Chapter 24: Intermission
"Continuing our top story tonight, Emperor Prometheus Sunflare and his wife, Empress Arianasa Sunflare, unilaterally declared themselves to be the new and 'true' gods of Humanity itself, stating that it is their mission to guide humankind and all other intelligent life into the future. The Emperor's and Empress's human likenesses appeared in the sky across the world, their voices projected to ensure they could be heard by all, regardless of their location and seemingly in their own native language. After making these statements they requested that all peoples of the world follow their tenets as well as asking everyone to dedicate themselves to the worship of their new gods, though they qualified that every person should do as their conscience dictates.
Given the potential global catastrophe that nearly struck the planet several days ago except for the intervention of Emperor Sunflare, the world-wide broadcast of the battle in New York that followed shortly thereafter, and the fact that millions of people already worship the Emperor and Empress, few are doubting their right to declare themselves as Humanity's gods. However, several of the major religious organizations around the world, including the Catholic Church, have voiced opposition to his statements. Iran's supreme leader and other Middle Eastern nations have officially declared that they will not be supporting such an action and call on their allies to reject the Emperor's 'demand'. Some are even going so far as to suggest a declaration of Jihad against him as a result..."
"The Zurich nuclear fusion plant went online today with a large crowd in attendance to observe the ribbon cutting ceremony. This is the 30th such plant that has opened around the world and more are being built every day with the help of government funding alongside the multinational corporation Trans-Dimensional Technologies as well as technicians and scientists employed by Emperor Sunflare's Order of Illumination. The energy output of these plants has already provided a boon to the various economies that are struggling around the world due to global climate change. In a recent statement released by the Chinese government, it is Emperor Sunflare's intention that one day in the very near future, the proliferation of such plants will ensure cheap and abundant energy to not only sustain Humanity's needs but allow it to flourish into the future. These specific plants use deuterium fuel in conjunction with what is known as a reverse configuration ultra-efficient Stellarator to generate its own internal magnetic containment field for the plasma core, thus lowering the power requirements for the reactor overall…"
"China's economy and infrastructure continue to improve under the leadership of its new Emperor. The massive shakeup in governmental positions over the last several months have allowed the inefficient and often corrupt Chinese bureaucracy to be replaced with a more streamlined model where the various provinces' Governors report directly to the Emperor or Empress. These positions are now chosen based on merit rather than family connections or the history of their house. These Governors have direct control over their regions but are also directly responsible for its growth or decline and citizens can petition the Emperor or Empress if they feel their needs are being ignored or they themselves are being misused. Each Governor serves at the pleasure of the Emperor and can be removed if the Emperor feels that their skills are not adequate for the task or if they have become corrupt in their practices. These new protocols along with funding and wealth redistribution has led to a boom in the standard of living for most Chinese, even in the most rural areas. Improvements in production efficiency and changes in labor practices alongside the Emperor's Synthoid subjects has ensured China's position as a production power house on the world stage for decades to come."
"The streets of Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Myanmar are in turmoil tonight as populist riots continue for their seventh straight week, the various groups demanding that their nations either officially become a part of China's territory or become a vassal state to the nation. Two months ago, after several months of deliberation and with the popular support of its citizens, the former nation of Nepal officially dissolved its democratic government and formally submitted itself and its citizens to Chinese rule, creating a powerful precedent and blueprint for other nations to potentially follow. In other news, China's Emperor released an official statement today, stating that the former state of Tibet, which was incorporated into the Chinese state in 1951, will be allowed to retain its individual beliefs and the history of its people in perpetuity, a long-standing goal of the former 14th Dalai Lama who crusaded for the Tibetan people's ethnic independence during the late 20th and early 21st centuries while in exile in India..."
