(Universe safety statement: The content of this chapter consists entirely of reasonable fictional scenarios devised to serve the plot within an imaginary setting. It is not intended to promote any harmful ideas. All language and events are solely for advancing the story and have no connection to reality. Dear reviewers, please go easy on this chapter.)
After his impassioned speech, Xi Yan was getting thirsty. He glanced around and found no tea, which only made him more irritable and quickened his speech.
"One last point: the Empire's laws!"
Xi Yan pounded on the railing and said gravely, "For a long time, our Interstellar Human Military Junta has been using the old laws of the United Nations of Earth. But after our public ownership reforms, those old laws can no longer accommodate the new system."
"Therefore, our sociologists must conduct an in-depth analysis and swiftly formulate new imperial laws. Until a complete legal system is ready, we will issue provisional regulations. For example."
"Lazy people of working age who produce no resources do not deserve equal treatment from the Empire! Their citizen rights should be downgraded to Food Tier or Raw Material Tier!"
"Everything must revolve around producing resources for the Empire and advancing science!"
Xi Yan roared, "So the Empire's new laws must emphasize authoritarianism and prioritize production and scientific research, rather than traditional public order."
"And I'm the Marshal. I have privileges. You know how it is. That point is not open to debate."
Having finally revealed his true intentions, Xi Yan stayed no longer. He rose and headed for the door.
"That's all. Meeting adjourned!"
The Marshal's lean, upright figure disappeared through a doorway, leaving the young officials in the chamber exchanging looks.
Ailiveer calmly tapped her knuckles against the table in front of her and raised her voice.
"Everyone, you already understand the situation. The Marshal has eyes only for his Empire. So if you don't want your entire family sent to live in a Generator District, do your jobs properly."
"Meeting adjourned."
Xi Yan left the Capitol Building to get some fresh air.
"The meeting concluded an hour and a half ahead of schedule. Marshal, your efficiency is moving," Beta said in an unchanging mechanical voice.
"I just got a little excited." Xi Yan could not help breaking into a radiant smile. "Our Empire is finally getting on track."
"Marshal, I have noticed that you are extremely impatient when it comes to major matters concerning the Empire's development. Yet I currently detect no threats worthy of attention. Why are you in such a hurry?"
After a moment's thought, Beta posed the question.
Am I in a hurry?
Xi Yan stopped walking.
Yes. A terrible hurry.
"The universe is too dangerous. I can't afford to relax for even a moment. Beta, you know I'm special."
"If we don't move faster, humanity will have no ability to resist when danger arrives."
Beta asked calmly, "Danger? Please elaborate."
And so Xi Yan began rattling off a long list: "Determined Exterminators, the Devouring Hive Swarm, the Gray Tempest, the Chosen, the Dimensional Horror, the Soryn Parasites, the Contingency, the Extradimensional Invaders, the Synthetic Queen, the Crisis Empire..."
"There is little information about these in the database. However, the Contingency alone is sufficient reason for me to work toward this goal." Only after listening to Xi Yan describe all those hostile factions from Stellaris did Beta slowly respond.
"As long as you understand."
Xi Yan let out a soft breath and went back to eating his lollipop.
"For the survival of our entire civilization, I have no choice but to devote my life to this struggle."
Since he still had time, Xi Yan took a detour to the nearby Academy of Sciences to check on his beloved scientists and his precious science officer, Chief Science Officer Mardun Elwin.
Under the standards used throughout the galaxy, scientific research was divided among three teams responsible for physics, society, and engineering.
Of these, society covered the widest range of disciplines and was the largest, because the Empire classified law, management, art, biology, and many other fields under society research.
Xi Yan cordially received the heads of the three research teams in the hall. As for Chief Science Officer Mardun Elwin, he would see him at the Cabinet meeting later.
"Please, sit." Xi Yan always treated scientists with the utmost respect, and warmly invited the three research heads to take their seats.
"Please tell me what technologies you're currently researching."
Xi Yan asked with an approachable air.
"We're researching [Improved Reactor Booster]." The head of physics adjusted his glasses.
"Don't research that!"
Xi Yan's blood pressure instantly began climbing. "Research something we can use at this stage, like [Global Energy Management] or [Fusion Reactor]!"
"Well, um..."
"You can't do it?" Xi Yan shot him a piercing look.
Despite his fear, the head of physics still answered with a pained expression, "We don't have the research funding. We can only work on simpler things."
