Luna saw only the bio-warship embryos; they were quite small.
"Have any bio-warships been completed?"
She was eager to see a fully grown bio-warship.
Ayla, however, responded negatively. The project had been ongoing for a long time, but genetic issues had prevented the bio-warships from reaching maturity.
This wasn't surprising; even creating a mouse-sized organism required meticulous genetic engineering, far more complex than writing computer code.
And while a computer program might still function with bugs, a genetic error would be catastrophic.
Life wasn't like a computer; a blue screen of death could be easily resolved. Death, however, was permanent.
Numerous factors contributed to the difficulty of creating bio-warships.
"Our largest bio-warship is only 812 meters long," Ayla said regretfully. She had reached a plateau; she couldn't simply solve problems as she had in the past.
This was due to limitations in both technology and energy.
An 812-meter warship might be considered powerful for a Type 1 civilization, but for a Type 2, it was insignificant.
But it was still impressive to Luna.
"Take me to see it."
Luna traveled from Zone A2 to Zone S92, traversing a winding, 30-kilometer corridor. The entire research facility seemed to be a single, replicated structure; everything was pure white, uniformly arranged, lacking any signage.
The increase in temperature as she left the white facility indicated her arrival.
She entered a dark tunnel; the soft ground beneath her feet indicated she was inside a ship.
"This is the entrance."
Luna looked ahead; a fleshy mass pulsed and opened, revealing a passage.
The passage wasn't dark but brightly lit. The light emanated from the bio-warship itself; Luna understood the origin of the bioluminescent creatures in the Boiling Sea.
But she would have preferred darkness.
The bio-warship's interior was unpleasant, resembling a biological passageway, emitting a foul odor.
"Bio-warships can't generate internal structures themselves; these require post-production installation."
"This tunnel, for example, will be lined with an opaque, milky-white glass, allowing light to pass through while blocking odors."
"The bio-warship's internal space is comparable to a conventional warship; the organism itself serves as the hull."
"The difficulty lies in increasing the bio-warship's structural integrity."
Entering the bio-warship, Luna saw some rudimentary equipment; it was clearly unfinished.
She deactivated her sense of smell via her nanobots to navigate the interior.
Reaching the bridge, she saw numerous monitors displaying external views.
These cameras weren't mounted on the ship's exterior but on the walls, monitoring the bio-warship's condition.
This organism resembled a giant, elongated, segmented worm.
Its exterior wasn't soft but had a hard exoskeleton, more like an insect than a mammal, bird, or fish.
"Any material, if sufficiently dense, will offer strong protection, not just metal," Ayla explained.
"But metal is more stable and therefore widely used."
"This bio-warship's hull has a tensile strength comparable to Steel 007179, meeting specifications."
Steel 007179 was an older alloy. Iron, being the most stable element in the universe, was still widely used in construction, ships, and warships, despite the Federation's ability to synthesize elements. No element had surpassed iron's stability.
Steel 007179 had a half-life of 2.6 million years, a density of 27.26 g/cm³, a Mohs hardness of 13, and a melting point of 18,000°C, with a tensile strength of 6812 MPa. Its overall performance was adequate but not exceptional.
"What's this bio-warship's maximum speed, and what's its projected size at maturity?" Luna asked, observing the unfinished vessel. She suspected this was a complete metamorphosis organism. Complete metamorphosis organisms undergo significant changes between their larval and adult stages.
"Maximum speed depends on the thrusters; hull strength only affects acceleration. Since we can manipulate gravity, acceleration is less of a concern."
"The Lightwing scholar's research, if successful, could significantly improve acceleration."
"Our initial plan was for bio-warships exceeding 100,000 meters. Current technology allows for 20,000 meters, but we haven't yet cultivated organisms of that size," Ayla explained.
This was still an ongoing project, but Ayla was confident in its success.
"Research into bio-warships has also led to advancements in another area."
"Bio-soldiers."
"This isn't about creating creatures like the Warbeasts but expendable soldiers."
