Chapter 584 Planting Seeds


    [A/N Please rewrite chapter 572 as it was replaced after the original one uploaded was an unedited version. Sorry about that]


    Aron remained silent for a few minutes, simply staring out of the holographic screens with his piercing gaze. Then, just when people began to wonder if the broadcast had frozen, he sighed and continued in a much calmer tone, “While the diaspora is mandatory for non-citizens, We offer Our citizens a choice. You may choose to sign up for the colonization effort and join in the diaspora of humankind. We realize that not everyone can, or is willing to, pick up a weapon or don the white lab coat of a researcher. And you shouldn’t be forced to do so.


    “Protecting this solar system, the cradle of humanity, is an important task, yes, and ensuring that humanity survives every storm that heads this way is indeed the duty of every human. But not everyone is a fighter, or cut out to contribute to the scientific advancement of the species. Not everyone is needed to farm, or other supporting tasks like that, and that’s perfectly alright.


    “That is why We offer you the choice to contribute in a different way, by spreading seeds of Our civilization across the galaxy such that at least one of them will take root and grow. Humanity is a resilient species. A tenacious species. An adaptable species. And spreading out is a solution.”


    Behind Aron, the backdrop changed to an image of Earth as seen from the moon appeared. Then the planet shrank as the image zoomed out, first to the Orion spiral arm, then to the entire galaxy, as seen from above the galactic ecliptic plane. From Earth’s position, a pale blue color began spreading, slowly at first, but proceeding faster and faster as it spread until the entire galaxy was overlaid with that pale blue showing humanity’s occupation.


    “Over the next two months, registration will be open to imperial citizens as we build new facilities for your use. The ones We already have will suffice for the noncitizens who are undergoing the forced migration. The training, however, will be the same for everyone... after all, it would do no good to send people to the stars without giving them all the tools they need to thrive, regardless of citizenship. As We said earlier, this is mainly to ensure the survival of humanity, and no matter who you are or what you believe, you are all still human, at the end of the day.


    “We understand that many of you who are being forced to leave your homes for the vast unknown reaches of the galaxy are going to be angry. We came to this decision after a very long process of deliberation and with the input of the best minds that humankind has to offer. Our ministers and scientists presented Us with many, many solutions, but this was the one that survived the winnowing process. It is the solution that will ensure your liberties for generations to come.


    “You will be given the opportunity to create your own civilization, your own government, from the ground up. You’ll have all of the opportunities that We had, and even more. You’ll benefit from the advances in science and technology that We had to painstakingly create over the past two years since the empire’s founding. And We know that a forced migration may appear brutal, but believe Us: it is the most merciful option that We had presented to Us.


    “May your new homes be places where your dreams come true. We truly wish you the best.”


    Aron gave the viewers a small bow, then slowly faded until the stage and podium was empty. Then the image on the screens changed to the imperial seal before they went completely blank, and were finally turned off, the imperial address finally having come to an end.


    And the public reacted.