About a month ago, an unusual signal was detected, originating from deep within the Garden Stargate. Reports indicated that the signal was sent from an unknown Lone Island Star System. This was not unheard of, given that the ongoing war had already damaged most of the Stargates, turning numerous star systems into lone islands. Desperate residents from these isolated star systems would send out distress signals using the Lagrange point at the damaged Stargate. Antonios' Stargate Monitoring Department had received thousands of such pleas throughout the years. However, this signal stood out, as it originated from an undamaged Sacrum Chu Imperium Stargate. In other words, it was sent from a star system that remained untouched by the war. Thus, the signal was immediately elevated to the highest priority. Further analysis confirmed that the mysterious signal did come from an intact Stargate, which belonged to a star system of the now-destroyed Sacrum Chu Imperium. The Consortium conducted a global search of its entire Sacrum Chu Imperium star system database, but they could not find this mysterious star system's coordinates. This anomaly indicated that it could be a hitherto unknown Stargate, secretly built by the Sacrum Chu Imperium.
As more information was decoded, additional insights emerged. Based on its location, the Stargate Liaison Department's experts believed that this star system was probably a secret military base or Imperial research center. That could be why its coordinates remained top-secret, even in the era of the Sacrum Chu Imperium. As best the Liaison Department could figure, when the Empire was on the brink of collapse, the station chief in this star system urgently deactivated the Stargate and imposed strict electromagnetic shields on all usable Lagrange Points, cutting off all connection to the outside world. This caused the star system to effectively disappear without a trace. Besides, the star system was located on the far fringes of the galaxy, meaning that without a Stargate, it would take someone thousands of years to get there from the closest populated star system, even with a warp drive.
The overseers of this star system were quite prudent. They refrained from rashly reactivating the Stargate, opting instead to send exploratory signals to the outside world. No matter which faction had the star system in its grasp, they probably thought the Sacrum Chu Imperium still existed. Furthermore, they might have been oblivious to the fact that decoding and tracking technology had significantly improved over the years. The moment they sent out the message, the Stargate's coordinates were inadvertently exposed to all.
Antonios' board called a secret, emergency meeting. The meeting became quite loud and contentious after the board failed, on several occasions, to reach a consensus on what to do next. Roland - Carilion Industries and the Moore Shipping Group were strongly in favor of deploying a fleet towards the Stargate to take over the star system, an idea that was also backed by the Vitas Industrial Research Center. They were opposed by a group of radicals who favored an all-out assault. The members of this group thought the Empire's secrecy regarding this star system hinted that it might be a classified research center. After the fall of Sacrum Chu Imperium's capital, the once-majestic Empire disintegrated, and their warship technology was lost in the cosmos. During the Garden Campaign, the commander-in-chief of the Antonios Fleets, General Palmer Lloyd, was forced to destroy the last Thunder-class Battlecruiser, a decision still lamented by both Roland-Carilion Industries and Vitas Corp. Should the Antonios Consortium seize this star system, it was reasoned, they might be able to access long-desired Sacrum Chu Imperium technology, reinforcing and magnifying its already formidable strength.
Antonios Financial Group and Antonios Precision Corp, known for their conservatism, were against the idea. They pointed out that if this mysterious star system's signal was being broadcast across a wide area, it could likely be picked up by other Stargates that were still functioning. Sending a fleet there might draw the attention, and ire, of all active factions.
Both sides fiercely contested each other, with neither willing to back down, leaving the proposal in limbo.
Yet, the clock was ticking. As the captain of this massive ship, Andre had to make a final decision by the following day, a decision that might change the course of history.
He couldn't help but wonder what Marshal Bali would have done if he were still around.
Andre let out a soft sigh and walked over to the panoramic window. The City of Antontas sprawled out below him. The city pulsed with glowing dots crisscrossing the steel jungles, resembling a group of fireflies dancing in a forest at twilight. A handful of these luminescent specks journeyed towards the endless expanse, and Andre recognized their path, which led to the Garden Stargate.
