My Children Swarm the Cosmos – Chapter 90

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟗𝟎: 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐎𝐧, 𝐖𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨 (1)

Defaulstellay’s Venice Editorial Intelligence Agency (EIA) possesses the largest galactic map of any human civilization.

Veneti Galleass, the director of the EIA, was a member of the Elder’s Council and an artificial human loyal to Lopez.

➖Vatory infiltrated the EIA, assassinated Galleass, and absconded with the galactic map.

“Did you make sure to highlight the location of the Babylonia Planet Weapon?”

➖Of course.

“Put it in the record that there are signs of artificial intelligence involvement in the Babylonia Planet Weapon. Let Gnox use that as a hint.”

➖As the Chimeraz’s sphere of influence expands, members of the Elder’s Council have begun to suffer casualties. Rumor has it that some leaders are even targeting civilians.

“We’d have to mobilize the Phase Assault Troops from Overlecter to keep them all in check. . . but they’re an insurance policy that can only be used in truly dire situations, so we can’t use them.”

➖For now, Chairman Rittan of Whitehole has gone to Serlyn, the general manager of Mirnyy, in order to prevent corporate casualties.

➖Since you have established a close cooperative relationship between the UNF and corporations through the New Universe Civilization Leaders’ Summit, the colony coordinates that Serlyn finds out from Oaaa diplomats will naturally flow to the UNF.

“Finish the Babylonia job before the UNF gets wind of the main colony’s coordinates.”

The UNF’s attack on the main colony was to be the final test. And before that final test could begin, Kreion had to be convinced through Babylonia that Lopez was the mastermind.

“Send the UNF fleet to Babylonia, under the pretense of a strategic forecast from the Hyper Mind. And send the human resources we imported. . . Asher as well.”

➖Why send Asher?

“We need to confirm his combat capabilities. He’ll probably clash with Vatory inside the Babylonia facility.”

➖Then we’ll be able to calculate Kreion’s individual combat power a bit more accurately through Asher and Vatory.

“Kreion will adjust the timing so that the UNF fleet arrives after he has gotten a hint from Babylonia. When that happens, won’t Kreion decide to retreat again?”

➖Yes.

“If he retreats because of the UNF at Nemea and again at Babylonia, he won’t retreat when the UNF fleet attacks the main colony later.”

Kreion will not run away from the final test.

“For now, he can’t just retreat against the UNF fleet at Babylonia, so he’ll stall for time and leave a leader and a few squadrons behind with the Chimeraz fleet. That’s what I would do if I were Kreion.”

➖If we capture the leader, we can send it to the Darwin Foundation facility. Then the ‘reconciliation device’ that we prepared for Director Darwin at Nemea will work more reliably.

There were some slight changes to the original scenario, but in any case, the scenario progressed towards the ultimate goal while taking care of everything that needed to be taken care of.

Eventually, the Chimeraz fleet learned of the existence of the Babylonia Planet Weapon through the galactic map.

The Chimeraz fleet invaded Babylonia, obtaining the blueprint of the Planet Weapon and a hint in the form of operation logs left behind.

Immediately after obtaining that hint, the UNF fleet arrived at Babylonia and attacked the Chimeraz fleet.

The Chimeraz fleet decided to retreat, leaving behind one leader and several squadrons in the process to delay the UNF fleet’s pursuit.

Capturing a leader was never an easy task, but Lopez had cutting-edge weaponry for that difficult job.

➖Knightfortress Brother and the Stealth Maneuver Strike Force have captured Specie G141, believed to be an early leader.

➖Darwin intentionally caused a blackout at the facility, creating an opportunity for future reconciliation with Specie G141.

“What’s the basis for that?”

➖Based on diplomatic intelligence that the warrior class of the Crolr, including the conquering army, has disappeared from the Large Magellanic Cloud, the proposal was to join forces if the Crolr attacked humanity.

“It’s not uncommon for the Crolr’s conquering army to disappear. And it was predicted that the Crolr would still have several decades before they would target humanity.”

➖Yes. Therefore, it is predicted that the Crolr will target other relatively weak races first before they target humanity, and thus they will not invade humanity in the present generation.

➖The probability of an incident occurring where Francis Darwin and Specie G141 reconcile through the device is extremely low.

After that, the UNF fleet obtained the coordinates of the Chimeraz’s main colony through General Manager Serlyn.

The red dwarf star VNC 400481 was given the unique name ‘Hecartra’ for the smooth execution of the ‘Chimeraz Main Colony Strike Operation.’

➖The MDD has been organized into the UNF fleet. The MDD will conduct wave interference experiments targeting leaders in the Hecartra star system.

“If the Chimeraz are weak, they’ll go extinct when we put them in that situation. If they’re strong, they’ll survive and come after me.”

And in time for when the Chimeraz come looking for Lopez, the Phase Assault Troops and the Vehlpciaarct will arrive.

