Chapter 217: Forward Bastion! Lunar Base! Sudden Upheaval!
Chapter 217: Forward Bastion! Lunar Base! Sudden Upheaval!
Ten months later.
"Ms. Gillian Jordan, are you ready now? We worked really hard to secure today's exclusive interview—don't mess this up again!"
Cameraman Mike couldn't help but urge the woman hurriedly applying her makeup and fixing her appearance.
"Alright, alright! Stop rushing me! I care way more about this interview than you do!"
As N54 News' top anchor, Gillian Jordan had gone through considerable effort to secure this exclusive coverage. She'd worked every angle, pulling strings across various departments.
Fortunately, her hard work paid off. She landed the exclusive rights to cover Earth-003's Edge of Tomorrow lunar base, freeing her from competing with that meddlesome Stanley for interview spots.
Well… that's also because Stanley was currently busy with his exclusive segment on the "Ringworld" megastructure and had no time to worry about this side of things.
It couldn't be helped. After all, Stanley worked for the state-funded Universal Daily. They had privileges a small, privately-run outlet like theirs could only dream of.
Still, this gave Gillian a golden opportunity to hit the trending topics list.
Accompanying her today as a special guest was none other than Mr. William Cage—a native Earthling from Earth-003.
Soon, under Mike's direction and with the camera rolling, Gillian stepped into her professional mode. Wearing a warm smile, she addressed the audience:
"Hello, viewers! I'm your longtime friend, Gillian Jordan. Welcome to this edition of N54 News."
"Today, we'll be touring the newly completed Lunar Base 031, built by Megacorp, with the guidance of Mr. William Cage, Deputy Director of the Recruitment Division under the Market Expansion Department."
"And here's an exciting bonus—we've also secured permission to tour one of the RCS-class armored cruisers!"
"Up next, we'll be boarding the transport shuttle to the moon, where we'll get a close look at this massive structure, now fully operational and in active use."
---
The so-called lunar base was a megaproject launched alongside the space elevator initiative. However, due to its massive scope, it only recently reached initial completion.
Using launch sites all over Earth-003, Megacorp had sent cargo pods containing construction materials, life support supplies, and essential equipment into orbit nearly 40,000 kilometers above the surface.
Upon arrival, these pods were autonomously operated by AI, docking with the station to provide resources for personnel onboard.
Meanwhile, the lunar base itself maintained geostationary synchronization with Earth's rotation above the region of Innerova.
All steps and related projects were made publicly available on Megacorp's official site, allowing people from every parallel Earth to follow along.
The RCS-class armored cruisers operated continuously as supply transports, shuttling between production facilities and the lunar base.
Each trip from a cruiser carried the equivalent of dozens of rocket launches, and with Night Department's AI robots involved in the construction, the building speed of both the space elevator and the lunar base had skyrocketed.
As a result, this enormous colony hub—capable of supporting a million people's daily lives and work—was officially completed last month.
Of course, this was only the initial phase. With future expansion plans underway, the lunar base would only continue to grow.
Eventually, accommodating tens of millions would be no issue at all.
Unlike the severely damaged Earths in spectre and Pacific Rim, Edge of Tomorrow's Earth still had its full human population—an impressive 7 billion strong.
With such manpower available, Li Ang 's plans for colonial expansion could progress far more rapidly.
To the people of Edge of Tomorrow's Earth, this massive lunar base symbolized the beginning of humanity's journey toward the stars.
From a distance, its immense half-dome structure was a sight to behold—Earth-003's single largest manmade creation.
Bar none.
Although Megacorp officially claimed this lunar base was just a forward colony outpost—a first step into space—the reality was more strategic.
Li Ang had already installed production lines for engineering ships, transport vessels, RCS-class cruisers, and Stormhawk gunboats within the base.
It was, in fact, being developed into the first line of military defense against the looming threat of the Reaper civilization.
Following Li Ang 's directives, various Megacorp departments had also equipped the base with embedded CIWS turrets, plasma cannon arrays, and vertical missile silos.
Calling it a colony base was an understatement—it was a colossal military fortress.
