After leaving the Cosmic Jungle, Luna set course for the Alpha Eridani Sector. She knew from the reports that the Alpha Eridani Ringworld hadn't been destroyed but was being used by the Olive Branch Civilization as a mobile Station.
The Potato Chip didn't take the old route but traveled to the Triangular Sector, an area Luna had selected for development but hadn't explored.
"The Triangular Sector's development was originally entrusted to the Ink Flower Covenant star nation. But after the Federation's surrender, the Ink Flower Covenant left this sector and moved to a more distant one."
Ayla explained that the Ink Flower Covenant hadn't escaped the human massacre; most of its citizens were killed. Only a few survived, wandering 1628 light-years from the Triangular Sector—beyond the Federation's reach, even now.
The Triangular Sector had become a wasteland, with some remnants of civilization.
"The Federation's surrender had a massive impact, and the human massacre prevented the Federation from returning to its previous state."
"We don't know how far many groups have traveled—hundreds or even thousands of light-years. Perhaps, as we expand, we'll discover that the entire Milky Way is filled with humans."
Of course, there was another possibility: these humans were discovered by a more advanced civilization, who then used them to destroy the Federation.
This was very likely; some might not know that the Federation had turned the tables.
Therefore, the Federation needed to develop rapidly.
"Has we mastered the Olive Branch Civilization's super gravitational weaponry?" Luna asked Ayla.
Ayla nodded.
"The super gravitational weapon's operation is quite simple. It requires black hole devices at points A and B, then determines point B's black hole coordinates and establishes a connection."
"But the super gravitational weapon technology is advanced because it can create micro wormholes. This setup is ingenious."
"Between black holes, the Olive Branch Civilization discovered a connection in higher dimensions. In higher-dimensional space, distance is chaotic. The concepts of near and far, as we perceive them in three-dimensional space, seem nonexistent. Countless gravitational sources intertwine in higher dimensions, converging towards a central point."
"Imagine a sphere. The black hole compresses gravitational force towards the sphere's interior; the closer to the center, the smaller the space. At the very center, because gravitational force can propagate infinitely far, exceeding spacetime limitations, every gravitational source will converge at the core."
"It's difficult to establish connections between very different-sized black holes. But relatively similar-sized black holes maintain a certain degree of entanglement. The Olive Branch Civilization's black holes, during creation and connection, address gravitational fluctuations. These fluctuations are like ripples; when the ripples are similar enough, they merge instead of one encompassing the other."
"This analogy is abstract, but the concept of spacetime is inherently abstract. The Olive Branch Civilization uses this entanglement to input auxiliary energy into the black holes, piercing spacetime to connect them, creating a so-called wormhole."
"Actually, in my view, calling it a wormhole is a bit forced. It's just a gravitational connection, not a spacetime connection."
"We can overturn previous assumptions. Connecting two black holes doesn't transfer the gravitational force from star A to star B and vice versa; instead, their entanglement generates a more powerful gravitational source—a higher-dimensional spacetime distortion. The Olive Branch Civilization used this to create short-lived, terrifying gravitational fluctuations, allowing small black holes to exert gravitational force exceeding their mass."
The super gravitational weapons deployed by the Olive Branch Civilization were previously located near the Federation and the Orion Nebula. According to Chu, the Olive Branch Civilization had many such deployments; a slight lapse by an enemy would result in a devastating attack.
Luna nodded and asked, "Can we improve it?"
Ayla understood Luna's intention: to achieve similar or better results using a gentler method, but this was impossible.
The reason is that the Olive Branch Civilization utilized the black holes' ability to transcend spacetime, rather than directly creating fixed gravitational sources in higher-dimensional space. This is impractical and impossible at a Type 2 civilization level.
"So, could we define a Type 3 civilization as a dimensional civilization?"
"Civilizations that can influence or access higher dimensions are Type 3 civilizations."
Luna had previously believed that dimensions were insurmountable barriers to life, but with technological advancements, she realized this wasn't the case.