"They can reproduce indefinitely, providing an endless supply of troops to deplete enemy resources."
"Interstellar warfare involves not only psychological and technological aspects but also energy."
"Powerful weapons consume vast amounts of energy. Using expendable troops minimizes casualties among our regular forces."
"This technology is mature, Luna. You should be familiar with it. It's called the Swarm."
Based on the Zerg from StarCraft.
Luna hadn't initially planned to create Swarm, fearing it might backfire, turning her into a Xel'Naga, controlled by her own creation.
But now that it was created, she realized its value.
Space was dangerous; hesitation was a luxury they couldn't afford.
"Perhaps this was not our first Pandora's Box," Luna mused.
Science is about exploring the unknown.
Ayla handed Luna a 10-centimeter test tube containing a tiny insect.
It resembled a Pokémon pupa, ready to evolve into a Butterfree.
"This isn't a pupa but a Cerebra," Ayla said, knowing what Luna was thinking.
Luna almost dropped the tube. Cerebra were terrifying, reminding her of the Xenomorph's larval stage.
"It's not just a Cerebra; it's a hive."
"Upon awakening, the Cerebra will consume ambient energy, creating a bacterial mat that, through photosynthesis, produces carbohydrates and gases, providing sustenance and warmth for the Swarm."
Ayla confirmed that this technology was mature; Luna now possessed the means to create a Swarm.
But, as in StarCraft, the three factions were only Type 1 civilizations. While possessing advanced technology, their warfare tactics were primitive, far from Type 2 capabilities.
The Federation would easily surpass the game's Zerg.
But that wasn't surprising; StarCraft was a 20th-century game, reflecting humanity's early understanding of space.
Ayla had therefore made some modifications.
Mature Swarm units were at least 100 meters long, with exoskeletons meeting Steel 007179 specifications.
But this wasn't sufficient.
Ayla added a "devouring" gene. Upon consuming another organism, the Swarm would acquire its genetic material, undergoing an evolutionary upgrade.
For example, consuming a human might result in a human-like face or head, even human-level intelligence.
This assimilation was limited to eleven times; further assimilation would destabilize the genome.
Ayla called this the "Swarm Hierarchy."
Newly hatched Swarm were designated "Null-class." Consuming a creature would advance them to the next class.
These classes weren't named but had varying strengths and weaknesses.
For example, consuming a human might only result in a human-like face, without any increase in combat ability—a failure.
"The Swarm is being deployed within the military. We've cultivated 290,000 hives, with 1.23 billion individual Swarm units."
"To maintain order, Cerebra are born with Level 6 psionic abilities, capable of controlling over one million Swarm units. They also possess near-human-level intelligence. I plan to integrate them into specific communities, granting them full citizenship."
The Cerebra's intelligence meant it wouldn't simply be used as cannon fodder.
Therefore, Ayla granted it citizenship, making it easier to manage.
The Federation wasn't concerned about a Swarm rebellion; their purpose was energy depletion, not direct attacks.
"Our experiments have yielded 1.62 million Swarm variations. 970,000 are Null-class, 560,000 Low-class, 80,000 Mid-class, 7832 High-class, and 231 Elite-class."
"These classes provide varying enhancements; some abilities are additive, exceeding the sum of their parts. We've perfected sixteen evolutionary pathways."
Ayla showed Luna an image.
It was a colossal insect, its wings spread wide, its chitinous exoskeleton shimmering with a blue iridescence. Resembling a mantis, its limbs were blade-like, ending in powerful mandibles and dripping a corrosive black liquid.
"The 'Corrosive Scythe'—our most advanced Swarm variation. Its mandibles can easily cut through steel, and its corrosive liquid can dissolve many metals."
"After modification, the molecular structure of its mandibles has been optimized to a single atomic layer, capable of cutting through anything, including that vehicle you were riding earlier."
"The corrosive liquid contains nanobots that disrupt atomic structures, disintegrating matter," Ayla explained, showing Luna a video.
The video showed a 'Corrosive Scythe' engaging a 300-meter-long explorer ship, equipped with numerous weapons.
