2023-05-19 16:11:40
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About the Nexus
Since the top fifty representatives were already in agreement, the passing of the bill in the Conclave General Council was practically guaranteed, as long as none of the top ten civilizations used their veto power. Given the way voting was structured, those fifty civilizations alone could form a majority, despite the Conclave comprising over a hundred members.Even if a few among the top fifty had voted against it, the remaining civilizations had every reason to support the resolution. Just being part of this agreement granted them access to the empire, more specifically, to mana stones directly from the source. That meant no longer being forced to purchase them at inflated prices from the top fifty civilizations who had secured favorable trade terms.They would have voted in favor even if the promised technology had been underwhelming. But based on the test results and technical briefings, it was clear the benefits were real and significant. In the end, the resolution passed unanimou
Construction
Once the runic intent was fully imbued, Aron activated the rune. It had already been charged with enough mana to allow it to expand and cover the entire asteroid field.Executing such an operation while the representatives were still present in the Trade Hub would normally have been considered a significant risk. However, that risk had already been accounted for. During the asteroid collection phase, the field had been strategically placed in a position where the sun lay directly between it and the Trade Hub. The sun’s brightness, in both the visual and mana spectrums, combined with the sheer difference in scale between the star and the asteroid field, rendered the operation invisible to the Conclave’s passive sensors. Switching to active scans or extending sensor coverage into the solar system would have been a breach of agreement—an act that could be interpreted as preparation for a hostile move and provoke a swift, forceful response.It didn’t take long for the shield to finish dep
Confirmation
“Starting tomorrow, we will begin providing the mana stones for the creation of the first semi-permanent wormholes and assembling the planning committee. We will spend a year in VR accelerated time to finalize the plans based on the maps you must submit within the week,” Masmibi said, addressing the Conclave representatives. With those words, the long-standing negotiations had finally concluded, leaving only the implementation ahead.For the past three months, the Empire had been locked in tense negotiations with the Coalition, an alliance consisting of representatives who had finally agreed to accept the wormhole and VR technologies, deeming their benefits too significant to ignore despite the potential risks.At the start, the Coalition's demands were aggressive. They pushed for control over VR sectors that mirrored their civilizations' territories, and for a larger share of the profits from both the VR system and the proposed wormhole highway network. However, the Empire stood firm
KGHH!!!! BAM!!! KWACK!!!! BWOOGH!!!! CRACK!!!!
KGHH!!!! BAM!!! KWACK!!!! BWOOGH!!!! CRACK!!!!“Arghhhhh!!!!!!”A pained scream rang out, cutting through the brutal symphony of fists landing, bones cracking, and flesh being pounded inside the practice room of the enforcement forces building.The one on the receiving end was the interrogator, now unconscious, sprawled on the floor, his chest rising and falling in sharp, uneven breaths, a result of his internal injuries making it difficult for him to breathe.“Haaaah...”Dreznor stood above him, the only one still on his feet in the ring. He exhaled deeply, a satisfied grin tugging at the corners of his lips. His knuckles were smeared with blood, but none of it was his.Medics rushed in, kneeling beside the fallen man as they started performing emergency first aid before quickly loading him onto a stretcher and carrying him out. He had walked into this fight with arrogant confidence, expecting to be the one dishing out punishment, only to leave broken and beaten, a harsh lesson writt
Negotiating a Deal
BAM!The interrogation room door burst open as a formation of guards marched in, splitting off with practiced precision. Each moved to a corner of the room, securing their positions, while two remained at the entrance, stepping aside and standing at attention to allow passage.Dreznor didn’t flinch. His eyes stayed closed, his expression calm, as if the sudden intrusion meant nothing to him.A man in richly adorned garments entered, his posture regal, each step deliberate. Authority radiated from his very presence. He took the seat across from Dreznor without a word.A tense silence followed before Dreznor finally opened his eyes and said, “I greet Your Excellency,” in a tone of respectful acknowledgment. The man before him was the planetary leader—the most powerful individual on this world, whose distance from the central government gave him near-sovereign control.“Let’s begin with introductions. Who are you?” the man asked.“As your officers have already reported, my name is Drezno
Interrogation
Three Months LaterFrom the silence of space, a single ship could be seen descending into the atmosphere of a large, grayish planet, aligning itself with the traffic heading toward the largest port on the surface. It joined one of the seven tightly regulated lanes, each filled with ships maintaining a few hundred meters of distance, moving in perfect coordination.As the ship drew closer to the planet’s main port, a breathtaking scene unfolded: tens of thousands of vessels parked in a massive, truss-frame layered structure. Nearly a hundred thousand ships were arranged within an enormous open rectangular bay, organized in tiers to maximize space efficiency.Unlike most interstellar ports, there was no immigration checkpoint for this vessel. It glided forward unhindered, heading straight for its assigned docking bay within the colossal truss-framed structure. The moment it entered, a web of scanners activated, sweeping across the hull. Every detail was instantly analyzed and cross-refe
Briefing
{He is currently in a transit period and should arrive at his destination in about three months,} Nyx reported, her holographic form flickering slightly as she finished delivering her update to Aron, John, and Youssef—some of the few individuals aware of the operation from the start.“What plans and objectives do you have for him? What is his theme?” Aron asked, leaning forward slightly. He knew full well that there was a reason Dreznor had been selected the moment the ship confirmed he was the sole survivor.Each individual chosen by the little protagonist had a specific theme, a guiding principle, a source of conflict, and growth. It wasn’t just about assigning a role; it was a bond that aligned motivations on both sides, ensuring the endeavor didn’t become a one-sided arrangement.{Although not yet set in stone, we’re aiming to shape him into a revolutionary figure within the Conclave, someone who pushes for the abolition of slavery, and later, the emancipation and compensation of
“From stardust you are made, and to stardust you shall return”
As he sat there, replaying the conversation in his mind, he began analyzing whether anything important had been overlooked during the heated exchange between the four holograms. It didn’t take long before he noticed a flaw in Hologram Four’s logic, one that hadn't been addressed during the debate.The oversight? Hologram Four had failed to consider the possibility that the Empire might resort to using their black hole bombs if pushed into a corner. Any attempt to dominate or provoke the Empire could lead to catastrophic consequences if their survival was truly at stake.Still, the realization came a little too late. A direction had already been chosen. A decision had been made. There was no longer room for second-guessing, at least not until the next meeting, when the final details would be reviewed and only approval remained.So, without dwelling on it any longer, he rose from his seat and left the ship. As he walked through the corridors toward his quarters, he gave a command to his
Decisions
After gathering every last body from the wreckage and laying them in the hangar, Dreznor finally broke the silence.“Do you have any way we can cover them for burial?”{I can print them for you if you want,} Little Protagonist replied gently.“Please do so,” he said, his voice subdued as he turned back to kneel before the body of his son, small, still, and cold, with a gaping hole in his chest where the energy round had ended his young life. Dreznor lowered his head and placed a cloth over his son's face with shaking hands.“Rest in peace. I’ll join you after I’m done with all of them,” he whispered.He moved to his wife next, then to his mother, repeating the same words, the same gesture, each time slower than the last. Each time it felt harder to let go.Half an hour later, the 3D printer beeped softly, indicating that the burial cloths were ready. One by one, he wrapped the bodies in the printed covers, each fold done with reverence and care. The process was slow, painful, six hour
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