Chapter 92: Arrival at the Throne World (2)
The Phoenix Prime was a rather cold climate planet, situated at the center of multiple hyperspace lanes, making it a beacon for travel and business across the entire Interstellar Empire.
Throughout the planet, there were several defensive fleets and a series of defensive satellites that acted as one of the layers of defense for the Planet Asurya. They also acted as part of the planetary shield system.
The planetary shield creates an aurora-like glow in the upper atmosphere, casting hues of blue and violet across the skies, a constant reminder of its defensive capabilities and scientific prowess.
Because Phoenix Prime was the Throne World of the Empire; it was heavily fortified with countless defense satellites, orbital platforms, and orbital cannons that were strategically placed around the world to protect event signal nook and cranny of the Throne World.
The Imperial High Command monitored all activity within the Eternal Empire of the Asurya, while high-tech surveillance ensured peace across the sprawling urban areas. As the Throne World, this Star System had the highest presence of military units, and there were many highly-trained elite guard forces, which means that both peace and force coexist as symbols of the Eternal Empire\'s strength.
The Throne World\'s cities rose like colossal spires from vast, verdant landscapes. The largest city, was the capital city of Celestara, that was a marvel of futuristic urban design. Massive skyscrapers, some kilometers high, connect via airborne walkways, where hovercraft and personal transports flow like rivers in the sky.
These buildings shimmer in metallic shades, embedded with lights and holograms that change with the time of day and governmental announcements, creating a living, ever-evolving cityscape.
Many structures incorporate nature—hanging gardens, artificial waterfalls cascading down from towering heights, and entire forests suspended within transparent domes. This was part of the Asuryani Way, where they tried to live in accordance with nature and not destroy the environment and nature of the planets that they lived in.
One could see it in the everyday life of the Imperial Citizens or around the Imperial Worlds because everything was built in accordance with the ideology of preserving nature. Most of the places around the Phoenix Prime were untouched by the Human or Votann hand.
Despite its highly urbanized core, Celestara boasted natural reserves: massive forests, crystal-clear lakes, and countless species of wildlife that flourish in the wilds, actually much of the planet was left as it was; there were almost no roads across the planet, because most of the transportation depended on the teleportation or traveling through the underground tunnel network.
Across the Imperial Capital Celestara, there were several enormous monolithic statues of past Lords Padishah-Marshalls, carved from the most precious and durable metals, watch over plazas below, symbolizing the rich history of the Empire and the achievements of their rulers.
Arcturus even recognized one of the statues as an enormous statue that was made in the appearance of the Grandmaster Arsit Byrmellir, which was placed on the central plaza of the Celestara.
The place where Arcturus was heading with the Obscurus was actually the Imperial Docks near the Imperial Citadel. The Imperial Citadel, where the Imperial High Comand convened, the building itself sat at the heart of the Celestara, with an iconic dome of crystallized energy that pulses with the political heartbeat of the Eternal Empire of the Asurya.
The reason why he was heading to the Imperial Docks next to the Imperial Citadel was that he needed to go there to finish up the procedures for registration as the Highborne Asuryani, and they are doing that only in the Imperial Citadel.
Thus, he was going to the Imperial Citadel because while the Imperial Citadel served as the home for the Lord Padishah-Marshall of the Eternal Empire of the Asurya also as the headquarters for the Imperial HighCom, it also housed the Headquarters of the Imperial Administratum.
Every single Highborne Asuryani was required to register within the Headquarters of the Imperial Administratum because only there did the bureaucrats have the right to confirm someone\'s status as the Highborne Asuryani and issue him the corresponding papers and identifications.
It was a rather bothersome law, but there was nothing that he could do about it, as he would spend the next few hours dealing with the bureaucrats and other personas that he would have rather avoided.
When he docked at the Imperial Docks that were a few kilometers away from the Imperial Citadel, he was instructed to disembark from the ship.
Contrary to the Arcturus\'s expectations, everything was already prepared for him because when he disembarked from the Obscurus, he was greeted by several figures that were waiting for him in procession.
There were several armored figures, dressed in what appeared to be ceremonial or high-ranking military attire. The armor has a sophisticated design with gold and bronze tones, giving a sense of both elegance and authority.
Their helmets covered the entire head and face, with a T-shaped visor, reminiscent of ancient warrior helmets. It has a stylized crest on top and intricate engravings that add an air of nobility. The shoulders are adorned with large, wing-like extensions, adding a majestic flair to the armor. They had engraved patterns and likely symbolized rank or authority.
The chest armor is plated with a blend of gold and red accents, layered in a way that creates a powerful yet streamlined look. The design includes intricate engravings and symbols, possibly insignia representing an order or Empire. The gauntlets were heavily plated, with small details and designs that matched the rest of the armor.
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The cuffs had additional gold engravings, adding to the overall elegance. The legs were protected by segmented armor, and the boots were sturdy, with sharp lines and dark colors complemented by gold accents.
A luxurious, dark red cape flows down from the shoulders, bordered by a dark gray inner lining, enhancing the figure\'s stature and giving it a commanding presence.
Arcturus recognized them as the Imperial Knights.
The elites of the elites of the Eternal Empire of the Asurya. They were the best of the best; every single one of them was Dual-Professional of Warrior and Psyker, and they needed to each very high grades to be inducted into the Imperial Knight Order.
At the same time, the Imperial Knights were the most elite warriors and fighters of the Empire and took orders only from Lord Padishah-Marhsall. Nobody else within the entire Empire had the right to order the deployment of the Imperial Knight, of course, aside from the Lord Commander of the Imperial Knights and Grandmaster of the Knight Order.
