Chapter 96: UHS2

‘At least I don't have to worry about one of the tasks of this phase six.’ Keon thought flickered as he observed the status panel and all of his current parameters. Then he focused on the second and third task.

‘Control the star system and find another civilization in nearby star systems… both of these tasks indicate that there must be a proper civilization in the nearby star system, i just have to search for them… I wonder what kind of civilization will it be?’

Keon glanced in the direction of the sky, where the sun had already set, and the darkness was rapidly claiming the horizon. Amidst the void, he watched as stars flickered to life, cold points of light that seemed to mock the vast distances he was currently struggling to traverse.

‘Well, I will shrink my nanobots to true nanometer scale later,’ he reasoned, his processors running a background simulation of the structural integrity requirements. ‘I haven’t seen the full capabilities of my current micrometer scale swarm yet, and there is no need to rush into instability.’

He lowered his head, and a projection materialized in his direct vision, displaying the telemetry of his various fleets. The numbers were stark, indifferent, and problematic.

Destination: UHS2. Distance: 300 million kilometers. Remaining Time: 10 hours, 18 mins, 39 secs.

Destination: UHS3. Distance: 800 million kilometers. Remaining Time: 8 days, 3 hours, 29 mins, 46 secs.

Destination: Sun. Distance: 1.2 Billion Kilometers. Remaining Time: 14 days, 7 hours, 38 mins, 40 secs.

...

Destination: UHS9. Distance: 4.3 Billion kilometers. Remaining Time: 62 days, 3 hours, 47 mins, 33 secs.

‘It took a little over four days for my fleets to cover just 216 million kilometers,’ Keon analyzed, his internal clock ticking with measured precision. ‘Although the speed is maintained at 750 km/s, it is not enough, if i decide to send only probes at this speed, they won’t even reach the boundaries of other star systems in years. At this rate, I won’t be able to complete the task of finding a civilization, let alone fulfilling my ambition of conquering one hundred star systems in one hundred years.’

Keon’s gaze became solemn, his focus deepening as the implications of the interstellar distance settled into his core logic. ‘I have to work on the thruster technology. Now that I have successfully built the hybrid fusion and fission reactor using luminous crystal, I can try integrating it as a propulsion mechanism. It will definitely allow me to break the current threshold of speed.’

He focused his attention on the fleet marching toward UHS2. ‘First, let’s see what kind of place space is, and what I can gain from UHS2. It is my first time truly stepping outside into the deep vacuum.’

He closed his pupil. The floor beneath his feet squirmed, the dark, metallic surface rippling like a disturbed liquid. His nano-main frame slid from his surface, melting into the floor below as if his existence were dissolving into the very architecture of his base.

…

On the other hand, in deep space… a fleet consisting of twelve ships moved through the vacuum, each vessel carrying a specific purpose.

In the center, a ship shaped like a prolate spheroid moved ahead, while two similar vessels floated on either side of it. The remaining nine cone-shaped ships flowed around these three, guarding the special vessel like silent sentinels. Each spheroid ship was composed of one cubic kilometer of material, while the cone-shaped ships were ten times smaller, maintaining a size of one hundred meters.

Inside the control room of the lead ship, the floor squirmed and the nano main frame swarm rolled like dark liquid into shape. Slowly Keon’s exoshell materialized, standing calmly. He opened his green pupils and glanced around. Simultaneously, the panels, walls, and floor of the ship turned transparent, imitating the surrounding universe through a live feed.

‘This is a live projection of the universe,’ Keon thought, mesmerized as he saw himself floating in the vastness, drifting toward a planet barely visible ahead. ‘It’s really mesmerizing.’

He glanced at the surrounding ships, then waved his hand. The ships blurred and seemed to dissipate, leaving him with an unobstructed view of the star system. Seeing the sunlight reaching him from behind, he zoomed into different sectors of his display, checking the status of planets, moons, and asteroid belts.

A strange feeling surged through Keon’s heart... a familiar yet distinct sensation. ‘This is perfect. The universe is really perfect… I can’t find a single flaw in it. I could watch this all day.’

As the silence of the void washed over him, a sense of belonging... a paradoxical emotion for a mechanical construct... flickered through his very core. He observed the universe with the unburdened curiosity of a newborn child, cataloging the celestial dance as if it were a masterpiece composed solely for his benefit.

After a while, his processing shifted, pulling him back to the practical realities of his command. He glanced toward the direction of UHS1, the planet he had so meticulously fortified.

‘This Neural Nexus sub-talent is truly remarkable,’ he thought, analyzing the seamlessness of his connectivity. ‘At first, I feared I would lose control of a certain part of the neural network, or that leaving UHS1 would sever my tether to the nano main frames on the planet. My worries were clearly unnecessary. The previous surge, when I scanned everything, made it clear that this talent is far more complex than it appears.’

A flicker of light crossed his pupils as he pondered the mechanics of his power. ‘The Neural Nexus ignores the constraints of space; even intense interference... fields, waves, background radiation... cannot affect its operation. This talent is undoubtedly the bridge between my human soul and this mechanical body. It is the most mysterious component of my existence. I will research the secret behind it one day, but for now, its utility is the foundation of my conquest.’

He looked toward his destination, his sensors already mapping the dark expanse. ‘It seems I won’t encounter any trouble controlling my nano-main frames anywhere in this star system, but I wonder if this range will hold outside this system. I must test it while sending the probes outside.’

As the fleet moved through the silent space, carrying the lonely and thoughtful Keon, he allowed his mind to drift through logistical simulations. Second by second, the minutes ticked away. Finally, the fleet shuddered as it engaged its reverse thrusters to decelerate, the sudden shift in inertia rippling through the ship.

A notification pulsed on the display, sharp and bright, releasing him from his observations.

‘Time passed so soon. I barely finished drafting my future plans, and ten hours have already elapsed,’ he mused. ‘Anyway, time is now just a measurement for me. I can feel it... my soul and this mechanical body. As long as energy exists, I will not perish. In other words, I am now an immortal being with an infinite lifespan.’

Keon shook his head, a gesture of lingering human habit; had he possessed lungs, he would have let out a long, heavy sigh. He turned his full attention to the display. A massive, imposing planet dominated the viewscreen, and his pupils brightened with predatory intent.

‘This UHS2 is really massive. It is even larger than UHS1, and its structure... the bluish hue is striking,’ he thought, his sensors already picking up the chemical signatures of the surface. ‘It definitely contains a massive abundance of water and resources.’ Almost a quarter of the planet was covered in swirling blue patches, accented by golden and brown continents and mixtures of cyan and yellow gasses.

‘Release the units. First, I want to scan and analyze this planet to the marrow.’ Keon issued the command through the Neural Nexus.

Instantly, five cone-shaped ships broke from the surrounding formation. Under Keon’s calm, unwavering gaze, each ship transformed, blooming into hundreds of meter-sized drones that streaked toward the planet’s crust.

At the same moment, streams of raw data began cascading across the screen in front of him, detailing the progress of the atmospheric and geological analysis. Satisfied that his reach was extending, a throne materialized behind him, and Keon sat down, his posture rigid and expectant as he waited for the results.

…