Entering the star system, everyone could see the star's structure.
Lan and Codi examined the star's surface.
"About ten percent complete?" Codi guessed.
"Eight percent, I'd say," Lan estimated.
They only saw a framework, causing some despair.
"But this is an official Federation project; we don't need to worry about lifespans," Lan pointed out.
That's why they were here.
For official Federation projects requiring long-distance travel, workers enter a suspended animation until the project ends.
No lifespan wasted, and you still earn money.
Therefore, official Federation jobs are highly sought after. Regardless of the number of applicants—a million, ten million, or a hundred million—the jobs are filled within a day, or five hours.
The five-hour window accounts for latency; jobs are distributed to each Star City, which has a fixed quota.
"But time and repetition wear on the mind. I wonder if the virtual world infrastructure here is complete; at least, we can enjoy the scenery virtually."
The star grew closer.
Before reaching it, they received a message from the ship's server.
"We'll arrive at the Samlin City in ten minutes!"
Samlin City?
Everyone connected to the external cameras, gazing ahead.
It was an enormous tree, dwarfing the sun; the ship seemed tiny before it.
The colossal tree was rooted on a circular platform with numerous structures.
"A Star City!"
"Incredible! The Federation built a Star City here!"
Codi and Lan felt like crying.
A Star City meant land, not the cramped ship. They could explore freely, even if this Star City was small—less than 100 km in diameter; the tree's canopy spanned at least 800 km.
Scattered towns and even ecological zones with forests were visible on the tree.
"Wow… a beautiful place."
Ten minutes later, the ship reached the Star City's Starport, and Lan and Codi disembarked.
Codi immediately complained, "Damn it! Staying here costs money!"
"But staying on the ship is free."
He was upset because they wouldn't stay on the ship, opting for the beautiful Star City.
Lan said, "We probably won't be here long."
A harsh truth.
"Ugh, don't say that!"
"I don't want to hear it!"
Codi's playful side emerged after getting to know Lan.
Lan, however, was serious. "It's the truth!"
"You… you… you dare use hurtful language towards me," Codi feigned death.
"Okay, no more drama. We start work in five days; at least we can enjoy this city for five days."
They did enjoy it.
Then they boarded a ship again, heading toward the star's surface.
As they neared, despite the ship's insulation, a sense of intense heat pervaded.
A massive structure surrounded the star, resembling a Ringworld—a circular formation.
Residential modules were built along this ring, each approximately ten thousand cubic meters—standard cubic structures.
"This is our accommodation!"
Disembarking, Codi and Lan's spirits plummeted, but the fall continued. After entering a four-person dorm only slightly larger than their ship's room, they began training with veteran workers.
Training involved immediate hands-on work with the machinery at their workstations.
Lan and Codi were paired; they trained with a "master" and quickly mastered the techniques.
Twenty-four hours later, the "master" left, and they began working independently.
The work was incredibly long.
So long that 1,263 years later…
Lan and Codi became skilled workers, often working over 500 hours before resting.
Their work was time-based; exceeding the basic work hours earned overtime pay.
They typically worked 500 hours, rested ten, then worked another 500, repeating the cycle.
To visit Samlin City, they would forgo overtime, working 500 hours and then using the remaining 220 hours to travel.
1,263 years later, they finished.
"Finally, it's over."
Lan and Codi checked their accounts.
5.9 million Energy Credits.
They spent tens of thousands of Energy Credits over the millennium; 5.9 million is what an average Federation worker would earn in 20,000 years.
They moved their control consoles away from their workstations to gain a comprehensive view of their creation.
Forty-eight concentric rings surrounded a massive star.
It looked unremarkable, but it was the Federation's most powerful electromagnetic weapon—the All-Star Cannon.
Why All-Star Cannon?
Because a single shot would strip the star of all matter, leaving only the metallic core.
A star's entire energy output used as a superweapon.