The universe itself encompasses these dimensions. Civilizations don't see them only because of limited perspectives. Breaking through this limitation allows control over multiple dimensions.
Strings are a good example.
While the Potato Chip was traveling, the sensors detected a group of moving objects with irregular trajectories, identified as living beings.
The Federation's most common sensors combine gravitational and light detection, as space is a vacuum; only light and gravity can propagate. More precise methods require constant emission of matter to perform observations, which is extremely inefficient.
Distances in space are vast; precise detection methods are sometimes counterproductive.
Gravitational ripples are sufficient to detect extremely small moving objects. Because gravity propagates infinitely, distance doesn't limit detection.
The sensor then emitted a series of charged photons, and the reflected photons, after being captured and analyzed, revealed the objects' shape. Ayla confirmed.
"It's the Swarm!"
The detected objects were the Swarm.
Luna remembered something: the Ink Flower Covenant star nation had "stolen" the Swarm creation technology, developing the Swarm extensively and researching bio-engineered warships.
Therefore, the Swarm's presence in the Triangular Sector wasn't surprising. It seems that during the human massacre, the Olive Branch Civilization spared the relatively mindless Swarm.
Luna didn't worry; the Potato Chip continued its journey.
More than 40 years later, Luna noticed something was wrong. They detected increasing numbers of Swarm units, as if entering a Swarm nest.
But...
This was deep space!
Encountering so many Swarm units in the vastness of space—had the Swarm begun interstellar travel?
Ayla activated a long-range hypersensor, scanning the surrounding area for more than 10 light-years. This scan took a long time—approximately 22 years—to produce results.
A three-dimensional model appeared before Luna. Centered on the Potato Chip, the model depicted the 10 light-year radius area; it looked like a clump of mud.
But Luna instantly grasped the information in the model.
"Theoretically, we've entered a massive Swarm nest. Using these star systems as centers, an entire sector has been taken over by the Swarm?"
Previous super-Swarm nests were already enormous, comparable to planet-class dreadnoughts as combat units. Compared to this nest, they were insignificant.
"Correct. According to the analysis, there are at least 20 sextillion Swarm units in this region of space."
"See this? A nebula shaped like a planet. This indicates that a star died here, likely created by the Ink Flower Covenant star nation. They destroyed a star and used its resources to cultivate the Swarm."
"Remember our Swarm project, Luna?"
Luna thought for a moment; there hadn't been many Swarm projects, and Ayla had only mentioned a few to her. She remembered.
"Creating a large number of Swarm units to allow them to naturally evolve special genes, rather than artificially engineered ones."
"This is a common method we use to create organisms: injecting numerous genes into an organism to facilitate mutation."
"At that time, I wondered why you mentioned this but didn't implement it. So, you gave this plan to the Ink Flower Covenant star nation?"
Ayla had indeed done so, but she hadn't paid much attention afterward. That period was crucial for the Federation's war against the Filament civilization, followed by the conflict with the Olive Branch Civilization. The Swarm's role in the war diminished, so Ayla hadn't paid attention to the decision's outcome.
Now, this plan had undoubtedly succeeded. Luna couldn't imagine the genetic changes caused by 20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 insects.
"The Swarm brain-worms are also human. If this entire area is controlled by brain-worms, it should be considered a massive star nation."
The Swarm star nation.
Insects are Earth organisms; the Swarm are creations based on this concept, so the Swarm are also part of the Federation.
"Let's contact the brain-worms here."
Brain-worms also possess advanced technology. Ayla quickly connected to the network here.
It was less a connection and more a takeover, as everything in the current Federation originates from and serves Ayla.
After the intrusion, the brain-worms showed no reaction. A voice directly resonated in his mind, making him aware of the intrusion.
"Mr. Bimos, we are from the Federation warship. Our Commander wishes to meet you."
Bimos was the absolute ruler of this massive Swarm kingdom.
