200: Giants Awaken

Falem Homeworld, the capital of the Faleimland System.

This ideal planet, which had experienced time-space travel and witnessed the civilization's fall from its peak and subsequent rebirth from the ashes, was now once again brimming with vitality.

At the summit of the Central Council's towering spire, Consul Price stood at the head of the conference table. While time held little meaning for the gene-ascended Faleim People, the aura of authority he exuded had grown increasingly profound and weighty over the years, akin to the gravitational pull of a star.

"Honored Councilors, and the Great Guide."

Price gave a slight bow in deference to the holographic projection of Lei Wen seated upon the throne.

"Today marks the one hundred and forty-fifth standard year since the Faleim Scientific Conglomerate arrived in this universe. I now report to the Supreme Will, on behalf of the Central Council, the results of our phased revival."

Price's finger lightly tapped the air, causing countless streams of data to cascade down like waterfalls. Each data stream represented a glorious achievement that would make ordinary civilizations look up in awe.

"After these years of recuperation and infrastructure development, our civilization's recovery speed has far exceeded even the most optimistic initial projections."

"Currently, we have fully controlled and deeply developed 234 surrounding star systems, established a comprehensive resource extraction and logistics network, expanded the giant shipyards in our home system to their fifth phase, fully restored production capacity, and completely restarted the maintenance lines for Titan-class and Sovereign-class battleships, which had been stalled due to technological gaps and resource shortages."

"In the areas of civilian welfare and scientific research, while we still face the challenge of slow population growth, our fully automated production systems have filled the labor gap. Our material warehouses are overflowing, our energy reserves are at capacity, and the Star Maps brought back by our science vessels now cover the entirety of Orion and the Perseus Arm."

Price paused briefly. "In short, we have completed the accumulation phase, transitioning from survival to development."

"The current territory of the Faleim Scientific Conglomerate can no longer contain our ambition and production capacity."

"It is time to restart the expansion program."

These words instantly ignited the atmosphere in the conference room. Though the Faleim People revered rationality, the instinct for expansion etched into their very bones had never vanished.

Price waved his hand, and the Star Map dramatically zoomed in, focusing on a dark red region—the territory of the Iofer Federation.

"Our first-phase strategic objective is to completely secure the Orion Sector."

"There are three reasons for this."

"First, resources and geopolitical strategy. The Iofer Federation occupies the most prosperous interstellar lanes and resource nodes in Orion, home to a large number of pre-existing, partially developed star systems. Seizing them would save us centuries of pioneering time, allowing us to directly project our influence across the entire galactic arm."

"Second, and most critical—population."

Mentioning this term, Price's brow furrowed slightly. It was the sole weak point of the Faleim Civilization at present.

"Our natural population growth rate has been chronically low. While our artificial cultivation programs are technologically mature, their scale has been unable to expand exponentially due to social ethics and citizen willingness. We need a massive labor force to fill the gaps for our future, more magnificent projects."

He pointed at the densely packed colony worlds of the Iofer Federation.

"The Iofer Federation and its subordinate civilizations possess a population numbering in the trillions. Although these beings are primitive and riddled with defects at the genetic level, they are also a precious biological resource."

"Our genetic technology can optimize them completely."

Price's tone was as flat as if he were discussing the disposal of industrial waste.

"We can excise the genetic segments responsible for their belligerence, chaos, and low intelligence, and implant sequences for obedience, strength, and endurance. Combined with neural fine-tuning technology (mental castration), they will become the Faleim Civilization's most perfect miners, farmers, and junior technicians."

"With these trillions of high-quality laborers, we will completely shatter the shackles on our production capacity."

"At that point, we will have the foundation to restore one-tenth of our peak strength."

"One-tenth..."

To the assembled Councilors, this number did not sound insignificant; instead, it represented a qualitative leap.

"Yes, one-tenth," Price said, his eyes burning with fervor. "That means not only can we begin constructing capital-grade fleets from scratch, but more importantly, we will possess the capability to initiate higher-level [Mega-Structure Engineering]."

"We could build Dyson Spheres around stars to solve our energy problems permanently, construct Matter Decompressors at the edges of black holes to obtain limitless minerals, and even build Ring Worlds to reserve space for future population explosions."

"Furthermore," he pointed at the blinking nodes on the Star Map, "we will deploy a stargate network covering the entire Orion Sector. Wherever the stargates reach will be our territory. The lifeblood of our civilization will flow more freely, and our control will know no bounds."

It was a blueprint so grand it was terrifying, a complete reshaping of the order of this starry expanse.

"However, resistance still exists."

Price shifted his tone.

"That iofer leader named Barlena, her methods and resilience are impressive. Over the past few decades, she has not only ruthlessly suppressed all internal opposition warlords but also, using resources plundered from the Angel Empire, miraculously managed to restore the Federation's vitality."

