"Approaching Gillese 581."
"It's a red dwarf star system with three planets. Our target is planet c."
"All warships, prepare for enemy fire..."
The voice crackled in Preeta's headset as she donned her powered armor.
This was a third-generation suit, its helmet displaying a 360-degree view and aerial scans.
She took a deep breath and headed towards her fighter. As a solo unit, she would launch close-range assaults once the fleet engaged the enemy.
"Hey!"
A Kate called out to her, then spoke warmly.
"Your armor isn't standard issue; you're a human soldier!"
"That's rare. Humans rarely participate in direct combat. You're the first I've met. Let's get acquainted. I'm Bau. What's your name?"
Responding to the friendly Kate, she replied.
"I'm Preeta. I like this kind of environment. It's dangerous, but it keeps me energized."
Bau was surprised.
"That's a name I've never heard before. Aren't names usually a clan name followed by one or two characters?"
This was unusual.
Most names were transliterations; Preeta wasn't an Earth name but a Multi-eyed one, meaning "warrior."
"Everyone in the Federation has the right to choose their own name, don't they?"
Preeta's name wasn't actually Preeta; this body was a clone.
Inside was Luna!
Luna found it frustrating to remain in the virtual world while remaining largely inactive in the real one.
But she couldn't risk death; she lacked the means to single-handedly take on a warship.
So, she devised a solution.
She sent a clone to the battlefield, implanting the clone's memories into her own mind after the battle. It was as if she had been there.
This clever strategy was ideal; each subordinate was, in essence, a part of her.
"Ha ha, not bad."
Bau found Preeta's demeanor somewhat unusual, perhaps because she lacked the commoner's air.
To be able to afford powered armor, she must have some background.
Bau, being astute, continued, "We're in the same squad. When we approach the planet, we'll likely be assigned to the same area."
"We can look out for each other. Fighters have a high casualty rate in space battles."
"It's a shame we don't have tachyon technology; we could remotely control drones instead of having to be there ourselves."
Bau was clearly talkative; once he started talking, he couldn't stop.
Preeta didn't mind the chatter; Luna's world had been too quiet, and some noise was welcome.
"What's your pilot rating? Mine's A+, the highest in our training class."
Bau was clearly showing off.
"Probably S, with a few pluses... I don't remember!"
Preeta thought for a moment. She'd never paid much attention to her rating.
This made Bau's expression change; he logged into the armor's system.
"Wait, let me check!"
A moment later, he exclaimed in astonishment.
"S+++! I've never seen a score this high..."
He looked Preeta up and down, impressed. "No wonder, you're human. I had a human classmate in middle school: the smartest person I'd ever met. He always got the top score, even though I saw him playing games all the time."
Preeta shook her head.
"Every species has intelligent and unintelligent individuals. Apart from a few genetic factors, intelligence is mostly acquired through learning."
Bau chuckled.
"You're such a machine, but you're interesting."
Preeta was indeed rigid; even when Ayla created her, Luna felt she was quite different.
But just as no two leaves are exactly alike, even clones aren't identical.
Preeta was now just a common soldier, not a Luna Subordinate.
As they spoke, the warship shuddered.
BOOM!
"Looks like they've opened fire."
Bau and Preeta remained calm; they had undergone countless simulated battles and knew how to react.
"Time to board our fighters."
They headed to the hangar bay.
By chance, their fighters were parked next to each other.
After boarding, they waited. Only after receiving launch orders and the opening of the hangar doors could they initiate launch.
The fighters weren't launched using thrusters but via a rear-mounted catapult, achieving launch within 0.5 seconds.
The warship shook more frequently.
The soldiers' breathing became heavy.
They could monitor the external situation via the internal systems.
They had entered the enemy star system and were now under fire from enemy warships.
Their side had lost three warships; the enemy had lost twenty-two: seven times fewer casualties.
"I heard they've finished building the new facilities at Tau Ceti. I bought the cryogenic preservation from the Historical Tienming Company for my parents. They'll be waiting for me to return."
"If they could build new warships now, they wouldn't need many to destroy those Purple Thorns."
Bau spoke in the communication channel.
Interstellar voyages were long and arduous.
Every soldier faced the possibility of returning home to a changed world, to loss.
Therefore, many soldiers chose to have their families cryogenically preserved, waiting for their return.
Suddenly, a massive explosion rocked the ship, and a large hole appeared in the hull.
CRASH!
A message came through.
