169 Free-Drifting Planet Arc 11: Super Civilization

side: Nibiru Outer Structure (Akira, Control Brain)

‘So, do you think Nibiru’ll head toward the Elysion System?’

The Imperial Capital to the Elysion System was a considerable distance.

Since Nibiru’s people had gone back into cold sleep, the food crisis had passed.

Even if we kept traveling for decades, it shouldn’t be a problem.

Yeah. Perfectly timed delay. As long as I set up a fake Imperial Capital in the Elysion System by the time of our next meeting, we’ll be fine.

‘That coordinate is the Tri-Land System. A rare system with three habitable planets existing in their natural state.

It was also a system Nibiru’s people had colonized… but the Empire later joined them, didn’t it?’

‘Huh?’

Awkward. So that was Nibiru’s people’s colony ground all along!

I thought it was just an abandoned system from the Old Empire… turns out it was a branch family’s territory all along…

The neural net of the abandoned fleet said it was attacked by the Rebellion using the Genesis System… but I just assumed the Rebellion meant the current Empire.

Turns out it might’ve been a schism within Nibiru’s people all along.

Gotta cover this up somehow.

‘We rediscovered this system, long abandoned. We relocated here.

Yes, there were old-model hub Dimensional Jump Gates and unmanned defense fleets—but they recognized us as descendants of the Empire and handed the system over.

Elysion… was a system found by Nibiru’s people.

How could such a rich system have no one living on it at all…?’

‘Then the unmanned defense fleet should have records.

If we’re allowed access, we can crack the encryption. We can reach the classified documents.’

Clumsy. Even more clumsy. If we access the unmanned defense fleet’s records, it’ll be obvious the Elysion System was rediscovered just recently!

What now? Just eliminate the unmanned defense fleet…?

No, that won’t work. Even if it’s an AI, it’s been guarding the system for centuries—its contributions are real.

Lying anymore is impossible now.

For now, keep the existence of the current empire a secret—explain the truth later…

Nebir seems to think I’m an important figure in the empire. When we reach the Elysion System, I’ll be honest—about everything, including my real identity.

Then convince it to join us, and stay out of conflict with the current empire.

If Nebir learns the current empire is a usurper now, all its combat power will turn against us.

That’s something we absolutely can’t let happen.

Get Nebir moving toward the Elysion System—now.

"Convenient, then. Nibiru, proceed toward Tryland—renamed the Elysion System—as planned.

How long will it take?"

"Assuming the ancient Hub Dimensional Jump Gate remains functional, a full-dimensional warp is possible. Preparation included, a few hours."

"Wait, what?"

"System check on the ancient Hub Dimensional Jump Gate at the Old Imperial Capital has concluded.

The ancient Hub Dimensional Jump Gate on the Elysion side is now ready to receive."

"Wait a second—Nibiru’s too big to fit through a Dimensional Jump Gate, right?"

"Yes. This is where the trick comes in. We’ll combine the energy of two ancient Hub Dimensional Jump Gates with Nibiru’s Dyson Sphere.

The gate’s boundary surface won’t pass through. Leave it to me. Energy charging initiated."

What kind of supercivilization is this?

Lost technology far beyond what remains in the current empire… it's still here on Nibiru, though...

We'll figure out the next move once we get to the Elysion System.

"Still, it's regrettable that Nibiru only had a few ancient hub Dimensional Jump Gates left.

If even one had remained, we could've made a direct dimensional jump back to the Imperial Capital.

All of them are already installed—though scattered across remote locations, meaning we had no choice but to return directly to the Imperial Capital."

Ah. So that's why the return was delayed.

"Then I'll get ahead to the Elysion System.

We’ll need to seal off the areas around the ancient hub Dimensional Jump Gates too."

"Leave about ten times the space of the Dyson Sphere."

"Got it."

I leave behind Nibiru’s outer shell structure.

Stepping out between the planet and its shell, I immediately initiate a dimensional jump—straight toward the Imperial Capital Fortress.

Drifting my Personal Ship through the void, I immediately step into the secure neural conference room.

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ｓｉｄｅ：Secure Neural Conference Room (Akira, Kyle)

"Kyle. We're set.

I'm taking them to my home star system now.

The crisis is over. They're friendly and ready to leave the Imperial Capital system immediately.

They'll use the Dimensional Jump Gate system at the Imperial Capital.

Energy will be supplied by the free-floating planet.

Kyle, I need you to set a restricted zone—ten times the diameter of the free-floating planet—around the Dimensional Jump Gate."

"Akira, good."

『A restricted zone ten times the diameter of the free-floating planet from the Dimensional Jump Gate? That’s already enforced!』

The free-floating planet moves. Right. Exceptions aren’t allowed!

Kyle’s gonna send out the no-entry order via external comms.

Then he turns his face back toward me.

“Apologies for the mishap, I assume?”

“Yeah, doesn’t seem to be an issue.”

Or rather, the auto-defense systems were half-asleep until Nibiru retook control, so no counterattack was possible anyway.

“Good. Food aid from Akira’s system will get imperial funding as a gesture of goodwill.”

“Sorry, Kyle.”

Mean it. Really sorry. Feels embarrassing to be pulling the wool over such a decent guy’s eyes.

“Then I’ll be heading back to my home system to prepare for reception.”

“Got it.”

I immediately warped my Personal Ship to the Elysion System from here.

And I’ll have the New Fortress Satellite return as well, synced with Nibiru’s dimensional jump.

I can’t leave the Imperial Capital while it’s under threat—have to stay put until the danger passes.

That’s just a few hours’ difference.

We’ve spent longer apart than together, you know.

Just bear with it for a bit.

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ｓｉｄｅ：Elysion System (Akira, Ayame, Grandfather)

‘Nebiru’s returned!’

‘Wait, Grandfather—hold on!’

No sooner had I arrived in the Elysion System than Grandfather blasted me with an urgent comm.

Ayame’s practically pulling his arm off trying to stop him.

Right—wasn’t I supposed to send someone from the True Empire who knew the old alliance?

‘Yes, I’m sending them over right now.’

‘Why?!’

‘Huh?’

Grandfather’s fuming, waving his sword arm like he’s about to cut something—me, probably.

With Nibiru’s firepower, retaking the Imperial Capital isn’t just a dream, is it?!

Ah, right—Grandfather was the real hawk in the true Empire, wasn’t he…?

Of course. The one person I didn’t want to catch wind of this.

Now my plan to handle things peacefully with the Empire is completely out the window.

What do I do now.

I’ve published a revised version with edits and additions to the first half.

https://ncode.syosetu.com/n3935fa/

As for this main story, I’ll be writing slowly, but keeping it connected to the revised version.

Sorry for the inconvenience—this is just my own stubbornness.