"After years of deliberation and vetoes by various member states the United Nations has officially signed the Sanctity of Artificial Life resolution. While several countries already have laws in place confirming that any form of sufficiently advanced artificial life will have the same rights and privileges as any human citizen of that nation, the U.N resolution now makes such protections official for all member states. The first to create such a law was China with Emperor Prometheus Sunflare having decreed by executive fiat that all artificial beings known as Synthoids would have the same freedoms and rights afforded to Chinese citizens as well as any member of his empire. According to various sources such artificial creations, while not entirely common in the Emperor's homeworld of Oerth, are known to exist and have had such rights for years. The question of what milestones are required in order to qualify as sentient artificial life under the new resolution was one of the major hurdles..."
"Dimensional travel between the Lord and Lady Sunflare's home dimension of Oerth and its planets has been previously reserved for tightly controlled trade and the movement of refugees as well as official duties for the royal court. However, this state of affairs is soon to change according to a recent statement released by the Emperor's office. Advances in various technologies known specifically to the Emperor and his scientists combined with new advances in material sciences from Trans-Dimensional Technologies has enabled the production of stable dimensional gateways between the two realms which some are calling 'magi-tech'. The trading indexes jumped several percentage points at the news, buoyed by the prospect of new markets and potential trading partners in the adjacent realms as well as access to various lands and new trade goods from Oerth itself which were previously in limited supply. The tourism industry is also expected to see significant gains due to the upcoming lessening of travel restrictions between the two dimensions but many are wondering just how such trading will be accomplished given that dimensional trade has never been practiced before and the different time flows between the two realities..."
"The Empress Sunflare's recent activities relating to the alteration of the Sahara desert has brought about significant population and political shifts in the region. As many are aware the Sahara was first reforested by Emperor Sunflare years ago in an attempt to revitalize the region. While the initial efforts met with limited success, Empress Sunflare's divine rule over nature has allowed her to terraform and alter various underground water tables, enabling the region to flourish and bringing lush vegetation where none had existed for countless centuries. The indigenous Tuareg and Bedouin tribes who have called the desert home for many generations have mixed views on the matter. While they do insist that it is a legitimate miracle and will bring much prosperity to the region, their way of life has been irrevocably altered and it will be some time, perhaps even a generation or two, before they become fully acclimated to this new reality. A spokesperson for the Empress has made an official statement regarding the tribes' concerns..."
"The last twenty years have brought about radical shifts in how our society functions! At the beginning of the 21st century many considered the concept of a post-scarcity society a pipe dream at best and a calamity for most of the population at worst! There were fears of mass unemployment! Of sociological and income divisions that dwarfed anything that had come before! But we have proven that creating such a society was not only possible but a boon when guided with clear vision and wisdom! Through our revelations of advanced technology and the incorporation of our Synthoid siblings into the human race, dangerous forms of work and indeed many forms of work have been eliminated or are no longer a concern in many countries! In these places no one is forced to be homeless, food is abundant, basic necessities are always on hand, healthcare is a universal right, and many ethnic and religious wars that have consumed various groups for centuries have come to an end thanks to the aid we have provided along with the movement of refugees to other worlds in Oerthian space where they flourish to this day!
But even this is not enough, for people still go hungry or are denied even the basic needs in other parts of the world because of corporate greed or the selfishness of their own governments who cling to the remnants of their power like leeches! Many still claim favoritism and nepotism when dispensing our gifts or sharing our knowledge with others! I am here to tell you that today a new avenue opens for those who desire it, an avenue that will dispel these false rumors and outlandish claims!
Miracles and magic have been the exclusive domain of wizards, witches, gods, and other ancient powers since time immemorial but I tell you today that is no longer the case! Many of you have seen the miracles our priests have performed over the decades since our arrival here and today we invite all of you to take part! On our homeworld of Oerth magic is a fact of life as are miracles, but Humanity has only begun to adjust to this reality! That is why, after much deliberation and planning, we have decided to begin opening schools and universities which will allow anyone to learn of these ancient practices and to use them for not only the extraordinary but the mundane! Magic is not a science but it is an art, a tool like any other, and as such it can be taught! There are many forms of magic that can be learned and we look forward to sharing them all with you in the coming years so that individuals may not only grow and prosper but society as a whole as well! Thank you!"
