11: Guide Colony
Today's update features five chapters.
This is the second chapter.
『The ship "Tsumebakei" is about to arrive at the landing zone of today's destination, Guide Colony. Transitioning from sublight travel to normal navigation, it will enter the landing zone. At Guide Colony...』
The view outside the window changes.
From the streak-like lightscapes of sublight travel, it shifts to the dark expanse of space, where countless stars softly glow.
It seems we've safely arrived at the guide colony.
"Arrived at the guide colony. Are there any tasks I should do? Or anything I shouldn't do?"
Having thoroughly enjoyed dinner, I moved to the recreation room.
There, while playing cards, I listened in on conversations with crew members I hadn't spoken to in a while.
Given the significant difference in responses depending on whether Vilijanira was present or not, the situation remained uncertain.
However, there was no significant discrepancy in the responses.
Well, the *Tsumebakei* was completely blank from captain to crew and even in terms of duties, so this result was perhaps to be expected.
After that, some time passed.
The *Tsumebakei* arrived near the guide beacon required for faster-than-light travel, and had reached the vicinity of the colony facility—known as a Guide Colony—attached to the beacon.
"What needs to be done at the Guide Colony? Nothing special for the passengers. Ah, if anything's pointed out from over there, just follow along obediently."
"Of course."
The Guide Colony's appearance—perhaps the clearest way to describe it is as two massive rings, each several kilometers in diameter, connected by a rod-like structure joining them.
Inside the rings, a green light glows brightly, and numerous spacecraft pass through in orderly sequence and rhythm.
Ships of various sizes are docked alongside the rod-like structure, giving the appearance of a bustling scene.
Yet, this bustling atmosphere isn't the kind associated with commerce or tourism.
"Things you shouldn't do... haven't changed much. Though, the penalty differs—space swimming versus being locked in a pigpen."
"Still, they wouldn't let you do space swimming right here, of course. It would interfere with the other ships."
"That's exactly it."
The guide colony's role, simply put, is that of a customs checkpoint.
That massive ring functions as a scanning device, allowing seamless detection of prohibited goods or individuals without requiring ships to dock or disembark.
It also serves as a tagging system; in the empire, moving people or goods to another star system without being tagged at the guide colony is illegal, with only a few exceptions.
Therefore, the bustling activity here is due to the waiting time for inspections, and the ships docked along the beam include not only passenger vessels from the guide colony but also ships for security personnel and military personnel ready to move at a moment's notice.
The reason for its location at the edge of the star system is that it also serves as a defensive facility against any unknown entities entering from outside the system via faster-than-light travel.
As things stand... based on what I've been able to detect, nothing unusual has occurred.
The scan proceeds normally, the tagging is done normally, and it moves on to the next step without issue.
"The ship is vanishing now. Is that faster-than-light travel?"
"That's exactly right. From outside, it looks just like that."
I turn my gaze toward the ship that has finished scanning.
When those ships reach their designated point, they vanish, cloaked in golden light, and the glow shoots forward in the direction of the Glorglobeta star system, then vanishes...
That is faster-than-light travel.
This mod technology allows the empire to traverse distances that would take years at light speed—even over short distances—in just hours or days, turning the empire into a true interstellar power.
The principle is something like transferring the spacecraft into a special realm called hyperspace, traveling at faster-than-light speeds within that space, and then returning to normal space upon reaching the destination—thus breaking the light-speed barrier, or so they say.
...Well, I'm no expert, so I don't really understand it.
Yeah, this is one of the more advanced and specialized topics even within mod technology.
It's no problem if I, just a casual writer, don't grasp it.
Even those who use spacecraft on a daily basis don't seem to understand it much, but since they can still use them, that's not a problem.
If the esteemed scholars can understand it and improve it so that we can use it too, then that's perfectly fine, yeah.
Anyway, I should do a final check to make sure I can actually hitch a ride on faster-than-light travel.
If it fails, it'll be a real hassle.
Notice from the Guide Colony Authority, Hira Toratsugumi System, heading to the Grogrobeta System: Commencing scan of the 'Tsumebakei' vessel. All passengers are requested to avoid vigorous movement and remain in place. Your cooperation in ensuring a smooth scan is greatly appreciated.
The scan of the 'Tsumebakei' vessel has begun.
Slowly moving into the green light, the scan proceeds from the bow onward.
The light naturally extends into the interior, passing me, then the items in the recreation room, and finally the crew members.
"No abnormalities detected. Proceed to the hyperspace landing zone, 'Tsumebakei'."
It seemed there were no issues.
The 'Tsumebakei' continued smoothly onward.
"By the way, if something problematic is detected during the scan, the light inside the ring turns red right away."
"Really... like this, right now?"
"...Yeah, just like this."
Behind the advancing 'Tsumebakei,' something appeared to have triggered the scan.
The light inside the ring turned red, and several defense fighters and spacecraft were seen heading toward a smaller vessel than the 'Tsumebakei.'
I don't know what exactly caught, but... well, my condolences, I suppose.
All ships behind the 'Tsumebakei,' including those now forced to halt.
"Main vessel 'Tsumebakei' is now transitioning to faster-than-light travel. Destination: Glogrobeta star system. If you feel unwell while viewing the hyperspace interior, look away from the window immediately and contact a nearby crew member..."
"... "
Looks like fun.
Yes. I'm looking forward to it. It's a perfect opportunity to slowly gaze through the hyperspace.
The "Tsumebakei No. 1" is enveloped in golden light.
And when the light had grown sufficiently strong... we entered hyperspace.
09/03 Correction of Typographical Errors