Invictus Launch Week

Invictus Launch Week is a ceremony organized by the United Empire of Earth Navy (UEEN) which marks the beginning of the new recruitment year. It is an official holiday in the UEE.

It is also commonly known as Fleet Week or Invictus. It is celebrated annually in the period between Emancipation Day and Armistice Day, the final week in May. The event is meant as a tool to promote participation in the Navy as well as show awareness for the history of naval events. The event is also used by ship and armament manufacturers  as an opportunity to display their contribution to the military fleet.

Events

 * Invictus Launch Week 2949
 * Invictus Launch Week 2950; held at Bevic Convention Center, ArcCorp from May 22 till June 2, 2950
 * Invictus Launch Week 2951; held at Tobin Expo Center, microTech from May 21 till June 1, 2951
 * Invictus Launch Week 2952; held at Vision Center, Orison, Crusader from May 20 till 31, 2952
 * Invictus Launch Week 2953; held at Bevic Convention Center, ArcCorp from May 19 till 30, 2953

Closing and Introduction Ceremony
Invictus is a ceremony used to congratulate the latest graduating class of military personnel, but also as introduction ceremony for new recruits which are gathering to set off for training at the MacArthur base.

History
The Invictus Week has a long tradition. It goes back several centuries to the days when the UEE was known as the United Planets of Earth (UPE). Shortly after the First Tevarin War began in 2541, Humanity suddenly found itself in need of an organized military force of a size previously unneeded. To this point, aside from the hostage situation with the Xi'an in 2530, there had only been local security forces under the control of the central Human government.

With Humanity facing an imminent and overwhelming threat, a fleet needed to be raised and trained quickly. The Tribunal sent out an immediate call for recruits to create this army.

Transport ships on each of the settled planets would load up these volunteers and travel to a training facility on Mars known as Invictus. On the morning of 2542-10-12, families and communities gathered at launch pads around the UPE territories to celebrate those that were going to defend against the alien invaders. As the conflict continued, more recruits would gather on that day to travel to Invictus to begin their training.

Since the early years, Invictus involved Navy ships visiting populated planets to pick up new recruits and projecting power and security to the populace. It ran for a week every October and emphasized sacrifice for the good of the Empire. In 2581, Invictus became an official holiday to celebrate the Navy, and the ceremonies became more elaborate. The event expanded and featured expo halls to showcase ships and technologies, attracting both technophiles and those who viewed it as a show of military strength.

However, during the 26th century, Invictus faced public pushback due to concerns of authoritarian propaganda and the Messer regime's growing pro-military agenda. In 2681, the Navy stopped using Invictus to pick up recruits and instead required self-reporting to Kilian. The events became more focused, held at major landing zones across the empire, and included recruitment centers targeting the Vanduul threat.

Invictus attendance declined due to recruitment weariness by the late 2730s. In 2743 Galor Messer IX made attendance mandatory. The events attracted large crowds, including anti-Messer activists who used the opportunity for their activities. It was replaced with "a law that deemed missing the event 'unpatriotic behavior' punishable by up to five years in prison." In 2792, the legal mandate for attendance was abolished when the Messer regime fell.

Afterward, Invictus gained importance as the Navy needed new recruits and aimed to reshape the event's image. It was moved to May and presented as a family-friendly celebration, focusing on serving the greater good. Aggressive recruitment centers were replaced with aspirational dioramas showcasing the Navy's aid to the Empire. Flight show performances were added in 2803 to enhance the entertainment value.

Historical Pillars
Below are some notable pillars in the history of the event.

Criticism
Arthur Warro, Co-initiator of the Polo Initiative criticized the missing transparency and high budget used for Invictus. He stated 'Invictus doesn't represent the real Navy, it represents what the Navy wants people to think of it, later adding that the 'high Invictus costs [are] one of the reasons why the Navy was seeking a 7% increase to its budget [compared to 2950].' He also emphasized that the event gave free publicity for ship/weapon manufacturers, indirectly criticizing the ties between military and private corporations on the other side: '(...) if you don't fully fund the Navy to allow it to buy these ships then you won't be safe. It's just so ingrained in the fabric of this empire that we can't see it anymore.'

Gallery
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Trivia

 * The Invictus Fleet Week seems to be inspired by the US Fleet Week.