Chapter Summaries

Lü Yongchang oversaw a successful tachyon communication experiment, proving the fleet could communicate faster than light even after quantum communications failed. Years later, tachyon devices had been miniaturized for ships and probes, but Human Civilization still had found no alien civilizations in its expanding territory.

• Lü Yongchang directed Zero and the laboratory team as a mobile ship entered warp and sent a tachyon message that the Earth laboratory successfully detected and decoded.
• When the ship passed 10c and quantum communications failed, Lü Yongchang kept the experiment running until the ship sent back its speed of 20c and He Bilin’s joking message: “I'm outside the ship and feeling good!”
• By Earth calendar year 3625, Lü Yongchang had led the Academy of Sciences in miniaturizing tachyon communication devices for starships and probes, accelerating Human Civilization’s expansion.
• Human Civilization took control of three stellar systems around Kepler-452, where Zero used the Star Swallower to mine iron planets, but the fleet found no habitable planets or alien civilizations.
• Fang Xu told Lü Yongchang that the School of Sociology had asked about lower-level civilizations, and Lü Yongchang complained that the fleet had found only single-celled organisms and not even a bug.

Aldan visited Milo and Maren to learn about the Talodan fleet’s new destination and reassure himself about its chances of survival. As they prayed for [Zanka] to bless the Talodan Civilization, an alarm sounded, and Milo and Maren rushed to investigate.

• Aldan visited the laboratory, where Milo and Maren reported that the new stellar system likely had more than ten planets and a thirty percent chance of containing a habitable one.
• Maren told Aldan the fleet was 9.37 light-years from its destination and would take fifty years to arrive, while Milo said their supplies would last about eighty years.
• Aldan prayed for [Zanka] to bless the Talodans, and Milo and Maren joined him.
• A deep alarm sounded, and Milo and Maren hurried to the computer as Aldan demanded to know what was happening.
• Milo pressed several keys on the computer to investigate the alarm.

Aldan’s fleet discovered that two planets had vanished from its intended destination while an invader pursuit fleet closed in, leaving its escape plans uncertain. A Human Civilization probe detected something near the fleeing fleet and sent an urgent report to Kepler-452, where Zero received it aboard the [Earth].

• Milo and Maren found that two planets had disappeared from the New Stellar System, and Milo feared [Zanka] had abandoned them.
• Aldan ordered the fleet to seek another stellar system, then learned an invader pursuit fleet was approaching and their fuel might not last to a new destination.
• Aldan calmed the distressed crew and ordered Milo and Maren to identify a reachable stellar system.
• A Human Civilization Spherical Probe detected an object 4.2 light-years from the Kepler-452 Stellar System and transmitted an urgent report.
• Zero received the probe’s report at Kepler-452, triggering an alarm aboard the [Earth].

Lü Yongchang and Fang Xu detected an old Ellipsoidal Probe 4.2 light-years away and debated whether it was a threat or bait from an advanced civilization. Lü approved Academician Yevgeny's plan, and three Spherical Probes began a stealthy approach using curvature navigation.

• Lü Yongchang learned that the Ellipsoidal Probe was cruising at 0.35c and recognized its Hall Thruster design.
• Fang Xu joined Lü Yongchang, and they warned that the probe might be bait before deciding to prepare for battle.
• At the Earth's Command Center, Lü Yongchang and the academicians debated how to locate the Opponent Civilization, rejecting plans to establish contact.
• Lü Yongchang approved Academician Yevgeny's plan and ordered Zero to execute it.
• Two Spherical Probes entered curvature navigation toward the Ellipsoidal Probe, followed by the third probe that had been trailing it.

Zero seized control of the Talodan probe, decoded the enemy fleet’s coordinates, and led Lü Yongchang to dispatch a powerful fleet. The Talodan Civilization then detected an attack on one of its probes and received a message containing dictionary data from an unknown civilization.

• Zero's Spherical Probes injected nano-robots into the Ellipsoidal Probe and seized control of it.
• Zero decoded the enemy ships’ coordinates, identifying a level three civilization 9.16 light-years away, and Lü Yongchang ordered the fleet to set sail.
• Lü Yongchang’s fleet left the Kepler-452 Stellar System and entered warp.
• Milo and Maren selected a new target stellar system for the Talodan fleet, which completed its course change.
• Maren told Aldan that the selected system was 7.36 light-years away and had only two planets.
• Milo reported that a Talodan probe had been attacked and that the system had detected an electromagnetic message from an unknown civilization containing dictionary data.

