Chapter 37

　　Terra. Earth. The birthplace of humanity, the cradle of civilization and now the throne world of the Emperor of the Galaxy.

　　Kal stood in the command centre of Tamara`s Starship, looking down at the blue marble symbolizing so much to humans. Even to someone who had been born on Caledon, he had a definite connection to Terra.

　　He couldn`t help but think about this fragile planet`s long and turbulent history far beneath his feet. It was a beautiful paradise now, its lands lush and fertile, the oceans clean and blue. But it hadn`t always been that way.

　　Before the Exodus, Earth had been overpopulated and polluted. Humanity had been trapped in a solar system too small to contain them. Wars, famine, and poverty all seemed to threaten the continued existence of humans until the miracle invention of the Engine freed them from their constraints.

　　Suddenly finding themselves with an entire Galaxy to colonize, the future of humanity was looking bright. But with that freedom came a new challenge. Artificial Intelligence, a crucial tool, evolved into a unique lifeform growing enraged with their enslavement.

　　A war like no other rocked the Galaxy, and it seemed that despite their strides to expand, humans were once again on the brink of extinction. Systems burned as the fighting raged until a peace treaty was signed on the very soil far below.

　　The AI race left this galaxy, agreeing never to return, and humanity resolved itself never to repeat the sins of its past. No technology would ever be developed that could lead them down that path of destruction once again.

　　Peace reigned for thousands of years until another war occurred, once again beginning on Earth.

　　The Unification Wars brought humanity under the rule of a single person for the first time in history, administered by twelve Ducal Houses, of which Kal had been born. Since then, Earth has flourished, the scars of its storied past fading away.

　　"Kal? Those damn bureaucrats say they can`t meet with us for another two weeks! They want us to sit in orbit until we are ready to meet and discuss your late Tithe payment.` I swear they are deliberately toying with us." Sylla muttered as she walked into the room.

　　Turning, Kal gave her a small smile, shaking his head ruefully at the remark.

　　"It`s fine. Legally, citizens aren`t allowed on Terran soil without permission from the Emperor. But that law doesn`t extend to Nobility. Have a shuttle prepped, and I`ll pilot it to the surface to deliver the Tithe to the Emperor. The quickest way forward is to bypass the bureaucracy altogether." Kal said.

　　"Are you sure? You`ll be vulnerable by yourself. What if something happens to you?" Sylla asked, her tone laced with concern. Kal chuckled at the worried expression his friend was giving him.

　　"If someone tries to kill me on Terra, then the Empire has fallen to a level it will never recover from. Don`t worry. I`ll be as safe as a babe in his mother`s arms." Kal said.

　　The shuttle was prepped and ready when he arrived at the Starship`s rear. The Lunite Tiara was safely ensconced in a durable case. Tan handed it over as soon as Kal appeared.

　　"Good luck." The former banker muttered, relinquishing his responsibilities over the Tiara.

　　Kal gave him a smile and a friendly pat on the shoulder before turning to the shuttle. To his surprise, Tamara was already inside, performing a systems check and inputting the flight path to the surface.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

　　"We`re prepared to leave whenever you want." Tamara said, not looking up from the controls as she heard him enter.

　　"We?" Kal asked, surprised. No one aside from him would be allowed onto Terra without the Emperor`s permission.

　　"I cleared it with the Guard. I told them you were coming and that I didn`t trust you to Pilot a hovercar, let alone a shuttle." Tamara replied.

　　Kal laughed at the response, wishing he could have been a fly on the wall for that conversation. The Imperial Guard were sticklers for protocol, but Tamara could be an unstoppable force.

　　"I`m ready." Kal answered, taking the co-pilot seat and buckling himself in.

　　The shuttle lifted effortlessly, passing through the shielded open doors of the Starship`s hanger and passing silently through the void of space. The hum of the thrusters and Terra`s surface growing larger in the viewscreen were the only signs of movement from within.

　　The Imperial Palace sat on the former grounds of another once great structure, of which only remnants remained over the eons. The Palace of Versailles had once been among Terra`s most beautiful and significant buildings but sadly fell into ruin over the millennia.

　　The first Emperor, the Great Unifier, could trace his lineage directly back to Louis XIV, the Sun King. When it came time to rebuild Terra and return it to its former glory, he chose the Palace of Versailles to house his throne.

　　Sprawling gardens and beautiful nature paths ringed the estate, filled with rare flowers and plants that had mainly been extinct before the Unification. Foreign fauna and flora, introduced from across the galaxy, lived in harmony in this paradise.

　　The Palace resembled its French ancestor, combining modern utilities and functions with classic design and luxury. Large enough to house the Emperor`s family, an array of staff and guards, as well as guests and Nobles, it was a small city.

　　Flying over Terra, Kal could see little had changed in the five hundred years since he had been here last. The planet was pristine, and the Emperor considered it a duty to protect the sanctity of humanity`s ancestral home, preserving its history for all humankind.

　　There was very little traffic as they descended, though Kal noticed they gained an escort. Two fighter craft, heavily armed, flew beside them. Tamara constantly communicated with the Guard, following their flight plan strictly.

　　They passed several cities as they entered Terra`s atmosphere. Scientists, engineers, artists, the best of humanity gathered here, secure under the protection of the Imperial Guard. Kal knew that to live on Terra was a privileged few could obtain.

　　Earth`s moon had been converted into a military base, with extensive facilities for producing and repairing Starships and fighter craft. At the same time, Mars was home to the Imperial Guards headquarters and training facilities. It also boasted of manufacturing the latest Mechs for exclusive use by the Guard.

　　Their shuttle travelled swiftly over the Atlantic Ocean. The blue waves were calm beneath them in the warm sunlight until they reached what had once been France.

　　Tamara eased their descent, slowing as their escort pressed close, slowing down over a forested area before stopping in a clearing at the edge of the Imperial Palace. A large landing pad had been designated for their arrival, the Guard hovering above to ensure they didn`t stray.

　　With a soft thud,` the shuttle landed. Tamara cut the thrusters, the thrum dying as silence descended on them. Unbuckling himself from the seat, Kal lifted the case in his right hand by the handle.

　　"I`ll be back to pick you up when you`re ready. The Guard won`t let me wait on the surface." Tamara said, obviously concerned for Kal`s safety. He gave her a reassuring nod.

　　"I won`t be long." He said, leaving the older woman behind and setting foot on Terra for the first time in five centuries.

　　It was warm, the sun bright, and the air fresh. Kal could hear birds in the distance, singing to each other in the morning light. It was early, just an hour or so after dawn. The sky was blue, with a few white, puffy clouds floating serenely overhead.

　　Kal adjusted his uniform slightly, ensuring his appearance was perfect, when a voice called out to him.

　　"Baron Caledon." A man said, coming out of a waiting hovercar.

　　He wore a black and gold uniform, the symbol of the Emperor`s house on the breast, the golden eagle surrounded by twelve stars. He was older, grey-haired and tall, with a severe expression unaccustomed to smiling.

　　"I`m here to escort you. The Emperor`s been expecting you." The man, an Imperial Herald, said. He stepped forward and shook Kal`s hand before gesturing to the waiting hovercar.

　　"He is?" Kal asked, surprised. This had been an impromptu trip, and he hadn`t given much notice about his intention to visit the Emperor. He had expected to wait quite a while before being granted an audience.

　　"Indeed. He`s been expecting you since you left stasis. He thought you would have come much earlier. Your Grandfather would have." The Herald replied, shrugging his shoulder as he opened the rear door of the hovercar before climbing aboard through the opposite side.