999 OCTILLION SOULS, June 18, 2024
I FLIGHT 45
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TRANSLATOR'S NOTE:The following information is derived from Information Seed 40 and received by the Gravitational Wave Observatory. I and AI performed a frequency analysis on it. IE edited certain parts to make them more 'readable'. (He might have overdone it.) Please feel free to comment.45
EXCERPT FROM ECHOES OF THE SWARMS
The Dyson swarms of the Second Grand Empire were not simply energy-harvesting marvels; they were also the cradles of immense spacefaring fleets. Here, we explore the colossal shipyards, the technologically advanced space navies, and the disturbing underbelly of the SGE – the slave ships that fueled its insatiable hunger for resources.
Shipyards
Number of Yards: 12,000,000 Core System locations, with the Zenith Prime being the largest and most prestigious.
Construction Capacity: 10 Stellar Annihilator-class dreadnoughts every 5 days, alongside a steady stream of smaller warships and support vessels.
Employment: Trillions of engineers, technicians, and automated drones working in constant shifts.
Security: Heavily guarded by Grand Imperial Navy detachments and advanced security AIs to prevent sabotage or theft of sensitive technology.
Towering within the intricate latticework of the Core Systems' Dyson swarms, the Zenith Yards showcased SGE's engineering prowess. These sprawling complexes, kilometers in length, housed the automation and manpower necessary to churn out vessels for the Grand Imperial Navy. Here, colossal dreadnoughts like the Stellar Annihilator class were assembled, their hulls forged from Berfsteel alloys and their engines powered by cutting-edge fusion reactors. Smaller, yet no less impressive, were the Nemesis-class destroyers, nimble warships bristling with laser cannons and point-defense systems. The Zenith Yards, a marvel of industrial efficiency, were a crucial pillar of the SGE's military might.
de_tech_G: what’s berfsteel?
translator: some sort of steel with microscopic wormholes enabling the strong force
cap_mal: strong if true, so no
The Zenith Yards also served as a hub for innovation and technological advancement. Research and development facilities within the yards continuously pushed the boundaries of what was possible in spacefaring technology. Engineers and scientists worked tirelessly to integrate the latest advancements in artificial intelligence, energy weaponry, and defensive shielding into the fleet, ensuring that the SGE remained at the forefront of galactic military power.
Technicians, engineers, and laborers from various star systems converged here, contributing their expertise to the monumental task of warship construction. The yards operated around the clock, a continuous ballet of activity as robotic arms and workers synchronized to assemble the Empire’s formidable fleet.
The Zenith Yards were protected by a sophisticated array of defense systems, including orbital platforms equipped with railguns and missile batteries, as well as a dedicated contingent of Grand Imperial Navy patrol ships. These defenses ensured that the heart of the shipbuilding capability remained secure from both external threats and internal sabotage.
The Grand Imperial Navy
Structure: Divided into 10,000 Legions, each with a designated area of patrol and specialization (e.g., elite core, rapid response force).
Ship Composition: Stellar Annihilator-class dreadnoughts (flagships, length exceeding 5 kilometers), Nemesis-class destroyers (workhorses of the fleet, numbering in the hundreds of millions), alongside frigates, corvettes, and support vessels.
Notable Figures: Grand Admiral Farmitz (legendary strategist known for his decisive victories), Grand Strategos Helena Peterson (the first woman to lead a Solar Legion battle group).
Technology: Advanced fusion reactors, strong force steel, powerful laser weaponry, point-defense systems, and rudimentary shields.
The Grand Imperial Navy, the iron fist of the Grand Emperor, patrolled the expanse around the Dyson swarms with firm vigilance. Divided into legions, each specializing in a specific role, the GIN maintained a stranglehold on interstellar trade and quelled dissent with overwhelming force. The Astral Legion, the elite core of the GIN, comprised colossal battle groups led by legendary figures like Grand Admiral Farmitz and Grand Strategos Helena Peterson. These battle groups, boasting advanced technology and battle-hardened crews, were the ultimate symbol of Grand Imperial power.
The Xeno-Transport Fleets
Number of Fleets: Officially classified information, estimated to be around 4,000-5,000 fleets operating in the fringes of the Grand Empire.
Xeno Species Targeted: Varied depending on location, but focused on weaker, pre-industrial civilizations.
Vorgueil-pattern Vessels: Bio-engineered ships kilometers long, utilizing captured alien biomass for propulsion and basic life support for the slave cargo.
Conditions: Horrific overcrowding, disease rampant, minimal food and water rations.
Aftermath: Captured aliens used for manual labor in mines, construction projects, and other hazardous environments within the Rim Systems.
The SGE's insatiable hunger for resources wasn't limited to the stellar energy harvested from the Dyson swarms. Beyond the well-illuminated core systems, a darker secret festered – the Xeno-Transport Fleets. These fleets, cloaked in secrecy and fueled by a twisted morality, raided fringe star systems inhabited by lesser spacefaring species. The captured aliens, viewed as little more than livestock by the SGE, were crammed into filthy, organic slave ships like the Vorgueil-pattern vessels. These bio-engineered nightmares, a grotesque fusion of technology and living tissue, housed the unfortunate victims in conditions that defied description. The Xeno-Transport Fleets, a shameful stain on the SGE's legacy, fueled its industrial machine at the devastating cost of sentient lives.
The existence of the Xeno-Transport Fleets was a closely guarded secret by the SGE. News of their activities was heavily censored and dissent was ruthlessly suppressed. The Grand Imperial Navy, despite its technological edge, faced increasing resistance from rebellions in the Rim Systems who employed guerilla tactics and captured Grand Imperial technology. The ethical implications of the Xeno-Transport Fleets were a growing source of tension within the SGE. A small but vocal minority of citizens questioned the morality of enslaving other sentient species.
The dichotomy between the awe-inspiring shipyards, the technologically advanced Grand Imperial Navy, and the horrifying Xeno-Transport Fleets highlights the complexities of the Second Grand Empire. While civilization reached the pinnacle of technological advancement, its pursuit of power and resources blinded it to the moral abyss into which it was descending.