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Chapter 151
Officially, gaCorp and StarUnion are in a state of war. The conflict began when StarUnion instigated a rebellion in gaCorp colonies, leading to a strained relationship between the two factions. While recent years have seen a decrease in the intensity of ard conflicts to localized skirmishes, the two powers were engaged in fierce battles until then.
gaCorp employed a strategy involving massive deploynt of human soldiers and Hulk mutants, utilizing overwhelming force to target StarUnion. In contrast, StarUnion predominantly employed terror tactics, such as self-destructing nanomachine bombs attached to androids like Gremlin torpedoes.
Despite the apparent irony of humans fighting against machines, there was a reason for this. The backbone of StarUnion consisted primarily of cyborgs, and to create them, initially healthy humans were required. While other races could serve as cyborg material, there were complications. Cults couldn’t endure cyborg procedures due to weak bodies, humanoid races like Wolfen were scarce in numbers and lacked genetic enhancent research, resulting in lower cyborg success rates.
One might suggest creating clone humans, but this technology had serious flaws. Clones tended to be ntally unstable, making them unsuitable as cyborg material. Consequently, there was no race as suitable as a healthy “human” to be efficiently and cost-effectively turned into a cyborg. Therefore, StarUnion adopted a strategy involving a small number of cyborg commanders and a large number of drones.
In the early stages of the war, this strategy proved effective until gaCorp deployed EMP weapons in space. While EMP weapons were equally devastating to either side in space, the majority of StarUnion’s forces being chanical ant they suffered more. gaCorp, on the other hand, could use space-survivable Hulk mutants to mitigate the damage.
The introduction of EMP weapons seed to indicate the end of the war, but surprisingly, that was not the case. Unbeknownst to the general public, there was a secret agreent between the leadership of gaCorp and StarUnion. They realized that if they could coordinate the war, there would be substantial profits to gain.
StarUnion needed to capture nurous sentient beings to increase its population, while gaCorp recognized the lucrative potential of human trafficking. The leaders knew each other’s needs well, so they turned the inter-factional war into a business.
Since they couldn’t openly conduct such affairs, they employed interdiaries. Space scavengers thriving on plunder and cri, and cults operating slave trades, acted as middlen. The “business” involving the great powers has continued for centuries, and today, cargo ships carrying “human resources” swiftly move back and forth.
In the JP-99 system, situated on the outskirts of the Cult Empire, a cyborg freighter, having completed its trade with cult rchants, was heading towards its ho.
“Have you completed the cargo check?”
“V100 has checked up to container 50. Everything is in order.”
“Phew, just 50 containers.”
StarUnion’s cyborg, Conzay, disconnected the link cable attached to her head. With over 80% of her body modified by machines, she could interface with the ship’s computer. While piloting the spaceship was beyond her due to insufficient brain-assist module performance, managing the cargo on board was well within her capabilities.
Inside the frozen containers of the cargo ship were individuals who had voluntarily agreed to beco cyborgs. Although they belonged to diverse races, they would soon beco one under the na of StarUnion.
“It seems we may not et the quota this ti. That’s troubleso.”
Conzay scratched her temple while looking at the data graphs displayed in her eyes. Originally, they planned to fill up to container 70, but the cult traders brought fewer slaves than expected.
“They claim that it is because of internal issues. Nonsense. When did they ever care about such things?”
If things continued like this, they would fail to et the allocation set by the Population Managent Departnt, resulting in severe penalties. That was sothing they had to avoid at all costs.
Conzay reconnected the link cable to her head.
“MacF, are there any cartels trafficking people nearby?”
“It’s a cult area. Who the hell would dare to do business here?”
“Well, I guess you’re right.”
“There might be Space Dogs in the nearby system. Try going there and negotiating.”
“Fine, I’ll do that. Since there might be a deal, make sure the drones are heavily ard.”
[Roger.]
After ending the communication, Conzay displayed data on the possible Space Dogs cartel in the surrounding systems for verification. While carefully examining the data, the fleet computer V sent her a notification ssage.
“Biotric signals?”
The area around here is an uncommon route for spacecraft. Star Union always emphasizes that citizens beco cyborgs by ‘voluntary choice.’ It is strictly forbidden for ships carrying candidates for cyborg conversion to roam around conspicuously.
However, to ensure compliance, this ship was equipped with a high-performance detection system specially supported by the chanical Committee. It ant acquiring information ahead of the opponent and avoiding it automatically.
“Can we identify their identity?”
[Externally, it is presud to be the escort ship JASBIL-02SAN JAMA-class. The level of armant is unknown.]
“Could it be an Outsplacer?”
[According to the Starlink database comparison, no match.]
“Phew, that’s a relief. Is it a ship coated with special alloys? Just in case, upload the external appearance and biotric signals.”
[Confird.]
While V uploaded data about the mysterious ship to the Star Union database, Conzay examined the virtually reconstructed image of the opponent’s ship.
“At what level are the biotric signals being leaked?”
[Estimated to have over 700 occupants.]
“700?! Madness. What did they cram in there?”
Hearing that, Conzay suddenly had a different thought.
‘It really looks like a slave ship over there.’
Although Conzay’s cargo ship is about 1.5 tis larger than the opponent, the number of occupants is surprisingly low. It consists of 500 cargo, 30 cyborgs, and 70 combat drones.
‘Suspicious.’
Conzay contacted MacF again.
[Why do you keep interrupting the communication? I’m working.]
“Hey, prepare all the drones.”
[What? Why?]
“If things go well, we might salvage sothing.”
If the opponent’s armant is at a high level, she plans to retreat without attacking. If not…
“V, activate the jamming and stealth systems.”
