Failed

The Olive Branch civilization needed a third leader.

"Chu constantly corrects our 'errors,' but are they truly errors?"

"How many of our past mistakes were truly mistakes?"

This thought echoed throughout the Changelings' shared consciousness, spreading to trillions of beings.

As Ayla had analyzed, each Olive Branch being was essentially a terminal; their shared consciousness was a cloud system. Chu, as the leader, was like a user accessing the terminals; he couldn't alter the underlying system but could only install apps.

The Changeling leader's words undermined Chu's authority.

Countless voices echoed in agreement.

"Yes, the leader is correct!"

"His explanations are flawless. But consider the leader's past decisions..."

"Absurdly, he rejected the plan to merge the station with the star. We are unaffected by the heat and radiation of nuclear fusion; we could exist within the star. Yet, he called this an 'error'."

"The combined mass of the station and the star would generate greater gravity, exponentially increasing our energy output."

Chu was under attack.

He found this amusing.

If Tilted Station entered the star, how much energy would be needed to prevent it from reaching the core and being destroyed?

Even if possible, the required energy would negate the benefits of the star's gravitational potential energy.

Such a simple concept was being twisted into "truth."

Gas Glory had granted them unity and progress.

But it also created a dangerous rigidity in their thinking.

"Is it truly correct?"

"You've changed since millennia ago."

Chu, having confirmed that Ayla had brought Luna, spoke.

He captured their attention.

He addressed the Changeling leader. "What are you saying? Of course it's correct. Our decisions are sound and beyond question."

"Are you trying to manipulate us with sophistry? It won't work. We've changed."

Chu levitated, his nebulous form trembling slightly. A screen appeared in the sky, displaying a human—Luna.

"Are you sure about that?"

"Listen..."

Luna's conversation with Ayla played—their plan to create and utilize the Changelings to destabilize the Olive Branch civilization.

"Lies! All lies!"

The Changeling leader shouted, and the surrounding beings echoed, accusing Chu of deception.

"I will submit to the Judgment of Gas."

Chu's words silenced everyone.

The Judgment of Gas, also known as the Shared Judgment, involved merging one's consciousness into the shared consciousness, exposing their thoughts to all.

"This isn't necessarily a mistake. The Galactic Federation has simply identified a weakness in our civilization," Chu stated.

"And that weakness is you."

"As long as you, the leader outside the shared consciousness, don't exist, how can we be manipulated?"

The Changeling leader wouldn't be so easily defeated.

Chu, having prepared for this, wasn't swayed.

"A weakness?"

"The leader exists to correct the shared consciousness's flaws. Even without me, the Federation, or another civilization, could exploit the shared consciousness. Only an external leader can correct this."

As Chu spoke, Luna was brought to the central platform by Ayla, exposed to the gazes of trillions of Olive Branch beings.

She didn't resist; resisting on enemy territory would be futile. Even the most powerful being would be helpless within Tilted Station's smooth, impenetrable walls, lacking any leverage.

For Luna, Tilted Station was no different than a desert; how could she escape the gaze of 8 quadrillion beings?

And these were 8 quadrillion beings armed with nuclear weapons. Luna's body, though enhanced, was still biological, vulnerable to extreme heat and radiation.

"Look, a single, insignificant being manipulated you."

"Whether I am here or not is irrelevant."

"You were simply deceived. And this deception is a profound error, a humiliation for our civilization. An error I identified and prevented. Before I revealed it, you were completely unaware."

This felt more like a debate.

Luna had expected more violence, but the shared consciousness seemed to impose a degree of restraint on the Changelings.

"Examine my thoughts, or hers," Chu said, gesturing to Luna.

"Thoughts are reality. You've been led astray. You do as you're told—this is Gas Glory's weakness."

His words ignited the crowd.

"Gas Glory cannot have weaknesses!"

"Gas Glory is perfection, absolute!"

"Traitor! How dare you insult Gas Glory! You are a disgrace to our civilization."

Chu remained calm. "Use the Shared Consciousness. Calculate."

"If Gas Glory is perfect, why did Gas create the position of leader?"

"I agree that Gas was perfect, but Gas Glory isn't. It only became perfect after the introduction of a leader."

This seemed to be an acknowledgment of the second leader's contributions.

But Luna knew Chu's intentions ran deeper. If that were all, there would have been no reason to allow the Changelings to gain power.