Thus, this lunar base functioned as a multi-purpose megacity, far more than a site for production or sightseeing.
At this moment, the N54 field crew and guest William Cage stood before the observation windows of the space elevator, gazing into the boundless expanse of the universe.
Looking at the gleaming, scattered megastructures constructed by humanity across space, Cage—a native of Earth-003—couldn't help but exclaim:
"Friends, honestly… staring at Earth beneath our feet and the glittering sea of stars beyond, I feel just how small we truly are."
"But when we come together and build a civilization of our own… maybe one day, the whole universe could become our home."
As William Cage trembled slightly with emotion, Gillian remained composed.
After all, she had seen structures far grander than this lunar base.
There was Ideal City—the megalopolis carved from mountains and filled with oceans.
The Science Nexus—a mega-lab embodying the pinnacle of human intellect.
The Matter Compressor—a defiance of the natural order, siphoning matter from black holes.
And let's not forget the soon-to-be-completed Ringworld—a structure so vast it defied imagination, yet Megacorp had pulled it off.
In comparison, a little lunar base didn't even register.
Still, Gillian didn't dampen Cage's enthusiasm. As she smoothly picked up his cue for her broadcast, she and Mike headed toward the nearby orbital tram station.
Meanwhile, the AI-generated holographic interface within her camera began projecting live viewer comments and messages from across the multiverse.
This allowed Gillian to stay updated in real time.
The live chat quickly revealed a split: some viewers echoed Cage's awe, while others seemed unimpressed.
> "My god! This has to be the greatest human colony base in history—I hope one day our footprints reach even farther into the stars!"
—Corporate grunt, Earth-003 (Edge of Tomorrow)
> "Buddy, you really need to check out Ideal City and the Matter Compressor. Now those are peak human engineering."
—Mercenary from the Main Universe's Military Tech Department
> "Damn! If I'd known earlier, I would've joined Engineering, slinging cement for mad cash. Now I'm stuck patrolling on Earth-001, bored out of my mind!"
—Patrol officer, Earth-001 (spectre)
Most comments made it clear: aside from the natives of Earth-003, the majority of viewers weren't particularly impressed by the lunar base.
Their attention remained fixed on Universal Daily's livestream of the Ringworld's construction.
With each Megacorp megastructure outdoing the last in scale and impact, most Main Universe citizens were focused on the latest, most mind-blowing engineering feats—
Or the "Civilization Fishing Program" being carried out on Pandora.
As for the Earth rebuilds in other parallel worlds? Let them build however they want. Visually, nothing compared to a true megastructure.
Still, this didn't dampen the enthusiasm of Earth-003's people. Their support for Megacorp remained high, and they eagerly looked forward to future colony developments.
If they could build a massive moon base this year, who's to say they wouldn't send out expedition fleets next year and claim alien territory?
Earth-001 (spectre) and Earth-002 (Pacific Rim) didn't get that kind of privilege.
Plus, Megacorp CEO Li Ang spent most of his time here—a clear sign this was their next priority zone.
Back on-site, the N54 team and guest finally arrived at their destination. They boarded a maglev train inside the lunar base and toured the sunlit agricultural zones, the employee offices, recreation centers, and even observed part of the scientific research wing up close.
By early evening, the trio met with a Megacorp engineer from the R&D division.
A man in full Megacorp uniform approached Gillian, offered a handshake, and smiled warmly.
"You must be the N54 host and guest. Pleased to meet you. I'm Chisaji Fox, senior engineer from Megacorp's R&D department."
Chisaji Fox—once a cybernetic mechanic peddling used implants in Dogtown—had managed through his own grit and talent to join Megacorp's elite engineers.
His technical prowess earned him a generous salary, and his family now enjoyed excellent living conditions as well.
"Hello, hello!"
---
Seeing this, Gillian and William Cage enthusiastically shook hands with the man before them, then smiled and said:
"It's an honor to have Mr. Chisaji Fox lead us on this tour of the lunar base. Up next, we'll be taking one of the Corporation's warships on a full orbit around the Moon."
"Get a firsthand experience of the Corporation's warships!"