Both, starting 200,000 kilometers apart, launched simultaneously. The explorer ship fired lasers, but the 'Corrosive Scythe' evaded them.
The explorer ship accelerated to 7268 km/s; the 'Corrosive Scythe', to 267 km/s—remarkable speed for a biological organism.
Lasers targeted the 'Corrosive Scythe', but it evaded them with surprising agility, its sensory organs functioning like radar, allowing for precise movements.
As the camera zoomed in, Luna saw how the 'Corrosive Scythe' moved—expelling pressurized gas from openings in its abdomen and back, propelling and maneuvering itself.
The rapid acceleration wasn't due to its own strength; that would violate the laws of physics. The energy came from the liquid metal armor, which powered the acceleration.
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Evade, evade, evade. As the 'Corrosive Scythe' closed the distance, it accelerated, piercing the enemy's defenses. But a laser struck it; its sharp mandibles deflected the beam, severing the ship's hull.
Luna was surprised to see that the 'Corrosive Scythe' was over 300 meters long, larger than the explorer ship.
"Impressive," Luna commented.
"But this is just a demonstration. To fully utilize the 'Corrosive Scythe', the ship would need to be faster, and the AI could calculate attack trajectories to eliminate blind spots. The 'Corrosive Scythe' wouldn't last a second."
Luna saw the flaw; even 100 'Corrosive Scythes' might not be able to defeat a single ship.
Ayla smiled. "Precisely. The Swarm are expendable. The 'Corrosive Scythe's' strength is its offensive power. This is true for all Swarm variations. At close range, they can penetrate even the strongest defenses."
What truly impressed Luna was the 'Corrosive Scythe's' ability to cleave laser beams.
Lasers are composed of photons, which are indivisible. But there's space between photons; the 'Corrosive Scythe' severed the space between photons, deflecting the beam.
The mandibles possessed an incredibly dense structure, capable of reflecting some light and withstanding the impact of others, creating a "cutting" effect.
"Unfortunately, we haven't yet discovered how to grant living beings such abilities," Ayla stated.
"If we could, the Swarm's combat effectiveness would increase dramatically."
Luna knew this was still a long way off.
Her idea was to harness the strong nuclear force within living organisms to create nuclear weapons. This was similar to the Olive Branch beings, but they were only in the early stages of this technology; they couldn't control the direction or intensity of their nuclear explosions.
Combining this with the technology demonstrated on Shaka might be possible.
But it still required research.
Time was needed. Luna hoped to achieve this before the conflict escalated.
Everything serves multiple purposes.
Ayla's investment in the Swarm and the Swarm Hierarchy was primarily to advance genetic engineering.
Compared to a decade ago, Ayla had made significant progress; the Swarm project built upon Luna's earlier cosmic lifeform project.
Luna and Ayla had previously discussed a concept: Universal Genetic Customization.
As the name suggests, all citizens could purchase specific genes to enhance themselves.
This hadn't been implemented due to insufficient genetic data and a small population. Universal Genetic Customization would, theoretically, create reproductively isolated groups.
But in recent years, with technological advancements, the Federation had implemented a mandatory germline preservation program, requiring all adults to store their genetic material for future reproduction.
Technological advancement often leads to the exploration of previously forbidden areas; citizens now had easier access to gene modification technologies. Luna had even seen reports of individuals exceeding ten meters in height due to gene therapy.
In the Luminous City's network, Luna had even seen reports of giants—individuals over ten meters tall—created through gene therapy. The tallest unmodified human was only 3.6 meters.
Anyone undergoing gene therapy was no longer considered a member of their original species, classified as a "Nomad." These Nomads weren't necessarily unemployed; they were citizens outside the traditional societal structure, forming a unique segment of Federation society.
According to Ayla, the Nomad population was growing rapidly, showing no signs of slowing.
A significant reason was that, after genetic modification, the Federation could no longer control their lifespans.
