"Sorry, but Sankara's Warp Colonization development already has a partner.
"The terms they offered were impossible to refuse. Lord Calgar of the Ultramarines, foremost among Ultramar's Five Hundred Worlds' new generation of heroes, personally came to negotiate with us—"
Archon Amber was still somewhat excited and incredulous, his back straightening with newfound confidence.
In the past, he would never have been this bold, turning down even a first-class prosperous sector like Saint Laila.
Although Archons were all regional administrators of the Imperium, the treatment afforded to one Archon versus another could be worlds apart.
The Archons of regions with first-class tax ratings could participate in major Imperial affairs. They might even periodically receive opportunities to meet the Imperial Regent or His Majesty the Savior, and held seats in the High Council.
A poor place like Sankara, meanwhile, had a lower third-class tax rating—practically tax-exempt.
Such regions not only paid no taxes to the Imperium, but even relied on transfer payments from other regions just to keep functioning, maintain basic civic welfare, and ensure their people had enough to eat and wear.
Simply put, Sankara's presence within the Imperium was practically nonexistent, and the same went for its Archon.
That was why Amber, the local Imperial officials, minor nobles, and citizens all dreamed of developing the regional economy and industries, raising the local tax rating.
They wanted to pay more taxes to the Imperium and contribute to it too!
After all, in the Imperium, it was not as though you could simply wish to pay more taxes or raise your tax rating and have it happen.
Without the actual conditions to meet tax requirements, it was useless to even think about it. They would not even levy one extra recruit from you. This left the Imperial citizens of underdeveloped regions in