Today, amidst the frail organic lifeforms scattered across the galaxy, an anomaly surfaced—an activity significant enough to stir these stagnant waters.
Though most of those in the know were far from pleased.
“...”
Given that Orion humans possessed high-intensity multi-threaded information processing capabilities, when the news that the ‘Sea Lord’ was moving toward them was relayed to the Council by Mr. Yondell, the Vice Speaker of the Human Federation, most of the councilors—who couldn't even set aside their work during routine meetings—let out low curses within three seconds.
“There must be an enemy pulling strings behind this,” the Minister of Xenobiological Research judged immediately half an hour later, after reviewing first-hand footage from the front lines. “Its path has clearly been precisely calculated, to the point where it points perfectly toward... us within the galaxy’s rotation. But this is unlikely, as such a creature shouldn't possess high-level intelligence. Therefore, I am more inclined toward the hypothesis that ‘it is being lured.’
“Furthermore, theoretically, the Ring World and the territory of Abrysak should be more attractive to it than humanity—whether in terms of existing resources or the sheer number of lives, the interior of the galactic disk is clearly richer than the tip of a spiral arm.”
“What does the Minister of Intelligence have to say about this?” Yondell asked.
“The Star-Net across the entire galaxy has been completely disconnected according to the boundaries of different territories. The gaps between the various local area networks are natural chasms that our intelligence personnel cannot cross.”
The Minister of Intelligence was one of those who knew of the ‘Ethereals’ existence. As he spoke, he exchanged a look with Yondell. “However, within Federation borders, I have uncovered something...”
“Speak,” Yondell said in a heavy voice.
“The Ministry of Interstellar Transportation Construction and Management—I have evidence to charge certain individuals among them with tearing filthy rifts in their great work to line their own pockets.”
The Minister of Intelligence spoke at a rapid-fire pace.
“Intelligence indicates that starting two hundred years ago, someone has been building a large number of illegal small-scale stargates and induction beacons under their cover. A small portion of them were declared during construction... ahem, I mean, they were registered with the Federation under various guises, but the majority have remained disconnected. I find it difficult not to suspect that this is related to the enemy’s ability to come and go as they please within Federation territory.”
Before the Minister of ‘Star-Trans’ could speak up in rebuttal, several substantial files were shared from the Minister of Intelligence to the Council’s core display screen.
Subsequently, the Minister of Xenobiological Research added, “The force field reactions of induction beacons can also be sensed by high-order espers and super-powered xenobiological entities. I find it difficult not to suspect a connection between these two matters.”
*We also damn well find it difficult not to suspect...*
For a moment, everyone in the entire Council Hall looked toward the Minister of Star-Trans.
The latter was clearly stunned for a moment but reacted quickly. “I will immediately conduct a thorough internal investigation...”
“Don't bother with that. No one who has managed to earn a seat here believes such talk,” the Head of the Federation Inspection Group suddenly spoke up.
She was a kind-faced old lady whose full title was ‘Head of the Human Federation Internal Affairs Inspection and Purge Execution Group.’ When she smiled at the Council, she looked like an ordinary grandmother watching a brood of rowdy grandsons. “Guess whether I have evidence to charge their ‘protective umbrella’?”
Simultaneously, via the ‘Tianhe’ system, a secret document was displayed on half of the Minister of Star-Trans’s optical computer eyepiece window.
“...” Looking at the meticulous records in that document, the Minister of Star-Trans fell silent for a moment. He suddenly looked up, glaring fixedly at Yondell, who had remained silent at the head of the table.
The evidence was complete, multiple key departments had launched a joint accusation, and all paths of retreat were entirely blocked. The Vice Speaker’s continued silence... was itself a form of expressing an opinion.
“Take him away,” Yondell waved his hand indifferently.
As he moved, his brown curly hair shifted slightly under the ceiling lights and before dozens of data panels, reflecting a lukewarm, dim luster.
His violet-blue gaze swept flatly over the Minister of Star-Trans, who stood up in silence to leave with the armed soldiers, as if the man were merely a morning breeze blowing through the branches outside a window. It was only at times like these that people suddenly remembered this man had existed in the Federation for over a century—and how many departed souls those eyes had watched sink into the depths of time.
Gerard Yondell was never the person his appearance suggested. Beneath that elegant and gentle skin and flesh lay not bone and blood, but jagged, bony hooks.
For a time, the room fell into a hush. Yondell, however, simply swiped away another item on the meeting’s to-do list and raised a new topic: “Currently, the Sea Lord’s movement speed is not swift. However, we need to screen for more potential loopholes in the Ministry of Star-Trans. We must try to make it lose its target, or at the very least, eliminate the possibility of it performing a jump.”
“Can an individual the size of a planet... really jump?” someone questioned.
“Planetary weapons can, so why can't a planetary organism?” Yondell replied coolly. “Work more and ponder less. Make all necessary preparations. The time our soldiers earn by risking their lives on the front lines is not for you to squander on sending messages outside to divide the spoils.”
