Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: The Plant Fleet's Intrusion
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What was there to do? What could I even do?
I knew nothing about the enemy, and with our surface-level military strength so obviously outmatched, forcing the issue wasn't an option. The border we shared was just one tiny star system—a mere sliver, like Vladivostok for Russia—potentially backed by a vast empire stretching out behind it.
For now, time to pull back.
"My apologies. I attempted to claim it since no signs of ownership were visible, but it seems there were prior occupants."
"A monster... sending telepathic waves...?"
Hey now, monster?
Pretending not to hear, I kept broadcasting telepathic waves toward the plant fleet. Either way, I had to leave room for diplomacy. We were neighbors, after all—we'd be seeing a lot of each other's faces. Let's keep things friendly.
"We are the reconnaissance fleet of the Lushaka Kingdom, and I am the fleet commander, Hi...rarak. Might you share your affiliation?"
"Monsters like you have no name worth giving. Get your starship out of here right now! Refuse, and I'll turn you into lost wanderers adrift in space! All units, prepare to fire!"
As if to demonstrate their resolve, the plant fleet's cannons lit up in unison, charging with energy.
...
Ah, this is why xenos are the worst.
Whoops.
That's not the right attitude.
Smile. The one who smiles comes out on top. I'm a pacifist who yearns for galactic peace, after all.
A plant species? They must produce food like nobody's business. As a bio-species that devours massive quantities of it, they're the perfect partners. Diplomacy always starts with a little pushback. Relationships form out of necessity and turn friendly from there.
"We will dispatch an official delegation later. I apologize for breaching your borders."
"Begone, you repulsive monster!"
.
Whether our future with these plants ends in friendship or enmity, this rudeness will be etched in memory and repaid in kind.
With that, I turned the reconnaissance fleet around and began withdrawing from the hidden star system.
The plant fleet's cannons were still gleaming brightly, but surely they wouldn't laser us in the back while we retreated peacefully.
If they actually fired, though? Peace be damned. I'd grind my teeth, charge straight to their home system, and mulch every last leaf to feed the warhounds.
Ah, how cultured humans truly are.
My first encounter with Admiral Nikolai had been so gentlemanly.
Or not? Thinking back, if we'd invaded Deneb Federation space before their warning arrived, they probably would've blasted us first.
I'm the only true pacifist in this galaxy. The path to galactic peace is long and arduous.
Abandoning the hidden star system and heading home marked the end of expansion into every star system the legion could claim.
We were now surrounded: the galactic core bulge to the east, the Deneb Federation to the north, and unidentified plant species to the west. The south had unclaimed systems, but without hyperlanes connecting them, our current tech limited us to observation.
In the end, our territory had ballooned, but we'd gained no habitable planets—only minerals from asteroid fields as profit.
No major gains was disappointing, but there was work to do.
Prepare a delegation for the plants, and gear up to receive the incoming one from the Deneb Federation.
After that, use the surplus organics to build Einsteinavis No. 2? Issues like habitable planet shortages or unreachable exploration spots stemmed from tech deficiencies.
This wasn't some medieval fantasy—it was sci-fi. Tech advancements unlocked exponentially more possibilities, truly on another level.
Look at the systems we'd claimed: plenty of planets, just no Earth-likes. Gas giants, airless rocks. With advanced terraforming, we could transform promising ones into habitables.
No hyperlanes? Warp drives fix that.
Food shortages? Engineer more efficient crops.
Plus, expansion failed to uncover life bigger than space whales, so we'd engineer it ourselves. Fleets couldn't stay small-ship sized forever.
The hive mind's greatest strength: once the nation's direction was set, execution was instantaneous, without a second's delay.
I spawned more researcher units and shipped them to Ferma Planet. Wouldn't Einsteinavis be thrilled with colleagues? Misery loves company, after all.
Watching Einsteinavis chat with his new comrades brought a warm glow when Jarvis signaled.
"Your Majesty. The plant species is leading a fleet across the border."
"What?"
Jarvis activated the consciousness of a rare whale observing the fleet.
Through the whale's eyes: medium cruisers escorting small ships, slicing through hyperspace from the hidden system. And at the rear, one massive medium cruiser-class vessel. A tech gap this wide already?