It directly refused: "I don't welcome you."
Ayla simply said, "Oh, really?"
"If you don't welcome our words, that means you're an enemy of the Federation. Then we'll eliminate you."
Overbearing!
Bimos was furious, but after observing the Potato Chip, it was powerless. That colossal warship loomed in space like a terrifying fortress. Twenty sextillion Swarm units were numerous, but they would be mercilessly slaughtered.
It could challenge a planet-class warship, but this was a planet-class warship.
The Potato Chip reached the core of the Swarm star nation's territory. No Swarm units dared to approach; trillions of insects scattered.
Luna examined the insects: "There have been changes; these aren't the original Federation Swarm."
"Their size has also increased significantly. The smallest units here are probably 500 meters long."
Luna spotted a giant among the insects—a silver-armored insect, like a beetle, with a massive pair of shovel-like wings and mandibles.
Its body was at least ten thousand meters long.
"Excellent, excellent research material," Luna appraised the beetle, then turned her gaze to the star system's interior.
A massive grid structure had been built in space; the star remained at the center, providing heat and energy to the nest. Luna observed a simple Dyson Swarm structure, the basis for the nest's growth.
In the center of the countless grid structures, the Swarm parted, revealing a colossal female human face; its lower body gradually emerged.
This was a colossal brain-worm—a being with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a soft-bodied invertebrate. Unlike the Blade Queen, its face was covered with countless eyes; its hair resembled Medusa's wild snakes but was actually a mass of constantly moving tentacles. Its most human-like feature was its torso, possessing a feminine waist and breasts. It had four arms and insect-like legs.
It was unimaginably large; the beetle was smaller than one of its eyes. Its body, over a million meters long, didn't appear small even in front of the Potato Chip.
This was Bimos, the brain-worm king.
Such a massive creature had little combat ability. Luna suspected it had grown to better control more insects, as the brain-worms' mental or computational power was limited.
Indeed, Luna noticed some mechanical structures on it, resembling biological computers.
Luna left the warship and confronted Bimos in the cleared space among the Swarm. Her body appeared minuscule; even one of Bimos' eyelashes could stand a thousand Lunas.
"A remarkable creation. You've transformed yourself into a giant Boundary God, but your technology is relatively simple."
"I can give you computational power equal to a Boundary God's."
Bimos communicated with Luna psionically, "Federation Commander, what do you want?"
Any acquisition comes with a price.
Bimos understood this; brain-worms were intelligent.
"I don't need anything from you; everything you have is meaningless to me, except yourselves."
"You must know this project—the gene farm!"
"Provide gene pools for the Federation. That's all."
Bimos didn't trust this human, but the situation was overwhelmingly in Luna's favor. Despite the countless Swarm units nearby, Bimos was at a severe disadvantage.
"I can provide these to you for free."
Luna shook her head again: "It must be a transaction; I don't accept free things."
Still overbearing.
"Give me all your genes."
Bimos complied.
Ayla received the invaluable Swarm gene pool. Luna was satisfied and instructed Ayla to deploy a prototype unit.
This prototype unit was a miniature factory, but unlike typical miniature factories capable of producing anything, a prototype unit was designed to produce specific items, such as tachyon communication devices, super displacement devices, or Boundary Gods.
"Continuously feed this Boundary God prototype with matter; a Boundary God can be constructed in 700 years. It's a nascent state; you can use it freely."
"Don't worry that I'll use it to control you; you're already under my control."
Ayla had completely taken over the star system's network. Bimos saw countless error messages, instantly realizing Luna was telling the truth.
"Thank you, but I don't know your purpose."
All beings are motivated by self-interest.
Bimos understood that Luna was no different.
"Of course..."
"For the Federation!"
"Everything is for the Federation's benefit. The new Federation is established. If you want to establish a star nation, submit the data now; otherwise, I can't guarantee your survival against some Federation corporation."
Bimos was silent for a moment, then sent Luna some information.