His statement gave the Changelings pause.

Their leader wouldn't concede so easily.

"The Judgment of Gas should proceed. Don't be fooled by her rhetoric!"

Chu didn't object. They awaited the Judgment of Gas, a painful experience for Chu, who wasn't part of the shared consciousness.

"Let the judgment commence!"

In a realm invisible to Luna, the shared consciousness descended upon Chu.

Luna suspected that Chu hadn't devised this plan after Luna's arrival but had conceived it upon receiving the Federation's request to send an emissary.

And this plan aligned with Luna's—sowing chaos within the Olive Branch civilization.

The judgment was brief. After Chu emerged, he was still facing the leader of the Changelings.

The Changelings' core belief was that the leader shouldn't exist, or at least, not Chu. This was practically insurmountable. Luna realized this was why she'd continued with her plan, knowing the shared consciousness.

No matter what Chu did, the Changelings would believe they could do better.

But Chu used this to his advantage. Thier initial premise—that the leader is unnecessary—is flawed. This reset the argument, returning it to its starting point.

And that wasn't all.

"Now, perhaps you understand."

"The Galactic Federation's intentions were never benevolent."

"Gas Glory was easily manipulated by a being from a lesser civilization. Admit it; Gas Glory is flawed."

"And I am the one who corrects these flaws. The current situation arose because my authority, as leader, is limited. With greater power, this wouldn't have happened."

This was Chu's true intention.

He used the shared consciousness's mistake to expand his power, to become the true ruler, not just a leader.

To control everything, making Tilted Station his own.

Luna sensed the silence; every being was contemplating, but their thoughts, within the shared consciousness, were binary—0 or 1, with no other possibilities.

And 1 was the more likely outcome.

Perhaps Chu was the true Changeling.

But Chu seemed to have forgotten that Luna's objective was change within the Olive Branch civilization, regardless of its form.

Luna's goal was the Olive Branch civilization's downfall.

Initially, she believed Chu's removal would trigger this downfall.

Now, it was clear that Chu's role was merely symbolic, a safety valve for the Olive Branch.

Chu's current actions, however, aligned with Luna's plan. His attempt to sway the Changelings would inevitably create further conflict.

"Do you intend to change Gas Glory?"

As the Changelings quieted down, another voice arose, supporting Chu.

The traditionalists, who had previously remained silent, now rallied against the reformers.

The traditionalists were the true believers in Gas Glory, staunchly opposing any change; they had initially supported Chu.

But they now realized that Chu was siding with the Changelings.

By addressing the Changelings, Chu had created a larger problem for himself.

Wasn't Chu aware of this?

Of course he was. He had allowed the Changelings to grow before intervening because he'd anticipated this shift in allegiance. Had the Changelings been a smaller faction, Chu would have acted earlier, becoming the underdog.

But he couldn't let the Changelings become too powerful. If they were, he would already have been overthrown, not standing here for judgment.

This was the perfect moment.

A remarkable synergy between Chu and Luna.

"No. I only wish to perfect Gas Glory," Chu replied.

This enraged the traditionalists.

"That is changing Gas Glory! Heresy!"

"You traitor! You're just like them. You've been harboring these thoughts all along!"

"It seems you're no longer fit to lead. We need a new leader."

Luna listened intently; she had deciphered the Olive Branch language millennia ago. Their electromagnetic communications were detected by her nanobots.

How would Chu respond?

"But you don't have a new leader!" Chu countered.

Luna's eyes widened.

The traditionalists, who had been vehemently denouncing Chu, froze.

The leader existed outside the shared consciousness. To become a leader required independent thought, a rare quality.

Among 8 quadrillion Olive Branch beings, were there others with this quality?

Undoubtedly.

Countless, in fact.

But after millennia of selection…

Those with independent thoughts had become Changelings.

Even if suitable candidates existed among the traditionalists, would they risk choosing a new leader who might become another Chu?

This was the traditionalists' dilemma.

And Chu exploited it.

"History has proven that I am the best leader. I am simply fulfilling my role."

"You believe something to be correct, but I, as your leader, inform you that it is wrong, always has been."

Chu's tone shifted from conciliatory to assertive.

All Olive Branch beings, Changelings and traditionalists alike, now shared a unified consciousness, manipulated by Luna, yet reaching a consensus.

