47. Imperial Exploration Ministry of the Greater Alze Empire

The third planet of the G-type star Hamilapilatra, capital world Arzēn, in the Greater Alze Empire. Currently, six orbital elevators hang from the planet’s equator, suspended from the surface like threads around a spool—eventually, they are expected to connect, forming a colossal ring encircling the planet. The jump drive, developed technically at a singularity point approximately a decade ago, has been in practical use for a few years now, and is currently being installed on major warships at spaceyards throughout the empire’s primary star systems.

The vast, green artificial city of Mytsosomavena, irrigated into existence from the central desert belt of Arzēn’s largest continent. Within this city, nestled beside the crystal palace at its heart, lies the office of the Imperial Exploration Ministry’s director—tucked into a corner of the central administrative complex.

Vaska, head of the Exploration Bureau responsible for wide-area exploration and the investigation of intelligent life, was delivering a report to Director Roaral—his scalp receding, streaks of white beginning to mix with his remaining hair.

“Director Roaral, the J01-class autonomous planetary exploration vessel dispatched toward G013 system has lost contact.”

“Vaska, if it’s a J-class vessel, that means it’s equipped with a jump drive, right? A long-range exploration craft?”

"Yes. The J01-class vessel No. 2 was dispatched about a hundred days ago, following optical observations confirming the presence of an Aersen-type planet. It successfully executed a jump-out and appears to have detected a high-level civilization on the third planet within the G013 system from the outer rim. After launching four planetary survey drones, communication ceased—and has remained silent ever since. The drones are not equipped with subspace communication units, so they are also unaccounted for."

"Whether it's an accident—or the work of that high-level civilization—is unclear, isn’t it?"

"Based on the limited data received just before communication failed, we can't confirm it definitively, but the civilization's evolutionary level appears to be between two and three. Therefore, it's unlikely the survey vessel was destroyed without being given time to send an emergency signal."

"So then—what about the accident?"

"Jump-out was successful, so the likelihood of an accident causing multiple communication devices to fail simultaneously in normal space is low."

"So then—what are you proposing? J01-1 and J01-3 have already been dispatched to separate star systems, and J01-4 isn't even finished. There’s no functional survey vessel left that could be deployed right now."

"The Survey Ministry’s survey fleet hasn’t conducted a single training voyage since installing jump drives. Why not send the fleet on a long-range training mission—directly to G013?"

"Sending a lightly armed survey fleet to a system that hasn’t even undergone primary survey? Unlikely. J01-1 is expected to return in a month. Once it arrives and completes maintenance, we’ll dispatch it to G013."

The Azeren-class planet had been a matter of considerable imperial anticipation—disappointing, then. An Imperial Cabinet Decision is scheduled for this afternoon. I shall report the findings directly to His Majesty during that session.”

“Understood. I’ll leave it in your hands.”

……

Four hours later.

Loaël had concluded the Cabinet meeting at the Imperial Palace and was now in his office within the Central Administrative Building, summoning Vasca from the Survey Bureau to relay the day’s Cabinet Decision.

“During the session, I reported the loss of the survey vessel. His Majesty’s directive, however, was to dispatch a fleet from the Space Fleet as a vanguard to G013. I recommended waiting for the initial survey to conclude before deployment—though, as it turned out, my counsel was pointless.

From the Empire’s current posture, there’s no urgent need to rush. Yet His Majesty clearly had high expectations for this new planet.”

“A fleet, you mean—surely the mobile fleet under Admiral Marko?”

“That’s correct. Only the mobile fleet has all its ships equipped with jump drives. They’re pulling the most capable vessels from the mobile fleet to form the advance force. The composition consists of four heavy cruisers, twelve light cruisers, and two large transports—this should sustain operations for up to a year. The combat formation order will be issued by the space fleet shortly.

The fleet will depart immediately after assembling, heading straight for G013 system. If the advance force proves inadequate to handle the situation, then the first and second fleets will contribute ships with completed jump drive installations, forming a second task force for deployment.”

“Won’t the assault force be accompanying them?”

“The Navy says that if we surround the planet with a fleet, even a fool won’t resist—so a marine contingent aboard the ships should suffice. After all, we’re occupying it anyway; we’ll need治安 personnel eventually, but that can wait.”

“I see. If the high-level lifeform signal from our J01-class No. 2 ship turns out to be inaccurate—if it’s actually Level 4, or worse, Level 5, surpassing us—then we might be in quite a pickle.”

“You’re always worrying. Relax. Even if it’s before the probe’s primary survey, such a scenario is highly unlikely.”

“That’s true, I suppose.”

“If the other party is only at evolutionary level four, our advance unit would pull back immediately. If they’re level five, well… the Empire would simply cease to exist. Worrying about the inevitable won’t change anything. We sent the exploration vessel per the Empire’s—no, the Emperor’s—orders. Dismissal or demotion, yes, but not execution. Not in the last hundred years. Hahahaha.”

The words of the Exploration Ministry Director, offering neither comfort nor solace.