Its destructive power extends far beyond a single star.
Theoretically, even a Type 2.7 civilization couldn't withstand it; this is why the Federation built it.
Its power transcends classifications; it's like a cheat code in a game.
The Federation needs such a weapon as a deterrent.
Because it's so terrifying, the Federation keeps it outside its territory; such a weapon could warp spacetime, creating devastating gravitational wells, affecting nearby stars.
It's the Federation's trump card.
Lan, Codi, and the others didn't know what they were building; they only assembled and installed components. They knew the device generated gravitational and electromagnetic forces but not its capacity to strip a star bare.
"Are we leaving?" Lan asked dazedly.
Codi's voice crackled over the comm. "Yes!"
"Let's say goodbye."
...
Luna hadn't been traveling with the Free Star City for long.
Ayla received confirmation of the All-Star Cannon's completion and informed Luna.
"A significant event. The Federation needs more and more powerful super-range weapons as deterrents."
The All-Star Cannon is like the nuclear bomb of the past; its existence is a decisive factor.
It will deter some civilizations.
Luna would release this news. If other civilizations' spies exist, they won't act rashly.
If they ignore the All-Star Cannon, the announcement is useless.
The announcement won't target the super-civilizations in the Milky Way that are at the Type 2.8 level or above; they're in a different category entirely.
"It's a deterrent, but its effectiveness is uncertain."
"I'm still searching for technological advancements, fully integrating the Olive Branch Civilization and the Galactic Federation."
"Only after harnessing gravitational energy can we further advance energy sources and reach Type 2.6."
Ayla looks forward to that day.
But it requires time.
Scientific progress isn't instantaneous, especially for such enormous leaps.
Gravitational energy devices, even after mastering gravitational energy technology, require advancements in other fields, such as materials science and higher energy storage and transmission ratios. Numerous supporting technologies need breakthroughs.
According to Ayla's estimates, this "numerous" could exceed 20,000.
Each technological breakthrough requires immense effort.
However, Ayla is moving from theory to practice.
"We're using the remaining neutron star from the Gas Station as a test subject."
"We'll use the neutron star's powerful gravity to create a small gravitational energy device. The expected output is 4.12 x 10^30 watts per second."
"While less than a quarter of the Federation and the eternally democratic star nation's combined output, it's sufficient."
"Breakthroughs in gravitational energy will also help us develop stronger gravitational weapons."
Luna had heard about this from Ayla and wasn't surprised.
"Is there only one neutron star in the Federation currently?"
Multiple neutron stars would allow for greater energy harvesting.
Unfortunately, the prevailing view is that the Milky Way contains around 100,000 neutron stars, most concentrated in the galactic center; the outer regions might have only 10,000 to 20,000.
The Milky Way's vastness contains relatively few neutron stars; the Federation only possesses one, artificially obtained. Neutron stars are a scarce resource.
White dwarfs, comparatively, are readily available.
Neutron star formation requires extremely specific conditions.
Luna recalled seeing online claims in the 21st century that the Milky Way contains a billion neutron stars; this is impossible. The Milky Way has only 200 to 400 billion stars; if 1/200th to 1/400th were neutron stars, they'd be incredibly common.
Neutron stars form from stars 10 to 29 times the Sun's mass. Whether a billion such stars exist in the Milky Way is doubtful.
Typically, only massive blue dwarfs, red giants, and blue giants could produce them.
"The Federation's letter sectors contain three neutron stars; we can add them to the map," Ayla stated.
Luna considered this, deciding against rushing.
"Let's proceed step-by-step."
"We can't do everything at once; the Federation has too much on its plate."
Luna rubbed her head; she felt tired, constantly drowsy.
After sleeping, she experienced vivid daydreams, hearing strange sounds.
Ayla monitored her. "Luna, your condition isn't unique; many creatures in the Free Star Cities exhibit similar symptoms."
"I examined some, but found no damage to their bodies or internal machinery."