Kreion will be given all the facts and offered a choice.

That is the end of the scenario.

“Put a hint in the UNF fleet’s mothership, Eirene’s, combat simulation.”

It was decided that the UNF fleet would retreat if it was judged that they would be defeated by the Chimeraz. Conversely, if it was judged that they could overwhelm the Chimeraz, they would be able to annihilate the Chimeraz to the end.

➖The wave interference experiment amplified the waves generated inside the brains of a dead leader.

➖And from the amplified waves, we were able to extract some meaningful information by measuring the waves.

The Chimeraz’s waves were still indecipherable. However, they were now able to calculate the waves numerically and obtain simple results from them.

➖The UNF fleet has been defeated.

➖The Chimeraz have passed the final test.

The Chimeraz had become strong enough to defeat the UNF fleet. Kreion must have also concluded that he would definitely reach Lopez.

The final test was not perfect in every way, but the fact that it was passed meant that the Chimeraz Project was essentially a success.

‘When Kreion comes looking for me soon, the Phase Assault Troops and the Vehlpciaarct will arrive accordingly.’

After greeting him in person and explaining everything properly, Kreion will surely make a judgment for the sake of the entire race, rather than out of personal vengeance, if he is given a choice with a predetermined correct answer.

Just as Lopez lived for the sake of his entire race rather than for himself, so would Kreion.

However, the problem lay outside the scenario.

The clearly approaching threat of aliens in the future.

The Crolr race, which was considered to be the clearly approaching threat of aliens in the future.

Their movements had shown different results from Transcendencer’s future predictions.

➖The Crolr conquering army has simultaneously invaded the Solar System and Defaulstellay.

➖Furthermore, the dimensional passageway communication network has been disabled, causing delays in the transmission speed of the dark network.

➖The UNF fleet has been weakened by the Hecartra battle. Humanity will suffer heavy casualties against the Crolr conquering army.

It was too soon.

It was far, far too soon.

And it was the worst possible timing.

“Why did the Crolr. . .? This is way off from the calculations.”

➖Events and interactions unknown to us have advanced the timing of the Crolr’s invasion by several centuries.

🔷🔷🔷

Lopez is in the process of transferring 20 years of memories to Kreion’s forehead.

“. . . it’s like walking a tightrope. We should have prioritized the assessment of the situation through the restoration of the dimensional passageway communication network. We found out that the Nanozator fleet was headed for the Solar System, and it took some time for that Nanozator fleet, the Phase Assault Troops, to get here.”

“Halfway through, we came to the conclusion that Nazar was returning from Hecartra, so we calculated Nazar’s arrival time.”

“At this very moment, I have been waiting for this situation to contact you. I spared you, but my troops and AIs definitely did not spare you.”

“That’s why I said it was like walking a tightrope. Honestly, I was fooled by your strategies a few times and caught off guard.”

“You’ve gotten that much stronger. You’ve gotten much stronger and more complex than Transcendencer’s calculations.”

“. . . Anyway, it got pretty messed up. I prepared for 18 years, created insurance, and prepared for all kinds of situations, but it’s absolutely impossible to predict everything perfectly.”

“Even now, I don’t know exactly why the Crolr suddenly moved up the timing of their invasion.”

“I’m thinking that maybe the big reason is that the Anima Selas variable spread to the Large Magellanic Cloud. Or else. . . the Aooa used to say that the Crolr had taken away their self-replicating protein satellite, so maybe when the Crolr and the Aooa came into contact, something happened that caused them to move up the timing of the invasion.”

“I think some really small thing changed a big event.”

“But I can be sure of what choice you’ll make now.”

“Kreion.”

“If you continue this war, you’ll be up against the Phase Assault Troops, the UNF, all of humanity, and the Vehlpciaarct. It’ll be a very. . . grim future.”

“On the other hand, if you choose to stop the war, the fighting will end right there. I’ll make sure that the Phase Assault Troops, the UNF, all of humanity, and the Vehlpciaarct can’t target the Chimeraz.”

“Then a future will unfold where there are many things you can do. Now that the Chimeraz have realized the truth and gained freedom, there will be nothing to stop you.”

“You can gain peace, survival, and influence. And the human reputation of the Chimeraz will gradually become more favorable.”

“I’ll have an excuse to reveal the Phase Assault Troops to the world. The balance of power in the local galactic group will be maintained according to your and my will, and a new era of peaceful coexistence will come about, suppressing war and the modern-day Cold War.”

“By suppressing major wars, we can achieve a semi-permanent long peace before humanity or the Chimeraz collapse.”

“In that, the Chimeraz and humans will reign as a powerful axis of power.”

“I know you want to kill me. I’ve also felt that feeling of revenge strongly, really hating and resenting someone and wanting to kill them.”

“But one thing is for sure. My will is endless, and your life is also endless. So if you can’t make a choice, just stop the war for now. And keep thinking.”