[Systems activated.]
With 700 occupants, it should be more than enough to fill her quota.
Consecutive warp navigation wasn’t as easy as one might think. Although she had previously used warp navigation to control gaCorp spacecraft, she had never done it continuously for such an extended period.
Maintaining concentration for several weeks during warp navigation was challenging.
‘Energy is not the issue, but…’
‘Even though I have ample ti due to various reasons, maintaining focus during this boring journey is not easy.’
Imagine driving a car without rest for over a month on a road where you don’t know when a wild animal might jump out. Even with heightened senses and the support of auxiliary devices like the Amorph, it is a difficult task.
She had no choice but to stop warp navigation and take breaks at intervals.
***
I’m taking a break after a month.
‘But I’m halfway there.’
In about another month, I’ll arrive at the planet with the Galaagon’s Nest.
I used the corrosive tentacles to consu the stored at like rice cakes.
The thick and tough tentacles covered with a robust carapace instantly digested the prey, supplying the necessary energy to my body. As energy surged through my body, fatigue dissipated, and I felt slightly better.
‘Nevertheless, I probably need more at.'”
All systems of this ship are under my complete control. Therefore, I am currently paying attention to prevent the stored food from spoiling.
‘Preventing it from rotting as it is is difficult.’
There isn’t much left. Despite boasting an enormous al capacity, even 26, which is close to maturity, is consuming much more food than before. Adhai, who sucks blood and body fluids, is not suitable for eating at stored for a long ti.
‘Mother of the sky also eats a lot.’
It seems that there is a need to replenish the feed in the middle.
Here, in the JP-99 galaxy, where we are, it is known that spaceships do not frequently travel. Although it is the cult’s territory, I have not seen any other ships while coming this far.
‘If we go to the next galaxy, there will be many ships… Hmm?’
While planning the feed supply, sothing caught my senses.
I pretended not to notice the fact that there is an opponent and moved.
The mysterious ship approached without knowing that it had a spider web in front of it. The opponent, who was narrowing the distance, suddenly stopped moving.
They are probably trying to scan my ship. I, too, concentrated all my senses to detect the passengers on the other ship.
‘Hmm.’
Hundreds of life forms showing faint movents, 30 humanoid organisms emitting a strong tallic sll, and 70 machines sending strong electrical signals are felt.
‘Ah, I see.’
It’s a Star Union supply line.
Star Union, a community of cyborgs, humanoids, androids, drones, and other machines. Due to the difficulty of leaving offspring, the Star Union emphasizes that citizens beco cyborgs voluntarily. As a result, Star Union acquires slaves from other factions to increase its population.
‘Most are targets for cyborgization, and a few are for human experintation.’
The Star Union argues that since their physical bodies are weak, they must be replaced by machines. It’s ironic that such a group secretly brings in humans to maintain the community.
Therefore, such supply lines are operated in strict secrecy. Transactions are also carried out clandestinely with third parties such as cults or space pirates.
‘In this respect, gaCorp and Star Union are similar.’
In space survival, the Star Union is classified as a neutral faction, but that doesn’t an there is no darkness. It’s a place where a different form of devaluation of life and black humor prevails compared to gaCorp.
At that mont, they began to send fighter jets.
Except for the fact that the outer wall of the ship is a dark purple color matching my exterior, and the weapons are not visible and hidden, the appearance of this escort ship is completely identical to the conventional model.
The fact that no plasma turrets or psychic power cannons were visible was confird through a scan a while ago. It was clear that they considered an easy opponent.
‘Are they targeting ?’
The reason for this is sowhat guessed. Perhaps they didn’t et the assigned quota, or they are preparing for the possibility of not eting the quota later.
‘But what should I do about this? This ship is not a cult-operated one.’
Like their show of force over there, I, too, have no intention of just letting the prey co to .
‘How should I handle this ti?’
I could switch to a new ship using the Horizon of Nightmare as before, but it would be a waste of the escort ship I currently control. Modified based on the advice of the mbers of the Inmyeon, it is much faster than a regular ship and has a lower energy consumption rate for warp travel.
‘Let’s not just think about plundering but try to apply it.’
So far, I have only used the Horizon of Nightmare in a one-dinsional way. Aid at when enemy crew mbers invade the ship or fought tallic gremlins by adding weapons to the ship, and so on.
‘There was no other choice before.’
In the state of controlling a spaceship with the Horizon of Nightmare, I couldn’t use any physical characteristics.
But now, I’m at Transcendence Level 2.
[‘Devouring Tentacles’: Transform the spaceship into a composite organism controlled by the user’s consciousness. You can use ‘so physical characteristics’ while connected to the spaceship. When the energy stored by the user is depleted, the characteristic effect is automatically canceled. Devouring Tentacles can be used once every 7 days and only once per spaceship.]
[*Available physical characteristics: Regeneration, Morphing Organs, Spiked Tail Projectile, Reinforced Large Tail, Jaws of Essence Extraction, Pincers]
‘Now I can use physical characteristics even while controlling the spaceship.’
With the release of the restriction from Transcendence Level 1, there have been changes in the effect of the Horizon of Nightmare.
Originally, the use of physical characteristics was not allowed, but that sentence disappeared. Instead, a category called available physical characteristics has been added.
In other words, it ans that I can attach body organs like pincers or a mouth to this ship.
‘I used to envy the Outspacers who could swallow a whole spaceship.’
Now I can swallow the beings inside the spaceship in one bite.
‘But before that, should I prepare to welco the guests?’
The fighter jets circling around are trying to board the ship.
They’re willing prey who volunteer to be eaten.
I should welco them with joy.
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