"That was the Great Mother, Lady Sunflare, announcing the intended creation of new schools whose curriculum will apparently focus on the magical arts. Further details will no doubt be forthcoming in the days ahead but this announcement alone will certainly have immense consequences for society as a whole given that previously such abilities were limited only to native Oerthians already skilled in the arcane or members of the Royal family's priesthood..."
"...oil prices have been steadily declining in recent years due to the ongoing proliferation of nuclear fusion plants across the globe, enabling most nations to easily transition to alternative green energy and hydrogen fuel cells with a minimum of overhead costs and power transmission upgrades. While various governments did initially push back against the seemingly unproven technology, confirmation of the processes' safety and usability enabled the last hurdles to be cleared, allowing fusion energy to make up nearly 75% of the world's total power production. As a result various Middle-Eastern nations as well as traditional petroleum and natural gas consortiums have been feeling the pinch in several markets as their once near monopoly on oil and other fuel sources has largely become relegated to manufacturing and production needs, stripping these countries and companies of their political and physical capital. But even these niches may soon become unprofitable as various new and innovative chemical processes released to specific scientific groups by what some are beginning to call 'divine revelation' has enabled the production of higher grade plastine substances which can be easily shaped and are also self-repairing, cutting further into the Middle East's largest exports and various corporate profits. Exxon-Mobil CEO Dwight Richards said in a statement today that..."
"The gods have not given us any reason to worry about this. All of what they have given us has proven…"
"Yes we have been given a lot! Yes magic is now becoming a reality! But that's not my concern here! My concern is privacy! We have artificial intelligences taking control of countless systems because we are ceding that authority to them either voluntarily or because the Emperor demands it! We have robots-"
"Synthoids, please, robots are a degrading term for what they are."
"Fine, yes, Synthoids. My point is that we have them everywhere now, you can't tell the difference between them and a normal person by just looking at them! Between them and all the other infrastructure that's been put in place we are literally living in a mass surveillance state! What about the privacy to do what we want without being overheard or reported by someone or something on the other side of a wall? How do we know that everything we do isn't being monitored and recorded for 'security reasons' or at worse, blackmail?"
"How do we know this hasn't happened already? Intrusive technology and the potential to abuse them has been around since the advent of the internet and portable phones."
"Yes, but at least then you could switch the device off or avoid them in some way! Now we can't because the devices can come to you even if you don't want them nearby! What's worse, some magics supposedly allow you to read the thoughts of other people and even take control of them!"
"The gods have addressed that issue already when the schools first opened. Traces of magic left by such intrusions are detectable and there are limitations such as line of sight, not to mention it can be fought off. Anyone attempting to use such magic for their own gain would be quickly found out and prosecuted. The new laws put forth by the gods regarding the misuse of such power are extremely severe and are considered the equivalent of a rape charge."
"Yes, the gods, let's talk about them shall we? They have the power to invade anyone's mind on a whim and learn everything they've ever done! Their desires, their fantasies, any crimes they may have committed or thought about committing! They are the very definition of 'thought police'! People don't talk about that because they wow the populace with shiny new toys and innovations that make them seem like paragons of virtue! But your thoughts are no longer safe! Mine aren't safe! The sanctity of the mind was the last secret place we had, a place where we knew we could think and dream however we wanted without anyone judging us! But now we don't even have that! How do we know that the gods won't just swoop down with their priests or the local police and arrest or detain us because of 'deviant thoughts' or 'potential crimes'? And who would object if they did?! You can't put a god on trial or remove them from office if they abuse their power! We are powerless against them!"
"I don't disagree with anything you've said and you raise valid points of concern. The gods could offer us assurances for their behavior but there's no guarantee they would follow through. They could intentionally limit themselves but we would have no way of verifying that. I suppose it really comes down to faith and trust. You could say something similar about your wife or your friends. How do you know your wife or friends aren't spying on you, listening to your conversations, and reporting to the authorities? How do you know the government isn't looking at every website you visit and social media post to create a profile on you so that they could arrest you whenever they wish?
You don't.
