Chapter 399: Ambitious Designs and Galactic Preparations

Du Qiu’s mission for the Warship Research Institute was to develop several models of warships powered by antimatter energy, capable of achieving speeds in excess of 500 times that of light.

This groundbreaking design challenge has nearly driven everyone at the Institute to the brink of insanity – the project relies entirely on unbridled imagination.

Fortunately, Du Qiu’s requirements are very relaxed. They are free to let their creativity soar, as a powerful antimatter engine can push any oddly shaped contraption beyond 500 times the speed of light.

Du Qiu hopes to nurture these minds, allowing them ample creative space to eventually design a classic warship.

Rein Leinar’s transforming robot, if equipped with antimatter energy, could reshape itself in any way its structure allowed.

This could be the best breakthrough for robotic applications across multiple fields.

Today, Dream Technology boasts an astronomical number of intelligent robots. Most of them, under the command of Stardust, have been instrumental in building the empire of Dream Technology.

Due to their varied functions, the types of robots have diversified greatly.

Once Rein Leinar’s transforming robot is unveiled, only a few ‘universal’ robots will be needed to cover the vast majority of types currently in use.

This streamlining of robot models will make management much easier.

As for engaging in battles like those in United States sci-fi films, that simply isn’t appropriate.

In the interstellar age, giant warships equipped with massive cannons are the ultimate power.

The notion that a single transforming robot or a lone space fighter could take down a mothership is something only found in United States science-fiction.

Time flew by. When Du Qiu entered Dreamland for the third time, the fleet—comprising 5,000 replica flagships, 2,000 transport ships, and several hundred Dominant Civilization flagships—finally reached the target star system.

The star of this system is a red dwarf. It may not shine brightly, but it is remarkably stable.

Its dimness makes it unobtrusive and perfect for concealment.

This star system boasts five planets; planets three and four are terrestrial, while the fifth is a gas giant.

Planets one and two orbit too close to the red dwarf. Although they are terrestrial, they aren’t suitable for resource extraction.

Upon entering Dreamland, Du Qiu immediately ordered the transport ships to deploy all robots, effectively reconstructing the entire manufacturing system.

At the same time, Du Qiu deployed a shield similar to the Civilization Bastion to completely seal off the star system starting from 3 light-years out.

During this period, Du Qiu translated a batch of technological knowledge from Dreamland into reality, focusing particularly on spatial technology.

In the process, he first mastered the method for detecting fluctuations in spatial energy waves and subsequently completed the replication of a spatial energy anomaly detector.

From 3 light-years out to beyond the Kuiper Belt, Du Qiu installed a series of meteor detectors equipped with spatial energy anomaly sensors.

This setup ensures that if an enemy suddenly performs a space jump like the Ge Ya Civilization Fleet did last time, the spatial energy fluctuation will give a pre-warning of at least 20 seconds before the enemy vessel materializes.

Those extra 20 seconds allow the entire defensive network of the star system to switch to battle-readiness, preventing an ambush.

Even though this remote star system lies within the territory of the Dominant Civilization, it could still be detected; thus, it requires robust defenses.

With these early-warning and defense systems in place, the star system has also embarked on a phase of comprehensive development.

After establishing the base in Dreamland, Dream Technology’s development in the Lishi-1 system in reality also advanced rapidly.

Du Qiu’s plan was to upgrade all the fleet’s warships to about the mid-level of a fifth-tier civilization before proceeding toward the Pleiades system.

By then, the fleet’s faster-than-light travel speed would reach 500 times, meaning that the 300-light-year journey from the Lishi-1 system to the Pleiades system would take just a little over seven months.

If a spatial jump device is developed by that time, the travel duration could be further shortened.

Thus, the original plan to head straight for the Pleiades system was revised. The main fleet is now stationed in the Lishi-1 system while smaller fleets are dispatched to colonize nodal star systems according to the original plan.

After all, it is crucial to establish footholds along the route from the Lishi-1 system to the Pleiades system.

These colonization fleets are generally composed of 2,000 flagships, 1,000 cruisers, and 1,000 transport ships.

Along the entire route, five support bases need to be established. Dream Technology has dispatched five colonization fleets in total.

Besides officers and soldiers, these fleets also carry a number of scientific experts.

Even though there isn’t a life-bearing planet in the Lishi-1 system, being a fourth-tier civilization, that’s not an issue.

Spurred by the technological data Du Qiu translated from Dreamland, the entire Dream Technology society entered a phase of rapid development.

In the vast expanse of the universe, time waits for no one. Before long, Dream Technology had been stationed in the Lishi-1 system for over 30 years.

Dream Technology had just completed a new round of upgrades for their warships, elevating all ships to the pinnacle of a fifth-tier civilization.

Some weapons and special devices even reached a sixth-tier civilization level.

This is the advantage of possessing a complete technological system. While Dream Technology itself barely reached fifth-tier civilization standards, its warships—synthesizing the best of its tech—surpassed the average level of the civilization.

Certain sixth-tier technologies, as long as the necessary devices can be manufactured, can be practically applied.

Of course, this imbalance is the result of Du Qiu’s decision to concentrate most resources and efforts on combat-related technology.

For Du Qiu, the Dominant Civilization is like a Damocles sword hanging over his head. Boosting warship technology to the sixth-tier peak is the only hope of contending with them.

Although Du Qiu never dreamed of dominating the universe, he couldn’t allow Dream Technology to be utterly helpless when the Dominant Civilization retaliates against the Milky Way.

Ge Ya once remarked that the Ge Ya Alliance might not withstand the Dominant Civilization’s assault for another hundred years. When the Dominant Civilization, which monopolizes the Andromeda Galaxy, finally seeks a route back to the Milky Way, it could be a dire situation.

After all, Du Qiu knows that the Dominant isn’t a true artificial intelligence but rather the Pleiadians without their physical forms. As sentient beings, they are bound to feel a longing for their home.

Thus, preparations must be made for the moment when the Dominant Civilization returns to the Milky Way.

As for the fleet developing in Dreamland, even after more than 30 years it has grown to an impressive scale.

Based on Du Qiu’s understanding of the Dominant Civilization, this colossal fleet is equivalent to 36 first-tier fleets of the Dominant, roughly one one-hundred-twentieth of their full strength.

However, its combat power is a tier lower, since these warships have only just reached sixth-tier civilization levels rather than the pinnacle.

It may seem as though progress is slow, but in reality it is accelerating faster than anyone expected.

After all, the Dominant Civilization has 360 sectors, each with the might of 12 first-tier fleets—an outcome of thousands of years of evolution.

That Du Qiu managed to build such a massive fleet in just over 30 years is a testament to the complete technological legacy left by Ge Ya.

It is also thanks to the production equipment he salvaged over the years from the wreckage of transport fleets ambushed by the Dominant Civilization during battles against the Ge Ya Alliance.

Armed with these production devices, Du Qiu was able to replicate and achieve sixth-tier manufacturing capabilities.

Because of this, Dream Technology in reality—unable to reach such production levels—can only build warships at a fifth-tier level, with only some weapons and devices reaching sixth-tier standards.

“Boss, our fleet has finally been completely upgraded. Today is the day we can finally head straight for the Pleiades system.”

Defense Department Minister Song Yuanting and Du Qiu stood together in the inspection chamber of a space bastion, gazing at the impeccably arranged fleet in the void with a sigh of admiration.

Du Qiu smiled, about to speak, when an aide-de-camp rushed in to report.

“Base 2 has transmitted an urgent message—a distress signal decoded from the transmission, signed by the Earth Ark Spaceship!”

Thanks to Zhu Ya for the 100 coins tip!