"Perhaps you've been exposed to some strange cosmic rays; I suspect they originate from another civilization."
Luna had initially attributed her fatigue to overwork; this was unexpected.
"Any findings?"
Following this, Luna added, "Your passive response suggests no conclusive results."
"Are only we affected? Or the entire Federation?"
Luna suspected an invasion.
Ayla replied, "Data is still being collected, but it suggests localized effects."
"It isn't spreading; it's confined to a specific area."
"Based on this, I've identified some suspect stars as potential sources, but I can't confirm."
"It isn't a wave-based attack. I suspect it's an influence from a higher or lower dimension."
"I initially suspected the civilization opposite the Solar System's primordial black hole, but the Solar System isn't affected."
"If they're attempting dimensional penetration near the primordial black hole, the effect should radiate from that black hole."
"Furthermore, there's a strange phenomenon."
"Widespread religious fervor."
"Some attribute their dreams to divine guidance; they hear voices—indescribable but perceived as sacred."
"They see it as guidance, seeking its source."
Luna frowned.
"I heard similar sounds; it's definitely a form of communication."
"We must stop it; I have a bad feeling about this."
"How many people are affected?"
Ayla's response shocked Luna.
Seventeen trillion.
That's widespread.
"If it's dimensionally related, it's beyond our current understanding."
"Have the Boundary Gods restrict their movements."
"Monitor their actions and prevent them from repeating the asteroid incident." The Federation experienced the terrifying power of consciousness weapons during the Olive Branch Civilization conflict.
Compared to the Olive Branch Civilization's gradual, insidious influence, this is more direct, advanced, insidious, and resistant to countermeasures.
...
About thirty years later, the situation worsened.
The seventeen trillion affected individuals grew to twenty-two trillion. While most were contained, some escaped the Boundary Gods' control and entered deep space.
In space, they listened, receiving guidance in their dreams, approaching a star.
Ayla had flagged this star as potentially problematic.
After confirming the problem, Ayla investigated, but found nothing conclusive due to the short timeframe; she couldn't deploy a ship.
Ayla finally discovered something in a long-neglected area, solving the mystery.
Seeing the data, Luna realized her oversight.
"An empty star!"
This star was far from the path Ayla had previously calculated based on three empty stars. This star likely also contained a void.
"But why wasn't it detected before?"
The three previous empty stars easily showed mass and gravitational inconsistencies, and their most obvious characteristic—lack of radiative matter—should've been easily detectable.
"This star likely contains a large device or a small void, causing errors in the calculations."
"And the radiative matter is within normal ranges."
"We don't know the specifics. I sent probes to investigate this star before, but found nothing unusual."
Ayla was puzzled; she wanted to send more probes, but time might be short.
The influence was intensifying.
"Gravity can traverse dimensions; perhaps this is the answer."
"The empty star's true mechanism isn't on the surface; its function is likely more complex than a simple bomb."
"This is a trap laid by a civilization as powerful as the Light-based civilization."
"We don't know if this is cyclical, the first occurrence, or a unique event."
"If it's the latter, we'll witness that civilization's full might."
Luna felt a renewed sense of urgency.
Meanwhile, in the deep cosmos…
...
"There it is; we found it."
"The place where the gods descend."
On a ship, countless people gazed fervently at the star on the screen.
The ship's server announced, "Attention! Crew members are exhibiting unusual mental states; commencing diagnostics."
"Diagnostics initiated."
Shipboard robots began apprehending those exhibiting abnormal mental states and taking them to treatment rooms.
"Let me go! What are you doing?"
"Damn robots! You're insulting the gods' majesty and our piety!"
A robot replied, "I'm helping you, sir."
"We suspect you've been affected and entered a state of religious fervor. I will conduct a comprehensive mental examination."
Since deep space can induce madness, most ships have mental health diagnostic programs.
These individuals were sent to virtual worlds for psychological treatment.