And yet, we're sitting here, having this conversation unmolested, and you live your life every day without constantly worrying about it. This is certainly a topic that should concern us all but at some point it comes down to quality of life and diminishing returns. Do you wish to live in constant fear and paranoia about what the government and the gods might do, or do you accept that reality as it is and live your life as best you can? I have no doubt you could pray to the gods right now and they would give you an answer but would you be satisfied with that answer or would you consider it another lie to keep you complacent? How far do you take this line of thought and in the end, is there really anything you, personally, can do about it?"
"So you're advocating for defeatism!"
"Defeating the gods is quite literally pointless in my opinion. They've proven that our most powerful weapons are useless against them and even if we were to somehow, in secret mind you, create a 'godkiller' weapon, they could easily leave us to our own devices if they chose. The Emperor and Empress did not have to come here and make the changes they did but they did so because they want to see us prosper and grow as a people. They have made that much clear through their words and their actions. The lack of privacy, even in one's own mind, is a terrifying notion, I won't disagree, but even if people rose up in protest en mass it wouldn't do much good because the gods would still be the gods at the end of the day. You can call that defeatism if you want but I would call it a pragmatic acceptance of reality as it is now. If you fear what the gods will see in your mind then have the courage to confront them on it. Speak to them and demand to know their thoughts on what is in your mind. I have no doubt they'll be perfectly candid with you. Of course, the Empress is not called the Queen of Mercy for no reason. They are not just judges and arbiters, they are compassionate and caring as well. I honestly believe some people fear them so much that they forget that."
"You won't be as blasé about it when they come to take you away for daring to think about committing murder or improper thoughts."
"The Class of 2090's graduation ceremony for the University of Thaumaturgy Chicago campus has just begun with a round of fireworks and other impressive displays as the newly minted Mages and Clerics celebrate their years of hard work and constant study to learn their various specialities. As many are aware the influx of new mages from the various Thaumaturgical Universities around the world has created not only new job markets that are only expected to become more in demand during the next several decades, but has also created new shifts in existing markets as well, with mages redefining how some jobs are performed. Duplication spells alone have allowed food and material goods production to skyrocket and existing supply chains have been revolutionized by making use of stasis spells and teleportation circles of huge proportions.
The hall is filled with students in a myriad of colored graduation gowns, from pure white for the generalist or Universal Mages to crimson for the Evocators, and amber for the Illusionists. I can see several gold robes for the Abjurators, emerald green for the Diviners, along with the royal blue of the Conjurators, several violet robes denoting Enchanters, and silver for the Transmutators. There are also a few scattered grey and brass robes of the Technomancers. For those unfamiliar with the term, these are scientists and engineers who desire to combine technology and the magical arts into new creations known as Magitek without officially joining the Great Father's Order of Illumination as Clerics in order to focus on pure research and discovery, often without the aid of divine revelation and guidance from the Great Father. I can also see several robes of white and gold for those who have chosen to join the Order of Illumination as Clerics of the Great Father and Mother to pursue Their work exclusively. The Dean of the University and one of the first Archmages, Merriman Lyon Ambrosius, is stepping up to the podium now to begin his commencement speech. I also understand that one of the Synthoid graduates will be giving a speech as well..."
"It's a new year and a new century here in New York as people from across the world celebrate this momentous occasion, the clock having just passed midnight on January 1st, 2100. A look back at the last 50 years has brought about incredible changes that few considered possible back then. At the time the world was in the midst of a global climate crisis with many coastal cities and populations left as homeless refugees. Thanks in large measure to the Great Father and Mother's arrival and their constant aid, even in the face of opposition from world leaders at the time, CO2 levels are now at more normal levels and the acidization of the oceans has been greatly diminished. Global temperatures are only slightly above the norm, and with nuclear fusion now the primary source of all energy production planet-wide, the people of the world are at last able to look to the future with not only hope, but anticipation. Lord Prometheus recently released a statement in which he announced his intentions to begin construction of a space elevator near the equator. This new and never before created megastructure would allow the rapid transportation of goods and materials from the Earth's surface into low planetary orbit where it could then be used for orbital construction projects such as space stations and satellite disbursement. While orbital debris has been a significant concern regarding such projects, recent efforts by the United Nations Space Administration under the guidance of Lord Prometheus himself appear to be making considerable headway..."