The warship Gillian referred to was the RCS-class armored cruiser—currently the only mass-produced, self-developed large warship owned by the LA Megacorp.
Ever since the Corporation advanced its condensed-state technology and developed the antimatter engine, the RCS-class cruiser, which also runs on antimatter, had finally reached a stage where it could be produced autonomously.
As for the much larger, faster-than-light "Infinity-class" dreadnoughts, mass production could only begin once the hyperspace engine technology matured.
After all, when it comes to military vessels like these, the most critical component is the engine system. Weaponry, by comparison, is secondary.
That's why the Corporation only has 200 Infinity-class dreadnoughts to this day—and no one knows where the shipyards that build them are located.
"This isn't some insanely powerful ship. It's just a regular cruiser," Chisaji Fox said modestly, then led Gillian, Cage, and the others toward the docking port.
Meanwhile, Gillian continued to explain for the benefit of the livestream audience:
"The ship we're about to board is the Corporation's most commonly used model—the RCS-class armored cruiser. The only shipyard that produces these is located in Ideal City."
"It's said that the shipyard for the mighty Infinity-class dreadnoughts is also somewhere in Ideal City, but we've never seen it for ourselves."
"The good news is that there are rumors we'll soon get to witness the manufacturing process of the Infinity class dreadnoughts. For more details, check the Universal Corporation's official website!"
As her voice faded, Gillian and the group arrived at the check-in counter to begin the boarding procedures.
The area was filled with security personnel clad in exoskeletal powered armor and carrying Kantaos smart submachine guns.
Their main duties were to verify transit clearances and ensure the port's safety.
Since the Corporation had built massive structures and installations across the Earths of various multiverses, it required a large, long-term security presence.
Most of the lunar base's security staff were from the AST Powered Armor Division under the Corporation's Market Expansion Department, or retired veterans from Arasaka and the Military Technology Division.
Having missed the optimal age for Astartes organ augmentation, these veterans now served to protect the Corporation's critical assets, continuing to contribute despite no longer being fit for frontline modification.
Of course, it wasn't just aging veterans stationed here for show.
Aside from the public-facing security teams, the Corporation's Expansion Department had also deployed a thousand formal Astartes warriors to the lunar base, along with ten thousand clone soldiers operated via polymer control units—not to mention a stockpile of bioweapons like the Tyrants.
In case of emergency, this force could handle most ordinary threats.
If not, they could immediately request reinforcements from headquarters via faster-than-light communications.
What's more, Li Ang had been steadily dispatching additional troops to bolster the base's garrison—its defenses were only getting stronger.
At that moment, having cleared the security checkpoint, Gillian and her companions made their way toward the boarding bridge leading to the warship.
Through the panoramic observation windows on the bridge, they could see the neatly arranged docking bays, and countless warships locked into place by enormous mechanical arms.
The armored cruiser they were boarding was docked at the far end of the bridge.
Although not as colossal as the Infinity-class, the RCS-class armored cruiser still boasted an imposing length of 2,000 meters.
Compared to the smaller warships surrounding it, this cruiser was undeniably a behemoth.
It was Cage's first time seeing such a massive vessel up close, and he couldn't help but gasp in awe.
He was no stranger to military hardware—he had even visited Ford-class aircraft carriers back on Earth-003.
But compared to this giant, even a Ford-class carrier paled in comparison. It didn't even match up to the Corporation's Arasaka-built "White Whale-class" carrier!
Curiosity sparked by the sight, Cage turned to Chisaji Fox and asked:
"Mr. Chisaji Fox, to my knowledge, the Corporation's largest warship is the Infinity-class, but I've never heard of any shipyard that builds them."
"Do you know which department of the Corporation is responsible for manufacturing Infinity-class dreadnoughts?"
Hearing this, Chisaji Fox could only smile wryly and shake his head. A secret of that level wouldn't be known to a low-ranking engineer like him.
In fact, ever since the Infinity-class dreadnoughts debuted more than twenty years ago, no one had ever discovered where their shipyards were.
