EARTH BOUND — SPECIAL EXCLUSIVE

“We Return as One”

Queen Aliyah Reflects on the Mass Exodus Toward Earth

Extended Interview by Aris Kem, Chief News Editor — Eighth House of Journey

The observation deck aboard the Neteru Kheper is quiet this cycle—quiet, except for the hum of star engines and the distant, shimmering movement of ships gathering in formation. It is here that Queen Aliyah stands, watching a sight no ruler has witnessed in centuries: thousands of vessels from across the Egyptian solar system converging for a single purpose—the Great Return to Earth. In this exclusive extended interview with Earth Bound, the Queen spoke candidly about the exodus now unfolding beyond the flagship’s glass horizon.

“When I was a child on the New Home World,” she began softly, “I used to imagine what it would look like if every colony came together—every outpost, every moon, every family. I imagined their ships drifting toward one center like stars responding to gravity. Today, I don’t have to imagine it. I’m watching it happen.

”Below her vantage point, the first arrival caravans from the Verdant Ring drifted into alignment—massive green-coded cargo haulers carrying genetic seed archives, fresh soil capsules, and botanical specialists. The Queen lifted her hand as if counting them. “They bring with them the future gardens of Earth,” she said. “They’ve kept life alive in places where life never should have survived. And now… they bring that gift home.

”Moments later, the sleek, silver research ships of the Helian Array moved into view, their hull patterns glowing with scientific markings unique to their colony. Aliyah smiled as she watched them take their place. “Those ships carry some of our brightest minds—astronomers, medical scholars, engineers. They’ve mapped the stars for decades. Now they will map our path back to the world that first taught us to dream.

”But it was the arrival of the Outer Forge Colonies that moved her most. Their vessels were old, battle-worn, built for work rather than elegance. Their banners—deep red, etched with the hammer crest of their founding houses—fluttered against the void. The Queen’s voice strengthened. “To see them here… the ones who endured the harshest frontiers… it reminds me that our strength has never been found in comfort. The Empire exists because these people never gave up.

”As we spoke, another wave of transports approached, smaller family vessels from distant agricultural moons. Children stood at the windows, waving brightly colored scarves as the flagship drifted into view. Aliyah paused mid-sentence, pressing her palm to the glass. “Look at them,” she whispered. “They’re not afraid. They’re curious. Hopeful. They don’t know Earth the way our stories do—but they know they’re going somewhere important. Somewhere theirs.

”She turned back to me, reflective. “Every one of these families had to choose whether to leave everything familiar behind. Their homes, their fields, the worlds where their ancestors are buried. That choice… that sacrifice… is not small. And I don’t take a single one of these choices for granted.

”We asked her about the coordination required to bring so many colonies together. She shook her head with quiet admiration. “Our captains, our Council leaders, our pilots—this is their triumph. The exodus was a plan decades in the making, but its heart comes from the people. I didn’t summon them. They rose on their own. They followed the call because they believed it was time.

”As more ships settled into formation, the Queen spoke of the responsibility she carries into this new chapter. “I lead them, yes,” she said, “but I walk beside them. This isn’t my journey—it’s ours. They place their trust in me, and I place my faith in them. Together, we take the greatest step our Empire has taken in generations.

”She looked out again at the growing constellation of colony ships. The view had transformed—what began as scattered arrivals was now a disciplined, unified fleet stretching across the horizon in breathtaking synchrony. “Look at that,” she breathed. “From many worlds, we have become one people.

”As our interview drew to a close, the Queen offered a final reflection—one meant not for the camera, but for the Empire itself. “When we left Earth centuries ago, we became wanderers among the stars. Now we return not as wanderers, but as heirs. Not as fragments, but as one. Let this exodus be remembered not as a departure—but as the beginning of our homecoming.

”And with that, Queen Aliyah turned her gaze back to the cosmos—watching her people gather, ship by ship, for a journey that will define the next era of their civilization.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Experience the full story of the Great Exodus in Audiobook 2 of Volume 2.

Follow Queen Aliyah, the Neteru Kheper, and the people of the Egyptian Empire as they prepare for the journey home.

Don’t miss the audiobook that changes everything.

 Available now from Cinema Sound Audiobooks.