"You are indeed the best leader."

"We were wrong. Our leader has corrected us; otherwise, we would have continued down the wrong path."

"I, on behalf of the Changelings, support the leader's proposal. Grant him more authority."

"I, representing the traditionalists, also agree. The leader should have greater power. This isn't changing Gas Glory; it's enhancing it."

The two factions agreed, and Chu achieved his objective.

While the debate seemed short, it was the culmination of millennia of planning; Chu had made extensive preparations.

The moment the factions agreed, Chu's authority expanded significantly.

He turned to Luna.

"Our civilization hasn't faced a powerful enemy in a long time. As our star chart shows, our only nearby neighbors are the Galactic Federation and the Filament civilization."

"You are both weaker than us, limiting our potential."

"The Purple Thorns, while powerful, were too aggressive, making cooperation impossible. You, however, have given us this opportunity."

"In the language of your Federation: we are grateful."

Luna stood tall, unfazed, a calm smile on her face, meeting Chu's gaze.

"Indeed, you've won this round."

Chu, his humanoid avatar resembling a featureless Luna, approached.

"Have I truly won?"

"If so, I would have killed you now, and the 8 quadrillion beings on Tilted Station would cheer."

"But I haven't. Not because I don't want to kill you, but because I can't."

"Your decision to wage war was a wise one. It has made me cautious."

"I'm still unsure about the Holy Grail's validity, but I can't dismiss it. Doing so would be a fatal mistake."

"This is your cunning. The Federation's tachyon communication and the Filament civilization's potential technological advantage... killing you now would invite attacks from both."

"While we are far more powerful, this gap isn't insurmountable, especially with unknown technologies. The Holy Grail Project gives me pause. This is your strength."

Killing Luna wasn't worth it.

"But I really want to kill you. You're a destabilizing element, a potential threat."

"This internal conflict is frustrating. In the larger game, I've lost; I've only won a minor internal struggle."

Chu was a master manipulator, a skilled deceiver.

But Luna, equally adept at strategy, saw through the facade.

"Chu, you didn't need to join the war so quickly," Luna stated, undermining Chu's justifications.

"If only you were an insignificant member of the Federation, not an emissary."

Chu sighed; if so, he could kill Luna without hesitation. While Luna's attack on the Filament and the Holy Grail Project had seemingly forced Chu's hand, as the most powerful of the three civilizations, he could have chosen when to enter the conflict.

Luna had originally estimated Chu's response time to be over 100 years, but it had taken only 1.

Chu was too eager.

Was his true goal only to increase his power and eliminate the Filament civilization?

Chu ignored Luna's comment, instead saying, "Luna, I've prepared a comfortable place for you. I hope you enjoy your stay."

...

Within a dark, confined space, a naked human curled up, metallic threads extending from their body, seemingly supporting the structure.

The human slowly opened their eyes.

"I've been captured."

"But Chu won't kill me. He'll keep me prisoner. His true objective isn't just Tilted Station or the Filament civilization, but the Galactic Federation."

This was the true reason for sending an emissary.

The Olive Branch civilization was powerful, undeniably so.

But it was also incredibly vulnerable, its structure deceptively simple—only two consciousnesses within Tilted Station.

Chu, as an individual outside the shared consciousness, knew Gas Glory's—the shared consciousness's—weakness.

Gas Glory had indeed created a civilization free of internal conflict. Even with Luna's instigation, no Olive Branch being had died in the recent unrest. In that sense, Gas Glory was a success.

But it had a flaw—the reason for the leader's existence.

This was the message Luna had given the Changelings.

—Stagnation.

The Olive Branch civilization stagnated; it lacked diversity.

Tilted Station was like a set of building blocks. The Olive Branch's power stemmed from its first leader; their current forms were established then.

Luna didn't know the exact timeframe, but it was likely tens of thousands of years ago.

The Olive Branch had been stagnating ever since.

This stagnation wasn't a complete standstill; if so, they would have noticed and corrected course. The true issue was their unwavering adherence to a single path.

While moving forward was good, it also prevented them from running.

The Changelings' goal was to rotate leadership, creating internal conflict to disrupt the hive mind and propel the civilization forward.

This was why they hadn't detected Luna's manipulations; it aligned with their goal, offering a degree of advancement, or perhaps, liberation. They hadn't considered it a hostile act.

