Chapter 185

—3 Months Later—

Installation 00 (The Ark), the official capital of the Ascendency, hosted Billions of people from every single species within the galaxy. Today, the Installation was brimming with activity as the Xalanyn have completed their Soul Gazing process and have discovered a bunch of symbols that when decoded would reveal the location of the emperor.

Sitting down within the massive Senate chamber, Catherine was sitting where Axel would normally sit as she was the acting Empress. Beside her were Arthur and Andrew, alongside Miranda with the Honor Guards positioned behind them.

Filling up the rest of the seats were all the Senators of the Ascendency alongside several other high-ranking people.

A few minutes later, Harbinger and a few other Xalanyn walked into the room taking center stage. The chamber fell silent as the Xalanyn delegation adorned in their ceremonial garb walked to the center podium.

Harbringer carried a crystalline device in her hands that had faint patterns of light, shifting and morphing like liquid stars. Catherine glanced at Miranda, Arthur, and Andrew; their expressions filled with curiosity. The Honor Guards stood like statues, unmoving but watchful.

At the Podium, Harbringer raised her head slightly, her gaze looking over the assembly of Senators. This was her first time standing in front of the Imperial Senate but as the leader of her species she didn't feel anything with the hundreds of eyes on her. "Honored Senate of the Imperial Ascendency," she began, "We bring you what you have been waiting for. The symbols we discovered during the Soul Gazing process have been meticulously studied by our most adept scholars. What lies within this device," she lifted the crystalline object slightly, "is not merely a fragment of information but a map to another galaxy."

A low murmur rippled through the Senate chamber as individuals leaned closer to one another, whispering theories and speculations. Catherine raised her hand subtly, silencing the room once more.

"We have delved deep into living Time itself, peering into the echoes of events past and the ripples of Axel's resonance. The journey was arduous, fraught with peril, and the lives of several Xalanyn who volunteered for this endeavor now hang in delicate balance as they recover. Yet their sacrifice was not in vain. What we present here is the culmination of their courage and the emperor's enduring mark upon the fabric of reality."

She pressed a sequence on the crystalline device, and a holographic projection erupted from its surface. A swirl of light formed a three-dimensional star map, its constellations unfamiliar to most present. At the heart of the projection was a singular glowing point, pulsing like a heartbeat.

"This," Harbinger continued, "is where the emperor resides. A galaxy far removed from our own, shrouded in energy fields and spatial anomalies, requiring precise calculations to traverse. The coordinates have been decoded, and a pathway can now be charted.

The Senate erupted into applause and cheers, hope blooming within the vast chamber. Catherine felt a swell of emotion she had been hiding for a while resurge. 'We finally know where he is', she thought, gripping the armrests of her seat.

Miranda leaned over to whisper, "The Ascendency's best minds will be mobilized immediately to prepare for a rescue mission."

Catherine nodded, keeping her expression neutral. "Good, I want our best on this."

As Harbinger stepped back from the podium, the murmurs began to shift. A few Senators had risen, faces lined with skepticism. 'And what have we got here' she thought watching the few Senators rise from their seats."

One of the first to speak was Senator Renlo, a representative known for his connections to more isolationist factions which have been originating since the end of the Reaper war, over the past few months they have been getting heavily influenced by the Precursors.

"While the Xalanyn's contribution is commendable, I must question the wisdom of devoting such immense resources to this endeavor. We have just emerged from a galaxy sized war, we are already funding the re-construction of the other galaxy, and now we have to spend more on a new project. Should we not focus on consolidation rather than on yet another galaxy-spanning crusade?"

A few Senators nodded in agreement, and others murmured disapproval. Catherine kept her composure as Renlo continued. "Furthermore, do we truly know what awaits us in this galaxy? What if this is a trap set by the enemies of the Ascendency? What assurances do we have that our Emperor is truly there?"

Before Catherine could respond, another Senator rose, "I concur with Senator Renlo. We cannot allow the emotional bonds we hold for our Emperor to cloud our judgment. The Ascendency thrives because of its systems and governance, not solely because of Axel. His absence, while deeply felt, has not rendered us incapable. Why risk all for one man?"

The chamber grew tense as lines began to be drawn. Catherine glanced at Admiral Xytan, whose face betrayed none of his thoughts. Miranda, on the other hand, looked ready to leap to her feet and voice some very unprofessional words. Catherine subtly shook her head, signaling patience.

Finally, after some time she stood up.

"Senators," she began, her voice calm but firm, "I hear your concerns, and I respect your right to voice them. But let us not forget who Axel is to the Ascendency. He is not merely our Emperor; he is the architect of this unity, the one who forged alliances where there was once animosity. To abandon him is to abandon the very principles upon which this empire stands."

Her gaze swept the chamber, silencing dissenters. "Yes, the path ahead is fraught with uncertainty. But when has the Ascendency ever faltered in the face of the unknown? We have overcome countless situations and rebuilt civilizations. This is no different."

She continued, "And to those who suggest this may be a trap, let me assure you, we will not rush blindly into danger. Every precaution will be taken, every detail scrutinized. But make no mistake, this mission will proceed."

The chamber erupted into a mix of applause and subdued grumbles. Catherine knew she had not won over everyone, but it was enough for now. The Ascendency would move forward, as it always had, with purpose and resolve.

As the session adjourned, Catherine retreated to her chambers, the weight of the day's events pressing heavily on her shoulders. She had Miranda begin setting up the project and began gathering the Ascendency's brightest minds.

However, the Precursors have already set up their countermeasures in motion. The arrival of the Xalanyn's map to the emperor's location had not gone unnoticed.

The Precursors had sent deep undercover agents which have replaced a few Senators or managed to take over their minds through sophisticated neural infiltration techniques, undetectable by even the most advanced Imperial security measures.

The Precursors had waited patiently for this moment, understanding that the Ascendency's obsession with their missing Emperor would make them vulnerable.

—4 Months later—

The vast Assembly shipyards of Installation 00 were alive with activity. The Ascendency's greatest minds and military strategists had come together to construct a new fleet, specially designed to traverse the uncharted regions of the newly discovered galaxy. The flagship, Eclipse Ascendant, loomed over the assembly yards like a titan, bristling with experimental technologies reverse-engineered from Forerunner and Xalanyn designs.

Inside the command chamber of the flagship, Catherine stood with Miranda, Admiral Xytan, and Harbinger. Around them, holograms displayed projections of the new galaxy, alongside simulations of possible travel paths and hostile encounters.

"The fleet is nearly ready," Admiral Xytan reported, his tone steady. "We've implemented every safeguard possible. Shielding against dimensional anomalies, enhanced slipspace drives, and even an integrated Xalanyn temporal stabilization matrix."

Harbinger nodded approvingly. "The matrix will protect your fleet against distortions that may occur as you traverse the boundaries of this galaxy. The Xalanyn have also provided predictive navigational aids based on the patterns we've observed during Soul Gazing."

Catherine folded her arms, studying the map. "Good. I don't want us walking into this blindly."

Miranda chimed in, "What about the potential for sabotage? We've had whispers of unrest among some senators, and security reports suggest increased attempts to infiltrate our systems."

"The AIA have been on it and are looking into the sudden rise in these Senators and their agendas," Catherine replied. For decades, the Senate has been extremely efficient and united when it came to major decisions like these. It would be hard to think that since Axel's gone, the Senators are now diverging from their united stance.