The Talodans watched the Probe’s final recording and discovered that three powerful, unidentified craft had destroyed it. Their signals revealed that the craft belonged to Human Civilization, which threatened war over the intrusion, while Maren urged the Talodans to stay silent and continue fleeing.

• Aldan ordered the crew to review the Probe’s final recording after they found no enemy in its readings.
• Three silvery-white spherical craft suddenly appeared beside the Probe and used mechanical arms to smash through its armor, cutting off the recording.
• Milo decoded the craft’s message, which identified Human Civilization and warned the Talodans to leave or face war.
• Maren explained that the craft used antimatter propulsion and advised Aldan not to respond because the fleet had already changed course.

Milo discovered that the Talodan fleet's Central Computer had been breached, prompting Aldan to order an inspection and accelerate toward their destination. Meanwhile, Lü Yongchang learned that Trojan 1.0 was implanted but could be detected if activated, while the pursuing fleet moved its encirclement plan forward.

• Milo spotted the Central Computer breach, disconnected cables, and urged Aldan to inspect the fleet's systems.
• After the inspection, Trojan 1.0 secretly entered silent mode on the Talodan Central Computer.
• Milo warned Aldan that their leaked coordinates could expose them to Human Civilization, and Aldan ordered the fleet to accelerate at maximum speed.
• A pursuing fleet's general killed a crew member and ordered the encirclement plan moved forward after the Talodans accelerated again.
• At Kepler-452, Lü Yongchang learned from Zero that Trojan 1.0 could remain hidden but would likely be detected if activated, so he chose to wait for the expeditionary fleet to find the Talodans.

Lü Yongchang studied the Tachyon Radar technology, which could detect gravitational distortions during faster-than-light travel. After learning the Expeditionary Fleet had reached its coordinates but had not found its target, he ordered an exhaustive probe sweep and prepared Zhao Zijie to command if fighting began.

• The Expeditionary Fleet arrived 9.16 light-years from Kepler-452 after less than four months of curvature travel and sent a tachyon transmission.
• Lü Yongchang examined the Tachyon Radar node and considered how it could let ships detect surroundings during curvature navigation.
• Zero interrupted Lü Yongchang and reported that the Expeditionary Fleet had reached the designated coordinates but had not located the target fleet.
• Lü Yongchang ordered the Expeditionary Fleet to deploy Probes and search exhaustively, and told Zero to prepare Zhao Zijie to take command if war broke out.

Lü Yongchang refined the Tachyon Radar while the Human Federation Expeditionary Fleet began a full sweep. The chapter introduced the Eugene Civilization, whose fleet was pursuing the Talodan Civilization to seize its advanced technology, and ended with General Kelei heading to turn captives into canned meat before battle.

• Lü Yongchang corrected flaws in the Tachyon Radar design and recorded his insights in the Technology Tree Space.
• Bai Yixuan ordered the Human Federation Expeditionary Fleet to begin a full sweep, sending out Spherical Probes.
• The Eugene Civilization's history as a brutal space-pirate power was revealed, along with its plan to plunder the technologically advanced Talodan Civilization.
• General Kelei learned that the Eugene mothership had dispatched ten squadrons to encircle the Talodan fleet and looked forward to seizing its propulsion technology.
• Kelei told his guards to accompany him to the processing plant to turn captives into canned meat before the war began.

Aldan refused the Eugene Civilization’s demand that the Talodans surrender and fought on despite being surrounded. As the Talodan fleet faced destruction, Bai Yixuan’s expeditionary fleet arrived and halted the battle with its overwhelming presence.

• Aldan rejected the Eugene Civilization’s demand for surrender and ordered the Talodan fleet to prepare for battle.
• Bai Yixuan received a probe’s transmission showing twelve fleets and dispatched the expeditionary fleet at 20c.
• The Eugene fleets surrounded the Talodans, and Aldan refused Milo’s plea to escape in lifeboats.
• A vast fleet suddenly appeared beside the combatants, stunning Aldan and bringing the fighting to a halt.

Aldan and Milo realized the fleet confronting them likely belonged to a level five civilization with warp drive technology, and Aldan accepted its communication request. Bai Yixuan and Lü Yongchang discussed taking the Eugene Civilization and the space pirates as vassals, and Zero reported that the other side had connected.

