True Winner

Chu felt a sense of relief.

Of the escaping Federation forces, 930,000 were killed; the remaining 6.16 million were captured.

He would imprison them, extracting their genetic material to create a miniature Federation within Tilted Station.

Chu abandoned his plan to control the Federation directly, opting instead to create a simulated Federation based on the available data, using it to drive the Olive Branch's development.

This was a slower approach, but it offered greater control.

Three days later, Chu ordered an attack on Tau Ceti, the Federation's capital system.

Not just Tau Ceti; all main sequence stars within Federation territory would be targeted, crippling the Federation.

The shared consciousness awaited this command eagerly.

Preparations took only a month. The gravity weapons, invisible and instantaneous, were deployed. 268 years later, Tilted Station would witness Tau Ceti's destruction.

"It's over."

"Now, only the Filament civilization remains."

Chu shifted his focus to the Filament civilization, a more powerful opponent. He hadn't received any significant updates from that front.

The battlefield was too distant.

Chu's furthest travels had only been a few dozen light-years; he couldn't comprehend the vastness beyond, the Orion Nebula, the largest structure within a thousand light-years. What wonders lay within?

"Perhaps I'll visit someday."

But more advanced technology was required; even the Olive Branch's ships were too slow. They needed to reach 90% the speed of light.

Even then, such a journey would take over a thousand years.

"The universe is so vast."

This was the sentiment of every space-faring civilization.

Even with the ability to destroy stars, even with structures like Tilted Station, they were insignificant, mere specks of dust in the grand scheme of the cosmos.

As Chu pondered this, a message arrived from the Filament civilization, instantly shattering his composure.

"We have defeated the Filament civilization and are returning..."

"Impossible!" Chu shouted.

How much time had passed?

A few millennia. The deployed fleet, while powerful, hadn't even reached its destination. How could they have defeated the Filament?

This was absurd.

"The message originated within the Orion Nebula," the shared consciousness reported.

"A foolish trick. Do they think they can deceive us?"

Chu scoffed.

The shared consciousness, however, reported something else.

"The First Fleet is not at its projected location. Confirmed by multiple sources."

"We've also received their return signal; the Second Fleet has changed course and is also returning."

Chu was incredulous.

"Is there a problem with my timekeeping?"

"What's the current date?"

"187,379 cycles, leader."

A cycle was a unit of time established by the Olive Branch civilization's first great leader, when they were a Type 1.4 civilization—equivalent to 0.72 Earth years. Even Chu didn't know the Olive Branch's true age, likely exceeding 210,000 cycles.

The date was correct. Only 5031 years had passed since the fleet's departure—far less than the 11,400-year journey to Orion.

They were still halfway there, not even reaching the true midpoint.

A victory message now was absurd.

"Am I going insane, or are you malfunctioning?"

Chu demanded an explanation.

But confirmation would take at least a thousand years.

"Damn these distances!"

He felt a growing impatience he hadn't experienced before.

Recent events hadn't gone his way. He wished he had a physical body so he could sleep and forget his troubles.

"Verify this information. I'm going to the core."

...

At Tilted Station's core.

Chu hadn't expected to return so soon.

His last visit had been only a month prior.

"You're awake. Awaiting news of your main's escape, I presume."

Luna was indeed awake, waiting, but Chu's words confirmed her failure.

"If you've discovered it, then the plan likely failed. It was well-designed; you shouldn't have detected it so easily."

The plan had been excellent, utilizing advanced technology.

But Luna had been reckless, confronting him directly. This boldness had aroused Chu's suspicions.

He had mentally simulated Luna's escape plan, concluding it was the only viable approach.

After all, the Federation was weak, and the distance vast.

"We've received a report from the front lines. Our fleet has defeated the Filament civilization in the Orion Nebula," Chu announced.

Luna laughed.

"You're joking. How much time has passed?"

"Your fleet hasn't even seen the Filament's ships, let alone defeated them."

"The Filament civilization is Type 2.2. With the Holy Grail technology, they might even be Type 2.3."

"The difference in power isn't a hundredfold but perhaps fifty? Thirty? Even less."

Chu thought of the Holy Grail Project and fell silent.

Luna waited, then said, "If you're not here to release me, I'll resume my hibernation."

Two minutes later, Chu regained his composure.

