Quoted By:
It is time to take your reign in stride. You have decided to make a vow- a powerful commitment to your people. With your approval ratings and the morale of your people still low after the trauma of suffering the wrath of Ingar's attempt at ultimate power- a vow would give your early reign a massive push. <span class="mu-i"><span class="mu-s">Failing to complete this vow will result in shame upon your reign</span></span> in the annals of history. However, in exchange for a vow, you can <span class="mu-s"><span class="mu-i">perform two powerful actions at once</span></span>.
You first think that a vow to conquer the Haazar and Baalathi regions of space but... the truth is, even your ambition and confidence is shaken at the thought. Your fastest ships will need to fly for years to reach that region of space- even if you can defeat all resistance with your huge war fleet (which you will need to construct first), who knows how long a siege on a fortified system could take. You'll need to defeat and pacify all systems first. Even if your vow would be just to take the homeworlds, you'd have to make a mad dash and fight a war on two fronts, leaving yourself open, with many unoccupied systems that could act as staging areas for foes.
You also have the concept of a vow to become the envy of your galactic neighbors military- that's better, but you have no idea what sort of technology or effort that may take. Being courageous is always a good thing, getting into a pointless arms race with the Esaal or Consortium is not.
Even worse; there is always the chance that the large rival powers of the neighboring empires could gobble up that space before you accomplish it. At least you know they haven't already- your <span class="mu-s">worm advisor assures you</span> that your political starmap is up to date. Of course, your people aren't pedantic when it comes to vows; you wouldn't have to take <span class="mu-i">every</span> system, but if a majority are colonized by rival powers first, the vow will become impossible without a catastrophic war.
In the end, you decide on a compromise. Seeing how large and influential your rivals in space are, you decide to go to the public with your speech prepared.
<span class="mu-b">”It is only now, in these years, that we see the true scope and scale of galactic civilization. We see empires flourishing and expanding, laying claim to foreign moons and stars; while we recover from a famine and unprecedented disaster. Despite our hardships, we are ready. It is time to advance our civilization- we will <span class="mu-i">not</span> be a backwater, hedged in by circumstance. We will be a major power of the galactic community- a force to be reckoned with. If our power be conquest, commerce, or culture- so be it! I solemnly vow that <span class="mu-s">we will become a true interstellar empire and have a Jaaxtian colony on all systems of our local cluster by the end of my reign!”</span></span>
The people rejoice at a powerful, determined Supreme Ruler who promises so much; it has been two centuries since Qet Scholiander made such a vow. Now to deliver your promise.
