705 The Ceremony I

With time moving like a boulder falling from a mountain, the day of the long-awaited and much-anticipated handover ceremony finally arrived.

Recognizing its significance, the event was declared a holidaythe first ever shared across all imperial territories. The excitement was palpable, and in front of the planet's largest public square, located by the Proximian main government building, more than twenty million Proximians had gathered to witness the historic occasion.

This number had been limited due to concerns over crowd safety; any more, and the event might have turned unforgettable in the wrong way. The rest of the Proximians attended virtually, watching the broadcast from the safety of their homes, eager to be a part of this monumental event.

But the ceremony wasnt just for the Proximians. Nearly all the members of the exploration fleet, except for those on military duty, were also in attendance. This brought together representatives from both groups who would now be the members of the empire. The gathering symbolized not only a union of cultures but also marked a poetic end to the exploration fleet's journeya rollercoaster of an adventure that would be forever etched into the empire's history.

The ceremony was moments away from starting, and the prominent guests had all taken their seats. Aron sat at the front, with Rina to his left and Rayyan to his right. Behind them sat the attending government officials, the higher-ranked members of the exploration fleet and Aron's friends

Some among the attending members were engaged in quiet conversations, reflecting on their journey, while others were content to watch the spectacular airshow unfolding above the crowd.

The atmosphere was a mix of anticipation and awe, with a palpable sense of history in the making.

..

"How the heck did they manage to bring all of these here?" Lee asked in surprise, his eyes fixed on the sky, where an incredible airshow was unfolding.

The spectacle began with an aircraft resembling the earliest planes from Earth's history, followed by a stunning display of each successive generation of aviation technology. The show effectively narrated the human journey of conquering the skies, using the very medium to portray the technological progression that led them beyond Earth's atmosphere and, eventually, to this distant star system. It was a fitting tribute to humanity's legacy, as none of them would be here today if not for those early innovations.

"They didnt bring them here. They made them here within the last month," Ayaka, seated next to him, responded with a small smile, clearly impressed by the effort that had gone into preparing the event.

So, have you made up your mind about the promotion? Will you stay here or head back with us? Ayaka asked, following up on Lees indecision about the offer.

Both of them had been offered prominent roles in the Proximian government, a natural step considering Lee was practically seen as a parental figure by the Proximians.

Their history had been taught to them without sugarcoating, and Lee had earned immense respect from them, positioning him as an ideal candidate to bridge the empire and Proximians.

Ayaka, being the person Lee looked up to the most, had also been offered the same position, but she had turned it down for now, opting to spend time with her family on Earth.

Lee, however, was still unsure.

Im coming back with you, he finally answered. I talked with Mom, and I think its best to spend some time with her before I make any decisions about my future.

Oh, are you planning to retire then? Ayaka asked, surprised at his decision to return with them despite the opportunity to stay and experience life with the fantasy races he had only seen on screens before.

I am planning to retire, but just like everyone in the exploration fleet, I have the option to return here and have a house whenever I want. So, its not like Im leaving them forever, Lee replied. He then looked up at the massive ship making a grand flyover as the airshow showcased the current generation of spacecraft.

As their conversation continued, the airshow concluded, and the ceremony officially began. The MC, a towering giant, created a striking contrast with the speakers who looked like small children in comparison, guided the event with a commanding presence, setting the stage for the formal proceedings.

...

Last month, we faced a threat that challenged our very existence for the first time since we were left to fend for ourselves. This incident exposed our inexperience and vulnerability when compared to those closest to us.

While the circumstances were beyond our control, we cannot use that as an excuse. Weve learned that the death of the weak often becomes collateral damage in the actions of the strong.

However, acknowledging our weakness does not mean surrendering to fate. Evolution teaches us that when faced with overwhelming adversaries, a species can either strengthen itself individually or unite to confront the threat collectively.

We have chosen the latter: to unite with our more experienced human counterparts and combine our strengths to face whatever challenges the universe presents.

Our creation may have been a fortunate accident, but I sincerely hope this union will yield results as positive as the serendipity that brought us into existence, Rayyan concluded, eliciting a wave of thunderous applause and cheers from the assembled crowd.

She waved to the public with a warm smile as she returned to her seat.

And now, the MC announced, quieting the crowd for a moment, we will hear a speech from the Emperor of Terra, who will also be officially recognized as our emperor by the end of this event.

The mention of Arons name was enough to prompt an immediate and enthusiastic cheer from the crowd.

They welcomed him with a resounding cheer and applause as he stood and made his way to the podium.

Had it not been for the strategically placed sound absorbers around the square to manage the volume, the sheer noise from the crowd's enthusiasm would likely have caused hearing problems for many attendees by the end of the ceremony.