"It's an interesting sociological phenomenon, the differences between the various generations and the disconnect that arises as time marches on between one generation and the next. The events and issues that arose in the previous generation's time are generally dealt with or their impact is muted by the time the next generation comes of age and thus the warnings of the older generation either fall on deaf ears or they are taken with skepticism due to the changing times while the older generation feels less and less in control due to their wisdom going unheeded and their usefulness declining. This is especially true with generational gaps across multiple generations.
There have been studies done in the previous centuries of course but it was not until the end of the 20th century that the matter was examined in any significant detail due to the rise of the global Internet and how that profound shift in technology and communication changed society as a whole. Obviously each generation had its own pivotal events, such as World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, the Vietnam war, the 9/11 attacks, and so on. In the early 21st century it was remarked on that there were people who had grown up not knowing what the Internet was for it hadn't existed for some portion of their lives. Today we see something similar in that at least two generations have grown up with the gods being a constant and familiar presence in their lives in one way or another. Even if they are not particularly religious or devoted they are still aware of the gods' existence and the work that they do for society. They have seen them on television and online in various media, they have witnessed the various miracles they do and the innovations they provide. To them, the gods have always been there and always will be.
They have no concept of what the world was like before the gods apart from history lessons and anecdotes which are impersonal at best, having no direct connection to their lives as they are now. They have no concept of the fear of death as death has been conquered not just in one way but in several. Even fifty years ago, losing a limb or incurring major damage to the body was a terrible mental and physical shock, requiring major surgeries, months of rehabilitation, and the knowledge that one's quality of life would be lessened to a significant degree even if the prognosis was generally positive. These days, healing magic is often able to reverse these damages and even when such magics are insufficient, the person's brain or mind can be transferred into a partially Synthoid or fully Synthoid body with only some general rehabilitation needed in order to become used to their new mode of existence. These bodies are constantly being upgraded to allow new experiences indistinguishable from and even superior to, baseline human. Yet even in the most extreme cases when death is unavoidable and immediate, translation of the soul into the afterlife is a proven fact as well as literal resurrection from the dead if the Great Mother deigns to grant such a boon.
With these facts along with the taming of our world and the knowledge that humankind is reaching out to grasp the stars, it begs the question of complacency. The young mind wonders, 'if the gods will always watch over me, if death has no sting as it once did, if I am protected, what have I to fear?' While this can be a comforting and even liberating notion to those who lived part of their lives without the gods' protections, it can become a dangerous precedent for not only the current generation but future ones as well, and it is a concern that the gods themselves have remarked upon. As the Great Father himself stated at one point:
'It is a fine line, balancing between careless complacency and confident exploration, and every individual must be careful as they walk it. While I and Arianasa walk on either side of you to help you keep your footing, we cannot stop you if you choose to intentionally fall.'"
"A fascinating insight into humanity Professor, thank you for taking the time to discuss these subjects with us. That was Dr. Thaddeus Manafort, Professor of Sociology and Metatrends at Cornell University."
"Asteroid mining is considered by many to be the new frontier with the planet's first ore refining and manufacturing space hub now in orbit after several years of construction. We'll be speaking with Project Director William Yu of Transtar Industries and the United Nations Space Administration representative Jason Doeks, about their prospects for this exciting new phase of human expansion. According to recent reports by the agency, they expect to have the first long range space vehicle constructed in orbit by the end of the year, after which it will be sent on its maiden voyage..."