The plant fleet advanced to near the rare whale, then halted in orbit. Soon, telepathic waves emanated.
"Representative of the Lushaka Kingdom, come forth and hear the Proxy's voice."
The waves repeated periodically, as if worried we might miss them. Not here for war, then—probably just demanding talks.
Border invasions like this questionable in spacefaring norms, but as cultured pacifists yearning for galactic peace, refusing a dialogue request first would be rude.
Still, the plants' moves were unnerving. Bringing a cruiser to a diplomatic envoy? It didn't add up. I messaged the Deneb Federation to delay their delegation and redeployed the entire legion to the system adjacent to where the plants had anchored.
No. Instinct kicked in—the gut from processing countless xenos over years.
Experience from countless backstabs and rage-quits screamed it.
They're here to fight.
Screw it. Everything with combat capability—sent. Ships they couldn't dent? Crew could slap cheeks—load 'em up, send to the front system.
Overwhelm tech gaps with numbers, right?
If battle erupted, we'd hyperspace in and join instantly.
Halting production was a huge loss, but what if? Better overprepare. False alarm? Even better—no harm done.
Resolved, I moved—and the entire legion froze.
Oh, the worker hauling bio-materials from Deneb. Mu-something, vacationing after scouting the hidden system. Ul-something, digging canals in the Gobi Desert. Hi-something, paperwork for delegations.
All went dormant.
Marionettes with cut strings, converging as one.
Puppet show on hold.
"I am Hihirak, Minister of Foreign Affairs, granted full diplomatic authority by Her Majesty the Queen of the Lushaka Kingdom."
"Hm. I am Nualala, First Vanguard Captain of the great Bahilila Holy Knight Order."
Leading a small fleet into the system, the plants demanded a face-to-face, so we docked at their ship as requested.
Hihirak's body brought only Hunterak and Killerak's.
"We heard your sanctuary guardians spoke rudely to you. We express our deepest regrets."
"No, no. Our scouting party was hasty. We should've investigated thoroughly before assuming such an important planet was unclaimed."
"Hm."
The self-proclaimed Nualala evoked a fantasy treant: a tree with limbs, armored in tougher bark. Towering even over tall Hihirak, a giant. The vanguard captain bent stiffly forward, peering down through what seemed its visual organ, conveying intent in a domineering tone.
"To business, then. Diplomat. Your occupation of systems linked to our sanctuary risks offending the Great One. Abandon and cede ownership."
"Pardon? Could you repeat that? I must have misheard."
What the hell were they saying?
At my question, branches creaked like screams as its upper body leaned in.
"Abandon and withdraw from this system where our fleet now resides, plus the three adjacent ones tied to the sanctuary. The Bahilila Holy Knight Order, servants of the Great One, will manage them directly."
"Vanguard Captain. This system was first claimed by the Lushaka Kingdom—clearly ours. Your Holy Nation marked no territory even on the sanctuary. Are you claiming sovereignty over uncharted space now?"
We'd overlooked it before due to the bad position, but they'd left the sanctuary pristine—no buildings. That's why we missed the ownership. Now they demanded systems not even connected to their turf.
"Hm. Is that so."
"Vanguard Captain. The Lushaka Kingdom seeks amicable relations with your—"
Shwick—
Hihirak's connection severed instantly. Hunterak and Killerak's views showed Hihirak's torso flying skyward.
Only the captain's stance hinted at a sword swing.
It hurts.
Hurts? Why? Who's hurting? Hihirak's link cut, right? Hunterak? Killerak? Jarvis?
Me? Me? The core body? I'm hurting? Why? Hurts. It hurts.
Hurtshurtshurttoomuchithurts.
"Ugh, conversing with an inferior species' thoughts is revolting. My mind feels rotten. Kill them all. Purge the vermin invading the Knight Order's domain."
"Yes, sir!"
I endured the agony, lighting a Deneb tobacco leaf piled by the core body.
Inhale the smoke.
Mind clears.
The galaxy sharpens. Countless 'me's resonate.
The excruciating pain no longer felt illusory.
Trivial wound for one so vast and numerous.
The legion breathes. Heartbeats pulse. Selves await only my will.
Ah.
These filthy xeno bastards.
Kill them all.