Chapter 59

Imperial Capital system, Strategic command center...

People from the highest of the upper echelons on the Empire can be seen here. All the high level officials of the Empire from a General to the Supreme Emperor of the Galactic Empire was here as it was filled with people to the brim but was still so extremely spacious.

The strategic command center was on the Imperial Capital system. This was made to be the strategic coordination center as the massive counterattack is about to happen hours from now and everyone are checking to ensure that everything will be close to perfect as this will either make or break their future. Losing this will spell their doom in the negotiations as they badly need a ceasefire to kick the butts of the rebels who's still apparently hiding be it in plain sight or secretly.

Resources was poured on this gigantic theater as tens if not hundreds of millions of starships with the smallest size of 100 meters to as long as the Super Star Destroyer of the Emperor measuring around 50 kilometers in length and has escorts of 15 Super Star Destroyers of sizes varying from 30 to 45 kilometers.

However this ships which was collectively called as the Emperor's Will was staying in the Imperial Capital as reserves.

The scale of the of resources the Empire poured was literally astronomical as they conscripted close to quadrillions of men from all species in the remaining controlled planets of the Empire.

"Sir, everything is ready! Commander Kyloe Rein is ready to engage the first star system and she's just waiting for the official orders from the Emperor." said an Imperial officer with seriousness in his voice. No one is chilling at this moment, no one is being carefree, no one is joking around. Everyone was giving their very best as their future is at stake here.

"Tell her she needs to be ready all the time! There's only 3 hours left before the time of the operation. She needs to always be ready as she'll open the first fires!" ordered the Supreme Commander as he looked at the pale face of Sheev Palpatine on the throne, wearing a black cloak and has the Red Guards on his side, guarding him.

"Yes sir!"

...

Holy Terra, Senate hall...

The whole hall was entirely engulfed by absolute silence as the sound breathing is the one that can only be heard on this gigantic hall filled with the most important officials in the whole of Imperium.

As the Emperor guided his eyes to each one of them he felt as if everything was too good to be true. After all, even if he somehow convinced himself that he's already the Emperor it's too big of a leap in status and career. From a simple man to the Emperor of a galaxy spanning Empire was like the literal personification of the proverb "carp jumping into the dragon's gate".

Nonetheless, all if this has already been fully accepted by him and he'll live this new life with one thing in mind. That thing is leading humanity to the very last stop, the omniverse.

With great power comes great responsibility. A proverb which directly suits his new goal. He'll use all this unimaginable power to make humanity the gods of the past.

As he gently coughed, time seemed to stop as everyone from the tens of millions of worlds occupied was looking at their own television, at the giant screen on a plaza, or anywhere was listening attentively.

"This past year I did a close door retreat to meditate about the current path we're taking. My mind was at a lost as I said to myself that this Imperium isn't what I visualized what the Imperium should be." the Emperor's voice boomed all over the senate hall amd into everyone's ears as his voice had a natural charisma behind it.

"This is not the utopia, the utopia I envisioned everyone will live under...prosperous." added the Emperor as some people had already broke down into tears realizing they failed to actually create the Imperium how the Emperor wanted it to be.

"My lord! I'm sorry for my failure!" wailed a random citizen as he kneeled on the solid ground of a plaza getting sympathy from the people on the surrounding.

"However, as I tried to find fault on this Imperium I was instead confronted with a number." the Emperor striked a smiled as his meer smile made everyone worship him and venerate more than ever. Especially those on the ecclesiarchy, they kniw they're going to use this smile which they photographed as promotions.

"I find this number perfectly sum up what humanity should be. The number is 5000. It took humanity 5000 years fron the very first time we used metals to the age of space exploration." added the Emperor as people started to look at their augmented bodies only to fail to realize what the Emperor mean.

"5000 years, it may seem like a long time but if you'll think about it. It only took us 5000 years from using simple metals to literally sending it to space. If you'll compare pur timeline with the timeline of other races in this galaxy it will surely pale. Some managed to do this in a couple of hundred years, some a only took a thousand..." said the Emperor with a prideful voice as each of his words are like a hammer breaking hitting their brains and rewiring it. Forming an enlightenment.

"But if you'll look at it right now, who's the one having boots on their faces. Is it them? No, it's humanity. Whose weapons are blowing apart their bodies, whose battleships are thundering on the battlefield tearing through their battleships like butter?" the Emperor questioned as he eyed each and every one on the scene.