Xi Yan immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
"That's easy to fix. The Ministry of Finance will allocate a large budget to the Academy of Sciences this year. Hurry up and develop [Fusion Reactor]. We're already in space. Who still uses fission reactors?"
Xi Yan smiled. Hearing this, the head of physics relaxed as well and thumped his chest in assurance. "That's easy. We'll have results from researching [Fusion Reactor] in just over a year!"
"Twelve months?" Xi Yan automatically converted it into the monthly units used in Stellaris, looking rather impressed.
A year was exceptionally fast. With sufficient funding and resources, a Ring World segment could unleash tremendous research potential.
Of course, only then did Xi Yan realize that he was not playing Stellaris, where a few seconds could amount to an entire month.
He had to establish a broad direction for his Empire in advance. Otherwise, once he died and the nation lost its way, there was no telling whether it would even survive until the crisis arrived.
"By the way, [Global Energy Management] means building an efficient power transmission network to increase energy output and reduce transmission losses. Can you develop that technology?"
To make sure his scientists understood the terminology from Stellaris, Xi Yan deliberately added an explanation.
He discovered that his Empire's scientific capabilities were actually quite advanced, but its former leadership had not valued them.
How could they develop at full speed if their technology lagged behind?
Most nations made mistakes like this. The many threats in space could not be solved simply by churning out fleets. No matter what, scientific research was the top priority.
Only advanced technology could really stack up a fleet's combat power.
If an alien nation attacked, anything was negotiable so long as it was not the Determined Exterminators or the Devouring Hive Swarm. At worst, they could become someone's lapdog! Even a lapdog could turn around and bleed its overlord dry!
But without advanced technology, any hope of national development was nothing more than a pipe dream!
Xi Yan resolved to steer the Interstellar Human Military Junta's development back in the right direction.
Don't copy the United Nations of Earth's extreme egalitarianism, or the Human Federation's extreme militarism!
Our Interstellar Human Military Junta has its own circumstances. The vast Cybrex Ring Alpha World can produce an enormous number of research points. Why wouldn't we push technological development at full throttle?
"That technology is simple too. If our three departments work together, we can develop it very quickly," said the head of society research.
[Global Energy Management] was a physics technology, but in reality, it clearly involved all three technology trees.
"Excellent. By the way, what is your society department researching?"
"Alien Zoo."
The head of society research smiled sagely.
"There are so many alien creatures in the universe. Our citizens would surely love to see them!"
"You idiot! Go research agriculture!"
Xi Yan's blood pressure shot up again, and he unleashed a torrent of abuse. "Why are you researching this crap? As far as the aliens are concerned, we're the creatures that belong in a zoo!"
"When we can't even afford food, are you going to send me to the zoo to live on spiritual nourishment?"
Considering that the man before him was one of the Empire's few highly qualified scientific talents, Xi Yan reconsidered and reined in his murderous intent.
"You. Focus on agriculture. Research [Hydroponics Farming] or [Ecological Adaptation] and increase our food output."
"Failing that, research genetics and see whether you can increase our population production-er, I mean our population growth rate."
"No problem. As long as the funding is there, none of that is a problem!"
The head of society research nodded vigorously.
Next came the head of engineering. Xi Yan closed his eyes, bracing himself for the next surge in blood pressure.
"We're researching [Powered Exoskeletons]. However, our scientists have also made a theoretical breakthrough in [Torpedo Ship]-" the head of engineering said cautiously.
"Hm?" Xi Yan's eyes snapped open.
"Marshal, is our research direction wrong too?"
"No, no! You're doing very well!"
Xi Yan slapped his thigh. "Develop [Powered Exoskeletons]! We need that prerequisite to research an incredible technology!"
"Could you mean more sophisticated robots?"
The head of engineering finally smiled.
"Exactly. We need more sophisticated [Robotic Workers] to handle production, greatly increase the Empire's productive capacity, and reduce the upkeep costs of organic humans."
Why were Synths so popular in the game? Because they could work tirelessly and required only energy credits and alloys for upkeep!
After a pause, Xi Yan patted the head of engineering on the shoulder and offered some encouragement. "We have an entire Ring World. When you have time, study this Ring World built by a precursor civilization. You might find some inspiration."
This was not a game, after all. Who knew? His scientists might keep studying it until they figured out [Mega-Engineering].
Of course, all of that was purely Xi Yan's imagination.
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