Yernstall.
The Sapphire of the Red Ocean.
The new de facto capital of red humanity.
The central star node had risen up to beco the most important haven of humans in the Red Ocean.
It was one of the few 'neutral' star systems in human-occupied space where Terrans and Rubarthans were able to tolerate each other's presence.
Many different groups that had the money to operate in the central star node preferred to conduct a lot of trading in this pivotal location.
The Yernstall Central Star Node featured the greatest variety of goods and services. Almost anything could be obtained in this comrcial paradise. As long as consurs possessed enough wealth and status, they could always co away with emptier pockets but more satisfied expressions.
Ves hoped to be one of them. He had an entire list of goals that he wanted to accomplish while he visited this storied central star node.
He did not have enough confidence to obtain everything on his wish list, but he would already be happy if he completed half of his goals!
As soon as the Bluejay Fleet entered the Yernstall Central Star Node, it imdiately ca under the jurisdiction of traffic control.
Security was paramount in Yernstall. After witnessing what happened to Bridgehead One, the Red Association and the Red Fleet bolstered the defenses of this central star node and tightened the rules yet again.
Nobody was allowed to bring their chs and starships wherever they wanted. The right to bring chs around for protection had been curtailed even further. People were not even allowed to carry weapons for self-defense.
If they had any implanted weapons inside their bodies, then they had to submit
themselves to the security services, who would subsequently lock the activation of those integrated weapon systems.
It beca almost impossible for visitors and residents to apply for exceptions to these onerous rules.
Fortunately, Ves remained one of the few leaders who still deserved special treatnt. Considering that the Bluejay Fleet hailed from the Red Association, the incoming starships only had to undergo an accelerated inspection. This was mainly to inspect that the native aliens hadn't secretly snuck aboard a ship and disguised themselves as humans or whatever.
The temporary reinforcents that Ves managed to borrow from groups such as the Terran ancient clans and the Pantheon of Modern Gods were not allowed to accompany Ves any further.
The core ships of the Bluejay Fleet also separated from the Tarrasque. Each of them had gone through a serious battle and required serious repairs and upgrades in order to fulfill their mission to the best of their abilities.
Even the Babylon Excavator had to separate from Ves. Captain Zonrad Reze had distinguished himself in combat, but also needed to account for the liberal use of weapons of mass destruction.
The Red Admiralty definitely had questions about the 'reckless' use of hyper nanomachine plagues!
In the end, only the Tarrasque remained as the only remaining secure ans of transportations between the planets of Yernstall.
Ves took a mont out of his busy schedule to head to an observation room and look outside the viewport.
The augnted view was magnificent. The most eye-catching feature was the three stars following a complex interconnected orbit with each other.
Yernstall did not originally feature so many stars. Back during the start of the Phasewater Generation in the previous age, chers and fleeters had simply dragged a couple of nearby stars over to Yernstall in order to increase the energy generation of this important star system. They also brought in nurous planets as well in order to expand the local living space.
Ves had no idea how the MTA and the CFA could accomplish such an amazing feat.
In any case, the chers and the fleeters subsequently built Dyson swarms around all three suns. The quantity of solar collectors floating at a remarkably close distance from a star was so high that it was impossible for the local industries to produce them all in a short ti fra.
The solar collectors had all been produced back in the Milky Way Galaxy before getting exported to the Red Ocean. This was one of the many benefits of maintaining a transportation channel to the most powerful civilization in a large galaxy.
From the mont the greater beyonder gates got cut off from each other, red humanity could no longer rely on handouts from the prosperous Milky Way to solve all of its problems with ease.
Ves knew enough about the state of red humanity's industrial outlook to know that it was prohibitively expensive to build another Dyson swarm.
Therefore, the existing ones that partially blocked the energy radiating from all three fiery globes had beco priceless!
It was not too difficult for the Red Two to replace a dozen solar collectors that always malfunctioned due to their extre exposure to the radiation of a star, but it was impractical to replace the entire set!
This was why red humanity absolutely could not afford to lose Yernstall to the native aliens. Once the Red Cabal took over this central star node, the Dyson swarms would definitely be gone one way or another!
In order to prevent this outco from happening, the chers and the fleeters invested a lot to defend this crucial location.
Aside from all of the ch forces, defensive fleets and security regulations, the Red Two also relied on more formidable ans of protection.
From the deploynt of strong and ultra-long-range interdiction fields to the installation of massive grand work-level superweapons designed by Star Designers, nothing less than a civilization-ending invasion force could threaten humanity's hold over this strategic location!
Ves felt proud that his race managed to build up such a magnificent stronghold and comrcial center. He should have visited this central star node sooner.
"Sowhere out there is my little shipyard." He muttered.