Chu's goal was to manipulate the Changelings. He had stepped forward because he was their target. This change would also reveal another problem, visible only to the leader.

If the Changeling leader remained within the shared consciousness, the Olive Branch's two consciousnesses would become one—a regression.

And if the Changeling leader left the shared consciousness, having tasted freedom, would they willingly return?

Chu, at least, wouldn't; he found it abhorrent.

Regardless of the outcome, the Olive Branch would attempt to break free from stagnation, but the process would be turbulent, creating vulnerabilities.

The Federation's reach, via the interstellar Silk Road, had already extended to within 8 light-years of Tilted Station. The Federation was waiting.

This was Luna's plan.

And Chu, from the beginning, had understood these machinations. What Luna saw, Chu saw too.

Stagnation had weakened the Olive Branch civilization. Chu needed external influence to enact change within Tilted Station.

Therefore, he had devised a plan.

Luna's arrival wouldn't be peaceful. Even if Luna remained passive, Chu would manipulate her, creating conflict and achieving his desired outcome.

After securing control of Tilted Station, Chu's next target was the Galactic Federation.

Chu's actions had merely consolidated his power; the Olive Branch civilization remained fundamentally unchanged, with authority simply shifting from a collective to an individual.

To break free from stagnation, the Olive Branch needed the dynamism of the Federation.

The Federation, compared to the Olive Branch, was like a wild horse galloping across the plains. By merging with, or conquering, the Federation, the Olive Branch could ride this horse, accelerating its own development.

This would reinvigorate the Olive Branch civilization, making Chu its third great leader.

This plan was nearly perfect. The Federation was powerless against the Olive Branch; Luna was merely a pawn.

But the unexpected—and infuriating—element was Project Holy Grail.

The Holy Grail Project forced Chu to consider its validity. He couldn't disprove it and, given the existence of tachyon communication, had to assume it was real.

And Project Holy Grail wasn't just about the Filament civilization; it involved a powerful civilization at the galactic core. This civilization didn't seek a powerful subordinate, but a weaker one, choosing the Federation and the Filament, not the Olive Branch.

This, along with the Federation's hasty attack on the Filament, forced Chu's hand.

His choice wasn't to become a subordinate; the Olive Branch was too powerful.

His only logical option was to acquire the Federation's and the Filament's technology, strengthening the Olive Branch, preparing for either resistance or escape once the core civilization "cleansed" the Milky Way.

This is why Chu agreed to the war; Luna had used this as bait.

The three-way conflict prevented Chu from targeting the Federation directly, forcing him to cooperate with the Federation against the Filament civilization, delaying his plans to conquer the Federation. This was Luna's initial objective for Project Holy Grail.

"The goal isn't actual participation but disrupting their rhythm, reclaiming the initiative." Luna recalled words from millennia ago.

And she had succeeded.

The struggle of the past millennia had been about control.

Chu couldn't kill her because Luna held the initiative.

"It's time for me to act. Clones aren't perfect replacements."

"Chu has secured his control over the Olive Branch civilization. This is a step forward, the first step in his plan to use Tilted Station for interstellar conquest."

"But those who walk cannot run; eventually, they will stumble."

"A leader is more prone to making mistakes, more easily deceived, especially with a self-optimizing shared consciousness."

"Previously, Chu's limited authority meant his mistakes were mitigated by the shared consciousness, but now, every mistake will have a significant impact on Tilted Station."

The situation mirrored Luna's earlier assessment of Tilted Station's hierarchy, but he had been reacting, influencing only the Changelings. Now, he had the initiative.

Luna was ready to strike, targeting the Olive Branch's vulnerabilities.

...

Luna was pinned to the floor, her body spread like a puddle of water, maximizing surface contact.

She was in a black, empty room. The only difference between the floor and the walls was its transparency; she could see through it.

"Is this the 'nice place' you mentioned?" Luna asked, looking down at Chu.

Chu, maintaining his humanoid form, smiled. "Of course. Isn't it wonderful? You can experience the allure of gravity here."

Despite millennia of searching, Luna hadn't located Tilted Station's center of gravity; she'd been brought here instead.

The gravity was intense. Even with her enhanced body, capable of withstanding 70g, she was pinned to the floor.

"I wouldn't try to escape."

"You lack anti-gravity equipment. The gravity outside is 8300 km/s², far beyond what any biological being can withstand."

