The astrophysics symposium ended in silence, and everyone left with heavy hearts.
Even the optimists were shaken; Arthur Lambert looked deeply preoccupied as he rushed back to the Tesla Institute.
Whenever humanity gathered to discuss the true nature of the cosmos, one conclusion was always inescapable: the universe was incomprehensibly vast, and humanity was terrifyingly small.
This was Jason's first time attending such a high-level theoretical discussion, and the psychological impact was profound. He felt incredibly uneasy. Yet, as the leader of the Federation, he couldn't let his anxiety show; he simply kept his brow furrowed as he walked back to his office.
His mind was entirely consumed by the logistics of an interstellar war.
Preparing for the worst before it happened was the fundamental duty of a leader. If you waited until the enemy was at the gates to start building weapons, you were already dead.
So, what exactly did the Federation have in its arsenal?
