"Having safely crossed the Critical Point, this ship has entered the Energy Storm zone. Internal security control level has returned to normal."
With the Shipboard Mainframe's steady broadcast, we left the Abyss Gate that the Old Empire had once used as a deep diving port and set off to rendezvous with the main force. Since there was not much left that required our personal attention, everyone simply stayed in the laboratory. Work in the laboratory had paused briefly while crossing the Critical Point, but it was now underway again. The technicians were busy establishing a dialogue with the ancient Autonomous Machine, while we were busy watching them establish that dialogue.
This Autonomous Machine, tens of thousands of years old and possessed of an unbelievable history, was now the focus of everyone's attention. I even felt that its deeds could be written into Imperial Military Academy textbooks: although it was merely a cheap piece of equipment incapable of even recognizing its own "self," it had accomplished the same thing as the finest soldiers. Without this Autonomous Machine's lonely efforts over tens of thousands of years, the final remnant of this universe would likely have long since scattered into the void, and today's gains would have been out of the question.
"It fills me with respect. Even a robot can be this loyal," Viska muttered. In her mouth, "loyal" was probably the highest praise possible.
"A Jun, what are we going to do with it from now on?" Qian Qian swayed back and forth on one foot, unable to stay still for even a moment. She looked especially concerned as she watched the Autonomous Machine, covered in cables and undergoing a system inspection. "What should it count as? A veteran? A decorated retired soldier? A citizen? Or something else? It did something