847,000g—12,000 times greater than Luna's current limit. Leaving this room would instantly crush her into a thin paste.

"Is this necessary?"

Luna remained calm. She was, after all, just a biological being. Wasn't this overkill?

"Of course."

"We cannot afford any mistakes."

Chu's response was emphatic.

"Stay here until I've conquered the Filament civilization." Chu turned to leave.

"What do you intend to do?" Luna asked.

"As the true leader of Tilted Station, I have the authority to enact my plans."

"To revitalize Tilted Station, the entire Olive Branch civilization, you'll need a catalyst—conflict. You'll create more internal strife."

Chu stopped.

"Are you still trying to manipulate me?"

"Conflict would indeed address our stagnation, but it would also create instability—precisely your goal. A destabilized Tilted Station weakens my control. That would be self-destructive."

"But I should thank you for this war; it offers a convenient incentive."

"Our war with the Filament will be long. Those who contribute will be rewarded with promotions and power—not much, but enough to create a difference."

Chu would use this conflict to address their stagnation, creating competition without destabilizing the civilization. He had time; the war with the Filament would likely last for millennia.

"I shouldn't have told you this."

"But I haven't spoken to a normal being in so long. You can't imagine the loneliness of existing within a shared consciousness of 8 quadrillion beings."

"I'll visit you again, my friend."

"Friend"—a concept likely foreign to the Olive Branch, their shared consciousness precluding such relationships.

Chu departed.

He had much to do.

Luna remained in the dark, empty space, unfazed by the isolation; she had endured far worse in her ten thousand years.

"Incentivizing competition is a clever tactic. Chu isn't rushing; that's not good."

"My clone has left? Everything is proceeding as planned. My mission is complete. Time for a good, long sleep."

Luna closed her eyes. Aided by her nanobots, her breathing slowed, her body entering a deep hibernation-like state, awaiting her awakening. Chu wouldn't let her die. She'd likely awaken to a feast.

...

Chu, leaving Tilted Station's core, transformed into a gaseous form and flew towards the Federation's designated zone.

He arrived, where Ayla (or rather, the Ayla he controlled) awaited.

Chu's vaporous particles flowed into Ayla's android body, and he entered the Federation sector.

"Awaken all those in hibernation; they no longer need to sleep."

This command, issued to a nearby officer, stunned him for two seconds. He then asked excitedly, "Are we going home?"

Chu shook his head.

"No. We're strengthening our cooperation with the Olive Branch civilization. This area will be open to Silk Road traders. Consider it part of the Federation; relations with the Olive Branch will improve significantly."

The officer was incredulous.

While unaware of the conflict between Luna and Chu, he knew that the two civilizations were unlikely to cooperate so closely.

"This..."

"Simply follow my instructions."

The officer nodded and relayed the order to awaken those in hibernation.

Those awakened were equally astonished upon learning they would be living here.

"We're going to live here?"

"On another civilization's territory?"

"This can't be happening!"

The initial expedition numbered 7.11 million; approximately 20,000 had died over the millennia, most refusing hibernation, believing dying in deep space was a romantic end.

Now, the remaining 7.09 million were forced to live here, a loss of freedom they couldn't accept.

But Chu, through Ayla, issued the order, deactivating the hibernation pods.

Chu then allocated a large area to the Federation—1.4 billion square kilometers—and authorized ships to travel along the Silk Road, opening up this sector of Tilted Station.

He had planned this.

Millennia ago, he had refused Luna's request for open trade, isolating the Federation. While they had tachyon communication, it was limited.

He was opening up now because, controlling Ayla, he could control the 7.09 million Federation soldiers on Tilted Station, observing and studying the Federation's social structure.

While he had emissaries transmitting information from within the Federation, firsthand observation was far more valuable.

By learning from a functioning civilization, he could improve and rebuild the Olive Branch civilization.

"Chu has taken control of my soldiers."

Luna, disguised as a soldier, mingled with the troops. A Garble soldier approached and greeted her.

"Chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp."

This was their language, the origin of their name—the Garble. Their vocalizations, covering a wide range of frequencies (including infrasound and ultrasound) with hundreds of tones, formed a complex language. After being liberated from the Purple Thorns, they dominated the Federation's music scene.

Eight of the Federation's top ten musicians were now Garble.

However, their appearance was less appealing.

