Jean Grey was returned to Charles Xavier shortly after, her memory of the Phoenix Force carefully erased. She retained her telepathic abilities, but without the overwhelming cosmic entity inside her, she would be far safer. Escorting her personally wasn't necessary—this was a task beneath my attention, and my resources were better spent elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Project Imperium had finally reached completion. Three fully functional Imperial Star Destroyers now orbited Earth, each one a testament to the combination of my system-acquired knowledge, Rick Prime's technology, and the near-infinite resources of Site 999. The ships were fully operational, but raw capability meant nothing without competent personnel to pilot them, coordinate their systems, and lead the fleets.
The first step was finding the perfect commander. Naturally, I turned to the system store, seeking someone whose tactical genius would surpass any human or alien mind I had at my disposal. Within moments, I summoned the ideal candidate:
Grand Admiral Thrawn.
Thrawn was more than a brilliant tactician; he was a master strategist, a fleet commander capable of predicting movements, adapting to unforeseen circumstances, and thinking several steps ahead of any opponent. His understanding of art, psychology, and strategy made him perfect for commanding my Imperial Star Destroyers, and he would operate directly under my authority. Once deployed, the fleet would be near-impossible to outmaneuver.
With Thrawn in place, the next step was personnel training. Operating these colossal ships wasn't as simple as pushing buttons—it required a deep understanding of hyperspace navigation, energy weapons, fleet coordination, and the logistics of interstellar military operations. Over several months, I trained a cadre of personnel capable of manning every system on the ships, from power management to laser battery operation. I oversaw the integration of my custom communications system, which allowed instantaneous holographic coordination between ships, fleet command, and ground forces.
Launch day arrived.
Deploying three Star Destroyers from Site 999 required careful planning. Their sheer size made them impossible to ignore, so I dispatched multiple teams to erase memories of anyone who witnessed the operation. Security sweeps ensured no civilians, Foundation personnel outside Site 999, or hostile entities retained knowledge of the launch.
Finally, the ships ascended.
One by one, they broke through the atmosphere and entered orbit. The flagship carried Grand Admiral Thrawn, already issuing commands and conducting tactical simulations. Sensors, shields, and weapons systems functioned flawlessly, responding to my preprogrammed protocols and the crew's training. The other two Star Destroyers followed suit, aligning in perfect formation, ready to defend Earth or carry out interplanetary operations.
I checked the flagship's status through the holographic interface. Thrawn had stabilized orbital insertion and had initiated defensive grid routines. Communications relays were active, laser systems calibrated, and energy outputs balanced. Everything worked perfectly.
Earth now possessed a fleet capable of repelling advanced alien threats and enforcing interstellar dominance within the solar system. With Thrawn's command, these ships weren't merely weapons—they were extensions of my will, fully prepared to execute strategies I had yet to imagine.
The stars above Earth were now guarded. Alien empires would soon learn that the planet was no longer defenseless.
Project Imperium had risen.