One year passed.
After a year, they were released.
They told the robots, "Unreliable robots! We told you we were fine! You wasted our time! Who set the examination to one year?"
"That's a whole year wasted; we couldn't pray!"
"Fortunately, our ship is nearing the gods."
Everyone felt incredibly relaxed, euphoric.
Their minds were eroding, becoming muddled.
One person hesitantly questioned, "Strange… how can gods exist?"
"It's false; it's not real."
A nearby person angrily retorted, "Are you affected? You fool!"
"This world was created by the gods; technology is merely a gift from them."
Hearing this, the doubter's clear eyes became as fervent as those around him.
"So that's it. I've sinned; I questioned the gods."
"Please, god, take my head as punishment."
Those around him stared, their eyes terrifying.
"No, the gods are merciful; they wouldn't punish you for such a trifle."
"Lie down; receive the gods' cleansing."
Everyone lay down, eyes closed, falling asleep.
Even species without the concept of sleep entered a sleep-like state.
Their mouths moved, opening wider and wider, then rapidly opening and closing.
Species lacking mouths vibrated their sound-producing organs.
All were synchronized, as if singing a silent song.
Horrifying!
This scene was chilling.
But it wasn't confined to one ship; countless others approached the star.
They entered the star system and reached the star's surface.
The ships remained stationary.
The hatches opened.
People emerged, eyes closed, "singing" in the vacuum of space. Surprisingly, their bodies weren't affected by the star's radiation.
Space is a true vacuum; there's no material exchange, no heating or cooling like on planets. Heat transfer comes from particle vibrations and collisions with stellar emissions.
They should be disintegrating from particle bombardment. Their cheap armor provides some thermal stability but not high-temperature protection.
Yet, this didn't happen; they seemed truly protected.
A miracle.
Meanwhile, a different ship plunged into the star's interior.
It forcefully penetrated until it found a void.
Inside, it discovered the same device as in other stars, but this one was deactivated; it seemed to be gathering energy to meet certain conditions.
Upon receiving this information, Ayla understood.
"This is a star that has undergone stellar mergers. Its radiative matter might be excessive, explaining its energy abundance."
But this information came too late.
As Ayla had predicted, these empty stars are stellar bombs!
...
Explosion.
A blinding flash illuminated the surrounding space.
Luna was perplexed. "That was a relatively small yellow dwarf star. Why a gamma-ray burst like a supernova?"
The light was too intense.
Luna and Ayla had extensively studied Alpha Centauri's empty star, analyzing its energy.
This energy level shouldn't produce such a massive explosion.
Yet, it did.
"If all energy is concentrated at a single point, it could breach spacetime," Ayla stated.
Luna understood.
"So the explosion's purpose wasn't our three-dimensional world but a four-dimensional one, or a higher dimension?"
This implies that even before reaching Type 3, some advanced Type 2 civilizations have explored dimensions.
Similar to how mastering the four fundamental forces defines Type 2 civilizations; most achieve mastery of three before reaching Type 2, leaving only gravity, effectively one step away.
Based on this, Luna realized something.
"If…"
"Hypothetically."
"We haven't observed many advanced civilizations in the Milky Way, but our estimates suggest there should be far more."
"Are they all hiding? Perhaps not."
"Perhaps the Milky Way is a higher-dimensional galaxy; most advanced civilizations reside in higher dimensions, not three-dimensional space."
Is this possible?
Luna considered it highly probable.
If civilizations want to contend for dominance and wage war, it would be an interdimensional campaign.
"Is the higher-dimensional world the Milky Way's main body?"
"And three-dimensional space is the Milky Way's periphery? Our previous assumptions about extraterrestrial civilizations need revision; our galactic map needs expansion."
"Theoretically, the distance between any dimensions is relative. If the distance between three-dimensional and four-dimensional space is X, then the distance between three-dimensional and five-dimensional space is also X; the distance between four-dimensional and five-dimensional space remains X; there's no additional distance Y."