"If the Filament civilization possesses some advanced technology, could they retaliate?"

This was his primary concern.

Lower civilizations cannot comprehend the capabilities of higher civilizations, just as Luna couldn't grasp the Olive Branch's gravity weapons. The Olive Branch, in turn, couldn't comprehend even more advanced technologies, like tachyon communication. While they were researching faster-than-light communication, they didn't understand its underlying principles. The shared consciousness was currently focused on deciphering this technology.

The Filament civilization's technology was likely something equally incomprehensible.

Perhaps the victory message was a deception. The Filament might have used this "unknown technology" to destroy the First Fleet, then simulated their return. This returning fleet might be carrying this "unknown technology".

"I don't know," Luna responded.

Chu nodded and left.

If he couldn't figure it out, how could a clone from a Type 2.1 civilization?

This wasn't a matter of strategy but of technology.

Chu felt a growing sense of unease.

Chu visited Luna hoping to glean some information.

He wanted confirmation.

That it was all a fabrication, a carefully orchestrated plan by Luna.

But Luna's words and expression revealed nothing.

Returning to outside, Chu waited for 61 years to verify the information.

The report remained unchanged: victory against the Filament civilization.

The Second Fleet even confirmed the victory. When asked if they weren't surprised by such a swift victory, their response was...

"Swift?"

"The war lasted 31,625 cycles. That's a long time."

31,625 cycles was equivalent to 18,387 years.

Chu consulted the shared consciousness and 10,000 Federation beings within Tilted Station. Their response: 5093 years.

A significant discrepancy.

This was bizarre.

But he knew it was a lie. The time difference between his message to the Second Fleet and their response was only 61 years.

The Second Fleet, at the time of their first transmission, had been traveling for 400 years. Therefore, they were 362 years into their voyage when they received the First Fleet's message and then relayed it. They were 37.5 light-years from Tilted Station at that point. The total time elapsed: approximately 400 years.

When they received the message, the Second Fleet had already traveled 37.5 years—3.875 light-years—reducing the distance to Tilted Station to 33.6 light-years. They then transmitted a confirmation message, which, considering the communication delay, took approximately 61 years for a round trip.

Their timeline was consistent, meaning the discrepancy had to originate from elsewhere.

The only way to find out was to wait for the Second Fleet's return.

Chu hoped they wouldn't return; he could then dismiss the previous messages as fabrications, similar to past deceptions.

But 293 years later, the Second Fleet returned.

The returning beings immediately connected to the shared consciousness. The first message: "We have returned to Tilted Station after 32,184 cycles."

This was real.

The returning people believed they had traveled for 18,712 years.

The discrepancy between these timelines caused chaos within Tilted Station.

Chu was also confused.

Which timeline was accurate?

"What if both timelines are real?"

"Does this mean the Second Fleet or Tilted Station encountered a time-manipulation weapon?"

Chu examined the Second Fleet's ships and crew, finding evidence that they had indeed aged 18,712 years.

Impossible. They had only traveled 38 light-years.

Had the Filament civilization truly been defeated?

But the data showed the First Fleet's location in the Orion Nebula.

Chu was utterly bewildered.

Then, the shared consciousness detected something even more alarming.

The First Fleet was returning at the speed of light. They were exceeding the speed of light. According to calculations, the observed light speed was an artifact of their observational method. The actual speed might have been 2.2 times the speed of light, given overlapping data points.

Simultaneously, they detected the First Fleet in two locations.

"If they were traveling at that speed, we wouldn't see anything; the universe would be broken."

Chu meticulously examined the videos and images; they were undeniably real.

"That can't be our fleet."

He reached a conclusion.

"If the Filament possesses time-manipulation technology, then the First Fleet is destroyed."

"And the First Fleet might be carrying such a weapon."

The shared consciousness deliberated and concluded, "Impossible, leader."

Chu knew this was improbable.

"But what other explanations are there?"

The shared consciousness offered a solution.

"Perhaps we should wait for the First Fleet's return," the shared consciousness suggested.

Chu was furious.

"Return?"

"By then, we might face an unknown weapon, and Tilted Station could be destroyed."

But the shared consciousness insisted that this was the only way to obtain confirmation.

After a month of deliberation, Chu made his decision.

"They will not return!"

"Intercept and destroy them."