"It's humanity..."

"Before, our ancestors, only looked up at the sky, imagining how will life look at when that time comes where humanity has stepped on the stars. Tell me, do you think they'll be proud seeing such an abomination of a society? Yes we may have powerful military technology and all of humanity ready to die once there's a need for it. Do you think they'll be proud to see their descendants on this position?" he continued his words as he walked around the stage and finally went down from the stage.

"Yes, we're the superior race, no, we're the greatest race... at least before when we still has this key feature of us." the revelation made the people look at their hands, feel their faces, and many more as they slowly realize that their superiority complex is only out of pure arrogance.

"On our pursuit of the truth, the truth of the universe on why, how, and when did this happen we became the greatest race! Our ability to adapt, our ability the change became our greatest and single most powerful asset!" his voice boomed althroughout the senate hall as some looked embarrassed, some shyed down and looked away, some was stunned.

"Flectere si nequeo superus, acheronta movebo. A phrase I find suitable on how to describe humanity as a whole. If I can't move the heavens, then I shall raise hell!" the Emperor surveyed his surroundings awaiting for any violent reaction, after seeing nothing he continued.

"Humans will always find a way, an alternative to something just to show how stubborn they are. But why am I saying all of these words? It's because of the announcement I have today." a small chuckle was heard from the Emperor as his ever growing smile was seen.

"From this day forth, we, humanity will return to our very old selves. Humans long time ago only dreamt of conquering the stars now that we've done it, what's the next step?" the Emperor broke a smirk as everyone temsed up, waiting for his next line.

"We're conquering not only galaxies,not only the universe. But the entirety of the omniverse..."

"No rock, no planet, no galaxy, and no universe will be left untouched by humanity's greatness. If our ancestors can soar and reach the skies we will outdo them and make them proud. We will spread humanity in the entirety of the omniverse. We will outdo our ancestors, we will face them on the moment of our death with chins raised. We shan't falter, we shan't fail, and most importantly we shall not go in the annals of history without the adjective "The Greatest Race" that ever graced this omniverse its presence as the only phrase suitable to describe it!" each word of the Emperor thundered on each ears. It reached their soul, it made them want such a thing, they wanted to be described as part od the greatest race. They want it, and when a human wants something, hell will freeze first before he fails to get it.

Some fell on their knees, some people cried, some people wailed for forgiveness, but most, were filled with fighting spirit. Being colloquially used as an adjective to describe something great is every species' dream but only one can achieve.

"To infinity and beyond! Glory to mankind! Terra aeternum!" the Emperor shouted on top of his lungs as his voice easily broke the brittle glasses on the Imperial Palace.

The people inside the senate hall as stood straight like a soldier and saluted in front of the Emperor. Likewise in the planets,in the battleships, in the mines, in all places the Imperium controls, people saluted as the Emperor has gave them a new path, a new path other than war.

He showed them the path, the path to infinity and beyond...

Each of these people after saluting shouted on top of their lungs the new slogan of the Imperium as they redied to embark on the journey to godhood.

People stopped what they're doing, the galaxy came to a standstill, everyone stood attentively as they raised their hands and saluted.

"Glory to humanity! Long live the Emperor! To infinity and beyond! Terra aeternum!" the people chanted as they looked like literal fanatics being given a new path to take by their supreme leader.

But at this moment, a loud bang was heard as a messenger barged inside if the senate hall directly on the main entrance. This loud bang was heard as the senate hall immediately quited down to see who's bold enough to disturb the Emperor's announcements.

Battle sisters who's in charge of perimeter security immediately reacted as they moved in to restrain the intruder. The custodians and the silent sisters only closed in on the Emperor to protect him as they formed a human shield surrounding him.

Vulkan seeing the messenger immediately realized something as he rushed towards the messenger to try and have him tell the matter to him in secret as right now is not the good time.

But before he or the battle sisters can reach him, the messenger has already shouted as he reported directly to the Emperor as he knew the severity of the message he has at hand.

"My lord the Empire has launched a full scale assault on the galactic theater!"

His words boomed on everyone's ears and they knew what they had to do. He was immediately restrained by the Sisters if Battle as he got hit by bone pulverising, gut crunching punches and butt pommels courtesy of the bolters of the Sisters of Battle.

The people inside the senate hall looked serious as they clutched their fist and immediately decided on one thing.

The Galactic Empire will be the first stepping stone on humanity's journey to greatness and godhood...