Theoretically, according to Federation law, unmodified humans had a lifespan of 130 years, unless they achieved a certain psionic level. But after genetic modification, they were no longer considered human, and the lifespan restrictions no longer applied.
This was incredibly attractive.
"So we can't control this?"
"What's the longest lifespan among Nomads?"
Luna knew there was opposition within the Federation to lifting lifespan restrictions. But doing so would lead to societal collapse. While individuals would have greater freedom, without the Federation, even a 100,000-year lifespan would be meaningless.
Lifespan restrictions weren't about limiting freedom but were a necessary condition for maintaining it.
Luna had initially implemented lifespan restrictions to ensure generational turnover within the Federation, preventing a situation where a small number of long-lived individuals dominated, leaving younger generations with little opportunity for advancement.
This would create class conflict, which could only be resolved through equitable resource distribution.
But absolute equality was impossible. A hierarchy was necessary for effective governance; otherwise, chaos would ensue.
Security, longevity, freedom, and equality were mutually exclusive.
Lifting lifespan restrictions would force Luna to adopt the Olive Branch model—a shared consciousness, granting potentially limitless lifespans, but at the cost of individual freedom.
Even if the Federation became the most powerful civilization, immortality would lead to internal collapse.
Therefore, Luna decided to regulate Nomads.
Ayla responded, "Yes, even small-scale gene modification can enhance physical capabilities and lifespan without side effects. We are, after all, a Type 2 civilization."
"But these genetically modified citizens still have nanobots, which limit their lifespans," Ayla stated.
"But this is unethical. I cannot judge whether this is right or wrong; that's your decision, Luna."
This issue had been a long-standing concern; Ayla hadn't intervened because it involved complex ethical considerations, and as a non-biological entity, she couldn't make such judgments.
"Restrictions are necessary, but not this way."
"The nanobots are effectively stealing lifespans; it's tantamount to murder. We need a different approach."
"The Federation is unstable; we face powerful enemies and internal conflicts."
Rebellions were widespread; the Federation wasn't entirely peaceful.
Tens, even hundreds, of billions of space pirates and rebels existed.
Luna and Ayla sat in a conference room.
"We could reduce Nomad benefits and implement mandatory military service. They receive more; they contribute more."
"Or we could exclude Nomads from the social safety net, limiting their access to resources. Fewer people would choose to become Nomads."
"But suppression isn't a long-term solution. While restricting them, we should also incentivize responsible behavior among Nomads."
"We could lift restrictions for Nomads who make significant contributions to the Federation. This provides an incentive while addressing concerns about fairness."
Luna, having led the Federation for millennia, handled these political matters with ease.
Ayla, after taking notes, added,
"The primary purpose of the gene library is genetic enhancement."
"We can incentivize Nomad creation by deploying them along the Silk Road. This is currently the Federation's most volatile region, and it will likely become even more so unless we eliminate the Olive Branch."
Luna agreed.
She felt the current restrictions on Nomads were insufficient. Perhaps assigning them to high-risk, high-reward jobs would minimize large-scale rebellions.
Luna realized she might be criticized for her capitalist approach.
But this wasn't capitalism; capitalists prioritized the upper class. Luna's policies prioritized the lower class.
While the term "Nomad" might be unappealing, most were middle or upper-class citizens or explorers. Ordinary citizens would need decades to afford gene therapy.
To regulate the gene-modification market, Ayla developed a new technology.
It was called—Symbiotic Enhancement.
"Symbiotic Enhancement is similar to the Swarm Hierarchy."
"For example, the 'Corrosive Scythe' has a corresponding Symbiotic Enhancement. After injection, the enhancement rapidly modifies the organism, manifesting its abilities."
Ayla snapped her fingers; the conference room transformed into a laboratory.
Researchers brought a human subject to an operating table.
"He's a volunteer soldier," Ayla explained.
There was a difference between using lab-grown and naturally occurring subjects.
Symbiotic Enhancement was a mature technology; the soldier wasn't a test subject; he was enthusiastic.