"Warship 027, starboard side heavily damaged. All personnel, prepare for emergency evacuation. Launch fighters."
"Hangar doors will open in 30 seconds..."
"We are approaching planet c. All fighters, target enemy orbital defenses, then proceed to the surface and attack Multi-eyed structures. Do not engage civilian targets."
"Repeat: Do not engage civilian targets!"
BOOM!
The warship shook violently.
Every soldier gripped their controls.
The moment the hangar doors opened, the first group of 300 fighters launched. Groups of 300 fighters launched every 10 seconds, a total of 17 groups: 5100 fighters.
Bau and Preeta were in the last group. Even Bau was silent.
After 170 seconds, they were instantly accelerated to over 10,000 km/s. Despite the ship's artificial gravity, they experienced a moment of intense g-force, momentary blindness, followed by rapid recovery.
They had traveled tens of thousands of kilometers. Looking back, they saw the disintegrating warship.
A message crackled in their headsets.
"Dive towards the planet's surface!"
Preeta pushed the control stick forward. Their fighter, like a hawk spotting its prey, folded its wings and dived.
Bau followed close behind.
Their fight, the fight of ordinary soldiers, had begun.
...
This was a red planet, somewhat resembling Mars, its surface a rusty red.
But Gillese 581c was far larger than Mars; its mass was 5.6 times that of Earth. It also had another designation:
The first potentially habitable exoplanet.
"Electromagnetic field detected around the planet!"
"Electromagnetic field detected around the planet!"
"Requesting mission termination!"
This message flooded the communication channels as the first wave of fighters impacting the electromagnetic field were destroyed. The second wave attempted to evade but, traveling too fast, also collided.
Hundreds of soldiers died instantly, some Preeta had just met.
Like Bau, they all hoped to survive and return home.
But individual soldiers were insignificant in this war.
"Keep advancing!"
"We'll provide support!"
A message from the flagship arrived, but before its meaning could be processed, a three-kilometer-wide beam of light struck the planetary electromagnetic field.
Due to the beam's intense focus, there was minimal light scattering; the laser was only detected after impact.
The impact created a massive arc of electricity on the planet's surface, blasting a hole through the electromagnetic field and even the clouds, revealing structures below.
Countless fighters flew towards the massive hole.
Within seconds, they pierced the atmosphere and entered the planet's interior.
Deceleration!
Then, they snapped into formation.
Any hesitation, whether from nerves or technical failure, meant the fighter would crash, gouging a crater over 10 kilometers wide and rivaling a nuclear explosion.
Preeta calmly executed the deceleration maneuver, bleeding her speed from 20,000 km/s down to a mere 20 km/s.
"Preeta, are you alright?" Bau transmitted.
"Fine. Sensors detect over 100,000 aerial vehicles surrounding the planet. Be sharp; they're closing in."
Preeta kept her response brief, locking her focus on the threat.
Countless craft were swarming them—small, rotating machines that looked like spinning tops. They appeared to be unmanned drones.
"These drones must have a central hub. Their AI is likely primitive and easy to tag."
Bau, flying 140 kilometers to Preeta's left, was also being boxed in by the swarm.
To stop AI from eclipsing human intelligence, many advanced civilizations placed hard restrictions on its growth. Those shackles slowed AI progress to a crawl.
But because of Ayla, the Federation had embraced open AI, creating service robots with intelligence that bordered on sentience.
"Found it!" Bau shouted.
"Northern hemisphere, coordinates: East longitude 123°51', North latitude 39°28'."
Then, Bau's transmission died. His signal was being jammed.
No.
The entire planet was blanketed in interference; only wired comms remained functional, giving the locals a massive information edge.
Preeta opened fire. The lasers mounted on her wings locked onto and shredded the drones.
The swarm fought back, unleashing a barrage of light. Unable to dodge the sheer volume, Preeta threw up her shields, gritting her teeth as they absorbed the onslaught.
Her main cannon, packed with antimatter, roared. The payload annihilated upon contact with normal matter, carving a destructive void in the sky.
Preeta punched through the opening, using the vacuum of the blast to bypass the swarm. She tore toward the coordinates Bau had marked.
Her energy reserves were bleeding out; she couldn't waste them on fodder.
A friendly fighter ahead of her vanished in a ball of fire.
The drones were multiplying, their numbers surging toward a million. This was a home-turf massacre.
She streaked over a city where the buildings looked like massive tents of reddish earth, melting into the landscape.
