The launchpad stretched across red desert sands, a gleaming monument to ambition. Towering above the facility stood Stardawn One, the first spacefaring vessel designed and funded by NovaVerse Technologies.
Bai Chen stood on the observation deck with his queens—Su Yiran, Lin Yuwei, Ye Qingyue, and Tang Xinyi—watching technicians bustle around the launch tower like busy ants.
The world watched live.
"Are you nervous?" Xinyi asked, her fingers laced through his.
Bai Chen shook his head slowly. "Not nervous. Focused. Stardawn isn't just a spaceship. It's proof. That no matter where you start—even as 'trash'—you can rise beyond the stars."
System Notification: Project Stardawn Launch Protocol
🚀 Mission: Launch Stardawn One into orbit.
– Objective 1: Deliver NovaVerse Satellite Core "Aurelia"
– Objective 2: Deploy global communications AI
– Objective 3: Establish NovaVerse orbital jurisdiction
🌌 Bonus: Activate the "Celestial Empire" trait — Shenhao influence expands beyond Earth.
Scene: Mission Control – 5 minutes to launch
Ye Qingyue stood at the command terminal, her glasses reflecting telemetry data.
"Final diagnostic check—green across all systems. AI navigation matrix aligned with orbital insertion trajectory."
Su Yiran coordinated with international regulators via holo‑calls, her voice calm but firm. "Yes, NovaVerse assumes full liability. Stardawn's protocols follow interstellar treaty code."
Lin Yuwei, dressed in a sleek armored jacket, surveyed the launch tower through binoculars. "No visual threat detected. NovaVerse security perimeter secured for 5 kilometers."
Tang Xinyi paced slowly, holding a vitals monitor. "No anomalous signals from the spacecraft crew. AI assistant 'Auriel' is active and stable."
Bai Chen raised his hand.
"Then let's rise."
Countdown Begins: T-minus 60 seconds
All eyes turned to the tower. The engines of Stardawn One rumbled softly—raw power, restrained.
The NovaVerse emblem gleamed across its hull: a phoenix rising over a stylized Earth.
The crowd—millions watching live—held their breath.
T-minus 3... 2... 1...
LAUNCH INITIATED
The rocket engines roared to life, fire and fury pushing Stardawn One upward. The desert wind blew outward in concentric rings.
The queens held onto the rail, watching their empire reach beyond gravity.
"Ignition stable," Qingyue reported.
"Atmospheric breach complete," Yuwei confirmed.
"Satellite core secure," Yiran noted.
"Crew AI within parameters," Xinyi smiled.
Orbit Achieved – 12 minutes later
The screens in Mission Control lit up with stars. Stardawn One floated above Earth's curve, its modules unfolding like a metallic lotus. The satellite Aurelia detached and activated, releasing golden pulses of quantum signal.
System Notification: Aurelia has connected to 195 global relay points.
💎 Trait Unlocked: "Celestial Empire"
– Global communications now routed through NovaVerse orbital systems
– +200,000 system points
– New access granted: System: Galactic Expansion (Locked)
Scene: Stardawn Command Bridge – AI Broadcast
A holographic projection of Auriel, Stardawn's onboard AI, flickered to life inside Mission Control. She appeared as a radiant woman of stars and light.
"Mission Stardawn is complete, Emperor Bai Chen. Shall I begin phase two—Lunar mining and orbital city schematics?"
Bai Chen turned to his queens, arching a brow.
Su Yiran smirked. "Why stop at Earth?"
Ye Qingyue: "We can bring order to orbit."
Lin Yuwei: "And defend it, if needed."
Tang Xinyi: "And heal those we bring along."
He nodded. "Begin Phase Two. The stars… are ours now."
System Update: Project Stardawn Complete
✅ Mission Accomplished
🛰 Satellite Aurelia Active
🧠 AI Auriel Integrated
📡 NovaVerse declared orbital sovereignty
🌌 Galactic Influence Mode – UNLOCKED
– New System Category Available: "Stellar Conquest" (Ch. 43+)
– Empire Status: Nova Dynasty (Interplanetary)
Scene: Celebration Under the Stars
That night, back at the observation deck, a quiet celebration took place. No fireworks. Just a gentle breeze, soft champagne, and the twinkle of a new satellite joining the constellations.
Bai Chen stood at the center, his arm around Su Yiran. The other queens leaned against him—Yuwei teasing him about his "space emperor" title, Qingyue quoting orbital velocity math, Xinyi resting her head on his chest.
"From the dirt of betrayal… to the stars of legacy," Bai Chen whispered.
"No one believed in me when I had nothing. Now, even the heavens respond to my name."
And in the sky above, Stardawn One drifted past—a silent witness to the rise of the Shenhao Emperor.