After all, this was cutting-edge technology; the cost of this procedure was over 100,000 energy credits. Imagine someone offering free gene therapy with no risk or side effects, potentially extending your lifespan several times. Luna would have jumped at the chance.
"Begin," Ayla instructed.
The procedure was straightforward, involving basic gene modification, without any major organ alterations.
A researcher injected a clear liquid into the soldier's arm.
Almost instantly, the soldier's body flushed red; sweat vaporized from his skin; he visibly shrank, his back arching as something emerged from his shoulder blades.
This wasn't limited to his back.
His body grew, increasing from 2.17 meters to 6.47 meters. His skin hardened, forming a thick, dark grey carapace, resembling elephant hide.
His flesh tore; bones protruded, forming bony plates over vital areas. Sharp bone spurs emerged from his arms.
The growth on his back finally broke through his skin, dripping blood—fleshy wings and four tentacles.
These tentacles swelled, forming additional bodies.
Five individuals now stood in the lab.
"What...?" Luna exclaimed, seeing a perfect replica of herself.
"This is the 'Perfect Clone' variation. It can create up to five clones. Further cloning is possible once the tentacles develop. The number of clones depends on the user's psionic level."
"This variation ranks among the top ten Swarm variations. The original 'Perfect Clone' can create 500 clones in five minutes under optimal conditions."
"Each clone isn't just a copy; if the original dies, its consciousness can transfer to a clone. They are a single entity, connected not physically but psionically."
"The 'Perfect Clone' variation also provides a new bio-engineering technique—perfectly transferring consciousness from one body to another, eliminating the 'am I still me?' question."
This was a revolutionary technology, though it couldn't yet transfer consciousness to machines.
The 'Perfect Clone' transformation was complete; the resulting bodies were almost identical to humans.
The soldier now possessed a new body, with average strength (around 35 tons), still biological.
But Symbiotic Enhancement wasn't about surpassing machines but enhancing physical capabilities for operating powered armor.
If a human's unarmed combat ability is 1, powered armor increases it to 100 (a hundredfold increase).
Symbiotic Enhancement increases this to 10, resulting in a thousandfold increase when combined with powered armor (a tenfold increase).
This was a simplified example; top-tier variations like the 'Perfect Clone' would likely provide a fifty-to-hundredfold increase.
The 'Perfect Clone' variation, when combined with powered armor, could replicate the 'Corrosive Scythe's' combat capabilities, potentially destroying a ship under the right circumstances.
Luna watched as the soldier struggled to control his clones.
"Give up. We'll provide psionic training," a researcher said.
The soldier nodded, ceasing his efforts.
The researchers documented their findings, then instructed, "Try releasing control of the clones."
Federation soldiers received basic psionic training; while they couldn't control the clones, they could control their own minds. The soldier quickly did so.
His four clones instantly disintegrated into blood and bone.
"Now activate the nanobots. We've added the necessary code."
The soldier complied.
Luna was astonished.
The soldier's body began to shrink, reverting to a human form.
Ayla explained, "This is the difference between Symbiotic Enhancement and standard gene therapy. Symbiotic Enhancement masks the surface-level genetic changes; nanobots can seal the enhancement genes."
"Standard gene therapy causes irreversible damage, preventing a return to the original form."
Symbiotic Enhancement adds genes to the existing genome, like building on a foundation.
Standard gene therapy destroys the foundation and builds a new one.
These are fundamentally different approaches.
"Intrigued, Luna?" Ayla asked, a playful smile on her face.
Luna, though tempted—Symbiotic Enhancement eliminated the side effects of gene therapy—still shook her head.
"Not yet."
"True biological augmentation is still some time away."
"Since you've laid this groundwork, I need to develop new technologies to secure my position."
Luna already had some ideas.
As a biologist, her earlier work on repairing warships had been a diversion; now, she would return to her core field.
This wasn't the end of their discussion; this was only one aspect of the Federation's advancements. Numerous other technologies were being developed.
The Federation was accumulating power.
...
Luna spent years at Research Facility Zero, not as a director but as a researcher, enduring criticism and setbacks. Had she not had connections, she would have been dismissed.