The onboard cameras captured the locals: large, hairless rodents with compound eyes, four primary limbs, and over ten pairs of centipede-like legs. Gemstone-like crystalline plates formed a shell on their backs, allowing them to coil up and protect their soft bellies.
The Purple Thorns had already briefed them on this race, the Stonecolor. They were even more primitive than the Lelera, stuck in the Stone Age without even the knowledge of metal when the Purple Thorns conquered them.
This civilization offered zero resistance.
Such races are hard to flip; generations of subjugation had made them total puppets of the Purple Thorns. Preeta doubted the Stonecolor would even thank them for the elimination of their masters, but nothing stopped the Federation's march.
Liberation was never the point.
She cleared the city in a heartbeat.
More fighters were converging, having sniffed out the same intel. However, this forced the drones to tighten their ranks into a solid defensive wall. From the cockpit, it looked like a literal barrier of machines.
A few pilots tried to thread the needle, but a torrent of electromagnetic energy cooked them instantly, melting their ships into slag.
The pilots realized a massive power source was feeding the swarm, giving them near-limitless energy—far more than their small fighters could match.
Comms with the outside world were dead. They were cut off.
Chaos took hold. They were pinned—attack was suicide, and retreat was blocked.
In the middle of the panic, Preeta spotted Bau's ship; he was still kicking. She flicked her external lights, signaling him.
Thanks to the Federation's push for unity, the three main races—human, Multi-eyed, and Kate—all shared a common ground in English, optical signals, and the unique Kate comms style.
Bau froze for a second. Then he saw Preeta floor the throttle.
Hardening his resolve, he followed her lead.
The two fighters lunged at the drones on what looked like a death run. They could see the electromagnetic surge building; one hit would vaporize them.
But at the last second, both ships slammed their main cannons into the heart of the surge.
Against that wall of power, the fighters' shots were tiny. But the antimatter annihilation ripped a momentary void in the energy field.
It wasn't enough. The hole was too small and closing too fast.
Then, the two pilots performed the impossible.
They initiated a coordinated attack. The lead ship fired and braked; the trailing ship surged through the hole, fired, and braked. They leapfrogged through the fire.
It required god-like skill, perfect timing, and a level of control that no computer could mimic.
But they did it.
They danced through the fire in a lethal ballet. In under twenty seconds, they shattered the electromagnetic barrier.
Simultaneously, both ships dumped their remaining antimatter into the primary power source.
BOOM!!!
A colossal explosion, like a thousand hydrogen bombs going off at once, turned the sky white. Violent tremors ripped through the crust, opening massive fissures across the continent.
The shockwave hammered the planet, instantly frying every drone in the sky.
Dozens of surviving fighters broke the atmosphere and escaped into the black.
"That was a hell of a shot! We're going in the history books, Preeta," Bau cheered over the radio.
"I think we might have overdone it. That blast probably killed a lot of Stonecolor," she replied.
"Don't sweat it; they'll clean up the mess for us."
A massive force field suddenly wrapped around the planet, choking the shockwave before it could level everything. It was as if time had been paused to minimize the damage.
The battle was over. The enemy ships were scattering.
This was a total victory!
...
Ayla received the final report over a decade later.
After locking down Gillese 581, she didn't rush. She spent forty years consolidating, digging in, and weaving the new civilization into the Federation.
It was a mandatory move; Luna wanted a monolith, not a collection of loosely tied colonies.
Meanwhile, Ayla was busy with a different nightmare at Tau Ceti.
Project World Tree.
Every myth on Earth had one—a tree connecting heaven and the world. The difference here was the scale.
This wasn't Ayla's brainstorm; it was Luna's.
Luna had been obsessing over how to house her engineered lifeforms across the stars. Without a proper habitat, even creatures that lived for millions of years would be stuck in one system, killing their diversity.
These things weren't for a zoo; they were for their genetic potential.
Luna's fix? Grow the trees in deep space.
They would be planted on a dwarf planet, feeding on radiation and local minerals. Because of the soul-crushing cold of the void, they needed external heat to start. As they grew, the outer bark would die off, forming a massive insulating layer. The inner core would keep pushing out, building a layered fortress.
Why a dwarf planet?
Simple: gravity. The crushing pressure at the core provided the heat they needed.
Once they hit maturity, these trees would hollow out the dwarf planet, standing between 500,000 and 1,000,000 meters tall. Their sheer mass would keep the internal temperature and pressure stable.