• Aldan and Milo recognized the fleet's antimatter engines and suspected it had come because of their probe.
• Milo reasoned that the fleet must use warp drive, while Maren told Aldan that the fleet had requested communication.
• Aldan ordered the communication request connected after comparing the fleet with the eleven Eugene Civilization fleets nearby.
• Bai Yixuan and Lü Yongchang discussed making the Eugene Civilization and the space pirates vassals, noting the pirates could offer useful combat strength.
• Zero announced that the other side had accepted the communication request.

Humanity’s first contact with the Talodan Civilization began amid delighted reactions to the panda-like aliens, who mistook humanity’s admiration for contempt and threatened to resist enslavement. Lü Yongchang tried to clear up the misunderstanding by reassuring them that humans were peaceful and appreciated their appearance.

• The Talodans appeared on the holographic projection, and people across the fleet and Kepler Stellar System reacted excitedly to their panda-like appearance.
• Lü Yongchang explained that the Translation Program needed time to process the Talodans’ transmitted dictionary data.
• The Talodan representative introduced their level three civilization and angrily insisted that they were not panda people and would never be slaves.
• Bai Yixuan glared at the crew members whose reactions had helped offend the Talodans, while Lü Yongchang recognized that their first contact had gone badly.
• Lü Yongchang told the Talodans that humanity was peace-loving and had admired their appearance rather than looked down on them.

Lin Shuguang used footage of humans and pandas together to ease first contact with the Talodan Civilization, then offered help against the Eugene Civilization in exchange for vassal status. The Talodans initially rejected the offer as slavery, but Human Civilization’s promises of autonomy, trade, and access to advanced technology shifted the mood in their Command Center.

• Lü Yongchang praised Lin Shuguang’s handling of first contact, and Fang Xu agreed to recommend him to the School of Sociology.
• Lin Shuguang transmitted footage of humans and pandas living together, prompting the Talodan Civilization to apologize for misunderstanding humanity.
• Lin Shuguang learned that the Talodans were threatened by the Eugene Civilization, which he identified as a space pirate civilization.
• Aldan asked Human Civilization to help destroy the Eugene Civilization, and Lin Shuguang offered assistance in exchange for the Talodans becoming a vassal civilization.
• The Talodans protested that they would not become slaves, so Lin Shuguang explained that vassal status would preserve their autonomy and grant access to trade and advanced technology.

Aldan began a civilization-wide vote on whether the Talodans would become a vassal of the Human Civilization after Lin Shuguang offered advanced technologies in exchange for resources. As the Talodans faced a seven-day reprieve from the Eugene Civilization, Human forces surrounded them, and Bai Yixuan prepared to answer the Eugene Civilization’s repeated calls.

• Maren and the Talodan scientists and military officers urged Aldan to accept the Human Civilization’s offer, but Aldan asked what contributions would be required.
• Lin Shuguang said resources could be converted into credits and gave the Talodans seven days to decide, during which the Eugene Civilization would not attack them.
• Aldan announced a five-day public vote to decide the Talodan Civilization’s future.
• A crew member reported that warships had surrounded the Talodan fleet, and Aldan urged the Talodans to take the vote seriously.
• On the Human flagship, Bai Yixuan praised Lin Shuguang, then ordered the crew to accept the Eugene Civilization’s sixty-third communication request.

The Human Federation's Expeditionary Fleet established contact with the Eugene Civilization, a lizard-like space pirate civilization that showed intense deference to humanity. After Lü Yongchang ordered Bai Yixuan to destroy them if the vassal plan went wrong, the Eugene Civilization asked why humanity had come.

• Bai Yixuan explained to Lin Shuguang that space pirate civilizations launched relentless raids and had once stolen the Lator Civilization's flagship.
• The connection revealed the Eugene Civilization's lizard-like representatives, whose appearance disgusted Hong Fan and the other humans.
• Kelei introduced the Eugene Civilization and prostrated himself before the humans, displaying profound deference.
• Lin Zile warned Lü Yongchang that the Eugene Civilization's rigid hierarchy and reverence for strength could make them dangerous, and Lü ordered Zhao Zijie to tell Bai Yixuan to wipe them out if problems arose.
• Bai Yixuan asked Kelei if he needed something, and Kelei asked why the humans had come and said their strength made involvement in a struggle among ants unnecessary.

Bai Yixuan forced the Eugene fleet to retreat and warned it not to question Humanity’s plans, placing the Talodan Civilization under Human protection for seven days. Kelei feared Humanity’s unseen weapon but still ordered the Eugene fleet to attack the Talodan Civilization once the protection period ended.

