HNN - Sovereign's Birthday
Category: HNN Broadcasted on 05. June 2007 - 23:35:08hrs Author HNN News Reporter Comments: 0
The symbol of the Hapan News Network appears on the screen before minimising to the upper right corner, revealing a smiling Anacia Chalcedon. Behind her the muted background shows a live feed of the Castle of Per'Aghtra and the evening sky lit up by a mesmerising display of fireworks. A dugglehorn fanfare plays the theme of the Hapan Royal Family before Anacia begins to speak.
"Seraal, citizens of the Hapes Consortium, and happy Sovereign's birthday! The Hapan News Network would like to congratulate our benevolent monarch, His Majesty King James, on his 44th birthday. Long live the King!
But who is our King? Where did he come from? How did he become one of the most popular monarchs in Hapan history?"
The image of Anacia fades and is replaced by a slideshow of images of King James in various stages of his life, from early childhood and all the way up until recent years.
"Born on Vergill in Hapan in 3990, His Majesty enjoyed a peaceful childhood following the Phoenix Movement's conquest of the system. In the years immediately following the reunification of 4000, King James attended several prestigious schools and institutions before graduating from the First University of Vergill with degrees in diplomacy, finance and naval tactics. He went on to enlist in the Royal Hapan Navy where he enjoyed a long and prosperous career, becoming naval commander in 4014 and ultimately being promoted to Grand Admiral in 4020. His relentless efforts to reshape and restructure the Royal Hapan Navy helped stabilise the defences of the Hapes Cluster in a time where the Hapes Consortium was still struggling after half a century of warfare.
As reward for his hard work, he was appointed Chume'da by King Andrew in 4025. Following the honourable King Andrew's abdication in 4027, James was coronated as King of the Hapes Consortium, ending the Phoenix Age and starting the Golden Age. Since that day, the Consortium has enjoyed an era of unparalleled stability and prosperity with the Royal Hapan Armed Forces more powerful than it has been in four decades and the Hapan state more wealthy than ever before."
Anacia appears once again, smiling brightly.
"The joyous day has been celebrated on dozens of worlds across the Hapes Cluster in numerous fashions. Most Hapans had the day off and took to the streets in their home towns and cities, joining in to the festivities and celebrations, enjoying parades, fireworks and free food and drinks. On Selab, the capital city of Xalia arranged a large public celebration in the form of a carnival parade and costume party, while the multi-culture population of Lorell recorded birthday greetings for His Majesty. Some communities on the planet presented gifts which the Archon of the Rifle Worlds relayed to King James later in the evening. On Varn the native population enjoyed a spectacular acrobatic water show held in the King's honour.
But nowhere was the celebration as spectacular as on Hapes Prime!"
The screen changes to recorded clips from Hapes Prime as Anacia narrates...
"Chume'Dan and the Royal Hapan Palace, the Castle of Per'Aghtra, was at the centre of attention as King James, Queen Victoria and Prince Orion spent an hour on the balcony overlooking main street while enjoying their breakfast. Hapan children and their parents walked by the castle, placing flowers and gift boxes in front of the palace gates. The Royal Handmaidens, with the assistance of the Phoenix Guards, worked continuously to move piles of gifts and flowers in to the palace complex where the Royal Family opened a select few gifts after their meal."
The image shifts to later in the day and massive crowds of enthusiastic Hapans are seen on both sides of main street as several companies of Phoenix Guards lead a parade of armed forces personnel towards the Royal Hapan Palace. Officers from the Royal Hapan Army are clad in ceremonial armour for the occasion, while several rows of officers from both the Royal Hapan Navy and Royal Hapan Support Corps follow in pristine dress uniforms.
"Following the military parades, the King moved to the throne room where he granted audience to the representatives of all the Hapes Consortium's member-worlds. The Lords of the Consortium represented their systems along with their planetary governors and representatives of all the sentient species native to the Hapes Cluster were in attendance during the ceremony. All planets presented His Majesty with unique gifts, often relating to their world's customs and history in an orderly fashion, moving alphabetically. To mention only a handful: Hapes Prime gifted a gold Blizcot, while Lorell presented the King with a silver monument commemorating the victory in the Black Sun Crisis which was pulled in to the throne room on a wagon by gualaars. Charubah and House Amethius gave an elaborate display with diamond-covered miniatures of historical Hapan flagship vessels, ranging from the Star Home, Tractia Heavy Cruiser to the Pulsar Battle Cruiser. Kiduin and House Jaak presented an ancient bottle of wine produced at the Queen-Mother's vineyards on the planet, some 175 years ago, while Arxian Major and House Tylger gave an orb covered with xariphia gemstones forming the crest of House James. House Firecam presented the King with an ancient gold sword and shield, a symbol of honour and power on Sarva.
In the evening the Royal Family dined with the Lords of the Consortium, top representatives of both the government and Royal Hapan Armed Forces and a select few honoured guests. Contra Admiral Romar Feren and Petty Officer Lorso Bane of the Royal Hapan Navy were selected among millions of service personnel to attend as they share their birthday with His Majesty. Over several courses the guests were served luxurious wines and lavish dishes prepared by the Hapes Cluster's expert chefs.
Just prior to dessert, Lord Regent Zell Jaak and Lord Alexander Tylger announced the people's gift to the King..."
The image shifts, showing a recording of the events that unfolded inside the dining hall inside the Royal Hapan Palace. The attending dignitaries are seen finishing the main course and the Lord Regent taps his glass gently, silencing the guests. The tall nobleman stands and straightens his Royal Court uniform before he begins his speech.
"Your Majesties, Your Excellencies, honourable Ministers, honoured guests... Let me take this opportunity to once again wish His Majesty, the King, happy birthday! These last few years have been eventful, but rewarding. We have seen such magnificent prosperity within the Hapes Consortium. Achievement upon achievement, in large degree thanks to the efforts and support of the King.
The question that has been tormenting some of us who sit on the Royal Council has been this: 'What do you get the King of the Hapes Consortium for his birthday?' What do you get the man who has everything? We thought long and hard about it and finally came up with something that we hope makes His Majesty happy. Unfortunate for us, of course, is that we have to think of something even more elaborate for next year! Lord Tylger will explain further.”
Lord Regent Jaak sits and Lord Tylger nods, standing up, addressing the guests.
“Since the end of the civil war, the Sovereign of the Hapes Consortium has resided in the Castle of Per'Agthra. This magnificent building... this historical treasure... was built in 280 and replaced the Reef Fortress as the Royal Hapan Palace. It was kept in use as the primary Royal residence until 2408 when the Fountain Palace, twice as big as this palace, was completed. Unfortunately, after the civil war there was little left of the Fountain Palace, except a shell and ruins...
For the last few months architects from the Ministry of Culture and top builders from the Ministry of Industry have been renovating the old Fountain Palace in secret! The palace will take over the role as the Sovereign's primary residence and combines the new with the old, maintaining the classic architecture while making modern facilities and appliances available to the Royal Family. The palace compound will be surrounded by an elaborate garden complex filled with ponds, fountains, rare flowers and trees, labyrinths and paved pathways.
This is our way... and the Hapan people's way... of giving something back to the King. Happy birthday, Your Majesty."
To applause from the guests, the image fades out and the evening sky above Chume'Dan is shown once again with fireworks filling the sky in front of several of the Hapan moons.
"We'll be back after these messages..."
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