkable, My Lord," she said, her tone carrying both admiration and dignity. "A year ago, these people were lost, scattered, with no direction. Now, they have purpose, unity, and hope."
Daimon took a deep breath, the scent of the celebratory feast filling the air. "Hope is a powerful thing, Lord Marshal," he replied. "But hope alone will not sustain us. We must continue to build, to strengthen, and to prepare. The galaxy is vast, and there will be those who wish to see our Imperium fail."
Garrik Dain, the Archon of the Treasury, chimed in. "That is why our continued economic expansion is crucial. With our industries flourishing and the first Impera coins in circulation, we are well on our way to establishing a self-sufficient economy. But we must ensure that our growth remains steady and not rushed."
Orin Volkar, the Overlord of Expansion, nodded in agreement. "We have already begun surveying potential planetary systems for colonization. Within the next few years, we will have the means to spread beyond Veldari and establish new strongholds."
As they spoke, the waitress returned with their meals, setting down the steaming dishes before them. Daimon inhaled the rich aroma of his Zhymorr Bonebroth Stew before taking a sip. The warmth spread through his body, reminding him of a similar stew from his previous life.
Sera, meanwhile, took a bold bite of her Emberfang Spiced Meat. Within seconds, her expression shifted from confidence to a mix of surprise and struggle. The intense heat burned her tongue, but she refused to show weakness.
Daimon chuckled, passing her a drink. "I did warn you."
She took a sip and exhaled sharply. "It's... quite the experience."
As laughter filled the table, the night continued with endless festivities. Citizens sang songs of the Imperium, fireworks painted the sky in brilliant shades of blue and black, and for the first time in generations, the Gen'Dai looked forward to the future not with fear, but with ambition.
And in the heart of it all, Daimon sat, not as a distant ruler locked away in a palace, but as a leader among his people, sharing in their triumphs, struggles, and dreams.
The first Imperial year had come to an end, and with it, a new era had truly begun.
———
After the new year celebration, all the people returned back to their jobs. They knew there was a time to have fun and celebrate their new life and a time to get back to work, building and shaping their future.
In his office, Daimon was going through the ideas for new technology that Cortana wanted to introduce. One of the technologies was a Quantum Hyperspace Mapping System which would be capable of mapping hyperspace routes in real-time, creating a dynamic representation of all known and unknown hyperlanes.
This would allow explorers to receive continuous, up-to-date information about stable hyperlanes, gravitational anomalies, and even potential threats in real-time.
As he was going through the data, coming out of hyperspace into the system, a Republic ship had arrived within the system, unaware of the change in regimes. When Kaelor took over Veldari, he hunted down every foreigner on the planet and had them killed.
As a result, the Republic deemed the planet and system as dangerous and warned ships about entering the system. However, not everybody listened to the warning and every year or so, people try and survey the system for any potential rich resources.
As soon as the ship came out of hyperspace, it was detected by the patrol fleet which was organized to patrol the entire system. Soon enough, the republic ship was intercepted by a fighter wing and destroyer.
"Oh shit," was the only thing the captain of the ship muttered as they were surrounded by unknown ships.