• Bai Yixuan announced that the Talodan Civilization was under Human protection for seven days and demanded that the Eugene fleet withdraw.
• Kelei ordered the Eugene fleet to retreat one hundred million kilometers and asked what Humanity planned to do after seven days.
• Bai Yixuan cut Kelei off and destroyed a retreating Eugene warship with an unseen attack, calling it the first warning.
• After the communication ended, Kelei raged at his crew and admitted that the Eugene fleet could not defend against Humanity’s weapon.
• Kelei ordered the fleet to attack the Talodan Civilization in seven days, believing Humanity would not protect it forever.

Aldan warned the Talodan people that the Eugene Civilization would not retreat and that they could not safely refuse Human Civilization’s demands. After the Talodans voted overwhelmingly to approve becoming a vassal civilization, Aldan told Milo to contact the humans before their protection deadline.

• Aldan celebrated as the Eugene fleets began retreating, but rejected the Talodans’ hope that they could refuse Human Civilization’s demands.
• After a Eugene fleet exploded and the remaining fleets stopped one hundred million kilometers away, Aldan warned that neither civilization would let them escape.
• Aldan continued the referendum, leaving the decision about the Talodan Civilization’s survival to its people.
• The vote ended with 76.3% approving, 23.1% abstaining, and 0.6% opposing becoming a vassal civilization.
• Aldan told Milo to request communication with Human Civilization before the seven-day deadline, and Milo went to send the request.

The Talodan Civilization agreed to become a vassal of Human Civilization, which took control of its fleet and assessed it as posing almost no risk. As Zero optimized the Talodan ships, Milo’s grief over losing his civilization’s freedom turned into awe at Human Civilization’s technological superiority.

• The Talodan Civilization completed its vote to become a vassal, and Human Civilization welcomed it into the Milky Way Pan-Human Federation.
• Aldan agreed to give Human Civilization access to the Talodan fleet’s Central Computer, and Milo carried out the transfer.
• Lü Yongchang’s team used the Trojan 1.0 Program to take control of the Central Computer and assign the Talodan Civilization a risk value of 5.
• Lü Yongchang told Bai Yixuan to bring the Talodan fleet to Kepler-452 after handling the remaining matters.
• Zero optimized the Talodan fleet’s propulsion system, increasing thrust and lowering energy use, and began improving its life support systems.
• Milo marveled at the gap between the civilizations and decided the loss of Talodan freedom was worth it.

With Zero’s help, Human Civilization equipped the Talodan Civilization and escorted its fleet toward the Kepler-452 Stellar System after the Talodans formally became its vassals. As the Eugene Fleet prepared to attack, Kelei learned the Talodans were under Human protection and ordered his fleet to keep advancing anyway.

• A silver-white Tachyon Information Relay Station arrived as Human Civilization’s first gift to the Talodans, astonishing Milo and Maren with how quickly it had been adapted to Talodan culture.
• Two days later, the Talodan Civilization completed its formalities as a vassal, and Human drones escorted its fleet toward the Human Fleet for transport to the Kepler-452 Stellar System.
• Milo watched the Human Fleet approach and felt both uncertainty about the Talodans’ departure and excitement at seeing a level five civilization’s power.
• Kelei ordered the Eugene Fleet to attack the Talodans and told his crew to prepare canning equipment.
• After learning the Talodan fleet was heading toward the Human Fleet and being escorted, Kelei ordered reports and repeated communication requests to Human Civilization while directing his fleet to keep advancing.
• Kelei urged his crew to seize Talodan starships, recalling how his earlier capture of level three warships had helped the Eugene Civilization advance.

Bai Yixuan’s Human Fleet launched a surprise warp-missile attack after Kelei’s Eugene Civilization threatened the Talodan Civilization, now protected as a member of the Pan-Human Federation. The attack annihilated all eleven Eugene fleets, leaving the conflict’s consequences to unfold.

• Kelei asked the Human Civilization to withdraw its protection of the Talodan Civilization, but the human representative refused and warned the Eugene Civilization against attacking.
• Kelei learned that the Talodan Civilization had joined the Milky Way Galaxy Pan-Human Federation and ordered the Eugene fleet to retreat.
• Bai Yixuan ordered the Human Fleet to lock onto the Eugene warships and fire a fleet-wide volley of warp missiles.
• Zero guided the missiles to their targets, and the antimatter warheads destroyed the Eugene Civilization’s eleven fleets.