Its star nation was simple; it was called the Bwarm Star Nation.
...
Luna didn't linger in the Bwarm star nation.
Although terrifying, the Swarm were weak against warships.
First, how fast could the Swarm travel?
Without mechanical assistance, only 1.4 km/s; with assistance, a maximum of 600 km/s. Speed was a disadvantage; their offensive capabilities couldn't keep pace with warship advancements, and their defenses were negligible against warship cannons.
The Swarm's most significant use was enhancing the [gene pool], giving Luna more avenues for biological enhancement. That's all.
The Bwarm star nation was slightly stronger than the Cosmic Jungle Star Nation, but even a large Federation corporation's exploration team could destroy it, let alone the Federation military.
The Potato Chip continued its journey, its immense hull profound and mysterious, like a true leviathan.
Luna studied the genes obtained from the Swarm, observing their traits. Realizing her lab was too small, she asked Ayla, "Rigel A must be building new planet-class warships."
After the Potato Chip's construction, Rigel A continued producing planet-class warships. This production line wasn't abandoned; it had begun producing planet-class warships when Luna returned from the Olive Branch Civilization sector.
These new planet-class warships would be one-third larger than the Potato Chip, offering more space.
Luna needed a much larger laboratory to complete her research; interstellar travel was incredibly boring.
"Beep beep beep beep!"
At that moment, the warship issued a warning—the first warship warning Luna had heard in tens of thousands of years.
However, the warning was brief; Ayla dismissed it.
"What is it, Ayla?"
Ayla's figure didn't appear; only her voice responded: "It was probably a malfunction; I haven't detected any enemy presence."
"The warning indicated an unknown radiation source, possibly natural cosmic radiation."
Warship malfunctions were almost unheard of, but the probability wasn't zero.
"So, what do you think we should do?" Luna asked Ayla.
Ayla's claim that it was a malfunction implied the next steps. She asked Luna, "Luna, do you remember the Alien movie series from Earth's era?"
Luna did; her memories were easily accessible with the aid of technology.
The Alien series was known for its opening scenes: a ship receives an unknown signal, the AI takes control to investigate, and everyone dies.
This served as a cautionary tale; unnecessary intervention is ill-advised.
Ayla intended to follow her pre-planned course.
"So, you've traced the source of this radiation?"
"I've long had an interest in the unknown; let's investigate the source of this radiation."
Luna examined the report; the radiation's energy level was extremely high, and it carried a large number of charged particles. The probability of it being natural was less than 4%.
The other 96% indicates a civilization.
Judging by the technology, this civilization is likely Type 2 or higher.
Seeing Ayla's silence, Luna chuckled, "Don't worry; I'm not foolish. Deploying a clone will suffice. Let's investigate thoroughly."
"You must have sent a signal but received no response. This confirms it's another civilization."
Ayla left backdoors in the Federation's machines. These backdoors exist at the code level; it's not that only machines built by her have them. Any Federation entity, unless it overthrows Federation technology, will have Ayla's backdoors.
Even if a scholar develops new equipment, as long as they don't fundamentally alter the code encryption, the backdoor remains.
These backdoors allow Ayla to control these machines and receive information from them remotely.
Ayla's silence meant only one thing: the unknown.
Of everyone in the universe, Luna understands Ayla best, and vice versa.
"Alright, then. I'll cultivate a clone to investigate," Ayla finally agreed.
Luna found this exciting.
Investigating an unknown Type 2 civilization.
Does it really exist?
Luna was curious because this location is too close to the Ink Flower Covenant star nation. If it existed, the Ink Flower Covenant should have detected it, being a Type 2 civilization.
The probability is very low.
Luna had encountered few truly developed civilizations on her journey. There seemed to be many, but there were only a dozen or so, including the civilizations subjugated by the Purple Thorns. Strictly speaking, these couldn't be considered civilizations.