"Intelligence indicates their industrial capacity has recovered to 80% of pre-war levels, and their fleet size has even increased. While technologically they remain insects, in terms of numbers, they have become a formidable swarm of army ants."

"Moreover," interjected Councilor Talon, in charge of military affairs, a hint of offended anger on his face, "they have been quite restless lately. Our patrol drones have been sensor-locked by iofer patrol fleets multiple times at the border. Barlena seems to believe that as long as she doesn't touch our core interests, such probing provocations can boost her domestic prestige."

"She's playing with fire," Talon snorted coldly. "Previously, we simply had no desire to conquer her Federation. She has no idea that we are now prepared to fully take over this sector."

After listening to the report, Lei Wen, who had remained silent, slowly nodded.

"The plan is thorough, Price."

Lei Wen's voice echoed through the conference hall.

"I approve restarting the expansion program."

"Since our neighbor is restless, we'll simply change the neighbor, or turn the neighbor into a house servant."

Lei Wen harbored no goodwill towards the Iofer Federation. This species had destruction and conquest etched into its very genes. Leaving them be would always be a hazard. It was better to completely 'remodel' them into useful tools for the Faleim Civilization.

"However," Lei Wen's gaze shifted to another side of the Star Map, "what is the situation with the Angel Empire?"

Mentioning the Angel Empire, Price's expression became somewhat nuanced, tinged with a hint of frustration at their inability to improve.

"Same as always, Great Guide."

"Amira Radiance... she is a good person, a responsible ruler, and can be considered a diligent monarch."

"But she is absolutely not a qualified politician, let alone a great leader capable of pulling a civilization out of the mire."

Price sighed.

"Over these decades, we have provided them with massive material aid and technical guidance through Major General Trier. According to our projections, she should have used this opportunity to completely eradicate the old noble factions within her empire and establish an efficient centralized government."

"But her heart is too soft."

"She always tries to find a balance between various factions, attempting to buy stability with compromise. She preserved noble titles, retained some religious privileges, and even gave mere verbal warnings to those local governors who paid lip service but acted otherwise."

"The result is that while the Angel Empire currently maintains a facade of unity and its economy has somewhat recovered, internally it remains a scattered mess."

"Her decrees lose potency once they leave the capital star system. Her military remains faction-ridden. Without our technological transfusions, this empire would likely have collapsed long ago due to fiscal deficits."

"Major General Trier's reports state that Amira is now overwhelmed daily, but she is merely patching up a leaky old ship everywhere, not thinking about getting a new one."

Listening, Lei Wen couldn't help but shake his head.

This was not unexpected.

After all, Amira was a princess raised within that decaying feudal theocratic system. Her vision and methods were limited by the era. That she had managed to maintain the empire's stability, preventing its collapse, was already her limit.

Expecting her to be as decisive and ruthless as Barlena, cleansing all old forces, was unrealistic.

"You can't prop up mud that won't stick to the wall," Lei Wen remarked with a sigh.

However, this might not be entirely a bad thing.

A weak, divided Angel Empire, dependent on Faleim aid, was an obedient puppet. If Amira were truly wise and powerful, successfully reintegrating the empire's strength, Lei Wen would have a headache figuring out how to control her.

"Since she can't perform the surgery herself, we'll help her do it."

Lei Wen spoke up.

"Price, since we've decided to move against the Iofer Federation, let's make it big."

"Don't let it be just our unilateral offensive."

"Contact Amira."

"Tell her this is the Faleim Civilization's call to an ally, and the best opportunity for the Angel Empire to exact revenge."

"Have her muster every fleet she can mobilize. Whether she has to beg, coerce, or deceive those local governors, I want to see the banners of the Angel Empire on the battlefield."

Lei Wen's finger traced two massive arrows on the Star Map, pinching the dark red Iofer Federation like a pair of pincers.

"The Faleim main fleet will crush them head-on. The Angel army will provide a flanking diversion."

"A simultaneous assault from two directions will leave Barlena unable to defend both ends."

"Moreover," a faint smile curled at the corner of Lei Wen's mouth, "this is also a perfect opportunity to kill with a borrowed knife."

"Let the war consume the disobedient warlords and noble private armies within the Angel Empire. Force Amira to become even more dependent on our power."

"When the war ends, the Iofer Federation will cease to exist, and the Angel Empire will be at our mercy."

"One arrow, two targets."

After hearing Lei Wen's deployment, Price thought for a moment, found no issues, and respectfully replied.

"Your wisdom illuminates the starry sea."

"I will make the arrangements immediately."

"The Third and Seventeenth Interstellar Expeditionary Fleets are already assembled and ready to jump at any moment."

"This time, we will completely redraw the Star Map of Orion."

As the meeting concluded, the colossal war machine of Faleim began operating at full speed.