The crew of the Proxima had finally reached the decision to venture into the Lybrinote galaxy, a goal they’d been inching toward ever since learning about its staggering size and mysterious significance. Through their time at Station ZA-01, they had managed to gather enough intelligence to know that this galaxy was not only vast but one of the smallest sectors under the control of the Type 4 Civilization. It was difficult to even comprehend the scale they were dealing with. Their own galaxy, Proxima, was around 100,000 light-years across—a respectable size by any standard, but the Lybrinote galaxy, at 11 million light-years across, was an astronomical giant. The thought that this galaxy was merely one of the sectors under the organization’s control hinted at an empire beyond imagination. And yet, the crew remained in the dark about whether there were other powerful organizations in these regions of space or what intergalactic dynamics they might be stepping into.
The journey into Lybrinote wasn’t going to be simple. With the Proxima’s jump drive fully operational, the crew intended to leap straight into the galaxy, as conventional entry wasn’t feasible due to the extreme gravitational forces at play near its outer boundary. Their destination was Ureka10, a solar system known to hold one of the organization’s major headquarters, and reputedly a central administrative hub under the queen’s vast network of power. The plan was risky. But if there was any place where they could get answers and perhaps assistance, it would be here. The sheer distance from home weighed heavily on their minds, and without coordinates or a navigation system capable of reaching that far, the chance of retracing their path across space was virtually nil.
Just before departing, the crew standing at the observation deck of ZA-01, got a final look at Lybrinote from afar before preparing to board the Proxima. The galaxy loomed massive and ethereal, a brilliant tapestry of stars and colors. From here, its size was difficult to fathom, but the closer they got, the more it seemed to stretch endlessly, a cosmic leviathan of light and dark. Even though they’d learned about its magnitude in theoretical terms, nothing quite prepared them for the sheer reality of it.
After final preparations, they boarded the Proxima and initiated the jump drive sequence. The jump wasn’t a single leap—Lybrinote’s gravitational currents required several coordinated short jumps, each one taking them closer to Ureka10. By utilizing the organization’s stable space channels, their journey into the galaxy was significantly shorter, as they could leverage paths specifically designed to avoid dangerous cosmic obstacles. They didn’t fully understand how these channels worked, but the stability and efficiency were undeniable. Within three jumps, they were well inside Lybrinote, and their awe grew with each jump as they saw systems with star clusters, ancient nebulas, and solar phenomena that outshone anything they’d witnessed before.
The crew marveled at these sights, with Ryan particularly enthralled. He’d read about multi-sun systems in the Monarch’s scientific data back in Proxima—like TYC 7037-89-1, a six-sun system that was an anomaly even by galactic standards. Now, they were witnessing something equally impressive. Ureka10, the solar system they approached, had three suns, each casting a different hue across the planets and moons that orbited them. The solar system was active with traffic, as ships of all shapes and sizes moved in structured lanes. It became evident that this was a place of significant importance, with each vessel carefully following flight paths to avoid collisions. Massive docking platforms and observation arrays floated between the planets, making it clear that the system had been heavily fortified and monitored.
Upon arrival, they calibrated their sensors to lock onto their destination—Relinom, a large planet bigger than even Jupiter orbiting the largest of the three suns. Even from a distance, Relinom was impressive. Its atmosphere glowed faintly with a golden hue, attributed to high concentrations of rare metals suspended in the upper layers. The planet was surrounded by an intricate network of satellites, stations, ring like orbital structure surrounding the planet and space elevators, all pointing to the fact that Relinom was a bustling center of governance, commerce, and perhaps even research.
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The crew moved forward with a cautious approach, sending an encrypted hail to Relinom’s orbital authority, providing identification codes they had obtained at ZA-01. After a few tense moments, a response came back—a smooth, automated greeting in the system’s primary language, followed by docking instructions. The Proxima was assigned a temporary berth within one of Relinom’s massive orbital stations, situated on the outer rim of the planet’s bustling orbital infrastructure.
After docking, the crew went through the now-familiar protocols of disembarking under close watch. Security was tight here, even stricter than at ZA-01. They noticed that Relinom’s orbital defense platforms were equipped with advanced weaponry, and the patrolling craft around them were in pristine condition, suggesting a robust and well-funded security network. It was a clear indication that they were in a high-security sector, and the level of technology on display was intimidating. Some of the defenses they saw were beyond anything even the Monarchs could create back in Proxima.
As they exited the Proxima in spacesuits, Ryan and Dom led the team toward the designated administrative office to formally register their presence and seek out the information they needed. Relinom’s orbital station was a marvel of engineering, with towering corridors and vast observation decks that allowed an unbroken view of the planet below. Through the large windows, they could see enormous cities on the planet’s surface, sprawling metropolises interconnected by high-speed transit lines that glinted in the light of the triple suns. The architecture was simultaneously elegant and imposing, with structures that seemed to merge seamlessly with the natural landscape, as though the entire planet had been carefully curated.
Ryan took a deep breath as they entered the administrative center, a towering structure that extended several stories above them. Inside, the building was immaculate and efficient, with streams of beings from various species moving through the wide halls. The crew noted with some amusement the subtle but unmistakable attention they received—visitors from outside Lybrinote, and especially from galaxies as far-flung as Proxima, were likely a rare sight here. The Lybrinote organization clearly had a structured hierarchy, and they were here to appeal to the highest authority they could reasonably access.
After some deliberation, they were led to a reception area by an attendant who politely directed them to wait. The attendant, a tall figure clad in an intricate uniform, reassured them that an official would be with them shortly. The wait, though lengthy, gave the crew a chance to observe their surroundings more closely. Everything was sleek, meticulously designed, and clearly geared toward efficiency and order. They noted that several individuals in uniforms seemed to hold ranks of authority, while others wore civilian attire, most likely representatives from various planets within Lybrinote.
Eventually, they were summoned to a large conference room, where a representative of the Type 4 organization awaited them. The representative, a calm and analytical figure with piercing eyes, appeared mostly human yet subtly different in a way they couldn’t quite place. He greeted them with a formal nod. As the discussion began, the crew presented their case, detailing their long journey, the purpose of their exploration, and their predicament of being stranded far from home with no way to locate their galaxy.
As expected, the representative listened attentively, though his expression remained inscrutable. He confirmed some of their suspicions—that the Type 4 organization held significant control over this galaxy and several others within the broader sector. However, he offered little information on whether there were other organizations of similar or greater power elsewhere, as such matters were classified. Ryan and his team sensed a deliberate ambiguity in his answers, suggesting that there was much more to the structure of intergalactic politics than they could comprehend at this stage.
In a calculated move, Ryan offered a portion of the crew’s navigation data in exchange for further assistance. Though the representative showed interest, he remained noncommittal, hinting that any substantial aid would require a formal application to the higher councils, which could take time. Still, he promised them safe passage within Lybrinote, along with access to certain restricted travel channels that would enable faster transit within the galaxy for now.