{In the space above the savanna world of Argatu appeared several Ma'Gel light cruisers whom jumped from their spaceport at New Serpentum,aboard was hundreds of builders from the Engineering Corps,alongside thousands of colonists selected to establish the first Varanus community on Argatu.Admiral Ka'rth Neerclaw,an veteran of countless space battles during the Imperium's rise to power oversaw the colonization program,alongside him was a well-renowned high builder and the Viscount who will act as the planetary governor.}

"Captain....Signal all ships to enter the planet's atmosphere." commanded the blue-scaled Admiral.He then turned to the Viscount who was dressed in embroidered robes made of silverish silks only the richest Varanidae could hope to purchase.The admiral grinned and addressed the noble. "Lord Raxus I hope you read the reports I gave you?"
The noble seemed offended and nodded whilst he spoke "Of course,this is after all the most important project the Imperium has undertaken since our capital was established."

The Admiral nodded and turned back to the table that contained a holomap centered in the room of the bridge and placed both his claws on it's metallic edges. "The Imperium recognized this as the nearest planet that was firstly "habitable" with temperatures that suited Varanidae life,secondly it had no major lifeforms that could challenge their colonization and lastly it had the resources the Imperium needed to grow.

The cruisers started their descent to the planet's surface,as their pierced the planet's stratosphere,their windows were blinded by a sea of clouds and mist and as it dispersed the wonderful orange tinted grasslands and fields of Argatu's rich ecosystem was all they could see.Each crewmember watched in awe as the ship slowly began it's landing procedure,and each varanus on-board envisioned the future this planet would have for their empire.

The ships landed and shot dust in all directions before their engines powered down,within minutes the ship's doors open and a mass of citizens followed by builders and their drones swarmed the area around the ships.

The colonization is now underway.........

>4th of October 2564 report:

-Small temporary tents have been erected around the light cruisers whilst the engineers and builders begin construction of basic road systems alongside holographic blueprints of pre-designed buildings.Using the massive deposits of minerals found on the planet mountains they mined all they needed to build the required buildings of the new colony.Within the first week the Engineering corps would have established the planetary road system that would be built throughout the planet.

-The High builder in charge of the program designed the fortress that would act as the planetary administration center as well as of course an fortress against invasion.As the first districts were completed for the capital city and it's citizens began moving in the Imperium named the capital city of Argatu "Taloo" this city would be the central hub of all activity on the planet and home to the ruling governor Viscount Raxus Imar.

-Fertilization programs were instituted to bring the colony population levels to heights acceptable in Imperial residential world standards,as thousands of eggs were laid for the future generations of the colony,generations that will one day bring glory to the Imperium and their families.

>End of report October 4 2564.

Taloo the planetary capital was established:

Taloo Fortress:

The large military fortress found in the center of Taloo,was home to the planet's administration,primary military space port and home to the leaders of the local legions.

Within 3 weeks the Engineering Corps completed it's task creating a large and advanced city in record time,while the city lacked the elegance or size of the marble-paved capital of the Imperium the city had it's charm.....But beyond aesthetics the city fulfilled another purpose,it would eventually become the largest contributor to the Legion,as many training centers would later be built on the planet and the legionnaires families would move in and live in Taloo or the other cities found on it's surface.

These cities would be built over time during the next month and would cover 21% of the planet's landmass.Each of these cities would be fortified much like Taloo with great metallic forts towering over the cities,walls of anti-air and orbital cannons strewn strewn across districts of homes and businesses.Easily it became one of the most well fortified places in the Imperium besides the Capital World and it's Ceaseless Citadel.

Admiral Ka'rth and a contingent of Varanus marines made their way to the Taloo Central Command,to inspect the Viscount in his new position.....Normally this is the work of the Imperial Bureau who's job is to ensure that the Imperial Court functions properly and that the Nobles don't endanger the Emperor or his wishes....However the Imperial Bureau is investigating another case and cannot spare an agent,thus he volunteered to the position temporarily.