“About what is the right thing to do for you.”

A wise judgment.

“About what is most precious to you.”

Race.

“A wider world awaits you.”

Future.

“From now on, it’s outside the scenario.”

Freedom.

🔷🔷🔷

Kreion has his hand on what appears to be Ludwig’s forehead.

“. . . So that’s how it was. . . That’s why the ceasefire. . .”

He transferred the 20 years of memories he received from Lopez to Ludwig.

“It was more than I imagined.”

“Lopez seems to be a person who is crazy about humanity. . . I wonder how he could do such cruel things. On the one hand, he’s like an enemy, but on the other hand, I think he’s amazing and terrible. . .”

Ludwig, like Kreion, looked into 20 years of memories and his feelings of anger towards humans faded away. After that anger was gone, for some reason, he was left with an empty heart.

Until now, what could be called his goal was the survival of his race and a series of processes to remove Lopez’s brain.

However, he had now made a ceasefire with the powerful force of humanity and learned the truth.

Perhaps the reason he now feels an empty heart is because the goal that had filled his heart to the brim was burned to ashes.

“What do you plan to do now. . .?”

“I have to go to the Solar System on February 1st to sort things out with the humans, the Vehlpciaarct, and the Crolr.”

Kreion sat heavily on his throne, watching Drake’s binary star gradually receding.

His complex thoughts and emotions do not come together as one.

‘How could such a human being exist. . .?’

What would have happened if he had moved his body to kill Lopez even after receiving his memories?

What would have happened if he had gone himself instead of sending the cloned body to the Asilomar Ziggurat’s middle layer?

What would have happened if he had not passed the final test, the UNF fleet?

What if he hadn’t retreated from Babylonia?

What if he hadn’t reconciled with Darwin at Nemea?

What if he hadn’t killed Haber?

What if he hadn’t gone berserk after seeing the experimental mother’s death?

What if. . . Lopez didn’t exist?

‘My mother chose death for me and for our race. The Foundation force-fed my mother, and Lopez. . . allowed my mother to die according to her will. . . Intended. . . Intended. . .’

Thanks to Lopez.

Because of Lopez.

Everything.

“. . . Master!”

A child riding Asotus enters the largest Euryale variant and approaches with his tentacles ticking.

A light flickers in the child’s abyss-like eyes. Seeing it, he can’t even begin to fathom how much this child has suffered.

“Nazar. . .”

“I have something to tell you!”

“Yes. You defeated the Crolr with the humans of Defaulstellay. You also joined hands with Darwin and Pollan for a while.”

“Y-Yes. . .”

He connected his waves with Nazar.

Joy, exhilaration, fear, worry, anxiety, and attachment to his master.

Nazar’s waves are felt trembling unsteadily.

“I’m sorry.”

“Master. . . I. . .”

“I had to abandon you because of my lack of ability.”

“What. . .! No! I did what I had to do because I believed I had to! There is not a single reason for Master to blame himself!”

‘Something you believe you have to do. . .’

Tick, tick, tick. . .

Nazar approached Kreion.

He felt his beloved master’s face and voice up close.

“I’m really grateful and sorry, Nazar.”

“. . .”

If Nazar had tear ducts, would he have shown tears?

“I’m grateful and sorry to all of you.”

Ludwig and Gats shook their heads and said no.

“I wasn’t able to defeat Lopez in the end. I knew Lopez was behind it all, but I didn’t realize that everything was going according to his plan while I was fighting him. I was still an immature ruler.”

If Kreion had stopped there, the ceasefire would have been nothing but wounds.

“I will try to do better in the future. I didn’t want to admit that everything was his test, but I did. And I passed his test. That’s how I gained truth and freedom.”

He realized and grew.

Ludwig asked cautiously.

“Then now. . .”

“What is left for us. . .?”

At that moment, Kreion’s answer was what everyone wanted.

“Let’s go back.”

To the place where they first took root.

🔷🔷🔷

“By the way, Nazar.”

“Yes.”

“What do you think? The human race.”

“. . . I don’t know.”

“Aren’t they disgusting?”

“Of course they are disgusting because they are a different species, but. . .”

“. . .”

“Again, I don’t know. . . May I ask what Master thinks?”

“. . .Narrow.”

“. . .?”

“My vision was too narrow. So I’m going to take my time and face them properly.”

“I will follow Master unconditionally.”

“And one more thing. I had something to say to you.”

“Yes.”

“Because I had Ludwig, I said you were my second favorite child.”

“You said that before.”

“From now on, I will try to love all the leaders equally. All of you were really precious children to me. I will not make a difference in the size of that affection.”

“. . . Even if there is a difference or not, my mind will not change. If that is Master’s will, I will follow anything. To me, Master is the whole world.”

➖ Master. . .

‘What’s wrong? Ludwig.’

➖ In the orbit of our colony. . .

➖ There is something huge. . .

From now on, it’s outside the scenario.

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