The first order of business on Zetros-b was not celebration, but security. With Anya and a small, heavily armed Titan security team at his side, Raj stepped fully onto the crimson plateau. The air was rich and humid, thick with the scent of alien blossoms. While it was breathtaking, Raj's priority was prudence.
"Daedalus," he commanded, his voice crisp in the alien air. "Deploy the reconnaissance drone swarm. I want a five-kilometer thermal and motion scan of our immediate perimeter. Identify all life forms larger than a domestic cat and flag any potential predators."
From silent ports on the hull of the Phoenix's Ascent, a hundred small, sleek drones detached and shot out in a coordinated pattern, their sensors painting a detailed map of the surrounding landscape. Within minutes, the report came back.
"Perimeter is clear of immediate threats," Daedalus announced. "Local fauna consists primarily of herbivorous herds. Several large avian species detected, but none are displaying aggressive behavior."
With the beachhead secured, it was time to build their first home. Raj accessed his System inventory and materialized the [Prefabricated Bio-Dome]. It was a dense, metallic sphere about the size of a basketball. He placed it in the center of the plateau and pressed an activation stud.
What followed was a marvel of System-provided technology. The sphere unfolded like a metallic flower, support struts extending and locking into place with silent precision. Translucent, diamond-hard panels slid out, forming a vast, gleaming dome that shimmered under the light of the orange sun. In under ten minutes, a fully pressurized, habitable structure large enough for fifty people stood complete. This was Outpost Prime.
As the dome's internal systems came online, Raj performed his daily check-in.
[ Daily Check-in Complete. ]
[ Frontier Development Pack Granted ]
[ Reward 1: Matter Fabricator (Small) ]
[ Reward 2: AI Construction & Defense Drone Swarm (1,000 Units) ]
Raj absorbed the information instantly. The Matter Fabricator could convert the raw energy from his ship's reactor into almost any basic material—a tool that made conventional mining obsolete. The new drone swarm was even more advanced, capable of complex construction and automated defense patrols.
Next, he walked to the edge of the plateau overlooking the turquoise sea. He took out the [Genesis Seed]. It was a pulsating, crystalline orb that hummed with a soft, internal light. He knelt and gently pushed it into the rich, red soil.
The effect was instantaneous and profound. A wave of soft, golden light pulsed outwards from the Seed, washing over the plateau. The alien soil shimmered as trillions of microscopic nanites were released, beginning the decades-long, subtle process of optimizing the local ecosystem, preparing it for the eventual introduction of Earth-based agriculture. He was not just building a base; he was planting the very essence of a new Earth.
With the foundations laid, Raj gave the final command. "Disembark the colonists."
The main ramp of the Phoenix's Ascent lowered once more. Fifty men and women—the best scientists from Nexus AI, the most disciplined engineers from R-Corp's tech division, and the most loyal veterans from Titan Security—walked down the ramp. They stopped and stared, their faces filled with a mixture of disbelief and profound purpose as they looked upon their new home.
Raj stood before them. His Sovereign's Aura washed over the small crowd, his youth forgotten, his authority absolute.
"Welcome to Outpost Prime," he began, his voice clear and strong. "You are the pioneers of a new era for humanity. Here, we are not bound by the old rules, the old hatreds, or the old limits. Here, we build something better. Your work will be the foundation of a new civilization among the stars."
A unified sense of duty and excitement settled over the colonists. They were no longer just employees; they were founders.
Later, Raj and Anya stood on the observation deck of the ship, looking down at the burgeoning outpost. The Bio-Dome glowed with internal light. The new construction drones buzzed through the air like a swarm of metallic bees, assembling perimeter fences and secondary storage units from materials freshly printed by the Matter Fabricator. The colonists were already at work, setting up labs and running diagnostics. It was the birth of a city.
Anya turned to him, her eyes reflecting the lights of the new settlement. "It's truly begun. What's the first major project?"
Raj looked at the holographic map of the planet, at the resource scan that showed a mountain range rich with undiscovered metals.
"We build a shipyard," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "The Phoenix's Ascent is a magnificent ship. But it needs a fleet."