The Admiral and his troops used one of the large metallic elevators centered in the great fortress tower to reach the administration level of the fortress which was located one the 30th floor of the 50 story fortress.

The elevator floors opened to a steel hall paved with red carpets,the banner of the Imperium hung from the walls emitting a feeling of dominance in the room.The Admiral past the rooms that led to various administrators towards the large door at the end of the vast hallway....The office of the governor.

Two guards recognized the Admiral and bowed as they opened the doors for him to enter his troops took positions outside the room flanking each other against the wall.The Admiral entered and saw the Viscount sitting on a bunk chair looking out at the city.As the Admiral approached he saw the winged Viscount smoking a pipe.His room was draped in luxuries from velvet silk curtains to the mounted heads of exotic creatures slain in the Sunken Arena.

 
"Ah Admiral I am pleased to see you,I have my report on my desk,it should contain the current status of the colony." the Viscount said as he started smoking from his pipe again.

Above the window he gazed out of was a shield bearing the sigil of his noble family....The Imar family who is known in the Imperium as the wealthiest of the noblilty with mansions throughout the Imperium. The Viscount however was the patron of the family,and as it's head he had the responsibility to maintaining an Imperial colony.Thus he volunteered to become the first Lord-Governor of the Imperium. Raxus was known for his loyalty to the Emperor but Imperial Law obligated the Admiral to do a thorough search for signs of corruption within the planetary administration.

The Admiral took his time to scan through the report on the holo-tablet that stood alone on the table,after an hour or so he was done.....He found no irregularities which was not much of a surprise considering the Viscount's record,the Admiral turned to the Raxus Imar and gave his report. "Congratulations Viscount it seems your record shall remain clean."

"Ahh good" the Viscount said as he took a long sip from the pipe,puffing up smoke towards the window.

"There are concerns about the production quota....Will you have enough hands to complete it within the week?"

The Viscount turns to to the Admiral. "I've sent my second son Baliq to investigate the slave markets of that Zodarrin station.....Omera....Oh sorry Omega.....I've yet to recieve his report."

The Admiral stood next to the table,his clawed left hand leaning on it as he sighed. "We have come far......Considering how much we lost." Both of the Varanidae's thought turned back to Sigma Draconus and their home of Old Serpentum.

They both brooded in silence for half an hour before the Admiral walked towards the door. "Well time for me to return to my duties,may your governance be long and prosperous."

The Viscount nodded with a toothed smile. "And may you find glory in your service."

11 October 2564

Over the course of the next month,specialists from New Serpentum would arrive to ensure all basic needs for the colony are within Imperial standards,then these specialists would inspect the workforce required to occupy the roles required to maintain that standard.

Those that did not pass the regulation were placed in other positions suitable to their training and experience,those who did not gain such positions were drafted into the Legion or labour force.Unemployment was considered a waste of potential to the Imperium. No matter what the Imperial administration always took it's time to ensure that there will be no "idle hands" on Imperial worlds.

It was decreed that each year on the 14th of October will be founding day,it was here that the local legion would parade across the cities and the people even those considered to be "non-citizens" would have the time to enjoy themselves and feast upon the festival bounties.

Whilst the colony still awaited the arrival of new laborers,the local population took it upon themselves to fill the needs of the production quota.It was moments like these that the Imperium's ethnics seemed to work out for themselves. An empire fueled by national pride carried by it's citizenry. Despite this great service the empire still needed a permanent workforce for it's future.

Workers who would mine the quarries,clean the city,and fill the positions no "Imperial Citizen" would consider to do.