Even after they died, the cold of space would freeze them in time, leaving permanent, emerald structures in the dark.
Pulling it off was another story.
Ayla's first math put the survival rate at 0.0014%. The odds of one actually reaching maturity? 0.00067%.
The numbers were abysmal.
However, a slight modification could increase the survival rate to around 5%.
This involved active Cultivation using advanced technologies in the early stages, rather than allowing the plants to grow passively in space.
Gradually phasing out technological intervention after the first generation would allow these plants to adapt to the harsh conditions of space. This process, Ayla estimated, would take approximately 20.3 million years.
Life is tenacious, but space is unforgiving.
Once the initial stages of capital construction were complete, Ayla focused on this project, cultivating a tree that could thrive on asteroids.
This tree's cells grew most effectively in an atmosphere rich in nitrogen, hydrogen, helium, and oxygen.
During its seedling stage, it grew 1710 tons per day. After 40 years, it entered its growth phase, increasing to 33,800 tons per day. After 1300 years, it reached maturity, growing 2.1 million tons per day.
Its lifespan depended on the size of the asteroid or dwarf planet it grew on. As long as resources remained, this tree could grow indefinitely, like a cancer cell, until its mass exceeded gravitational limits, causing its collapse.
The theoretical maximum mass was 40 billion tons, with a height of under 600 kilometers: a large dwarf planet could support this maximum growth.
Ayla's first World Tree resembled a taro plant; its trunk had a diameter of 147 meters, its height exceeding 1890 meters. This colossal tree had just transitioned from the seedling stage to the growth stage.
Numerous tentacle-like appendages extended from the tree, each over two meters long, with numerous small holes that released a solidified gas. Some of this gas dissipated into space; the rest remained attached to the appendages, awaiting collection by organisms.
Mature World Trees also bore fruit: spheres 400-500 meters in diameter. These fruits lacked seeds; the seeds developed in separate pods. When ripe, these pods would use air pressure to launch the seeds into space.
These seeds, upon landing on an asteroid, dwarf planet, or planet, would germinate under suitable conditions.
Each seedling was about the size of a thumb. Each tree produced seeds once every 30 years, with hundreds of thousands of seeds per cycle.
"Excellent!"
Over a century had passed since Luna had last seen the tree.
It perfectly matched her vision. If not for the cold of space, she might have created a complete ecosystem around the tree, making it even more mythological.
"It seems we're creating Mythology."
As the saying goes, the end of science is theology.
Luna agreed, but her concept of theology wasn't religious dogma but scientific miracles.
These miracles would have been considered divine in the past!
"Actually, Luna, these trees are unlikely to survive without significant intervention,"
Ayla cautioned, reminding Luna that their creation might be short-lived.
"Who knows, Ayla? Isn't the joy of the cosmos its boundless possibilities?"
"Once created, it possesses the potential to transform the universe into a true forest."
This anticipation was Luna's current source of joy.
Luna had discovered that living for a long time leads to boredom. The world eventually stops producing novelty, leading to a state of quiet resignation.
Time weakens everything, including passion and enthusiasm.
Luna was actively seeking new sources of stimulation.
"I plan to live for several decades, like I did as a student and a professor."
"A developing Civilization might rekindle my passion."
Ayla offered a suggestion.
"Perhaps you should visit the Interstellar Explorers Guild?"
"Something new happens there every day."
"Maybe we'll discover the next generation of heroes within our Civilization. Talented young people can propel entire Civilizations forward."
"Their voices are as bright as stars."
Luna agreed. She wanted to relax but also assess the needs of the Federation's population.
A good leader didn't just focus on advancement but on the overall well-being of their Civilization, physical and mental.
...
Spaceport 038.
A previously unoccupied shop had opened: a repair station specializing in powered armor and spacecraft.
Business was slow on the first day; no one wanted to entrust their valuable equipment to an unknown newcomer. For explorers, their armor and ships were more valuable than their own lives.
The young owner listlessly leaned against the counter, watching the crowds.
She even saw some Stonecolor.
They had traveled from their home system over the past two centuries. They were still a rare sight, their appearance novel to the Kate, Multi-eyed, and humans.
Most Stonecolor were merchants, selling various artifacts: not technologically advanced but curious and rare, making them popular with collectors.
A Kate knocked on the shop door.
"Can you repair spacecraft?"
His narrowed eyes showed skepticism and disbelief, an expression Luna hadn't seen in the Kate many years ago.
