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A Final (mechanical) Golden Age
The two higher education facilities of the planet had already produced some great minds and works which greatly aided society, but a transport revolution was yet to come which would advance the planet more than any other scientific change before it. In the reign of Amejisu IV, in BC 50/ AS 1944, two students at the Misriylia Sudtzanses discovered and pioneered a method of heating water to power a simple mechanism. After much testing they formed a prototype, ‘Motyie’ which pulled a small cart along a track. The idea appealed to pioneering and curious Aquarians and a primitive rail was born. Amejisu IV, although only 24 at the time, gave her assent and personally decided to oversee and demand a huge building project of a network of iron rails. The carriages created would be able to carry both goods and peoples quickly across the continents in half the previous time and was a source of employment throughout her reign. The young Queen was excited by the changes happening during her reign and celebrated through the arts and games, and more importantly by an elaborate station in Mara to welcome visitors. Access to the capital was enabled and visitors arrived in numbers not previously seen before to view their ‘hub’ where all changes were made. Rail inns also grew in number as stopping points for weary travellers alongside the stations, one of many services which expanded in a multiplier effect created by the rails. The two students were rewarded for their discovery with both lifetime peerages and devotion as statues at the Misriylia. The development in communications by transport brought developments in communications by the arts. Previously localised publications became national. These ‘papers’ however were incredibly expensive at 2 Aureus’ each (equivalent of around £10/ $16 today) and by the time a newspaper from Mara reached Oceanus on Galatea, the news was at least a week old. It did however mean that the birth of Amejisu’s daughter Ria was not only reported but also more widely celebrated. People also journeyed from the provinces to Mara to join in celebrations. Ria was a prodigal and beautiful child inheriting the intelligence of Aulis and the long blonde hair of her grandmother, Aline V (previously Livia). She has a strong disbelief in war and became very close to the wealthy Roman senator, Craxic Varrus. Craxic acted as Ria’s political teacher, friend and mentor, however despite the young girl being quick to learn, her fierce stubborn, sarcastic an opinionated nature led the two to very heated arguments over the finer political points and especially their differing viewpoints on war. It did not help that Craxic was equally sarcastic, but he was far humble and would often give-in to the young girl. Craxic guided Ria through her political coming-of-age at 18 with her first attendance at the senate and would in the future become her closest aide and Head of the Senate in reward for the friendship. In BC 22/ AS 1978, Amejisu IV died at 58 of a cancerous illness, which had plagued her for the final 10 years of her reign, and Ria became the next Queen of Aquarius |