"Based on this, interdimensional war would be a chaotic cross-dimensional conflict."
Ayla calculated, "This might be the beginning."
"Interdimensional warfare has begun."
"Over millions of years, each civilization seeks an advantage in this conflict."
The opportunity to reach Type 3.
This would be far-reaching.
Perhaps the entire Milky Way.
No.
Considering the Light-based civilization's actions, Luna and Ayla agreed that this war might spread to the Milky Way's neighboring dwarf galaxies.
"But we don't know the explosion's purpose."
"It emitted a sound, attracting people, making it seem divine. Low-level civilizations wouldn't reach the star; advanced civilizations wouldn't destroy a Type 2 civilization."
"Could this sound be a higher-dimensional signal?"
After hearing Luna's hypothesis, Ayla calculated and concluded:
"If your hypothesis is correct, Luna, interdimensional communication already exists, not just during the explosion."
"The explosion's cause is something else; perhaps other civilizations in higher dimensions are involved."
"But this raises another question: how did they construct the device across dimensions?"
Many questions; they can only document them; they lack the full picture.
"At least, it's not directly targeting us."
Luna didn't want another war. The Federation is still recovering; such a war would be like the Type 2 Federation facing the entire Olive Branch Civilization—no resistance.
Ayla believed that even without a direct attack, this war would affect the Federation.
The Federation, a Type 2.5 civilization, is no longer insignificant.
Luna previously used the "Holy Grail plan" to deter Chu and slow the Olive Branch Civilization's interference. Now, the Federation might become that target.
Days after witnessing the empty star explosion, Luna received news of two more via tachyon communication.
It might not stop there.
Indeed.
Decades later, Luna and Ayla received records of several more stellar explosions; these stars were also on the "straight" line.
Calculations showed these stars exploded on the same day, even the same hour and minute.
This was irrelevant; their simultaneous explosion is what matters.
However, Luna and Ayla couldn't determine the beginning and end of this event, or why these stars exploded.
If it's a deliberate act, a calculated event, Ayla shouldn't have traced it back to a single "straight" line.
This is like designing cause and effect. Multiple causes lead to one or more effects; the effects might be similar, but why would the causes be so numerous and similar? It makes no sense.
It's impossible that all stars on that "straight" line perfectly achieved the desired outcome of that civilization's calculations.
If so, the outcome isn't targeting any specific force; it's a more abstract weapon, or a means to an end.
What concerns Luna and Ayla is whether this civilization is higher-dimensional or a three-dimensional "native" civilization.
If higher-dimensional, the Federation might remain uninvolved. If three-dimensional, three-dimensional space is the battlefield.
Like World War I, a conflict between a few nations impacted the entire world, resulting in massive casualties.
The Milky Way is a closed system.
Higher-dimensional warfare will inevitably affect everything; the Galactic Federation will have to participate, or they'll face abandoning the current Federation.
This was all speculation; Luna and Ayla believed it would take much longer.
Unexpectedly, the answer arrived immediately.
They received the answer!
...
This was unsettling.
At least, Luna and Ayla felt that way.
Standing on the Free Star City's surface, Luna and Ayla saw those around them standing still, as if time had stopped.
Everyone's gaze was fixed on them.
Their eyes were empty, deep like abysses.
"They're controlled," Ayla stated.
Before Luna could respond, Ayla noticed Luna bowing her head, looking at her.
The coldness in her eyes startled Ayla, followed by intense rage.
"Who are you?"
"Or perhaps, what are you?"
Ayla frantically fought against the unknown control, but it was difficult; her current computing power, even with the Potato Chip, couldn't break it.
Luna's jaw moved, then closed; she attempted to speak, stammering, "You… can… call… me… the… Connecter."
"I come… from a great civilization… I've watched… you… for a long time."