"Should we target the First Fleet or Tilted Station? We must choose."

The shared consciousness was willing to gamble, but Chu, as the leader, was not.

"We need confirmation," the shared consciousness proposed.

"No. We will use the gravity weapon to destroy the First Fleet. You are wrong. I am exercising my authority."

The shared consciousness agreed, targeting the First Fleet with the gravity weapon. Based on current projections, the impact should be detected in 382 years.

But the expected images never arrived.

The message arrived 214 years later.

Seeing the destroyed First Fleet, Chu struggled to maintain his composure; his gaseous form dispersed over 100 meters.

He had been deceived.

The First Fleet was still en route to the Filament civilization, located in a star system 596 light-years from Tilted Station.

And yet, the gravity weapon had seemingly destroyed the First Fleet.

He couldn't understand how the Filament civilization had manipulated both the Second Fleet and Tilted Station, causing him to make such disastrous decisions.

What weapon was this?

But he had no time to consider this; the shared consciousness was furious.

Since gaining power centuries ago, Chu had made mistake after mistake, this one being particularly egregious.

"Leader, Tilted Station needs change, but you have failed to demonstrate any success. You have failed repeatedly."

"We have concluded that you are no longer fit to lead."

"..."

"Leader. No, former leader."

"We, the shared consciousness, comprising 8 quadrillion beings, have voted to remove you from your position."

Chu's authority derived from the shared consciousness; his role was to manage it. Rejection by the shared consciousness rendered him powerless.

Gas Glory allowed for a collective emotional experience; complete rejection by the shared consciousness was therefore virtually impossible. Even if a consensus were reached, individuals, like the Changelings, would still object.

It was like a motion requiring 100% approval—impossible to achieve.

Yet, Chu had achieved this.

"No, I am the leader. You have no right to do this. This is a violation of Gas Glory," Chu protested.

The shared consciousness replied, "We have not violated Gas Glory."

"Someone will replace you."

"We have suitable candidates."

"You are no longer needed, failure."

"You are unfit for the shared consciousness; your flawed thinking will corrupt it. Go to the prison, the gravity prison you created. Reflect; perhaps, in tens of thousands of years, you will see the error of your ways."

Once stripped of power, Chu offered no resistance.

He was taken to the core.

But this time, differently.

Luna, still awake, addressed Chu. "I'm hungry, Chu. If you don't feed me, I'll likely die within a few centuries."

Chu remained silent. Then, Luna saw Chu being taken away.

"..."

"..."

After a period of silence, Luna spoke. "Your appearance is quite unusual. I didn't even realize you were being taken away."

After all, they were merely wisps of smoke.

"..."

"Ha ha, isn't that funny?"

"We're both adrift in the cosmos. Why the formality?"

"You don't understand. Meeting is a form of fate, regardless of prior acquaintance. Let's get acquainted."

As Luna spoke, Chu finally responded.

"I hadn't realized you were so talkative."

Luna chuckled. "I've been cooped up for too long. It's nice to finally talk to someone."

"Continuing this conversation will deplete your energy; you'll die within years, not centuries," Chu responded.

This didn't deter Luna.

"How long do you think Tilted Station will function without you?" Luna asked seriously.

Imprisoned separately, unable to observe each other, Chu asked, "What do you mean?"

"The shared consciousness will choose a new leader; Tilted Station will continue to function."

Luna spoke gravely. "Is that truly the case?"

"A leader, once separated from the shared consciousness, lacks independent thought; the shared consciousness still dictates their actions."

"This will last for decades, during which Tilted Station will be most vulnerable."

Chu was startled.

"You..."

Before he could finish, a sound echoed—footsteps. Luna approached his cell.

Luna looked up at him.

"So you're also pinned to the floor. Uncomfortable, isn't it?"

"Oh well, you lack sensation."

"You're probably wondering how I escaped."

"You already know the answer."

Chu was intelligent, but his intelligence was limited within Tilted Station. Luna was similar; as a human, she couldn't manage the Federation; only Ayla could.

Though both were mechanical, Chu and the shared consciousness retained some biological aspects. This preserved their identity but prevented them from reaching true enlightenment.

If Luna ever reached her physical limits, she might use the Olive Branch's technology; it was more aligned with biological life than the Federation's mind uploading.

Chu quickly realized that his earlier assumptions about Luna's escape were incorrect.