As they assimilated human culture, both Multi-eyed and Kate became increasingly human-like in their mannerisms.
Like wolves and dogs; dogs were domesticated from wolves, but dogs are far more attuned to human communication and behavior: wagging their tails, even smiling, or displaying sadness. Wolves don't.
"Correct."
Luna nodded.
"Powered armor repair costs 6 energy credits. Spacecraft repair depends on the damage; the starting price is 50 Federation Credits."
This was a fair price, slightly below market value.
The Kate hesitated, then asked, "Could you offer a discount?"
A poor customer.
"What's your budget?"
"I only have 38 energy credits..."
Luna, finding watching the crowds monotonous, decided to take the job.
"Fine, you're my first customer; I'll give you a discount."
The Kate led her to a spacecraft in the spaceport.
The ship resembled a wrecked boat; its hull was covered in patches, suggesting it was quite old.
"Looks like an old timer."
After a quick inspection, she found the problem: the thrusters. She checked the manufacturing date: 7789 A.D. The current year was 8005 A.D. The ship had been in service for 216 years, likely passed down through at least three generations of Kate.
"Can you repair it?"
The Kate asked cautiously.
"Of course, but you don't have enough credits. I can't just perform minor repairs."
"This requires a major overhaul, costing at least 120 energy credits."
The Kate's face fell.
"I don't have that much."
"This ship belonged to my father; he died in space due to an illness. A friend brought it back."
"My father was our sole provider. My mother earns very little, and I have four younger siblings. I want to become an explorer, like my father, using this ship."
He had lofty aspirations.
But he was stymied at the first hurdle.
Luna had assumed that the Federation had ample job opportunities, supporting its entire population. But poverty still existed.
"What's going on?" Luna asked Ayla.
Ayla quickly responded.
The populations of the main species had changed significantly since the Federation's establishment.
The Kate and Multi-eyed, who had initially arrived with the fleet, had grown to 5.8 billion and 2.2 billion respectively, over the past 700 years. The human population had also increased, reaching 1.17 million.
And the Lelera, with their astonishing birth rate, had increased from 36.2 billion to 50.1 billion, nearing their peak population.
Ayla had even decommissioned some robots to free up jobs, but it still wasn't enough.
With the development of the capital star system, the population would continue to grow. Ayla projected that, in 400 years, the four main species would reach a combined population of 100 billion, potentially increasing further with the arrival of other civilizations, such as the Stonecolor.
Population growth, coupled with Luna's theory of utilizing imagination as a resource, would fuel rapid civilizational advancement.
But this would inevitably lead to economic inequality, an unavoidable consequence.
A small business owner, for example, might find their products rendered obsolete, leading to bankruptcy and debt.
The Federation couldn't erase this debt: this individual, and their descendants, would remain impoverished.
Only by halting progress and equally distributing resources could such inequality be prevented.
This was an unavoidable truth.
Luna couldn't intervene; neither she nor the Federation were charities.
Moreover, economic inequality was a driving force of progress.
"Perhaps I can invest in you. You pay me the agreed-upon energy credits, and the rest will be considered a loan. Once you've made your fortune in space, you can repay me."
Luna was taking a considerable risk; there was always a chance the explorer wouldn't return. Space was dangerous; anything could happen.
On a planet, a maritime accident might leave survivors stranded on a deserted island. In space, the consequences were far greater.
"Thank you,"
The explorer, Du Luo, said earnestly. "I swear I'll repay you."
A naive young man.
"Alright then!"
Luna repaired the thrusters. She still possessed considerable skill, aided by Ayla's advanced tools.
The repair took four days.
Luna watched Du Luo depart, heading into the vastness of space.
Countless people left this spaceport daily, each carrying their dreams.
"It's a wonderful place."
"This atmosphere reminds me of an anime setting; perhaps we could create a One Piece-style legend."
Ayla sent a message.
"Or a legend of a master mechanic."
"Luna, I have a technology to transfer to you."
Luna was curious.
Ayla had already prepared; she delivered several items to the shop.
Luna opened the package, revealing a suit of armor that felt like liquid.
Liquid memory metal!
"It is indeed liquid memory metal, but it's more than that. A Type 1 civilization could produce liquid metal."
Ayla's voice held a note of mystery.
As Luna held the liquid metal armor, it connected to the nanobots within her body.
The liquid metal flowed from her hand, quickly enveloping her, forming a silver suit of armor.