Even atop the Tower of Stars, the Garden Stargate was not visible. It was simply too far away. One could only witness the radiant tail flame of the battleships' vector engines, with flickering sparks trailing behind. Seasoned observers can tell a ship's type from the brightness and hue of its flame. These ships ascended like stars voyaging towards the galaxy, eventually blending in with and becoming part of it.
Andre couldn't help but smile as he looked at the scenery before him. It brought back memories of when he first brought young Anton to the Tower of Stars. The little boy was completely captivated by this very sight. At the tender age of seven, watching the fleets launch from the Ring Harbor towards the Stargate, Anton thought he was seeing stars embarking on a journey to the galaxy.
"Dad! Once I'm big, I want to become a star and zoom off to the galaxy!" The memory of young Anton's chirpy voice was fresh in Andre's mind.
Andre told his son that the luminous dots were tail flames from spaceships, not stars. They only looked like stars because they were so far away. These ships were headed to the Garden Stargate, and once they crossed it, they would reach another distant star system. Anton's eyes sparkled with wonder and excitement as he asked, "Dad, can the Stargate take us to any place in the galaxy?"
Looking into Anton's pure, innocent eyes, Andre couldn't bring himself to tell him the truth: "Sorry, my son, but no. There was a time when humanity was actively exploring the cosmos. Our grand Lagrange Network once spread across a third of the entire galaxy. We used to sail our ships across the starry vastness. Back then, everyone firmly believed that we would leave our mark on every corner of the galaxy. However, the war took everything from us, wiping out the Lagrange Network and sparing only a few accessible nodes. Privateers and marauding rebels lurked in the shadowy star systems, menacingly circling the caravans in an attempt to capture the remaining Stargates. The Lone Island Star Systems who lost their Stargates sent messages for help, but their cries were devoured by the void of space.
For those of us born in the shadows of the aftermath, the golden age is but tales of old. The new generation regards the once wondrous Lagrange Network as merely the lingering remnant of a bygone era.
Humanity stands at its most challenging juncture since the Great Navigation Era, without a clear path forward."
Lost in these thoughts, Andre felt a weight pressing down on his shoulders, as if his feet were cemented to the ground.
It was merely three months ago when he and (the now fully grown) Anton stood before this same spot, beholding the same breathtaking scenery. Andre remembered that day as if it were yesterday. The City of Antontas was transitioning out from under the shadow cast by the Garden Planet and positioning itself to face the Roland District. Father and son watched the stunning sunrise and engaged in a profound conversation.
Anton looked puzzled. He wasn't sure why his dad had brought him there.
"Anton, according to Earth's traditions, today marks your eighteenth birthday," Andre explained. "On Earth, the age of eighteen signifies adulthood."
Anton remained silent as he stared intently at the Garden Planet, which was illuminated by the burgeoning sunlight. Fluffy, white clouds, soft as cotton, danced above the blue expanse of oceans. The winding coastlines and the vast brown land masses were also distinctly visible. A gentle ray of sunlight kissed Anton's face, outlining it with a subtle golden gleam. It suddenly dawned on Andre that his son had grown taller than him.
As Anton matured, he turned increasingly reticent, with fewer words shared between father and son. Engrossed in the relentless demands of his career, and later, his political office, Andre found his attention diverted to a myriad of concerns, and he missed out on much of Anton's upbringing. Andre felt an undeniable guilt about this, yet there was nothing he could do.
"And...?" Anton's brow furrowed slightly.
"And I have a gift for you," said Andre.
"This lovely view?" Anton pointed at the distant Garden Planet, shrugging, "Thanks, Dad."
"No, not that," Andre shook his head, "I know you've always wanted to go to Earth."
"But you never allowed me to." Anton countered flatly.
"Yes, because I was worried about your safety. You know the Terran Sphere Government's Solar System cannot compare to the Garden Star System in terms of safety. Privateers constantly menace the outskirts of that Solar System. There's a particularly dangerous organization named the Wandering Brotherhood that has occupied many areas in Pluto and the Oort Nebula. According to reliable intel, the Wandering Brotherhood has close ties to Star Libertadores, who have been a long-standing adversary of the Consortium. Given our delicate relationship with the Terran Sphere Government, we can't deploy any guardian fleets into their Solar System. The journey from the Solar System Stargate to the City of Dawn is long and perilous, rife with Privateers hunting down the caravans."
