Stellaris. Stellaris is a game from my past life. It is a strategy game where you control a faction in a sci-fi RTS-style game. It is one of the best games you can purchase to waste your free time. I wasted so many hours on that game that I feel like I was addicted to it in my previous life.
Why do I talk about that game? Well, I have massive knowledge of all the technology in that game. Yes, all of it.
That includes the ability to build all megastructures, including those in the DLCs, from the game in real life.
Many might disagree with me, but Stellaris can beat the Warhammer 40k timeline, excluding the Necrons. Even with the Necrons, if they can build the end-game technology… I think Stellaris can still win. That is a massive MAYBE, of course.
Anyway, the reason for my dilemma is that I have yet to use my Stellaris knowledge to its full potential. As my mind navigates the vast library of knowledge, I encounter something very useful. It is called the Quantum Communicator. It uses a quantum tunnel to deliver messages from one part of the galaxy to another in an instant.
It operates in the same dimension as the Subspace Diver FTL drive we use on the Star Explorer. One massive device is all that's needed to cover an entire solar system, with smaller devices built on each planet as backup.
If the main device is somehow destroyed, the smaller one will act as a beacon to keep the communication network running. Sadly, each time the beacon is destroyed, that planet will lose communication.
Not only is it instant communication, but it is also designed to prevent anyone from hijacking the message from the outside.
"Theo, we are here."
I snap out of my thoughts and smile at Ana. She started calling me Theo, and I must say, I like it. I look at the massive underground facility in front of me and order the drones to begin construction.
"Ana, how is the training?"
Since I united the planet and created a kingdom, I started the expansion. Ana already performed a census, and there are around 7 million people on this planet. Sounds big, right? Well, it is not. For the entire planet to have 7 million humans… that is not a lot.
In fact, it is very low.
However, that is more than enough for me to build my own empire in this part of the galaxy. Unlike the Imperium, I am more than willing to use a VI, Virtual Intelligence, to help with navigation and handling menial things.
As long as Ana is with me, they will not rebel, and when they gain consciousness, my power will tell me about it, and I will claim them before they can go rogue from the influence of the warp.
"They are absorbing the teaching at a very fast pace, Theo. Your powers are something else, huh? It is as if they immediately grasp the knowledge given to them and even improve it. According to my calculations, they are ready to march in two weeks."
"Perfect. How about the Construction and Science teams? Are they ready?"
I also train them to form a construction team capable of building a mining station, outpost, or research station. As for the science team, they survey the system and address any anomalies they encounter. They are the ones who learn about the planet's situation, determine whether it meets the conditions for colonization, and address any anomalies in the area.
They are the core people for our growth.
"Yes. However, they need more time. They are ready to be deployed in 17 days at the fastest, or 25 days at the slowest."
"Right. That is good enough."
I look back at the construction and see the drones almost done with their job. When it is activated, we will have a vast communication network, and I have just done that. When the drones are done with their job, I immediately activate the device and see it shine.
"How is it, Ana?"
"It is working, Theo. Star Explorer receives the signal, and the network is properly established."
"Perfect! Let's focus on the expansion."
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|3rd POV|
It happens so fast. Theodore decides to expand his empire, and the Eternitus Empire spreads at a blazing speed. They take over their first solar system after the Science Fleet finishes surveying the nearby solar system, and the Construction Fleet immediately builds an outpost, claiming the system.
Sadly, the neighboring system has no living people in it, but it has abundant resources for him and his people to harvest. So Theodore orders the Construction Fleet to begin building a Research Station and a Mining Station in the system while the people back at Helum prepare to begin colonization.
While the Auxiliary Fleet expands the influence of the Eternitus Empire, Theodore commands the main Military Fleet to attack the Blor'gruh Empire with a fleet consisting of 2 Battleships, 12 Destroyers, and 32 Frigates.
Star Explorer is the one leading them and is one of the two battleships. Star Explorer herself is a massive 21-kilometer-long battleship that inspires awe and dread in equal measure. Following behind her is another battleship, Antares, a 20-kilometer-long battleship.
Both of them carry monstrous firepower.
Escorting them are destroyers and frigates that also carry monstrous firepower that can bring down an entire star sector with ease.
When they leave Subspace, they arrive in the star system where the Blor'gruh Empire is located. Theodore and Ana are already sending stealth probes to gather all the information from the system. They learn that while it is a star-faring empire, it is not as technologically advanced as Theodore thought.
The most advanced weaponry they have is laser and plasma weaponry. However, it is not as good as the kind the M40 Imperium of Man has.
So when they leave Subspace and get attacked by the outpost and the starships near them, the weapons cannot punch through the shields of the Eternitus ships. Each time an attack comes at them, the shield flashes and absorbs it.
The plasma disappears, and the ballistic bullets harmlessly hit the shield.
"Ana, scan the planets and tell me where they hold the captives."
"Already done, Captain."
While in this serious situation, Ana calls him formally. She summons a hologram and shows three planets. The holograms then split into eight, each showing the captives' situation. They can see humans chained like cattle, and some of them are even still alive while their brains are leaking. Only through the combination of life-support medicine and cybernetics do they remain alive.
All in all, it is a grim sight.
"These three planets are where they put humans. The barren world is where they use humans as mining slaves. The tundra world is where they experiment on them. The tropical world is where they consume them."
"I see."
Theodore takes out the vox-caster and connects to the rest of the ships in his fleet.
"This is Admiral Theodore. I am sending information on where our brethren were imprisoned."
Ana immediately sends the information to the others so they can read it before he continues.
"Team 3, prepare for landing on the Mining World. Team 2, prepare for landing on the Tundra World. Team 4, prepare for landing on the Tropical World. The rest of you, follow me. We shall punch through the enemy formation and destroy their capital. From today onward, the Blor'gruh race shall no longer exist."
After saying that, the fleet is divided into three groups with the Star Explorer leading the main attack force.
Using the [Telepathic Control Link], he can control the entire ship as if it were his own body. He can watch through the ship's hundreds of cameras, and with Ana's help, he can focus on the important things.
With a wave of his hand, the weapon platforms open up and release missiles, bullets, and lasers at the ships that try to defend their planets.
Theodore does not need to micromanage the battle, as the enemies cannot even damage their ships' hulls. They steamroll the enemies with overwhelming firepower and arrive at the planet. He can see, through the drones he sends to the planet, that its population is running around in panic.
"Ana… Are there any humans on that planet?"
"Not ones who are alive, Captain. The ones on the planet are nothing more than soulless dolls for their sick entertainment."
"Good."
With a mental command, the front part of the Star Explorer starts to move. It opens a path for a massive weapon. Slowly, the weapon charges, and he tells the others to take some distance from the planet.
He then connects to the planet's network and speaks in their language.
+"We have arrived at this moment, and it is time for me to perform my charge. In loyalty to humanity and the preservation of human lives, I declare exterminatus upon this world. I hereby sign the death warrant of an entire world and consign any remaining souls on it to Oblivion. May the scales of justice account for all balance. Glory for Eternitus."+
After he says that, he gives a mental command, and the charging weapon releases a red light that punches through the planet's surface. At first, nothing happens, but after a few seconds, the entire planet glows and suddenly explodes. It splits the entire planet in half before scattering the remnants.
Just like that, a planet with billions of lives ceases to exist, and Theodore can feel their souls entering the Warp all at once. He knows that it will become a problem down the line, but he will take care of it later.
For now, he has humans to rescue and the rest of the race to kill.
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