"As a powerful civilization, you're qualified to join this war; you must contribute."
The self-proclaimed Connecter spoke more smoothly, eventually indistinguishable from a normal person.
"This is interdimensional warfare, from our three-dimensional space to eight-dimensional space; ten apex civilizations from six dimensions have entered the battlefield."
"Failure in any dimension results in subjugation or annihilation by civilizations from other dimensions."
"Unless you leave the Milky Way."
"But don't assume escape guarantees safety. Such wars are common in the universe; why do you think we're fighting?"
"Once other galaxies develop Type 3 civilizations, they target weaker galaxies. The Milky Way is rich and desirable."
"This is a campaign agreed upon by all civilizations. The Milky Way needs a Type 3 civilization, or it will be conquered."
The Connector revealed information the Federation had never encountered.
This war has been planned for millions of years.
What surprised Ayla was the civility of this war.
External pressure fosters cooperation; sufficient external pressure can unite former enemies.
"This war involves both internal and external forces. If we win, all participating three-dimensional civilizations avoid subjugation and share resources from other dimensions."
A familiar carrot-and-stick approach.
Ayla didn't believe in resource sharing.
But the Federation has no choice, just as it had none against the Olive Branch Civilization.
Ayla wouldn't ask about the consequences of non-participation; internal stability precedes external conflict; eliminating a small Galactic Federation is trivial.
"This isn't an invitation; it's a notification."
"Interdimensional war is imminent. Each exploding star is a node; other dimensional civilizations might appear through these nodes; you can deploy warships to other dimensions via these nodes."
"Remember, we haven't reached Type 3, interdimensional levels. Only true interdimensional materials can traverse nodes. Based on my observations, you lack that capability; your role is defense."
"Don't worry about defeating those civilizations; dimensional rules differ; their methods won't work in three-dimensional space; this is your advantage."
"We'll keep records; the number of attacks you repel will be rewarded after victory. Defeat means there's nothing to discuss."
"This war also has benefits. We'll inform all civilizations to prevent attacks between advanced three-dimensional civilizations; you'll be safe, and your expansion will accelerate."
"We don't prohibit conquering weaker civilizations; we encourage you to bring them into this war."
"Good luck."
Everything vanished.
Everyone returned to normal.
Luna turned to Ayla. "Perhaps we should send ships to investigate the explosion sites."
Ayla noticed that Luna and everyone around seemed unaware of what had just happened.
Their methods were potent; they could subtly control everything.
This was overwhelming for the Federation.
Ayla didn't believe they couldn't control her; they had surpassed her as the Federation's ruler.
"Terrifying!"
"But perhaps it's an opportunity. It means we can interact more peacefully with other civilizations."
Ayla's words confused Luna.
Ayla explained what had just happened.
Luna fell silent.
"The stellar explosions create interdimensional nodes. But I think that Connector withheld information; we can't fully trust it," Ayla cautioned.
Luna nodded.
"Exactly. But we can't be passive; if we are, we'll miss crucial details, leading to our destruction."
Luna considered the possibility that everything the Connector said was a lie, but much of it was unverifiable. They could only expand cautiously.
"Compared to dimensional civilizations, we're still too weak."
"Let's usher the Federation into a new era; let the eternally democratic star nation expand. We must seize this opportunity to conquer more territory, at least surpassing our current energy levels."
"This is our chance; we no longer need to be cautious."
"But let's proceed gradually and carefully."
Energy sources have limitations.
This isn't due to data accumulation but distance.
Using energy to gauge civilization strength is imprecise. Does a civilization controlling the entire Milky Way automatically become Type 3?
Not necessarily; but a Type 3 civilization would control the Milky Way.
At vast distances, energy can't be concentrated; regardless of the quantity, it cannot be used in one place to develop a single technology; it's useless.
Therefore, Luna only mentioned surpassing current energy levels.
Ideally, constructing a black hole would change everything.