The Inaugural Address

PART II - ENTRY X

THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF HRH, EMPRESS ALEXANDRIA SCORPIUS

DIVINE RULER OF THE ASTROLOGICAL COMMONWEALTH

My citizens,

Brock's final letters describing the tour of the territories left my advisors and myself taken aback. We were made aware of the Ariesan rallies Brock referred to but had no idea that the severity was of such grave nature. It was never disclosed that the assaulters in question had pledged their allegiance to a former administration, or that anyone was seriously injured. Such allegations of treasonous actions must be taken seriously, of course, and third party investigations of these claims are currently underway in the impartial Courts of the Libran Territory.

To conclude on the letters regarding the tour of the territories, the previously included correspondence from Philip and Brock make up all the known documentation in my possession of the entire tour, minus, of course, the documents removed for security reasons. In the weeks leading up to Philip's arrival at the Imperial Mansion, we had all the correspondence you've read here stored in my office with the intention to hold a series of interviews with both Philip and Brock to discuss the details of the reports and work in tandem with both trailblazers on potential next steps. However, once Philip was murdered and Brock went missing, my colleagues and I decided it best to publish the letters within this address instead.

With these letters in mind, I wanted to introduce this Inaugural Address in a way that set a conversational tone for my administration, and I hope I was successful in this attempt. If it wasn't already evident, I believe it important for my constituents to understand I do not see myself embodying my role as Empress of the Commonwealth by acting as a domineering tyrant on top of a vertical form of governance over the Commonwealth. I rather see my role as a central focus point within a more horizontal arrangement of governance. I plan to have an appointed cabinet that, (of which I hinted to previously), consists of committee members, one from each territory, that have sympathized and/or even participated in Philip's tour. I have instructed my administration to create separate short lists of candidates for each cabinet position utilizing the tour's petition signatures. Once we have found the best fit candidate and have their consent in joining our cabinet, we will announce the members and begin holding regular meetings aimed at best serving the entire Commonwealth.

I do not often request any particular person's involvement with matters of state, but I will blatantly request the involvement of Brock Mavers, wherever he may be, to act as the cabinet committee member from the Sagitarrian Territory. Brock, if you're reading this, I want you to know that I believe your experience throughout the tour makes you a perfect fit for your territory's cabinet position. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: you have nothing to fear with my administration. If any efforts exist to cause you harm, know such efforts are not a result of any order from my administration, and if you ever choose to return to public life, you have a position in my administration. I guarantee that.

Anyway, as we approach the end of my Inaugural Address, I want to thank you sincerely. Preparing to serve as your Empress has; in my mind, led me to truly embrace and feel empowered by my mission to serve you. I hope it is evident that I want to do what is best for the beautiful people of the Commonwealth. This address is only the start of a great discourse – such a discourse never before seen between the House of Scorpius and the citizens of the Commonwealth – and it's because of all the efforts seen throughout the tour of the territories.

In an effort to assure we maintain this discourse, I have reopened the Offices of Correspondence at the House of Scorpius, which have been closed for several years, in order to keep the discourse between us flowing. Please feel free to write to my administration if you ever have any complaints on our governance, or have any information you believe may be beneficial for us to be aware of. We're more than willing to maintain these offices for you all, and we anticipate many letters to sort through. We are preparing to be overwhelmed, but we're also excited and anticipating great progress to result because of this reopening.

Finally, let me invite you all into my administration, and let us all remember that this administration belongs to you as much as it belongs to me. Together, we will bring the Commonwealth into the new century with a clear route forward centering progress, growth, prosperity, and most importantly, unity. I hope to make these next 25 years the best yet seen for our great Commonwealth, and I do intend to bring you all along for the ride.

In this spirit, it seems strange to say goodbye. Truly, I've never cared to embrace the emotions that came with departing in such a simplistic way, though at times it's obviously inevitable. If we focus on the notion that this farewell is truly only a farewell concluding the start of a new, blissful era in all of our lives; perhaps this goodbye won't feel as frustrating as it does feel bittersweet.

I hope to see smiles on the faces of those who finish reading this address, as I only want it to be a hopeful testament to all of our futures. With the guidance of my late brother shining down on all of us just as the sun shines bright at high noon, I am certain the best days are ahead of us.

Welcome to the new Commonwealth, my fellow citizens; may it be as glorious as we are in our potential for greatness.

HRH, Alexandria Scorpius