"We now go live to the United Nations Security Council in New York where the Great Father is giving his address…"
"Our preliminary expansion into the inner solar system has been going well with the near dwarf planet-sized Ceres asteroid providing a significant amount of precious metals and other natural resources to Earth. This in turn allowed us to build our Synthoid-based production and mining facilities on Luna which has yielded an abundance of titanium, as well as hydrogen, oxygen, lunar ice, and other resources. From there we were able to take the next step and begin colonizing Mars itself with the Martian and Lunar colonies able to trade directly with Ceres. These are all significant milestones in Humanity's first steps to becoming an interstellar empire on par with our brothers and sisters in Oerthian space and such an empire requires a strong and efficient government to back it! This august body has served Earth well ever since its inception in the middle of the 20th century after the second great war! I do not stand here today to diminish what it has accomplished, nor do I stand here to declare it an outdated system of governance! On many worlds this form of governing body is the first step in the process of planetary unification and it has played its part well. In another time and place it would have grown stronger and more effective to the point where it became the governing body of Earth itself! However, in this time, and in this place, it shall evolve in a new direction! The United Nations will not be dissolved but instead shall become the new Council of Sol! Like the Heavenly Bureaucracy and the style of governance I introduced in China decades ago, each nation and colony shall be ruled by a President or Prime Minister in good standing, appointed by the people democratically via secure popular vote, and confirmed by Myself. From this room myself, my wife, and the Council shall govern with wisdom and resolution! Naturally this process will take time to implement, I will not suddenly change the geopolitical landscape of the solar system overnight! However, in the near future, this Council and all its members shall meet in this room under a new banner! The banner of a united Humanity! The banner of a strong and prosperous empire! The banner of Prometheus and Arianasa Sunflare, the gods of this universe and the Imperium of Light!"
"...colonists on Mars and excavators on Ceres have confirmed that the new Magitek Messaging system is a success, allowing for faster than light communication between locations across the solar system. The new system uses a long range laser data burst communications array in conjunction with a structurally-altered Sending spell integrated into the device itself in order to send compressed data signals through what scientists colloquially call a 'temporary hyperspace wormhole', opening the possibility for use in other areas. Researchers are already investigating the potential for using integrated circuits etched with microscopic magical runes via laser beam to decrease, if not remove, data transmission delays by creating tiny wormholes between the different circuits in various devices, allowing for instantaneous communication between them..."
"Thanks to the significant resources mined from the Lunar and Martian surfaces the God-Emperor has stated his intention to begin construction of space-based habitats commonly known as 'O'Neill Cylinders'. The God-Emperor made a point to mention that these cylinders offer a cost-effective and much more comfortable option for space-farers than attempting to terraform various inhospitable planets. First proposed by American physicist Gerard K. O'Neill in his 1976 book 'The High Frontier: Human Colonies in Space', the book describes the habitat as two counter-rotating cylinders connected to each other, both several miles in diameter and up to twenty miles or 32 km in length. These cylinders would be able to house up to 100 million people each and would have artificial gravity as well as Earth-like structures such as artificial sunlight, mountains, lakes, and soil, allowing for the production of local crops and other necessities. Based on current Magitek capabilities and the various arcane arts Humanity has at its disposal, the God-Emperor believes he will be able to vastly improve the size and efficiency of such habitats, potentially doubling them in size and allowing them to hold possibly half a billion inhabitants at a time. The cost for each cylinder is estimated to be around half a trillion dollars and would take approximately 5-6 years to construct given the current A.I efficient production processes and transportation systems already in place in low Earth orbit."
"...one of the main concerns has always been how to deal with social and psychological deviancy in an ethical and appropriate manner while ensuring said deviancy does not negatively impact the rest of society. Here you can see our solution to this quandary."
"Can you explain this process in more detail Your Eminence?"
"Certainly. These individuals are currently connected into a full sensory simulation experience via their neural implants where they are able to fulfill their various desires and obsessions without impacting any real world individuals. When they are first placed in these simulations they are allowed to do whatever they please in a fully immersive world. Murder, rape, destruction, abuse, access to an individual or individuals, whatever it may be. We allow them to take their impulses and desires to their ultimate conclusion and then show them the results of those actions. Quite often these individuals do not consider what will happen when everything they have desired comes to pass, or if they have, they do not realize the full consequences their actions will have. Take, for example, a person who desires to destroy the world for whatever reason. They despite humanity and everything it has built and wants to watch it all burn down. We give them the ability, within logical or physical limits, to achieve this goal. They destroy every human in existence, every building, every piece of infrastructure, until they are left with a barren and deserted world. We then allow them to exist in that world so that they experience and understand the consequences of it.