They looked like three-meter-long worms, moving via peristalsis. Unlike insects, however, their segmented bodies were more like arthropods', allowing for rapid movement.

Their limbs had numerous small appendages, granting remarkable dexterity.

Their upper bodies, two-thirds of their length, were located towards the rear, allowing them to stand upright. Strange patterns and dark skin with poisonous scales adorned their bodies, an evolutionary adaptation to deter predators. Before developing sentience, they were prey.

They lacked any visible sensory organs (eyes, ears, nose); these were located internally, making their skin thin and translucent, revealing their internal organs.

Small fleshy protrusions on their upper bodies were their vocal organs, producing their characteristic chirping sounds.

Their posture resembled scorpions, with their tails replaced by their upper bodies. Their abdomens could expand, revealing egg sacs where they incubated their eggs—"pseudo-live birth."

The Garble soldier greeted Luna, "Which unit are you from? Let's get acquainted."

"Unit 00712," Luna replied.

They quickly began talking about the recent awakening. The Garble soldier, Bross, expressed his displeasure, and Luna, joining the conversation, voiced similar sentiments, blending into the group.

Chu's objective wasn't just to study the Federation's structure but to use the Silk Road to exert his influence, preparing for a takeover.

Luna, aware of Chu's ambition, would use this to manipulate him.

Chu, as the leader for so long, was incredibly cautious. To achieve her goal, Luna would have to do something drastic.

"Do you know how to leave the military?"

"Since the Silk Road is open, can we return home?" Luna asked Bross quietly.

Bross didn't know. There was no information regarding discharge or departure, but he doubted it was possible; if so, half the army would likely leave.

"I'll ask around. Otherwise, we'll be stuck here until we die."

Luna sought out Ayla, using her disguised appearance, and presented her suggestion.

She knew this was Chu, manipulating Ayla's android body. If not for Chu, Ayla wouldn't be doing this.

Chu naturally refused.

Half a month later, Luna incited a protest against Ayla's "oppressive policies," demanding contact with the Federation to file a complaint.

Chu wasn't concerned. He could intercept all conventional communication signals, the tachyon communicator being the only exception.

He even found Luna's actions amusing—a classic class struggle, a subject of observation. However, something about the soldier leading the protest felt eerily familiar, resembling Luna.

Perhaps the Federation, or humans in general, were simply alike.

He dismissed the thought, focusing on observing the Federation's social structure and managing the newly implemented incentive program.

The incentive program's announcement caused a stir within the Olive Branch civilization. Countless individuals volunteered for military service; a new fleet would be deployed to the Orion Nebula.

The first fleet was only halfway there, but reports indicated skirmishes with the Filament civilization, both sides probing each other's defenses.

Another Federation fleet, observing this, also attacked the Filament, further reinforcing Chu's belief in the Holy Grail project.

Without the Holy Grail project, the Federation's logical target would have been the Olive Branch. They could have simply waited.

Instead, the Federation had joined the fray, diverting the Filament's attention.

Perhaps the Federation truly intended to destroy the Filament, prioritizing them over the Olive Branch.

Chu, however, found this troubling; it made the Holy Grail Project seem more likely, limiting the Olive Branch's options.

After implementing the incentive program, Chu noticed that the troublesome soldier, along with a small group, had attempted to escape the sector.

Unsurprisingly, they failed.

The soldier vehemently accused Luna and Ayla of collaborating with the Olive Branch, sowing distrust among the troops.

"How interesting!" Chu mused.

"This is far more entertaining than controlling Tilted Station."

Chu was now even more determined to conquer the Federation.

But he failed to notice that Luna was slowly gaining control of the soldiers and officers.

Having risen from the ranks to become a leader, Luna's words carried weight. She was now the most influential figure under Chu's control, with several ship captains secretly supporting her.

This was Luna's intention.

Control, then manipulation, then deception.

Chu, as an individual, was easily deceived—the Olive Branch civilization's fatal flaw.

Luna's first step was to isolate these 7.09 million soldiers, convincing them that only by obeying her could they return to the Federation.

She then created a hierarchy, promoting those who devised escape plans.

Within a decade, Chu noticed that the Federation soldiers' structure mirrored Tilted Station's—a miniature Olive Branch civilization.

Intrigued, he continued his observations, eager to see how it would develop.

But then, this miniature civilization malfunctioned.