To confirm Luna's identity, Chu had engaged in a final conversation with that Luna, during which that Luna had mentioned "past experiences."

Cloning memories was incredibly difficult; therefore, Chu had believed the clone was the real Luna. But now, he realized that the clone's mention of "past experiences" might have been a deliberate attempt at deception.

"The plan was infiltration, not rescue."

"Those microscopic devices were smaller than Tilted Station's components, allowing them to reach this chamber."

These devices generated anti-gravity fields, allowing Luna to escape.

"Aren't you worried I'm deceiving you?"

"Aren't I still the leader?" Chu asked.

Luna shook her head. "Your performance lacks conviction. Besides, as you said, without escaping, I'd only survive a few years."

"They wouldn't feed me. And I doubt you'd care if I died, so I had to escape."

"But I'm not leaving yet. I'm waiting."

Luna was waiting for Ayla.

The nanobots within her body weren't just for anti-gravity; they could also control minds.

Centuries earlier, the 6.16 million captured beings had been mentally controlled, transmitting false information to the Olive Branch observers. These nanobots were too small to be easily detected unless their brains were dissected.

"I thought I had won, but I was wrong. I fell into your trap."

"You orchestrated this to make me make mistakes. And once I made them, Tilted Station would change."

Change creates opportunity.

Chu was despondent.

He had been cautious, yet he had still failed.

He was, indeed, a failure.

But...

"Luna, you might conquer Tilted Station, but don't forget, we are a civilization, not a station."

"We control a vast territory, with dozens of stations like Tilted Station, and a central hub. Our first great leader granted us immortality."

"You should understand what that means, Luna."

Chu's words jolted Luna. She had assumed Tilted Station was the entirety of the Olive Branch civilization. This was naive.

How could a Type 2.4 civilization be so easily contained?

How could a single leader control an entire civilization?

The Olive Branch had been effectively immortal for millennia; both the first and second great leaders were still alive.

They were the true rulers.

Luna noticed a discrepancy in Chu's statement.

"If the Olive Branch civilization is as you say, possessing multiple stations and leaders, why did you decide to attack the Filament civilization within a year?"

This had been one of Luna's reasons for believing Tilted Station represented the entire Olive Branch civilization.

Chu responded, "The Federation's structure is indeed unusual."

"The Olive Branch lacks a traditional hierarchy; each station is independent."

"Leaders are appointed, but they don't fully control the civilization. They are more akin to priests or prophets, possessing authority but not absolute power."

Luna realized that, according to Gas Glory's principles, the Olive Branch lacked a hierarchy; therefore, the shared consciousness was the true governing force, the leader merely an administrator.

Thus, Tilted Station's attack on the Filament didn't require a leader's approval; the shared consciousness made the decision.

Theoretically, the Olive Branch was a complete democracy, unlike Luna's initial assumptions.

"Therefore, the leader's role are crucial; without Chu, Tilted Station would be vulnerable."

"And Ayla could resolve this more quickly," Luna added.

Luna was hungry; she was quite thin, weighing under 80 kilograms. She needed to leave.

The core's gravitational pressure and temperature (tens of thousands of degrees) were too intense for the nanobots to maintain their protective functions for long.

"Very well. I'll be leaving. I wonder if we'll meet again," Luna said.

Chu watched her go. "You won't be returning. They will kill you."

Luna didn't respond, but her voice echoed back.

"I'm not that foolish."

"I'm merely leaving this prison, not Tilted Station itself."

"The temperature here is too high for hibernation. Dehydration will kill me. Hibernation will extend my lifespan."

Luna escaped the prison because she needed a colder environment.

Space was cold enough; she only needed to travel 20,000 kilometers from the prison. Tilted Station's internal structure made movement easier.

"..."

Chu remained silent, realizing the folly of worrying about such an intelligent human committing suicide.

Perhaps he should have killed Luna earlier!

...

The shared consciousness quickly selected a new leader, who made several crucial decisions within a day.

1. Continue the attack on the Filament and Federation civilizations, using gravity weapons, but prioritizing the closer Federation.

2. Implement comprehensive defenses, preventing a repeat of the Filament's earlier surprise attack, which resulted in trillions casualties.

