Chapter 659 Adressing the empire (1)  

As Aron and Nova visited the different families to deliver the sad news, the rest of the empire was left wondering about their activities. Videos circulated of them arriving at ordinary houses, spending a few hours inside, and soldiers raising a white imperial flag in front of each house before departing. The sight of the white flag, symbolizing the loss of someone who died in the line of duty, sparked widespread curiosity and concern among the citizens, who speculated about the nature of these visits and the tragic news being shared. With these visits occurring randomly and often on different continents, many people dismissed the idea of them being surprise visits. This conclusion was further supported by the sight of the white imperial flag, a symbol previously only seen at official burial sites like war heroes' cemeteries or the burial grounds of those who had fallen victim to cult attacks. The presence of the flag indicated a somber purpose behind the visits, leading the public to speculate about a recent tragedy affecting multiple families across the empire.

But the speculation didn’t last too long as some of the family members of the deceased had told the neighbours who had visited them which spread from there, or some distant relatives using this as a means of gathering clout on the internet but the gist of the reason behind his visit was made known and with the imperial press secretary still remaining quiet on the situation people started coming up with their speculations of their own.

With the reason for Aron's visits revealed, news spread that the visited families had members on the exploration fleet. This led to widespread speculation about how the news reached the empire if the fleet was still supposed to be in transit. People wondered if the number of dead was limited to those visited or if there were more casualties, with Aron visiting families randomly and others set to receive the news later.

Although millions were aware of the existence of FTL transportation within the imperial arsenal, ninety-nine percent of them were currently on an exploration mission. The few who remained on Earth kept this information to themselves, as it was still classified technology. This left the public with nothing but speculation, leading people to create their own theories and narratives in the absence of official acknowledgment or leads.

Some speculated that the empire possessed FTL capabilities, but these claims were largely dismissed with scientific arguments emphasizing the impossibility of surpassing the speed of light. Others theorized that the Proxima Centauri Fleet might have blown up mid-way and that imperial observatories had observed this, prompting the delivery of the grim news. Another group suggested that the emperor was using this situation to divert attention from the recent controversy involving an awakener who was killed for attempting to attack him. Each theory, regardless of its basis in reality, added to the growing tension and demand for official clarification from the empire.

The speculation didn't last long. Shortly after, a notification went out announcing that the emperor would be addressing the empire. Since this was not an emergency address, it wouldn't override all broadcasts but would be aired on government-owned channels and any other channels that chose to carry it. …………

Upon the arrival of the scheduled address, Aron materialized in front of his usual address room in VR. The room was still in use, as the construction of the imperial palace had yet to begin, and his current address remained operational for other tasks within the still privately owned island. This made VR the only place where he could address the empire while also having reporters from all over the world present to ask questions.

After his usual brief greetings, he got straight to the point. First and foremost, it is with a heavy heart that I confirm the tragic loss of our exploration fleet to Proxima Centauri. The brave men and women who embarked on this mission knew the risks involved, and they made the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of knowledge and the advancement of our empire.

To the families and loved ones of those we have lost, I extend my deepest condolences. As you may have seen, I have been personally visiting the families of the deceased to offer my support and ensure they receive the benefits and assistance due to them. This is a small gesture in the face of such a profound loss, but it is my hope that it provides some comfort during this difficult time.

As for why we are only announcing the deaths of a few members and not the entire fleet, as many of you speculated, it is because they are not in transit, the Proxima Centauri exploration fleet had already arrived and started their mission more than a year ago," he paused, knowing the weight of his words required a moment for the audience to process.

"Yes, I know it seems impossible to have achieved this without traveling faster than light, given the distance is more than five light years. So, I will take this moment to officially acknowledge faster-than-light travel's existence. All of our exploration fleets have arrived at their destinations, some just a few weeks ago." He paused again to let the significance of his statement sink in.

"Now that the question of travel has been addressed, many of you must be wondering how we received the news of their deaths if they are five light years away. Currently, we don't have direct communication established with them due to the high energy requirements. Instead, the communication was delivered in the traditional way, by sending servers back with the information. These messengers arrived yesterday hence, our verification of their deaths only happened yesterday." He then proceeded to delve deeper into how the deceased would be honored and what medals would be provided, creating an impression that this address was primarily about satisfying people's curiosity regarding his recent activities, thereby diverting attention from the imminent announcement he intended to deliver once he had paid due respects to the deceased. For those privy to the upcoming announcement, it was clear that it would overshadow everything said before, which was why he dedicated significant time to honoring the dead and giving them the spotlight at the outset.