12 October 2564

The planet experiences an severe drought on the northeastern end of the planet.This caused food shortages for several weeks of which the impact was lessened by emergency rationing and shipments of food and water from New Serpentum it would be months before the colony can recover and grow sufficient crops to feed the ever growing population.Each day more ships arrive with new Varanus colonists...even a few Xaerrians here and there

It was good to see the colony thriving despite the crisis,the Viscount even donated food from his personal pantry to feed the hatchlings of the colony.The planet was doing so well that the Emperor himself planned a visit.......The Viscount was prepared to show his Imperial majesty just how the first new colony was faring....He ordered that the legion should parade once the Imperial fleet arrives and that each citizen should welcome their lord in the streets of the colony.

It would be one of the greatest welcomes the Imar family has ever planned for their liege.....And one of many more in the future.

13 October 2564

Trouble brewed between the local Varanus population and some Xaerrian rabble,the Xaerrians felt like they deserved the right to the local saltwater oceans....Oceans which in the wake of the drought have been closed and used to generate freshwater for crops and citizens.Whilst they are Imperial citizens and their concern is the top most priority of the administration they do remain a minority smaller then 2% of the local population.

The administration logically considers the remaining 98% of the citizenry to have more importance to the planet.This is one of many social issues on Argatu which would solved through in the coming years,however Argatu in it's early years was a hotbed for separatists most of which fell under the steel fist of the legion and the I.J.F Enforcers.

However that was a story for another time.....The Serpentum Imperium easily dealt with internal issues,their control over the population both directly and indirectly allowed it's colonies to become flexible when faced with such an issue.

14 October 2564

The Viscount awoke to his shaking hand of his servant N'oria,an female Varanus with light red scales.She walked to the curtains and pulled them open...

"Wake up my lord....You must prepare for the Imperial family." she said hastily as she began gathering the thing the Viscount would need......His robes,his badge and his breakfast.

She sat a plate down on the Viscount's bed containing a slab of reddish meat with several peeled fruits that resembled oranges only green with several brownish seeds visible within. The Viscount carefully placed the plate upon his legs as he sat up from the bed with a yawn.

"Thank you ever so kindly N'oria." he said as he began to tear his way into the food.As always the food was delicious and immediately brightened the mood of the brown scaled Viscount who then began his trek from his bed towards his dressing room.His room was large and had a door that connected it to his office allowing him to immediately set to work,he walked into his dressing room with racks of robes,tunics and even a set of silvery ceremonial armour. N'oria had already set aside a robe on a table found inside the room,an purplish robe with elegant silver crescents running across it creating patterns that is easy on the eyes. The Viscount took his time to don the robes making sure it is comfortable across his scaled body,the robes also contained an hole that allowed his tail to sit comfortably without lifting the entire backside of the robe itself...An common appliance to almost all Varanus fashion for all walks of life.

With his appearance sorted the Viscount walked over to a table in his room,picked up his pipe and began to walk towards the door....

He flickered a spark in his hand,a small flame materialized at the tip of his claw and he used it to light the pipe which he puffed before opening his office doors.He pushed open the brass doors of his office to the hallway that led to the central elevators.Everything was being prepared to welcome the Emperor and his family.The Viscount walked towards the elevators located at the edge of the room,escorted by two soldiers clad in white armour wielding pikes.The silence of the room was broken by the sound of the elevator's doors sealing as it sped down to the ground floor where a hall has been renovated for the feast that will take place.

As the doors opened to the ground floor the Viscount saw the chaos of the servants and soldiers rushing to prepare the capital city for his imperial majesty's visit,then the Viscount made his way to the outer promenade of Taloo Central.He would take a stroll around the fortress enjoying the serenity of the cool gardens before he would be tied to serving the needs of the Imperial Family and their Guard.In about two hours the Imperial Flagship would arrive and the festival could begin,the enforcers made sure to dispose of any troublemakers and cleared the streets for the legion parade.The Viscount stood staring at a bush that contained hibiscus-like flowers that attracted a few strange birds to drink nectar from these colourful plants.

