He positioned himself with one arm resting on the chair's armrest, his closed fist supporting his cheek as he leaned slightly to one side.
The posture was both comfortable and commanding, projecting an image of authority.
His people needed to see him as someone who considered decisions carefully rather than acting impulsively, even when those decisions needed to be made quickly.
He used the few minutes of waiting time to organize his thoughts. Jor-El was managing the Mars terraforming project, one of the most critical long-term initiatives for establishing a permanent Kryptonian presence in this sector.
Zor-El was overseeing resource acquisition from the asteroid belt, ensuring they had the raw materials needed for construction and expansion.
Both projects were essential to the empire's future, and both had been progressing while Kon-Rao dealt with other matters. But he needed to know their current status, needed to understand what resources were available and what constraints they were operating under.
Within five minutes, both brothers reached the cabin. The door opened to let them in, and they stepped inside with the bearing of soldiers who had served in the military for many years. Jor-El, the older brother, went in first, with Zor-El just a step behind.
Both men immediately placed their right fists over their hearts in the formal Kryptonian salute reserved for the Emperor. Their faces showed respect and attentiveness, ready to receive orders or provide reports as needed.
"Your Majesty," Jor-El said, his voice carrying the slight formality that always emerged when he was in official meetings rather than casual conversation.
"Your Majesty," Zor-El echoed, his tone matching his brother's.
Kon-Rao nodded in acknowledgment. "At ease," he said simply, gesturing for them to relax their formal posture.
The brothers lowered their hands but remained standing at attention, their body language indicating they were ready to discuss whatever matters the Emperor wished to address.
Kon-Rao looked at Jor-El first. The scientist had been working on the Mars project almost nonstop since they had arrived in this sector, applying his expertise to the challenge of reactivating a dead planet's core and preparing it for Kryptonian habitation.
"How is the progress with the Mars core reactivation?" Kon-Rao asked directly.
Jor-El's expression shifted, showing the enthusiasm he always displayed when discussing his work. "The project is proceeding ahead of schedule, Your Majesty. We are currently at sixty percent completion of the core reactivation phase."
He gestured as he spoke, his hands moving to illustrate points even though no holographic display was active. "We've successfully drilled to the required depth and established the primary thermal conduits. The energy injection systems are in place and have been tested at low power levels with positive results."
"The core material itself was more receptive to reactivation than our initial models predicted," Jor-El continued. "Mars's core went dormant rather than truly dying, which means the molecular structure is still suitable for sustaining fusion reactions once we provide the initial energy input."
He paused briefly before continuing. "Once the core is fully reactivated and stable, we will need to allow approximately two weeks for stabilization. During that period, we will monitor the magnetic field generation, thermal output, and tectonic activity to ensure everything is functioning within acceptable parameters."
"After stabilization is confirmed, we can begin the actual terraforming process. That will involve atmosphere generation, temperature regulation, and water distribution. The timeline for making the planet fully habitable is estimated at three months from the point when we begin terraforming, though we could establish protected habitation zones much sooner if needed."
Kon-Rao nodded, processing the information. The progress was indeed impressive, especially considering they had been working with limited resources and a small team of scientists. "You have done excellent work, Jor-El. Your efficiency continues to exceed expectations."
Jor-El inclined his head slightly, accepting the praise with satisfaction. "Thank you, Your Majesty. We are committed to establishing New Krypton as quickly as possible."
"I have another project for you to undertake in parallel with the Mars work," Kon-Rao said, shifting to the next matter he needed to address. "This one relates to the Phantom Drive technology."
Jor-El's attention sharpened immediately; the topic captured his full focus. "What do you have in mind, Your Majesty?"
"The Phantom Drive as it currently exists is integrated into our primary ship," Kon-Rao explained. "It allows for instantaneous travel across several light-years by compressing space. That capability saved us during our escape from Krypton and brought us safely to this sector."
He leaned forward slightly in his chair. "But I want to take the technology further. Rather than requiring the drive to be integrated into ships, I want you to find a way to create stable portals - standing gateways that can transport people and resources instantaneously between two fixed points."
This was what Kon had been thinking about since observing certain technologies in Alex's memories during his meditation near the sun.
Kon-Rao could see Jor-El's mind already working on the problem, his scientific curiosity engaged. "There are beings in this universe who use what they call 'Boom tube' - portals that allow instantaneous travel across galactic distances."
"I do not know the exact principles behind their technology," Kon-Rao continued, "but the concept is similar to what the Phantom Drive achieves. It compresses space, creates a pathway between two points, and allows matter to traverse that pathway without experiencing the normal travel time."
He pressed a button on his chair's armrest, and a holographic display materialized in the air between them. The display showed complex diagrams and mathematical equations, designs, and blueprints that Kon-Rao had been working on during his limited free time.
"I have created multiple preliminary designs based on what I could extrapolate from the Phantom Drive's principles," Kon-Rao said. "These are not complete solutions, but they should give you a starting point for research."
Jor-El stepped closer to the holographic display, his eyes scanning the information rapidly. He spent several minutes reviewing the designs, his expression growing more thoughtful as he absorbed the concepts Kon-Rao had laid out.
Finally, he looked up. "These blueprints... Your Majesty, this is impressive theoretical work. You have essentially done the initial research phase for me, identifying the key challenges and proposing potential solutions."
He gestured at several sections of the display. "I will need to study these designs more thoroughly and verify the underlying mathematics, but the conceptual framework appears sound. The idea of creating stable spatial compression fields at fixed points rather than mobile ones is innovative."
"How long do you estimate before you could produce a working prototype?" Kon-Rao asked.
Jor-El considered the question carefully. "Given that I have these blueprints as a foundation, and assuming I can dedicate a portion of my research time to this alongside the Mars project... I would estimate four to six months for a preliminary prototype. Longer if we want to ensure the portals are safe and stable enough for regular use."
Kon-Rao nodded. "That timeline is acceptable. This is not an urgent priority, but it will be extremely useful in the future. We cannot rely solely on traditional transportation methods as we expand our operations."
"The Phantom Drive has the potential to revolutionize galactic logistics if developed properly," Kon-Rao continued. "Imagine being able to establish instantaneous connections between New Krypton on Mars, resource-gathering sites throughout this solar system, and eventually outposts in other star systems."
"We could transport materials, personnel, and even military forces without the delays inherent in conventional space travel. We could respond to threats or opportunities anywhere in our territory within moments rather than hours or days. And, in case a situation like Krypton happens again, it will help us to transport our people to other planets."
Jor-El's eyes lit up with understanding. "A transportation network that operates outside the normal constraints of space-time. Yes, I can see the strategic advantages immediately. We would have effective control over a much larger territory than our actual numbers would suggest, because we could project power anywhere in the network instantly."
"Exactly," Kon-Rao confirmed. "That is why this technology is worth the investment of time and resources, even though it will not provide immediate benefits. We are building an empire that will last for eternity, and we need to think in those terms."
"I understand, Your Majesty," Jor-El said, his voice carrying determination. "I will begin a detailed study of these blueprints immediately and integrate this research into my schedule. You will have your portal system."
"Good." Kon-Rao turned his attention to the younger brother. "Zor-El, report on the asteroid belt mining operations."
.....
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