Arcturus was very surprised by the sight of the Imperial Knights standing below the Obscurus and in rather high numbers.
"Welcome, My Lord, to the Throne World Phoenix Prime and to the glorious capital city, Celestara of the Eternal Empire of the Asurya."
He was welcomed by the one of the Imperial Knights, who didn\'t have helmet on and appeared to be man in his fifties or so. With striking white hair and golden eyes like most of the Highborne Asuryani.
"I am Star Knight, Neras Thonar, Commander of the 4th Squad of the Imperial Garde of the Imperial Knight Order, acting under the commands of the Lord Padishah-Marshall Ardyn Tiberrius to escort his Lordship to the Imperial Administratum for the registration process and then through the city to the Imperial Phoenix Military Academy."
Arcturus would be lying if he said that he was shocked by the appearance of the Imperial Knights that were welcoming him to the Phoenix Prime, but he suspected that this was most probably the work of his master, Grandmaster Byrmellir.
"The Lord Padishah-Marshall is very interested in someone who possesses Super-High Risk Primal Psyker Ability. Your own importance to the Empire is very high just for this because with just this, Your Lordship is guaranteed to become Beyonder one day."
Hearing the Star Knight Thonar explain the situation, he understood the situation.
While he originally thought and knew that the Super-High Risk Primal Psyker Ability was rather a big thing, he underestimated the need of the Empire for another person with the Super-High Risk Primal Psyker Ability who would for sure reach the Beoynder Levell.
And not any Beyonder Level, but the one where he would have very high combat prowess and become another Pillar of the Eternal Empire of the Asurya. With that, the Asuryani already planned to launch a massive offensive against the Veren Republic, which was their biggest contender.
Unforuteny, for the time being, the Veren Republic had a higher number of the Beyonders and was outnumbering the Eternal Empire of the Asurya 1:3 at least.
"I would be honored, Star Knight Thoran."
Arcturus stated that he followed after the Star Knight Thoran while being surrounded by eight Imperial Kngits from the Imperial Kngith Order. These ones were the embers of the Imperial Garde, a few elite squads of the Imperial Knight Order who were tasked with the protection of the Lord Padishah-Marshall.
"The Imperial Administratum is just twenty minutes away from the Imperial Docks. Truth to be told, I was sent ten times to the Roku Prime... more than ten million soldiers died in that place against the Arachnids, and yet I would be glad to be there instead with those bureaucrats of the Administratum."
The Star Knight Neros Thoran stated as they were leaving the Imperial Docks of the Imperial Citadel, Arcturus could understand that sentiment because dealing with the Imperial Beurecrats was annoying.
Everyone was so damm fanatically adhering to the norms and rules that it was annoying, and for people of action, dealing with these administrative officers was worse than death. He wasn\'t that surprised when he heard Highborne Asuryani state that he would rather be on Roku Prime than here.
Roku Prime was one of the planets that were located at the cornermost areas of the Nihilus Star Region was one of the planets that were the most-bordering the Archanid space. It was one of the most famous Fortress Worlds of the Eternal Empire of the Asurya.
It was a place of constant carnage and slaughter between the forces of the Eternal Empire and the ones of the Archanids, who were like endless waves of flesh attacking the Imperial Space.
"There are not many ships around... I thought that this place would be busier..."
As they were walking through the Imperial Docks near the Imperial Citadel, Arcturus noted that the Imperial Docks were empty and there were not many starships docking in that place.
"Yes... Many would think that, but the Imperial Docks are used only for the important personas that have direct permits to land there either from the Lord Padishah-Marshall, Imperial High Command or Imperial Administratum.
Otherwise, all personnel, visitors, and citizens are required to use the docks that are located outside of the Celestara or to dock their spaceship at one of the Starforts and use the Space Elevators around the planet to arrive here. We don\'t really want to build more structures on the planet than absolutely necessary to not contaminate nature and the ecosystem.
For that reason, most of the spaceships are forbidden from landing on the planet unless they have a special permit."
The Star Knight Thoran explained to him as Arcturus pondered over those words, sometimes thinking that the approach of the Eternal Empire of the Asurya to the protection of nature was too extreme, but he knew that there were several reasons for such a stringent approach to the topic.
"The planet\'s preservation is something that is almost impossible to see across the High-Level Civilizations. Most of the capital cities of the other High-Level Civilizations and Star Nations are already ecumenopolises, and everything that lived has long been turned into a bunch of concrete and metal."
Arcturus said that he liked the concept of the Imperial Worlds and Imperial Cities much more, even though they didn\'t really look like the people of Earth imagined hyper-advanced science fiction cities and planets.
Most theorized the appearance of the ecumenopolises, planet-wide cities where an entire planet has been turned into one humongous city. This, in fact, was even the case for much older Star Nations and Civilizations that were around for many centuries or many millennia.
"The planets are alive as we are... some of them are alive more than others, but not many appreciate the beauty of nature. However, at the same time, the Empire doesn\'t really have a very high population compared to more heterogeneous Star Nations and Civilizations out there because the Imperial population is only a fraction of that of the Veren Republic, for example."
The Eternal Empire only had the Asuryani and Votanns as their species and neither of them were known for their high numbers. Votanns procreated faster than the Asuryani and in bigger numbers because the Asuryani, in the end, were artificial species created through genetic engineering.
Yet, simultaneously, the Votanni traditions and customs were pretty bothersome, and their courtships lasted even for more than one or two decades.