It was quite the sight,the streets were filled with the armour clad legions,parading with colourful banners displaying the insignia of the Imperium and their legion.Legates stood behind the Lord-Generals clad in armour adorned with golden plating,the officer's spiked helms were difficult to spot out of the sea of helmed soldiers marching in almost perfect order across the stone streets.Flowers were rained upon the city from several dropships that flew overhead,it was beautiful and surreal to see the city celebrating the visit of it's lord who's ship appeared in the skies above the city flanked with several light cruisers.

Soon n large dropship could be seen escorted by 4 white-plated La'Mek Fighters,the large dropship circled the city parade and made it's way towards Taloo Central where it landed in one of the open hangar bays.The Viscount then made his way back towards the fortress tower to ready himself in the renovated feast hall.

Inside the large feast hall was an long horizontal table made of the finest wood harvested from the Argatu forests,the Viscount was quickly directed to a seat at the northern edge of the table where he would sit next to the Emperor.He took his seat on the soft ottoman chair alongside the other local leadership such as the key governors and commanders of the local legions. They eagerly awaited the arrival of the Emperor and sat watching the door.

The hall doors opened and several golden armoured Varanidae entered the room,the Viscount recognized them as the Emperor's personal guard.Two of these guards scanned through the room with their golden-plated data spheres before they alerted the rest on their communicators.

Soon the Emperor arrived,everyone stood bowing their horned heads sitting only again after the Emperor himself took his.The weathered golden-scaled Emperor turned to the Viscount and spoke with a soft and welcoming tone. "Thank you for your hospitality,I see that the colony is faring well I do hope the drought doesn't cause too much distress." The Emperor smiled as he turned towards the rest of the table,nodding at each other guest. On the left side of the table were all the governors and bureaucrats that kept the local goverment running,most of them were Varanus but some were Xaerrian which was a rare sight to see within the ruling goverment.The right side were filled with the military leaders and head engineers and scientests who were all Varanus. The table numbered over 150 occupants who awaited for the feast to begin.

Soon enough the servants arrived with plates of fruits,some plant material,multiple coloured cocktails and slabs of meat,also carried by several power armoured legionarres is the main course..a whole roasted bison-like creature which is placed in the middle of the table.

Before the feast would begin the Viscount stood to give a speech holding his chalice in the air. "Friends....Brothers and sisters.....Honored legionnaires and citizens.Today we celebrate the completion of the colony of Argatu,I remember fifty years ago how we woke upon the blasted world of New Serpentum,how we struggled to rebuild our civilization as we crawled out of our stasis pods.....Many died.....Some friends.....Family...Today as we feast we remind ourselves of those we lost and those we gained....Let this be one of many worlds that will carry the future generations of the Imperium forward...Be it Varanus.....Xaerrian or Zodarrin."

The Viscount took his seat as the crowd clapped wildly,it was a good speech and personal for many of the guests who did indeed lose many friends and family when the ark crashed upon the world they mastered and named New Serpentum. The Emperor whispered to the Viscount telling him his speech was good and thanking him for touching a subject that was heavy upon the people's hearts. Raxus smiled,he was glad to serve.....He was glad his lord cared.....

The guests then began to mutter a prayer to the five,thanking them for the meal in ancient Varanus then took time to for the Xaerrians to pray to their gods for the same.Then after the formalities were over the guests began taking food from the table,cheers and conversations spread like wildfire as everyone was drawn into celebration.It was then that the Viscount stood and the dancing began with the musical orchestra providing soothing yet vibrant music echoing across the fortress's ground floors.

The Viscount walked towards the open promenade to catch a breath of fresh air,he gazed upon the streets of the city which was packed with the buzz of the citizenry going about their daily lives..........The Viscount sighed.."Much was gained and much will be lost.....It is the nature of the world....Let's just hope that in the end we don't lose ourselves." He then stretched his wings and returned to the party.

When the party ended and the Emperor left,that became the official moment that Argatu was established......The planet that would serve the Imperium for years to come.


{End}