"But," Anton furrowed his brow as he looked at his father, his eyes clouded with confusion, "Why didn't the Terran Sphere Government eradicate them?"
"The Terran Sphere Government isn't as strong as people think," Andre laughed. "Remember, every organization and faction in our galaxy originated from the Terran Sphere in some fashion. It's true that during the most tumultuous times of war, the Terran Sphere Government sealed off the Stargates connecting the Solar System and Proxima to the outside world. However, this did not shield them from all of the ravages of war. First, the Terran Sphere Government isn't as ironclad as it appears. It is, at best, a figurehead amongst the myriad of factions within the Terran Sphere. Its direct military influence cannot effectively curb other entities. Within the Terran Sphere, there lies the powerful Jupiter Industries that surged to prominence during wartime, consuming other long-established entities like Solar Energy Group and Solar Technology Group. Jupiter Industries now possesses the most formidable shipbuilding technology in the Solar System and Proxima. Moreover, lurking within the Proxima of the Terran Sphere is the Pangaea Corporation, a noteworthy entity that dates back to the Neptune Minerals, more than three thousand years ago—before the discovery of the Lagrange Network. In addition, a multitude of other semi-autonomous factions exist somewhere within the sphere. Basically, the current political environment is a maze of intertwining organizations and factions that often find themselves in conflict with each other."
After a short pause, Andre carried on, "Yet, over the past few years, major factions like Jupiter Industries and Pangaea Corporation have realized the importance of stability. They've grasped the urgency of uniting for collective security. As a result, the Terran Sphere Government has become more than a figurehead. They even established a joint military force under the command of the alliance which worked tirelessly to defeat the Privateers within the Solar System and Proxima. The route to Earth is safer now than it ever has been. And..." Andre turned around, looking deeply into his son's face, "More importantly, Anton, you're a grownup now. It's time to make your own decisions."
Excitement shone in Anton's eyes, "Really? You mean it?"
"Of course," Andre nodded, "But there's a catch. You'll need to travel solo on a regular flight to Earth without any special arrangements. Also, your identity must remain a secret." Andre placed his hand on his son's shoulder, "Anton, I hope you understand that if someone realizes you are the son of the current CEO of the Antonios Consortium, they might come up with some 'interesting' ideas."
For the first time that evening, a soft smile graced Anton's face. "Thank you, Dad."
"Anton," Andre asked again, "Could you tell me why you’ve always wanted to go to Earth? Of course, it's okay if you don't want to tell me the reason."
"Well," Anton smiled, "I've always been curious about Earth. After all, we all came from there, didn't we?"
"Indeed, you are absolutely right," Andre nodded, "All humans scattered across the stars trace their roots back to Earth."
"I'm fascinated with human history," said Anton to his father, "I mean, I am curious about how we managed to spread from such a small planet to dominate the far reaches of the galaxy. The books we have these days only skim over that part of history."
"True," Andre nodded, "Anton, our venture into the cosmos is but a fleeting moment in the history of the universe. To most people, all history before the Gold Rush Era is trivial."
"Why's that?" Anton wondered.
"It's quite simple," Andre smiled and paused for a moment, "Anton, have you read Marshal Bali's biography?"
"Of course, Dad. Don't you know that 'Crux Legend' is mandatory reading for every kid in Antonios?"
"Well, do you remember how that biography was structured? In other words, how much time the author spent describing each stage of the Marshal's life?"
"Umm...I'm not sure what you mean," said Anton.
"Well, the author starts by covering the marshal's birth, his formative years, his time at the St. Triumph Military Academy, and his early days in the Antonios Security Department as a second lieutenant. All of that information is squeezed into the first half of the first chapter. The rest of the book describes, in great detail, the Marshal's exploits on the battlefield."
Anton seemed to understand. "Dad, are you saying that the history before the Gold Rush Era is like the early days of Marshal Bali—the first half of the first chapter? Something that is just glossed over?"