Some even speculated that there was no such thing as an Infinity-class shipyard at all—that the 200 existing ships were relics left behind by an alien civilization.
The Corporation had never officially addressed these rumors, which only fueled further speculation.
More and more people began to question whether Infinity-class dreadnoughts could actually still be manufactured.
Or perhaps… whether such massive faster-than-light warships could ever be replicated with new models.
"Mr. Cage, you work for the Expansion Department, and I'm an engineer with the Research Division. Neither of our roles includes shipbuilding."
"Today's tour of the cruiser? I'm just following orders."
"So even if you ask me, I'm afraid I can't help you there."
After shielding himself with a polite "disclaimer," Chisaji Fox then smiled and added:
"But I can tell you this—there's been major progress on the new FTL engine being developed at the Science Nexus."
"Soon, new models of warships equipped with faster-than-light capabilities—just like the Infinity class—will be ready for launch!"
Cage froze for a moment at the revelation, but as a seasoned military man, he immediately caught the subtext.
The question of where the Infinity-class shipyard was—or whether it even existed—no longer mattered. In fact…
Even if the rumors were true, it wouldn't change the fact that the Corporation was on the verge of launching a new generation of FTL warships!
Once that happened, all doubts would be silenced by the unveiling of the Corporation's cutting-edge technology.
Most likely, the shipyards for the Infinity-class would only be revealed once the new FTL tech was fully mature and in use.
"So that's how it is!"
Cage's expression lit up with a knowing smile as he nodded at Chisaji Fox, who returned it with a mysterious grin of his own.
He had answered the question without breaching any confidentiality agreements.
Their subtle exchange left Gillian momentarily stunned, as she tried to catch up to their cryptic back-and-forth.
Still, regardless of the mystery, she had a livestream interview to finish.
Soon enough, the interrupted broadcast resumed. With Chisaji Fox guiding them, the interview was limited to the cruiser's public areas—no footage of classified systems or core zones.
As the group continued walking toward the cruiser in high spirits, the bright lights of the port suddenly switched to flashing red—signaling an alert state!
At the same time, alarms rang out throughout the lunar base:
[Attention all personnel: This is Lunar Base 031. All visitors, please proceed to the nearest safety shelter under staff guidance.]
[Employees currently operating machinery: cease operations in an orderly fashion and remain at your stations for further instructions.]
[All external routes from the lunar base will be sealed. The space elevator is no longer operational.]
[Repeating once more—All personnel…]
In an instant, with the alarms blaring and red warning lights flashing around the port, Gillian, Cage, and the others were visibly stricken with fear.
Just from the broadcast messages, their minds began racing through the possibilities of what kind of disaster had just occurred.
Maybe a massive explosion in one of the base's industrial sectors had triggered a chain reaction of system failures.
It wouldn't be long before the port itself was affected.
Or perhaps there had been a severe toxic leak—a full-blown environmental hazard.
Why else would the base be under complete lockdown, and normal operations suspended?
"Could it be the Sky Dome's been damaged? How come we haven't received any emergency alerts until now?" Cage exclaimed in panic.
As a member of the LA Megacorp, the fact that he hadn't been notified of a crisis beforehand meant the situation was undoubtedly urgent and out of control.
"No, that's unlikely. The Sky Dome has dual-layer protection. Even missiles would need to bombard it for a while before breaking through—it wouldn't just fail without warning," Chisaji Fox replied, shaking his head.
Of course, he couldn't rule it out entirely.
If the Sky Dome had been breached, everyone inside the base would be exposed to the vacuum of space.
In such a case, they'd suffer suffocation, rapid dehydration due to low pressure, and extreme temperature fluctuations.
Simply put—if the Sky Dome was truly compromised, no one in the base would survive.
Only those lucky enough to make it aboard a warship in time—protected by its self-contained life-support systems, controlled temperature, and pressure—would have a chance of surviving.
At that moment, faced with the sudden emergency, even the normally composed Chisaji Fox was starting to feel nervous.
No one wants catastrophe to strike without warning—least of all a family man like him.
Until the truth came to light, everyone on base could only hope and pray… that the situation wasn't as dire as it seemed.
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