He had been looking forward to paying a personal visit to Starfarer Berth. He had toured the facility nurous tis before by remote, but it just wasn't the sa. However, he needed to address so many priorities during his stay in this star system that he was not sure if he could spare the ti to visit his shipyard.
His schedule was about to beco busy very soon due to an important event that would change his life and career forever.
A short ti later, Ves ended his mont of contemplation and reunited with the other Senior ch Designers aboard the Tarrasque.
They all gathered in the design lab where the central projection already displayed a map of their destination.
"This is Yernstall V, otherwise known as La Reine." Jovy pointed towards the heavily developed planet that was surrounded by several moons and a large amount of orbital works. "This planet is the main comrcial and industrial center of the ch industry in Yernstall. The Red Association is mainly in charge here, but La Reine welcos visitors from nearly every branch of red humanity aside from the fleeters. It is also the planet where we will hold the product reveal for the completed works of the Swarm Project." Ves and several other ch designers couldn't help but smile. After so many months of hard work and after overcoming an attempt to stop them from introducing their revolutionary products, they were finally approaching the end of their difficult ordeal! "At the request of Ves, we have scheduled the date of the product reveal to take place 3 days later." Jovy continued to brief the others. "This should give us enough ti to inspect the Palace of chanical Marvels and prepare the site to receive an enormous
amount of guests."
The projection changed to show the ch museum and exhibition center that was built in one of the most expensive and high-end districts of La Reine.
The entire palace possessed an anachronistic appearance. The blending between ancient architectural elents and ultra-modern tallic materials resulted in an enormous structure that looked completely out of place in any ti period.
Jovy quickly explained the background of the venue to the people who were unfamiliar
with the place.
"The Palace of chanical Marvels is first and foremost a museum. It is built and run by the ch Supremacist Movent, and features many unique and priceless chs of great historical significance. Its collection is so impressive that it is considered the best. museum if you want to learn about the developnt of chs from the beginning of the Age of chs. It also offers more than enough space to host product reveals and symposiums. We could have chosen to hold our event at larger and more fully featured exhibition centers, but we have selected this palace in the end." Lord Richard Brownstone looked impressed at the selection of this venue. "This is an apt choice. The Palace of chanical Marvels commorates every significant advancent of the ch industry. The work we have done to develop the first comrcial Carmine chs holds just as much historical significance if not more. We can donate the first copies of the final iteration of the ch designs of the Swarm Project to the museum as a grand gesture. Our works will beco celebrated and admired by many visitors in the years to co."
The expression of Lady Romanda Devos looked especially emotional at the mont. She
had worked hard to prove that her concept of ultra-large enhanced cockpit systems had
a place in the ch community.
To place a series of Carmine chs that featured her oversized cockpits in one of the most prestigious ch museums in the Red Ocean was the ultimate vindication of her
life's work!
However... Ves knew that Lady Romanda was clearly afraid that her invaluable contribution to the evolution of chs may beco stricken from the record. She had revealed herself to be a cosmopolitan to Ves. Even if she belonged to a different cell from the ones that masterminded the ambush, that still did not change the fact that she was a mber of the most hated human terrorist organization!
Ves had not confronted her about her double identity after the Battle of Mazepan. He
did not rat her out to the authorities because he was not quite sure what to do with this
'opportunity!
Should he keep Romanda close to his side and use her as a channel to cooperate with the more reasonable cosmopolitans?
He did not feel motivated to expose her to the Red Two. She was not high-ranking
enough to know anything important. The revelation of her true allegiance would also taint Ves and his Carmine chs at a ti where they could least afford to carry this
blemish!
For now, Ves preferred to keep his options open. He only gave Lady Romanda a silent signal that she should remain patient before putting this issue aside.
He had much more important affairs to deal with than to decide the fate of a little
cosmopolitan.
"Can we expect the attendance of a lot of important guests?"
"It depends." Jovy said. "Every major organization has confird that they will send representatives to attend the product reveal. We have given out enough hints that they will regret it if they miss this event, but we are not certain whether they will send people with authority or mid-level managers that hold little actual power. We have done the best we can under the circumstances."
"Will there be any... tier 1 galactic citizens among the VIP guests?" Ves carefully asked. "There will be, Ves. I am told we should be ready to accommodate the presence of at least one Star Designer, but that attendance is not guaranteed. Any further information related to this topic is classified and falls outside of our responsibilities."
"I see. We better make sure we do not embarrass ourselves in high company." Compared to Ves who felt rather nonchalant about the potential attendance of a Star Designer, the others looked a lot more nervous and insecure than before! This was a Star Designer, an individual who reached the apex of their profession! How could they not remain calm when they learned that they might have to perform in front of such esteed company?
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