Without the Purple Thorns, civilizations like the Stonecolor, Gargleblast, and Lelera might not have pursued science and technology, potentially going extinct due to a single disease.
Even the Multi-eyed relied on another civilization's ruins to reach Type 1 status.
Relatively speaking, the universe remains largely empty.
Luna anticipated encountering more such civilizations—not self-developed but those given technology.
Seven months later, Ayla dispatched a clone on a starship towards the signal's origin.
The starship was fast; it reached the coordinates in 57 years. It was an unremarkable red dwarf star with a planet 1.44 times Earth's mass and three 1000-km diameter moons.
The starship detected traces of past life on the planet's surface: signs of flowing water, a thick atmosphere, and even some ancient, colossal fossilized organisms.
Clearly, this was a habitable planet.
The starship quickly approached the planet and deployed miniature factories to produce numerous probe droids—small anti-gravity spheres popular for filming, useful for both video recording and live streaming.
The Federation's entertainment industry still included video creation and live streaming—surprising, given the ease of access to simulated worlds. People preferred the real world, leading to the continued popularity of videos and live streams.
Thousands of these small spheres were deployed to scan the entire planet. They performed a complete scan, even using high-energy particles to penetrate the planet and analyze its internal structure, creating a model.
Upon receiving the model, the clone was amazed: "There's something here!"
...
The clone had Luna's appearance but not her memories; Ayla had instilled it with encyclopedic knowledge, making it a walking encyclopedia.
Its information access was extensive. Upon seeing the model, it immediately accessed relevant data.
It then found a corresponding entry in ancient records.
"A Light-based civilization warship appeared here. The warship on multi-eyed planet wasn't a coincidence."
Indeed, the model depicted a massive rhomboid warship—much larger than the one Luna had found on multi-eyed planet. Its appearance had also changed; it was flatter.
This isn't definitive proof of a connection, but the hull density and color of both warships are identical, raising suspicions.
If this is a Light-based civilization warship, it suggests that it and the warship found on multi-eyed planet belong to the same civilization and era, as the hull material seems unchanged.
The clone only suspected this; it disembarked from the starship and performed a vertical drop from space. The terrifying descent speed created a large crater upon impact, yet it was unharmed.
Its body was covered with a layer of armor, mitigating 99.99% of the impact force.
It located a spot and deployed the small spheres to excavate, penetrating 126 kilometers below the surface—the location of the ship.
The entire ship was buried in igneous rock, almost indistinguishable from the surrounding formations.
The clone used equipment to determine the geological formation's age, finding it to be between 5 and 10 million years old, consistent with another Light-based civilization warship's timeline.
However, this location was hundreds of light-years from the Solar System.
Unbelievable.
The clone breached the ship's hull and entered, finding a different structure—the original structure of Ayla's preserved Light-based civilization warship. Ayla had studied these structures after reaching Type 2 civilization, but abandoned further research upon discovering it differed completely from the Federation's technological path.
Inside, the clone found grid-like structures with unique biological characteristics.
Although long dead, these characteristics were worth analyzing, potentially revealing the Light-based civilization's biological form.
What happened to this Type 2 civilization millions of years ago? Why were these seemingly undamaged ships left in space?
Both the old and new ships showed no damage but were abandoned.
...
Luna received this information 73 years later.
"So, the weak radiation was emitted by that ship?"
Ayla analyzed it and concluded, "This radiation might be a distress signal, but like tree-based thought, we can't analyze its content."
Understanding this would require knowledge of the civilization's language.
However, Ayla had recorded this information. Finding a second one might lead to the discovery of more Light-based civilization ships.
After recording this information, Ayla searched the universe for similar signals, but she was shocked.
"Luna, I think we have a big problem."
Ayla's tone was unusually anxious.
Luna had never heard Ayla express such emotion.
"What is it?"
Ayla said, "Too many similar signals. Although different from the signal we previously received, they're very similar."
"I've determined that these signals aren't natural; they're deeply hidden. Before receiving that radiation signal, I didn't even sense their existence."