Luna moved, surprised by its lightness; it felt like a regular suit of clothing. The rigid parts didn't restrict movement; she could move freely, even perform yoga.
"The liquid metal contains a complex network of micro-channels. This suit weighs only 8.7 kilograms and provides far superior protection to conventional armor."
A highly functional product.
This would replace most conventional armor.
But the armor market was already dominated by powered armor; this was...
Not that Luna didn't value it, but it was simply too niche.
"This could also be used on android, enhancing their defensive capabilities."
Ayla didn't respond but said, "Luna, there are other items in the package. Please examine them."
Luna examined the package again, finding another suit of liquid metal armor—black, unlike the previous one.
"Different specifications?"
She picked up the second suit; it was much thinner and lighter, weighing less than 4 kilograms.
She also found a watch in the package.
Its design was familiar; she picked it up and put it on. It lacked a screen, only a small rotating dial.
She turned the dial.
The black liquid metal armor instantly appeared, merging with the silver suit, completely enveloping her. After a brief moment of darkness, Luna saw again.
But this was a holographic image, not a direct visual perception.
"What's happening?"
"Why does it feel like I'm wearing powered armor?"
It was an odd sensation; her body felt enveloped in liquid. Luna realized that the liquid metal wasn't just on her skin; some had penetrated her body, coating her bones.
"Because it is powered armor, Luna!"
"The silver liquid metal is a non-conductive protective layer. The black liquid metal is conductive, providing electromagnetic energy transfer."
"The watch is the power source and control unit; it contains a miniature computer. And you haven't noticed? It's the same size as a Federation Energy Credit; it uses them as a power source."
"The armor is connected to the nanobots in your body, allowing you to control the liquid metal with your thoughts."
Luna imagined the liquid metal flowing over her body, forming a thicker layer of armor. She took a deep breath.
"This armor seems rather weak."
Compared to traditional powered armor, it seemed insufficient.
Ayla replied, "No. The liquid metal's strength lies in its adaptability. You can add kilograms, even tons, of liquid metal. But then, the power source wouldn't be a watch but a larger power unit."
Adaptable.
Unconstrained by size or shape.
"Can this liquid metal create complex machinery and electronic circuits?"
Ayla hummed in affirmation.
"Of course."
"While manipulating this liquid metal, it can be programmed to remember ten stable configurations."
"You can freely modify it, but I don't recommend it. It's like the difference between mass-produced equipment and handcrafted items; the quality and reliability are vastly different."
"If you consider it a powerful piece of technology, then a skilled engineer can make it even better."
"Don't underestimate its defensive capabilities. Being liquid, it can absorb more kinetic energy than traditional armor, surpassing commercially available suits, even rivaling custom-made, high-end models."
Ayla seemed to be showing off, and this was indeed a remarkable achievement.
"Can this be mass-produced?"
This was the key question.
"Yes, a factory has been built, capable of producing 14,000 tons daily."
14,000 tons sounds like a small number, but that's enough to make over 2 million suits like the one Luna is wearing.
"Your business here seems a bit slow. Perhaps we can make this liquid metal exclusive to your shop, helping you expand."
So that was the plan.
But Luna shook her head.
"No, I don't want to become a business tycoon. I have access to the entire Federation's resources; becoming a business magnate is trivial."
"I just want to watch people come and go. It's monotonous, but when something interesting happens, it's quite enjoyable."
"Make this liquid metal available throughout the Federation. I only need a few dozen suits."
Liquid memory metal wasn't cheap; the starting price was 200 energy credits.
Considering its advanced technology, this price might seem reasonable. But as a consumer product, it was exceptionally expensive.
A multi-ton suit would cost 5 to 10 million energy credits, and that was just the base price; luxury models could cost tens or hundreds of millions of energy credits.
This was only the cost of the liquid metal, excluding the power source and control systems.
Liquid memory metal wasn't limited to armor; it could be used in massive spacecraft construction, making millions of energy credits a small expenditure.
Even Luna was slightly taken aback by the numbers.
The Galactic Federation had only a handful of corporations with assets exceeding a billion energy credits.
Only she could currently build a liquid metal spacecraft.
However, mass production would eventually reduce costs, triggering another industrial revolution.
While these advancements might not compare to antimatter, dark matter, or string manipulation, the cumulative effect of these smaller innovations would eventually lead to a breakthrough, impacting the entire Federation.
Luna eagerly awaited this moment.