"That's the idea. There's an even more radical view among some historians that regards humanity's journey to the galactic expanse as the true beginning of human history. Our time on Earth was but a prologue—barely worth putting down on paper. That is one of the reasons why today's kids remain so unaware of that period in history."
"One of the reasons?" Anton seemed more engaged now. "What are the other reasons?"
Andre hesitated, then said, "The Sacrum Chu Imperium."
"The Sacrum Chu Imperium?" Anton was puzzled. "My history teacher once told me that the Sacrum Chu Imperium is neither sacred nor imperial."
Andre laughed. "Hahaha. That's true, but do you know where he got that quote from? He borrowed it from a famous ancient Earth philosopher, Voltaire, who originally used it to describe the Sacrum Romanorum Imperium, the Holy Roman Empire. The Holy Roman Empire was an ancient empire that once existed in a place called ‘Europe.’ Should Earth's history interest you, Hermann University in the City of Dawn offers programs dedicated to history and culture..."
"I haven't made up my mind about that yet, Dad," Anton said, shaking his head. "In any case, what does the Sacrum Chu Imperium have to do with our ignorance about Earth's history?"
Andre cleared his throat and started to explain the story to Anton: During the golden age of the Sacrum Chu Imperium, humanity spread to almost a third of the galaxy, and most of the explorers who left Earth never returned to it. These days, history textbooks predominantly focus on the Lagrange Dawn Era, the Gold Rush Era, and the Sacrum Chu Imperium Era. They barely touch on the pre-Dawn Era or any other events in early Earth history. Today's children have no awareness of the vital role that Earth plays in humanity's origins and development. Of course, this could also be because the Sacrum Chu Imperium intentionally obscured all depictions of Earth.
Yes, its policies may be odorous, but one cannot deny that without the Imperium's guidance, humanity may well have fallen apart. The Gold Rush Era saw countless humans journeying to the stars, yet for a species that once crowded a small planet, the cosmos offered seemingly infinite vastness.
In the past, sci-fi films and novels have often portrayed humans exploring the cosmos as political actors working on behalf of a national government or sometimes even a global Earth government. Yet, the reality is quite different. In the realm of exploration, nimble, well-established private enterprises often outpaced bloated, inefficient governmental organizations. The Great Navigation Era itself underscores this fact. Columbus, the discoverer of the New World, was just a merchant with a flair for adventure. Magellan, the first person to circumnavigate the Earth, was merely looking for spices... Almost all of the remarkable achievements of the Great Navigation Era were accomplished by private explorers. As humanity journeyed into the cosmos, history repeated itself in a similar vein. The united government of Earth took the initiative and launched the Proxima Exploration Operation, but the Lagrange High-Energy Space Research Institute, part of the Cosmos Solar Expansion Group, discovered the Lagrange Point. For almost seven centuries, humans groped their way through the darkness, from the discovery of Lagrange Points to the onset of the Gold Rush Era. During that time, the extensive research on Lagrange Points consumed an absurd amount of funds. The Terran Sphere Government alone couldn't cover the entire cost.
Thus, as research into the Lagrange Points continued, numerous private enterprises and hedge funds contributed large amounts of cash. The Phaethon Family was one of the most prolific contributors. They provided vast sums of money during the early stages of Stargate research and development, which helped to build a strong technological foundation for future research. When humanity finally had the means to journey to the stars, the Phaethon Family took the initiative, ushering in a new chapter of human history. Yes, that was the dawn of the Gold Rush Era, when the first wave of explorers ventured into ‘Outer Outer Space’ in pursuit of gold and riches.
These explorers were soon followed by a vast array of multinational conglomerates and private clans. These groups rushed towards the ocean of stars, carrying the Lagrange assets they had acquired with them. In so doing, they broke free from the Terran Government's control. Contrary to popular belief, the Gold Rush Era wasn't as orderly as the official record stated; rather, it was extremely chaotic. The Terran Sphere Government tried to assert some control. They issued the Dawn Accord, a document that attempted to govern the collaborative development of the Lagrange Network. But as time went on, the government's influence diminished. They simply had no way to reign in these explorers. The Dawn Accords were soon no more valuable than the paper they were written on.