“...” The eyes of several councilors flickered suddenly.
“The Inspection Group will temporarily take over the duties of the Minister of Star-Trans. I hope all departments will cooperate actively.” As Yondell spoke, he signed and issued several warrants. He then added, “Furthermore, the existence of the Sea Lord forces us to consider whether the enemy is secretly preparing an even larger ‘set menu’ for us...
“I believe the gentlemen of the military will certainly understand the gravity of this issue.”
“Yes, honorable Vice Speaker.” The military councilor who had just been clashing with Yondell in court spoke as if none of that had ever happened. “Over these years, the galaxy has always assumed we could achieve nothing without the aid of ‘Solar Star’—those alien races, they have forgotten the pain of being scorched by the fires of human war. We have long been prepared to correct this error.”
“And I need to correct *your* error: ‘Solar Star’ is not an ‘aid’; he is one of us, a soldier to be proud of.” As Yondell spoke, he stood up. The overhead lights traced the projection of his features, which were not particularly soft. “Submit the front-line records, for all six hundred sectors. We need to prepare a mobilization... across the entire Federation!”
***
“After centuries of peace, the current Federation is merely a pile of decaying scrap iron. There is a severe lack of coordination between the various planetary governments,” Soro Morgan said. “But under the threat of such an external enemy, the Council will surely find a way to make it move. This pile of scrap iron will be forged into a new weapon...”
“What weapon?” someone asked.
“Anything that can make the enemy feel fear,” Morgan replied. “The Federation is a war machine that has been stagnant for a long time. When it begins to operate at full capacity again, even if corrupt structures collapse, no one can deny that it will efficiently crush the enemy for a period of time.”
“‘For a period of time’?”
“Yes. They will expand the number of soldiers in the combat sequence, prune redundant campaign formations, and optimize tactical strategies to end this war in a more ‘human’ way...”
“...But this is only the beginning.” Another voice suddenly intervened in the conversation.
Under the gazes of everyone in the small meeting room as they turned their heads, an esper clad in sleek black-and-gold battle armor walked in from outside, his steps swift and steady.
In those few short steps, his helmet rapidly split into several angular modules and retracted into the collar behind his head. A head of brilliant, lustrous blonde hair flowed out. Even after he sat down, that shimmering gold still left lingering traces on everyone’s retinas.
“A fine entrance, our ‘Starstream’,” Morgan chuckled. “Well? Did you achieve your goal?”
“Perhaps I did, or perhaps only half of it,” Evanheiler said. “The enemy of this stage is dead, but ‘Solar Star’ remains unshaken. I mean, even excluding the part concerning me, it remains the same. I have no doubt that at the necessary moment, we would attempt to gift each other death, and that is not surprising.”
“...Wow.” Beside them, a young girl buried in a pile of light screens made an inscrutable sound. “So the two of you are dating while knowing full well that everyone can't live together in peace?”
“Forgive the recklessness of a dying man. Of course, I will end all of this.” Evanheiler crossed his legs in his chair. “What do you plan to do next?”
“Ah? Oh,” Morgan blinked. “Probably, taking advantage of the chaos to start spreading our theories and such. Of course, those who go out to work must sever direct contact with headquarters. Everything here must be kept at the highest level of secrecy, just as before—even for the Star-Net, we cannot connect without the assistance of springboards within four hundred layers...”
“Not enough, our Leader,” Evanheiler said. “You know that if it’s only this much, it will be difficult to prevent the true disaster from descending...”
“Correct. That is why I have another order to issue.” Morgan smiled, his red-and-green eyes narrowing slightly. “You, me, and everyone present or absent—all of us must leave this place, enter interstellar society, and sever contact with this location until our struggle outside is victorious.”
“You’re going to reveal the existence of this army before the masses?” Evanheiler frowned. He uncrossed his legs and leaned toward Morgan. “Have you considered the safety of this place? Considered the Federation’s reaction? And what about the Collective or ‘those things’?”
“Of course, my brother,” Morgan said. “You must know that long before we came here, this branch of humanity had already maintained an isolated life for over a century... This is a paradise, a heaven on earth, but its establishment had nothing to do with us; we are merely the later maintainers. In this starry sky, our mission is not to hold fast to one place, but to make that entire vast star region into such a fair and benevolent Righteous Nation.
“As for the other issues—yes, the Federation will react, but it doesn't matter. We will establish a foothold to face the storms before they can pull their hands away to deliver a true blow. And the Collective? It does not interfere in the internal management issues of various powers... That is why we never take the front lines out of Federation star sectors.”
“In summary, we only need to consider ‘those things’.” Morgan stood up with a straight posture and said solemnly, “But as long as they still exist, we will eventually have to face them one day. It is inevitable, brother. And our warriors, our will, and our ideals must also be displayed before the world. This will be our first step in truly intervening in the situation and welcoming more fellow travelers.”