"No, no!"
"It's not that I didn't sense them; they've always been there, since the beginning of humanity. We mistook them as part of the background cosmic radiation."
"But they weren't. The extremely subtle differences became apparent only with a reference point."
"We're completely exposed to this radiation; it's constantly flooding the Milky Way."
"This radiation isn't from within the Milky Way but from its outer regions."
A civilization monitoring the entire Milky Way—Ayla couldn't predict its power.
And what did this civilization want?
This inevitably sparked unfounded suspicions.
Hearing Ayla's words, Luna felt the same sense of danger she had felt facing the Olive Branch Civilization. Regardless of this civilization's intentions, it was undoubtedly hostile.
"Can you calculate that civilization's location?"
Ayla calculated quickly, determining that these signals originated from the Sagittarius Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy.
This is one of the Milky Way's satellite galaxies, only 70,000 light-years from the Solar System and 50,000 light-years from the galactic center. It orbits the Milky Way's periphery and is the second-closest dwarf galaxy to the Milky Way.
The Sagittarius Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy is relatively old, deficient in metallic resources, and possesses numerous red giants. Its diameter is approximately 10,000 light-years, less than one-tenth of the Milky Way's.
However, as a galaxy, it still contains hundreds of millions of stars. The emergence of a powerful civilization there is possible.
Theoretically, it could nurture a Type 3 civilization. However, as Luna and Ayla had previously discussed, if the Sagittarius Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy housed a Type 3 civilization, it would directly control the Milky Way, not just observe it, because the Sagittarius Dwarf will eventually be absorbed by the Milky Way.
Unless the Milky Way contains a more powerful Type 3.1 civilization, which is unlikely.
A Type 3.1 civilization's territory would be vast. If it heavily developed Sagittarius A* at the center of the Milky Way, using gravitational energy, massive structures would be observable.
Clearly, this isn't the case.
Furthermore, based on the Olive Branch Civilization's observations, a civilization more powerful than Type 2 hasn't entered the Milky Way, implying the existence of one or more Type 2.8 civilizations within the Milky Way. This was their previous hypothesis.
Combining this, the civilization monitoring the Milky Way is, at most, Type 2.8.
Of course, all of this is based on limited perspective and speculation; Luna and Ayla can't determine the accuracy of this information because they can't directly observe it.
Even the best-case scenario is terrifying.
The Light-based civilization, the star-empty civilization—these powerful civilizations seem to be making preparations. Compared to these powerful predators, what is the Galactic Federation?
...
The Potato Chip had traveled far from that sector. The clone remained behind to develop the planet, primarily establishing a monitoring station to conduct in-depth analysis of the Light-based civilization's signals.
Luna then instructed Ayla to carefully study the history of Multi-eyed planet to gain a deeper understanding of the Multi-eyed.
Luna then returned to her research, discovering some interesting elements within the Swarm gene pool.
A mutated gene pointed towards a potential path.
Luna looked at an embryo in her lab. It rapidly developed into a small snake with black scales, resembling a common Earth pet snake, the California Kingsnake.
However, it had three heads. Luna modified its genes to perfectly balance the three heads. The snake was about half a meter long. Luna approached Ayla.
"I think the old idea is feasible."
"That plan was always on hold. Although the gene pool replaced it, I still want to find a solution. Perhaps it's about male emotions."
Luna playfully poked the snake, which opened its mouth and spat a small flame. Luna caught the flame; its power was minimal, like a brief lighter burn.
Flame.
This wasn't a mechanically generated flame but an inherent ability of the snake's body.
Among the Swarm's mutated genes was the creation of a new type of organ capable of accumulating plasma. Plasma is essentially electricity—ionized gas composed of positive and negative ions.
Ions are charged particles formed when atoms lose or gain electrons.
Strictly speaking, flames aren't plasma; they contain plasma. Flames are primarily the result of high-temperature gas molecules moving rapidly. The snake, however, can create a flame-like physical phenomenon by rapidly releasing plasma through the air.