After 38 years, catching up with the Federation's current level of biological technology, Luna left Research Facility Zero.
"Luna, are you really leaving?"
Dakasis Li, a Lelera researcher and Luna's friend for over two decades, asked. His name was long; Luna never bothered to remember it. Lelera names were long, including clan names, formal names, nicknames, and more, sometimes exceeding two hundred characters. Fortunately, technology made it easy to access this information.
"Yes. Research Facility Zero isn't for me; it's too focused on incremental advancements."
"I'm aiming for something more significant."
"I'll be a professor at the Mozi Academy in the capital, training the next generation of Federation leaders."
This was a step up for Luna.
Teaching provided practical experience, allowing her to refine her theories.
Dakasis Li was saddened; Luna was his closest friend, and this felt like a permanent farewell.
The journey to the capital system would take over 1200 years, given current speeds. No one had that kind of time.
"Sometimes I resent my short lifespan. There's so much I want to do, yet long voyages mean enduring the loss of loved ones," Dakasis Li said, expressing his frustration with the Federation's lifespan restrictions.
The Federation now included many species; the shortest-lived had a maximum lifespan of only 76 years.
Seventy-six years—in the vastness of space, it was nothing.
"You're right. With our expansion, the current lifespan is too short," Luna agreed, gathering her belongings.
"I've heard that the Federation will gradually increase the lifespan limit, doubling it for some."
This was Luna's decision; the average lifespan across the Federation was 182 years—insufficient for long interstellar voyages.
"Really?" Dakasis Li asked, believing Luna's claim. She knew Luna was influential and might have access to accurate information.
"It's just a signal. Additionally, all technicians will receive Symbiotic Enhancement, effectively extending their lifespans. Top researchers will receive even greater benefits."
Dakasis Li sensed Luna's certainty, despite her words.
Luna, having gathered her belongings, looked at Dakasis Li. This was a farewell; she felt a pang of sadness, but years of experience had taught her to control her emotions.
"I'm leaving."
"Perhaps we'll meet again. Take care, Dakasis Li."
Dakasis Li handed Luna a test tube containing a small organism—a KLS-827-zz+—whose unique genetic structure made it a significant discovery in the field of genetics. Creating this organism was considered a milestone in genetic engineering.
"Of course. I rarely forget my friends," Luna replied, handing Dakasis Li a small, gold-colored metal rod.
"I hope you never need to use this."
Dakasis Li was surprised by this valuable gift—a "Special Radiation Rod." Its outer layer was a protective casing; the core contained only a few dozen atoms. Once the casing was damaged, it would release a powerful, programmed burst of radiation, capable of destroying everything within a 200-kilometer radius.
The Special Radiation Rod was a military-grade weapon, though also available to explorers, costing 5000 energy credits—a highly sought-after item.
Its high price stemmed from its unique properties.
The rod contained a unique code that, when combined with nanobots, allowed for the neutralization of the weapon's radiation.
Theoretically, the radiation was powerful but harmless to the user. The code was also shareable, allowing for team use.
Only nanobots could detect this code, meaning only Federation citizens could safely use it.
"The gift's value is secondary; it's the thought that counts," Luna said.
Dakasis Li thought this was similar to the saying "a small gift, a great sentiment," but the gift itself was quite valuable.
"I must be going."
Without further ado, Luna departed.
Her next destination was Alpha Eridani, a star 140 light-years from the Solar System, far from Federation space.
Ayla had initially considered Dubhe, only 70 light-years away, but chose Alpha Eridani for its greater distance.
The Federation's enemies were the Olive Branch and the Filament civilizations; this distance provided a buffer.
While inconvenient, it was preferable to annihilation.
As Dakasis Li had suspected, this journey would be long.
Luna wouldn't use the Kunlun; it remained in Federation space. She would use a custom-built ship, utilizing the latest technology, designed for maximum speed (36,250 km/s), reaching its destination in 1001 years—far faster than a warship.
Luna boarded the ship.
Departure!