Of course, our regime banned any debate about the origins of the Bam and created an official version. It was presented to every child early as the truth, completely disregarding any new discoveries. You would be risking your career or even your life and the life of your entourage if you doubted the regime’s version of the origins of the Bam. It’s considered particularly foolish if you backed your disbelieve on the AI discoveries. The regime could unleash its revenge on you and expose you as a traitor of the nation and that you are, in fact, manipulated by the demons – maybe you are already one of them.
It is unwise to show doubts or any sign of disbelieve, even if the holy book is a poorly written sci-fi novel that narrates a story of Bamos, the First Supreme, who was sent to this planet by some unknown forces. Those forces control the known and the unknown universes. They are the “Light Beings” described in the Bam, and they are both a collective of beings and a single entity at the same time.
The entire holy book is about Bamos. He protected the lost souls from the demons. His heroic actions are narrated from page one right through to the last one. The book ends with a nice promise to the true believers, as they will reunite with the Light Beings for a sweet, forever life with their beloved ones – of course.
Of course, It is a very persuasive religion. It simply answers our most fundamental question: What is the meaning of life? This was the meaning that no scientist, philosopher, or artist could come up with. The Bam presents it in a wonderful and poetic narration that perfectly suits the average person’s low intellect. This book is taught at an early age to every child in the empire and is included in every educational system, no matter how sophisticated it is, as true facts. This is done because it is thought the best gift you could give to a young person is guidance, and what’s guidance without purpose? Therefore, following the way of Bamos, imitating the First Supreme in his Supreme actions, his virtues, intentions, and goals, will guide you through your life here in this world.
Economically, the Bamos Empire was always prosperous, thanks to having the best plains coupled with the biggest lakes on the planet. They do power the largest agricultural industry known in history. We were and still are the feeders of mankind. Of course, the geographical advantage was never associated with the success of the empire. Instead of that, the regime always glorified Bamos, the First Supreme, and the direct descendants in power known just as the “Supremes.” They are praised for the stability of the empire. Thanks to the Supremes, this nation never starved as they have always followed the path of Bamos. This “fact” is prominently shown in the propagandized posters at every intersection and down all the main streets.
The main dogma is not the bam but it’s the dominance and the conquest, of course. The official speech of every new Supreme is the same, “This nation is prosperous because it's for the true believers, those who put all their faith in the Bam and the Supremes, and because this nation is the Truth and the Salvation for all of mankind. We have the obligation to lead other nations to prosperity by spreading the virtues of the Bam to the people of world. Only when the people of the entire world become true believers, can peace emerge in a constant state, and every nation will then prosper as the Bamos Empire is and will always be.”
Banume, the Supreme, kept the tradition of adding the “Ba” prefix to Supremes’ names when he rose to power. Nume was his name back then when he agilely climbed all the ranks of the party from Communal Secretary to regional First Secretary, to East Provincial Administrator, to the Capital Vice Administrator, then Administrator, to the Party Special Minister, to the First Minister. Then, twelve years ago, he was voted as the Supreme. The Supreme then has a mandate for five years, with a two-term limit.
He broke the constitution to keep the power even when I was fighting fiercely to prevent that. I couldn't organize an uprising to save the empire from this dark age because the population was on his side. They adored him, and some of them even worship him. I thought these dumb followers deserved that, but I never thought that he would be able to have even the highest and ferocious ranked generals would eating out of his hand, like docile pets. I kept only the Secret Service out of his influence, and then, just hardly.
Banume the Supreme was and still is a very mystic man. He always writes his speeches by himself even when he accessed the Ultra-Power. His first speech as the Supreme was so intense and discerning that kept all the people, not only in Bamos but all around the world, were entranced. With so much calm and self-confidence shining from every word he uttered, along with his enigmatic face and the way his lips opened and closed so perfectly to form the audibly smooth and harmonious words with no interruption or hesitation, he left the world