As the Gold Rush Era waned, various explorer factions and clans staked their claims across numerous star systems, turning them into independent kingdoms. Clashes, and eventually wars, over Stargates and resource-rich star systems became commonplace. The Terran Sphere Government, having lost its control of these factions, could only watch as the situation got increasingly worse. Most intellectuals living during the Gold Rush Era viewed it as a potential turning point in human history. They felt that if distrust and conflict continued to worsen, human civilization would become fractured across the stars.
In fact, things did keep getting worse. The skirmishes grew more intense as the major factions went through cycles of unity and disunity. The Trujillo Clan of the Phaethon Family ascended amidst the chaos, establishing dominance within the Corona Australis Star System. Utilizing brilliant diplomatic tactics, they took over the Imperial Astral Cluster. Soon after, they led their forces to a resounding victory against the Eastman - Supernova Alliance in the Battle of New Lutesia, conquering the starry sea. The Trujillo Clan's power and reputation was at its peak. Many Imperial principalities yielded to their leadership. The Clan's first act was to rename New Lutesia ‘St. Triumph City’. The empire summoned representatives from most of the major explorer factions in the universe to St. Triumph City, where they drafted and signed the Mutual Development Agreement, historically referred to as the St. Triumph Treaty. Fifteen other dominant clans co-signed the agreement with the Trujillo Clan. These fifteen factions were later ennobled as Imperial principalities and integrated into the Sacrum Chu Imperium. In the Earth Calendar year 3888, Andrews Chu of the Trujillo Clan established the Sacrum Chu Imperium. He was then crowned Emperor in St. Triumph City.
One question has long baffled historians: in the technologically advanced era of the starry sea, how did the old imperial system make a comeback? Some believe that as humans first ventured to the stars, they were gripped by a fear akin to that of the early cave-dwellers who faced a vast, uncharted wilderness. In bygone times, people naturally formed groups based on the most ancient bond—bloodlines. They held fast to the idea that family was the most trustworthy. As their understanding of the world around them deepened, humans began to form broader spiritual bonds based on culture and faith. Yet, as humans ventured beyond the Solar System into the starry expanse, they found themselves in circumstances echoing those of their forebearers, leading to the resurgence of clan ties and the rise of powerful clans. The rise of the Sacrum Chu Imperium was far from coincidental; it was essentially inevitable.
For hundreds of years thereafter, the Sacrum Chu Imperium engaged in countless battles. With its advanced artificial intelligence and fleets of steel, it conquered the vast majority of the human realm outside the Terran Sphere, eventually becoming the most dominant power in the cosmos. Yet, fundamentally, the Sacrum Chu Imperium was not a true central authority but rather a galactic alliance headed by the Trujillo Clan. Since the day the Sacrum Chu Imperium was established, it relied on the support of the 15 principalities to maintain its dominance. To some extent, it shared profound similarities with the Holy Roman Empire from the Earth history books.
While the Trujillo Clan was in power, every other Imperial Principality and organization willingly bowed down to it. However, when the imperial family started to decline, the Empire headed down a path of division and turmoil. In essence, the very day the Empire was formed, the seeds of its destruction were planted. As events unfolded, conflicts over political ideologies indeed led the Empire towards chaos and division, and finally, to dissolution.
Relative to the vast timeline of human history, the reign of the Sacrum Chu Imperium was fleeting. Nevertheless, it was the first political entity to get anywhere close to unifying the entire human race.
After finishing his explanation, Andre paused for a second to let it all sink in. He then told Anton: "Scattered decrypted archives indicate that the Sacrum Chu Imperium's ambitions didn't stop there. From the day it was founded, it consistently pursued the incorporation and conquest of other isolated factions. The Empire sought to annex the entire galaxy, yet the Terran Sphere was an exception. Many historians feel that if not for Earth's exceptional status as the birthplace of mankind, the Sacrum Chu Imperium might have attacked the Terran Sphere in the very beginning. Ultimately, the Imperium determined that an assault on Earth was not politically viable.
Therefore, in an effort to undermine Earth's elevated status, the Sacrum Chu Imperium's educational system intentionally downplayed the historical significance of the Earth era. Maybe, they thought, after hundreds or thousands of years, when Earth has completely disappeared from human memory, the Sacrum Chu Imperium would be able to completely absorb the Terran Sphere and consolidate the whole of human civilization."