3. Launch a full-scale assault on the Federation, aiming for complete annihilation within 5000 years.

4. Return decision-making power to the shared consciousness, upholding Gas Glory.

5. Continue the assimilation of Federation members, accelerating the Olive Branch's technological development, but downgrading this to a secondary priority, focusing on scientific research.

Numerous other decrees were also issued.

The shared consciousness still largely supported Chu's plan; despite his many failings, his strategy was sound.

Tilted Station, over the millennia, had begun to change.

But this change wasn't organic; it was forced.

For millennia, Luna and Chu had been working to change Tilted Station, from without and within. Chu aimed to liberate the Olive Branch from Gas Glory; Luna aimed to destabilize it.

This change disrupted the shared consciousness's previously unified mindset, with the Changelings driving the demand for change.

Tilted Station was now unstable.

It had shifted from stability to chaos.

...

A massive warship (50,000 meters long) was hidden behind a star, 5 light-years from Tilted Station.

Ayla stood on the bridge.

"All systems ready. Initiating the plan."

She transmitted a message via the tachyon communicator.

The message stated: "Luna, we are under attack. You must act from within to defeat the Olive Branch and buy us time."

Then, she manipulated the Federation members within Tilted Station, ensuring their cooperation with the shared consciousness.

Ayla's actions were entirely above board.

As the Olive Branch transferred technology to these assimilated beings, Ayla used her processing power to improve upon this technology.

The Federation's behavior within Tilted Station was impeccable.

This surprised the shared consciousness, which began observing the Federation's social structures, seeking advantages. Their observations revealed only positive aspects.

"Such a flawless social structure would account for the Federation's rapid growth," they noted.

The shared consciousness began researching, discovering that this social structure was remarkably efficient and stable, requiring only entertainment to maintain control.

Tilted Station began replicating this structure.

This was highly effective at suppressing internal conflict within the shared consciousness.

"This social structure doesn't conflict with the shared consciousness."

"The Galactic Federation, being a collective of civilizations, possesses remarkable adaptability."

"Perfect. Too perfect."

Due to the growing desire for change within the shared consciousness, this social structure spread rapidly across Tilted Station.

But it wasn't perfect.

Chu would have recognized the flaw immediately; it was too flawless, too artificial. How could every individual be so content?

But Tilted Station was now governed by the shared consciousness.

The shared consciousness's weakness was its tendency to rationalize errors, making Ayla's perfect simulation even more convincing.

While undergoing these changes, the Olive Branch civilization didn't neglect the Federation. They had deciphered the tachyon communication technology.

The Federation had been attacked, far more quickly than the Olive Branch had anticipated.

Over the next decade, Tilted Station launched thirteen gravity attacks, consuming roughly 20% of its energy reserves. They believed the Federation was on the verge of collapse.

"Without Chu, we've progressed far more efficiently."

"He was a failure."

The next four decades were remarkably productive; the new social model spread throughout Tilted Station.

As the new social structure spread, subtle problems began to emerge.

These problems stemmed from—class divisions.

Ayla's design for the Federation was a true meritocracy; 6 million beings were controlled by a single AI, negating the potential for conflict over resource allocation.

The Olive Branch's shared consciousness, however, was different; each being possessed individual emotions and desires. They were both part of the collective and distinct individuals.

They had a sense of self, reacting to perceived inequalities. The shared consciousness didn't understand this; they assumed that conflict would never arise. It was like two brothers living together, sharing the same thoughts, never considering using violence against each other.

Expansion had initially masked these underlying tensions. Expansion offered limitless opportunities, mitigating conflict.

But once this model spread throughout Tilted Station, and expansion ceased, the focus shifted to maintenance—and maintenance breeds conflict.

In the 42nd year, class conflict erupted.

The Olive Branch beings realized that some individuals enjoyed greater benefits and demanded a redistribution of resources.

But those who benefited refused to relinquish these advantages, having already enjoyed their privileges for four decades.

The shared consciousness fractured.

Seventy-seven years later, the shared consciousness split into two—one composed of the upper class, the other of the lower class.

The conflict escalated sharply.

Meanwhile, in the Federation zone, Ayla's meticulously designed system remained stable, highlighting the absurdity of the Olive Branch's situation.

Internal conflict within Tilted Station couldn't escalate significantly without external influence.

Ayla, observing Luna's actions over the millennia, hadn't intervened within the Federation.