The snake's flame wasn't like a lighter; it was a column of fire.
"Magic?"
Ayla remembered Luna had considered this, but it was a long time ago.
During the retrieval of Luna from the Tilted Station, Ayla demonstrated a type of "magic" on an ice planet. With the gene pool's emergence, Luna had forgotten it.
After all, the gene pool was far more powerful than so-called magic.
For example, [Supreme Being] and other top-tier gene pools.
[Supreme Being] only has S-class life-saving capabilities; other offensive, defensive, and control abilities are only A-class. [Supreme Being] excels in its versatility.
The gene pool also contains some Cthulhu-esque enhancements and magical abilities; it's almost perfect.
"But this thing has too low power output."
Like the previous problem, this magic's power is insufficient to be effective.
"I'm not interested in the power output but in this gene's compatibility."
Luna displayed images of this gene merging with other genes. It's a recessive gene, perfectly hidden within the base genome; it's not a surface gene and doesn't change with environmental shifts.
"This gene can be integrated into all living organisms, becoming a fundamental ability rather than an additional one." This is what Luna wanted.
"Fundamental abilities, enhanced by technology, are ideal."
"Controlling something you don't possess limits its dynamism. But if it's inherently yours, you can master it."
Luna saw great potential in this gene and planned to integrate it into her body.
Ayla mentally calculated what a fire-breathing Luna would look like, then dismissed the image.
Luna wouldn't make herself fire-breathing; she'd expand her pores—like those on human fingertips—connecting them to the plasma-producing organ to achieve controlled flame emission, or perhaps opening them in the spaces between her fingernails for greater flexibility.
Such interesting genes weren't uncommon; Luna reveled in the thrill of discovery.
The joy of discovery was paramount.
However, this period of research would end in 628 years, as they entered the Alpha Eridani Sector.
The Alpha Eridani Sector was highly centralized; over 80% of its inhabitants lived within the Mobius Ringworld, which supported 60% of the eternally democratic star nation's migrants.
As they approached Alpha Eridani, the number of surrounding starships increased.
Luna didn't want to create chaos, so the Potato Chip remained in orbit; she boarded a starship and entered the star system.
"It's been destroyed, as expected."
Ayla, through a remote communication device within the starship, could accompany Luna via projection without needing to occupy space within the small vessel.
Luna's primary purpose here was to re-establish Ayla's connection with the Ringworld.
During the Olive Branch Civilization's control, Ayla's original server was destroyed. A significant portion of the Federation population survived here, so Ayla wouldn't entrust this place to a Boundary God but would use sub-units for more precise control.
Seeing the Mobius Ringworld again, Luna was still amazed.
Such a colossal structure—was it truly a Federation creation, or did it originate from a more distant and powerful civilization?
"Remember you mentioned modifying the Mobius Ringworld?" Luna asked Ayla.
Ayla had casually mentioned it; Luna hadn't asked for details.
Ayla now explained, "The Alpha Eridani Mobius Ringworld is one of our civilization's central regions. It requires camouflage; of course, this is just an experiment."
She presented a design schematic.
Luna saw only a red supergiant star on the schematic. The accompanying parameters revealed that this supergiant was a construct; upon closer inspection, she saw that the interior contained the Mobius Ringworld and two stars, all encased within a massive shell.
"So, it's meant to be hidden as a red supergiant?" Luna didn't immediately understand the meaning.
Ayla explained, "This isn't just a light projection but a genuine stellar structure capable of emitting tens of thousands of degrees of heat."
"Consider this a giant star creation project. It doesn't require external energy but channels stellar energy, creating a cycle. We can accelerate stellar energy dissipation, meaning we can harvest energy faster."
"The benefits are significant, and it's not difficult."
Luna understood Ayla's intention; this was an experiment. Ayla's goal wasn't this but another possibility—an internal stellar world.