"I see," Anton exclaimed. "That makes sense. It was the Sacrum Chu Imperium that whitewashed our history. But the Empire no longer exists, so why are we still following its educational model?"
"It's the lingering legacy of history. Practices cultivated over hundreds of years aren't easily discarded. Furthermore, the current state of affairs, now that the Sacrum Chu Imperium has fallen, is even more tumultuous than when it was first founded." Andre pressed on. "We have thrown off the yoke of the Empire, but that doesn't necessarily mean we want to live under the Terran Sphere Government's control, does it?"
"I get it now. You're all afraid that the Terran Sphere will turn into another Sacrum Chu Imperium."
"Exactly, that's why Antonios continues the Empire's practice of deliberately diminishing the significance of the Earth era," Andre affirmed with a nod. "At least, for the time being, there's no reason to change that."
Yet, Andre still didn't want to tell Anton everything, at least not yet. Andre believed that the Sacrum Chu Imperium's legacy was more complicated than many people made it seem. On the whole, the Imperium's achievements were undeniable. Indeed, many scholars had started delving into Sacrum Chu Imperium's role during the nascent stages of human exploration. Back in those days, there weren't enough human explorers to conduct expeditions. It was the Sacrum Chu Imperium that invested heavily in the research and development of artificial intelligence and robotics, which effectively liberated the workforce. Free from their day jobs, humans were then able to explore the cosmos. Some day in the future, Andre thought, the Sacrum Chu Imperium would be viewed far more favorably than it is now.
Many people have seriously underestimated the historical importance of human space exploration. Yes, it's true that before the Gold Rush Era, humans were already able to travel through the Solar System, thanks to Warp Drive technology. However, human beings, fundamentally, are a single-planet race, and their behaviors and thought patterns, at least in the beginning, remained Earth-centric. Humanity's exodus from Earth, with the help of the Lagrange Network, was far more historically significant than its original exodus from Africa. Some historians view it as the rebirth and transformation of the human race, something that has had a far greater impact on human society than anyone can imagine.
"How do others perceive us?"
"Huh?" Anton looked puzzled.
"Well, if Antonios is worried that the Terran Sphere Government will turn into another Sacrum Chu Imperium, is it possible that the Terran Sphere Government has the same concerns? Are they also afraid that Antonios will turn into another Sacrum Chu Imperium?"
A smile crossed Andrei's face. He gave his son a reassuring pat, "After you return from Earth, Anton, I want you to answer that question for me."
Lost in thought, Andre directed his gaze to the Stargate. It had been three months since Anton embarked on his journey to the Solar System, traversing the Stargate on a Swordfish-Class Transport Ship. Andre allowed Anton to choose his path, but he was still taken aback by his decision.
Anton's desire to study on Earth, specifically at Hermann University, surprised him. When Anton shared his intentions, he caught Andrei off guard. While Andrei didn't ask much about it, he did suggest that Anton try just taking a trip to Earth first, before thinking about going to school. Andrei was aware that the Terran Sphere Government had just launched a tourist flight to Earth, accessible to everyone. In fact, he had just seen an ad for it online. He remembered the slogan: "Mother Earth invites every child lost among the stars to return home."
The slogan was a bit cheesy, but it made sense and sounded appealing. When someone suffers intense trauma, their initial instinct is to go home.
Had Antonios and the Terran Sphere Government become adversaries, the government probably wouldn't have bothered the Antonios tourists who had been left in the Terran Sphere. Yet, Andre was afraid that Terran Intelligence might be screening every visitor's identity. The Terran intelligence services were quite capable. if they probed, even just a little bit, they might very well discover Anton's identity.
Andre had been warned by quite a few senior counselors that Roland - Carilion Industries might have heard about Anton's secret visit to the Terran Sphere. If they knew about it, they could accuse Andre of acting against Antonios' best interests, out of concern for his son's safety.
That was ridiculous, of course. Andre would never let personal attachments cloud his judgment. But...did everyone else know that?