Naturally during this entire process they are being monitored so that their mental state does not degrade even further. While we have no desire to torture a mentally ill person, saving them from the pain and anguish of their actions will not be psychologically helpful to them nor would it assist in the recovery process. They must understand, at a visceral level not merely an intellectual level, what they have done and the pain that occurs as a result, not only to society but to themselves. Of course some are so far gone that they desire to remain in that state perpetually and so we allow them to remain while monitoring them in case there should ever be a change. However, those are very few and far between. For those who desire reconciliation and show remorse we insert ourselves as a guide to help walk them through the slow and gradual process of repairing their broken psyche using a mix of healing magic and counselling. We gradually help them alter their mental state until they are able to reconcile with the individuals they supposedly harmed or even killed and the catharsis that results is often extremely powerful as well as positive. Once this happens we explain the reality of the situation to them and help them decide as to whether they truly wish to rejoin society or remain in the simulation for their own safety and the safety of others. Assuming they choose to return to reality they are assigned a caseworker to help them reintegrate into society as well as a Synthoid aid who lives with them for a time. They remain with the patient 24 hours a day to ensure things progress smoothly and that they have companionship to discuss any issues that suddenly arise or help prevent any harmful relapses in behavior."
"A qualified nurse and home health aid in other words?"
"Precisely."
"And what about those who aren't deviant? Say, people who have these desires but don't act on them."
"Yes, that is a very delicate matter and one that we handle with extreme care. On the one hand they have not done anything to deserve correction and yet, if unaddressed, it could evolve into a situation where they can no longer hold back their impulses and act impulsively to their own detriment and the detriment of others. To be quite frank I would say that most people have such desires to one degree or another. This is the entire basis of escapism, after all, as it deals quite often with wish fulfillment and power fantasies. After all, a VR game, roleplay, or other such pastimes allow the user a safe and socially acceptable outlet to vicariously enjoy such a fantasy via the player character or protagonist. Our VR counselling system is capable of the same. Naturally they would need to sign a contract confirming that they allow us to monitor these sessions to ensure their mental health does not deteriorate due to constant use but this would offer another such outlet for them."
"That brings up another good point, your Eminence. How do you keep people from overusing these resources? I would imagine most people would love to stay in an environment where they have complete control over everything that happens."
"Humanity has always had a desire to control themselves and everything around them in order to have ultimate power, even if only for a brief time. Living imperfect and mortal lives they seek perfection and immortality to know true fulfillment and ultimate expression. This is where I desire to bring humanity in the future and we have already taken multiple steps in this direction. But to answer your question, when a person makes use of this type of simulation via their implant we place limits on the amount of use available to them, rather like a subscription where you are allowed so much per day. It does not do to dwell in dreams and forget to live, and we try to impart that to all who use it."
"The God-Emperor's Lunar orbital shipyard has received a bulk order to begin creating a small exploration fleet of various sized vessels based on different models of ships and their functions. While the God-Emperor confirmed that this fleet was not intended for war he would not rule out the possibility of using it for such a purpose if needed, suggesting that Humanity should be prepared to defend itself should a threat appear on the horizon. While the various Imperial Habitats that reside in the inner system include dense external armor as well as external weapon systems to protect them from asteroid impacts as well as cosmic ray bombardment, Earth itself, Luna, and Mars have focused primarily on infrastructure and production capabilities instead of defensive structures such as orbital defense platforms and battle fleets. These new ships will include the latest Artificial Non-Genetic Intelligent Life or 'Angel' systems onboard to provide overwatch and safety as well as other maintenance functions for the ship as well as a mix of Synthoid and augmented humans specially trained and upgraded for this mission."