Plans couldn't keep pace with events.

Tachyon communication became essential, with repeated contacts to confirm progress and coordinate actions.

Ayla, having realized Luna's compromised situation and the increasing conflict, potentially leading to Luna's death, devised a rescue plan.

But Luna didn't want to leave Tilted Station; that would mean failure.

Luna devised a plan—a high-risk strategy. While imprisoned, her life would be controlled by Chu, who, if benevolent, would ensure her survival.

The escape plan involved convincing Chu that the captured individual was a clone—a safeguard that still depended on Chu's temperament.

Luna's plan included a simulated space strategy—not a rescue plan but a defensive, deceptive maneuver.

Although they hadn't initially known the Olive Branch's intentions, the Federation had prepared for potential attacks, deploying countless simulated celestial bodies along the Silk Road and between Tilted Station and the Orion Nebula.

This simulated region of space, 30 light-years from Tilted Station, was designed to be undetectable, reinforcing the credibility of the Holy Grail Project and triggering the destruction of the First Fleet.

The key was manipulating the Second Fleet's perception of time. The accelerated decay of their ships' metallic components was artificial. This was achieved by destabilizing some atoms within the metal, inducing decay.

Manipulating time was even simpler; the simulated space mimicked stellar changes, creating the illusion of accelerated time passage. This, combined with other simulations, enhanced the deception.

The Olive Branch, being a machine civilization, was particularly susceptible to such manipulation, especially given their shared consciousness.

Machines perceive time through data, not physical sensations.

Ayla used the simulated space to create a perfect simulation of a region of real space.

As long as the simulated universe was realistic enough, the Olive Branch beings would continually self-correct, rationalizing their experiences and believing the simulated time had actually passed.

The manipulation of metallic decay further reinforced this illusion; it was as if their bodies were aging.

This was akin to humans experiencing physical aging, while the surrounding environment and the cosmos itself changed. Who could doubt it?

This was, however, a simplification.

The project was incredibly complex and energy-intensive.

Ayla, collaborating with numerous Federation scientists, had worked on the Simulated Universe since 9132 A.D. It took over 4000 years to complete. The simulated space was then deployed along the Second Fleet's trajectory, three millennia before launch.

By 18,762 A.D., less than 200 years before the fleet's departure (precisely 185 years), everything was in place. Any mistakes would be catastrophic.

Fate favored the Federation, favored Luna.

Everything unfolded as planned; Luna had successfully influenced Chu's judgment, determining the outcome.

The second simulated region, deployed along the Silk Road, was designed to mislead the Olive Branch's sensors—a simpler deception.

Slight light deflection was sufficient to cause their weapons to miss.

This simulated space was the first layer of defense, while the second was related to the tachyon transmissions.

Simulating the destruction of the Federation's main stars.

This simulation was the core of Luna's plan.

...

On the bridge.

Ayla's expression was impassive as she monitored the incoming data.

"All fleet units are ready."

"The enemy fleet is within 1000 AU."

"They haven't detected the simulated space and are approaching at 30,719 km/s."

She couldn't directly command the battle; it was 17 light-years away, and tachyon communication was too energy-intensive.

Since Luna's departure millennia ago, Ayla had been working to improve tachyon communication; they'd reduced energy consumption by a third, but this technology was still too advanced for widespread use.

Ayla had diverted a significant portion of the Federation's resources to warship construction.

Besides the 60 fleets deployed against the Filament, they had another 173 fleets.

This had depleted the Federation's resources; they hadn't made any significant technological advancements in millennia, even regressing somewhat. The cost of maintaining this fleet was immense.

Their time had finally arrived.

This was a battle between 165 Federation fleets and 140 Olive Branch warships.

The Federation deployed 221,100 ships—an overwhelming force against the 140 Olive Branch warships—in a carefully planned ambush. Ayla's simulations predicted a 72.54% chance of victory, but even victory would be costly.

Twenty-eight years later.

Ayla received the final report.

Federation losses: 197,230 ships and 1.115 billion casualties.

Olive Branch losses: 127 ships; casualties unknown.

The Olive Branch retreated; the Federation had won a decisive victory. A Type 2.1 civilization had defeated 140 warships from one of the Olive Branch's 50-plus stations—a remarkable feat.

But this victory was built upon the collapse of Tilted Station.