Amidst the continuous firing of salute cannons, the infantry, who had long formed neat formations, began their march with synchronized steps.
As it was a parade, all the soldiers in the formations were uniformly dressed and equipped with weapons.
Although the preparation was rushed, their movements couldn't achieve perfect uniformity.
Nevertheless, it still looked quite imposing.
The infantry formation numbered around ten thousand, including basic light infantry, machine gunners, heavy weapon teams, and paratroopers; almost all branches of the military made an appearance.
"Look, that's my brother!"
A large number of people on the Ishimura, orbiting Avarax, were also watching the parade.
Claire was among them, and she immediately spotted her brother, Chris, in the infantry formation.
The television broadcast was entirely managed by the T'au Empire's artificial intelligence on board the Ishimura.
Perhaps intentionally, the camera gave Chris a long close-up shot.
After being tempered by war, Chris had shed his former immaturity and began to exude the aura of a tough man.
"Claire, why don't you introduce your brother to us?"
The medical department of the Ishimura was predominantly female, and many of them had bright eyes.
Claire's eyes widened, and she quickly rejected these eager seniors from the medical department.
Accompanied by stirring music, the infantry formation marched to the gate of Immortal Academy, briefly saluted, and then continued on their way.
"It's the Tyrant Legion!"
Following the infantry formation were fully armed T103 Tyrants and Pursuers.
Both wore full-face helmets, slightly obscuring their unsightly faces.
As biological weapons, the Tyrants and Pursuers marched with much greater uniformity than the infantry before them.
Their heavy military boots thudded on the ground, creating an extremely oppressive feeling.
Over the past six months or so, in addition to constructing the Hive City, Alexia had also placed great emphasis on the ideological education of the populace.
In her extensive propaganda, the Tyrants and Pursuers were portrayed as the product of guilty individuals voluntarily undergoing transformation to atone for their sins.
They would become Avarax's sharpest blades, crushing all enemies.
Furthermore, since the war with the Greenskins began, Alexia had deliberately publicized footage of Tyrants and Pursuers slaughtering Greenskins, aiming to make Avarax's residents more accepting of these two BOWs.
The controlled Ecclesiarchy also served as a propaganda machine during this time.
Therefore, when Avarax's residents saw the Tyrants and Pursuers appear at the parade, they not only felt no fear but instead cheered enthusiastically.
"The Pursuers are definitely stronger than the Tyrants! Look at the rocket launchers and autocannons they're carrying! One shot can blow a Green Skin ork sky-high!"
"You're talking nonsense, the Tyrants are clearly stronger! One axe swing can cleave a Green Skin ork in half!"
Some even started a lively debate on the spot.
The formation of Tyrants and Pursuers quickly completed their march with heavy steps, then stood at attention at the end of the road, next to the infantry formation.
Next, various armored vehicle convoys, tank convoys, and artillery convoys also made their appearance.
Most of them had just returned from the battlefield, covered in battle scars, which added to the atmosphere of solemnity.
The Avatar World's ICA mechanized exoskeleton units also made an appearance among them.
In the sky, hundreds of Kestrel gunships formed a simple Imperial Aquila symbol, slowly flying overhead.
This also drew waves of cheers.
"Hmm, next time I should arrange more performances or something; just walking through like this is a bit too boring."
At the top of Immortal Academy, Marcus watched the parade below, stroking his chin and muttering.
"Rumble rumble."
Accompanied by a slight tremor of the ground, the Purifier Colossus, appearing as the grand finale, pushed the atmosphere to its climax.
Nothing is more awe-inspiring than a Titan-class unit.
Beside the towering Purifier Colossus, several ICA large assault ships floated, moving in unison with it.
Since it was just a simple procession, the parade did not last long.
Most of Avarax's residents still felt a sense of wanting more.
But then, Alexia, who had returned to the podium, announced a bombshell.
"We are going to begin colonizing the neighboring jungle world of Kadaku. All residents who sign up first to participate in the colonization efforts will receive a seventy percent tax reduction for the next ten years."
This news, like a bombshell, immediately swept through all the residents of Avarax.
Although since Marcus became the Planetary Governor and Alexia acted as regent, the tax burden on Avarax's residents had already been reduced repeatedly,
It was less than a fifth of what it used to be.
But now, a full seventy percent tax reduction was still attractive enough.
Many people were already eager, preparing to sign up for the work of colonizing Kadaku.
Finally, Marcus returned to the podium and declared the parade officially concluded.
Under the supervision of PDF Soldiers, the residents of Avarax at the scene began to leave in an orderly manner.
At the top of Immortal Academy, Marcus was lying in a chair, resuming his discussion with Alexia about the future development direction of Avarax.
"The colonization of Kadaku will take a lot of time; we need the ICA and the United Government to push it forward together."
In fact, both of them had long planned to colonize Kadaku.
They were just taking advantage of this parade to officially announce it to the residents of Avarax.
"The colonization efforts for Pandora and Kadaku can be carried out simultaneously. Anyway, once the infiltration plan on Pandora succeeds, there won't be any obstacles."
Marcus said casually.
Although he could travel between various worlds, strictly speaking, Marcus, or rather, the Universal Union's territory, was only Avarax.
Even the neighboring jungle world of Kadaku and the tomb world of Demerium were only nominally under the rule of Marcus, the Planetary Governor.
"In short, be prepared to get busy. Oh, by the way, can you manage the work on both Avarax and Kadaku simultaneously?"
Marcus looked at Alexia.
Although she possessed a physique enhanced by the T-Veronica virus, time was limited, and it would be difficult for her to handle a large number of affairs on two planets at once.
"Give me the authority, and I'll choose someone to manage Kadaku's affairs myself."
Alexia didn't try to overexert herself.
"Do you have a candidate?"
Marcus manipulated the RIG System on his hand and simply permanently increased Alexia's authority within the Universal Union, considering it a reward for her diligent work during this period.
"Not yet. Alex was one of the candidates, but she's currently busy with ICA matters."
Alexia shook her head.
"The Alliance is still a bit short on management talent; the ordinary people recruited from the United Government aren't capable enough."
Marcus nodded; this was indeed one of the problems the Alliance currently faced.
As their territory expanded, they desperately needed management talent.
Opening the system panel, Marcus, with a try-it-and-see attitude, used the one drawing opportunity he had been saving.
"I wonder if I can draw a character card."
Thinking this, Marcus looked at the new card that appeared on the panel.