Chapter II — Under Current
The central holographic screen was broadcasting a casual talk show, with an attractive hostess conversing with Professor Tuan De Ori from Hermann University about the recent X Star System incident.
"Professor Ori," the hostess inquired, "recent reports indicate that the Antonios Consortium has remained silent on the Terran Sphere Government's offer to collaboratively and peacefully develop the X Star System. Many people are pessimistic about this. What's your take on the situation?"
Lately, the X Star System has been the trending topic in the news. Rumor has it that the Antonios Consortium's fleet has blockaded the Stargate of the X Star System, aiming to take over the whole system. The Terran Sphere's fleet has also ventured into the X Star System, causing many to speculate on the imminent threat of a conflict.
"I believe that doesn't necessarily mean anything. Antonios Consortium is just biding its time, as the factions within—those pushing for innovation and those advocating for a return to traditional ways—are unable to reach a consensus internally. To us, they seem totally silent."
"However, with their fleet blockading the Stargate and refusing entry to any other factions, doesn't that action alone reveal their ambitions?"
"At its core, Antonios Consortium is a business entity. They're more interested in business gains than in political power," Professor Ori elaborated, "In fact, my advice to the government would be to keep a closer eye on the NOMA Shipping Group rather than the Antonios Consortium..."
NOMA Shipping Group? I set down my glass, lost in thought, pondering the professor's interesting take.
A few years ago, back when the war was still raging, four major factions under the umbrella of the Supernova Shipping Group—NOWA Shipping Group, Oren Minerals, Thor's Hammer Heavy Industries, and Electric Arc Group—merged to create the NOMA Shipping Group. This move initially went under the radar, but it soon became clear that this rising group was not to be underestimated. Their transport fleets had spread across the transport network, monopolizing major commercial routes and Stargates. Even Antonios and the Terran Sphere found themselves compelled to engage in business dealings with the NOMA Shipping Group. In contrast to the Antonios Consortium's bold strategy of investment and expansion during the war, the NOMA Shipping Group chose a more subdued approach. The group quietly amassed its power since its inception and secretly seized Stargates in overlooked corners of the battlefield. It was only after the fall of St. Triumph City and the Sacrum Chu Imperium's dramatic collapse that both the Terran Sphere Government and the Antonios Consortium were startled to discover that NOMA Shipping Group had quietly risen as a powerful faction not to be overlooked.
Over the past few years, tensions between the Antonios Consortium, which has been dominating the Garden Planet, and the Terran Sphere have escalated. With the NOMA Shipping Group entering the scene, this chaotic situation has gained another layer of uncertainty.
Unlike the Antonios Consortium, the NOMA Shipping Group has operated very discreetly since its official inception, avoiding any direct confrontations with other factions. It's even unclear to people where their main headquarters is located, though it's known they possess strongholds across several star systems. Compared to the old political factions, NOMA Shipping Group stands out as purely business-oriented, even more so than the commercially founded Antonios Consortium. They're open to doing business with anyone, provided there's a sufficient profit to be made. According to some rumors, during the war, the NOMA Shipping Group boldly supplied both warring factions with technology and blueprints for battleships while also offering logistic services to all involved parties. This resulted in the bizarre scene of two identical NOMA transport fleets crossing paths as they journeyed to two opposing factions.
Following the downfall of the Sacrum Chu Imperium, the NOMA Shipping Group started to unveil its true colors. In recent years, their assembled fleets have engaged in conflicts across various star systems with remnants of the former empire, openly showing their ambitions. NOMA Shipping Group made their demands known to everyone through these battles, seeking the status they believed they deserved.
With these thoughts, I sighed heavily. This war has gone on indefinitely, seemingly without an end. Many believed it began as a civil war within the Sacrum Chu Imperium and would end with the empire's downfall, marking the end of a total war spanning across the galaxy. Yet, this was too optimistic a view. The collapse of the empire didn't make things better; instead, it created a massive power void that led to even greater turmoil. Factions are now fighting over the remaining Stargates, waging wars in the dark star systems for a share of the fallen empire's legacy.
The rise of the NOMA Shipping Group added nothing but uncertainty to the ongoing chaos. Beyond the Terran Sphere, chaos persisted, with dangers lurking everywhere, leaving one to wonder when true peace will finally arrive. This made me appreciate the Terran Sphere Government's fast decision to seal off the Stargate. However, looking back, we might also need to thank the Antonios Consortium. Their engagement in the Garden Campaign diverted the empire fleet's attention, ensuring that the Terran Sphere remained unscathed by the empire. As the war escalated and more star systems were involved, the empire no longer possessed the power to target the Terran Sphere.
Following the empire's downfall, the Terran Sphere Government has been advocating for peace and the revival of Earth's culture. Their spokesperson made a galactic appeal, stating that we are all humans with shared lineage from Earth and should cease fighting among ourselves in favor of unity. The message was well-phrased with good principles, yet differing viewpoints always lead to different interpretations. Sadly, rumors have it that both the Antonios Consortium and the NOMA Shipping Group remained silent to the Terran Sphere's appeals, which was to be expected. Aside from the destruction of trust caused by the war, the notion of reviving Earth's culture is fraught with skepticism. Is the Terran Sphere aiming to crown itself as a new empire?
Officials and scholars from the Terran Sphere Government certainly don't think so. For instance, there's a rather sensational view within the Terran Sphere academic community: humanity is slipping toward an unavoidable abyss. Without a timely cessation of war, humans are doomed to be eternally lost in the cosmic sea, losing the ability to connect with one another. They'll forget the tales and roots of human civilization, the grandeur of the Lagrange Network, and the splendor and culture of their ancestors. Extended physical isolation might even result in reproductive barriers, transforming them into entities no longer human. They will craft their own tales and beginnings, becoming spiritually alien. With social structures and systems beyond our current comprehension, the human race would never be able to reunite.
Tens of millions of years into the future, when humankind's offspring encounter each other in the starry void, they will be strangers, leading to inevitable conflict, and the galaxy will never know peace again. However, the more probable scenario is that humans, scattered throughout the galaxy, will forever be unable to escape the confines of light speed, becoming irretrievably lost within the Milky Way, with no chance of reunion.
There are even scholars who think that this process is already underway.
An anonymous scholar from Hermann University stated in a web interview: Once humans embarked on their journey to the stars, over the extensive passage of time, those scattered among the stars have undergone a psychological transformation. Although they are still of the same species in terms of genes and lineage, the mindset of humans who have lived across hundreds of generations in space has fundamentally shifted, and they have become a different species from a psychological perspective compared to those from the Terran Sphere. That's the reason for the fierce wars that have broken out. Living in the abyss of the stars, they've ultimately been devoured by its darkness. Humans who have left their mother planet are like children estranged from their mother. Therefore, reawakening an awareness of Earth's culture is crucial for humanity's restoration. The Terran Sphere Government must emerge as the beacon to guide humanity back to unity. But neither Antonios nor NOMA Shipping Group has officially acknowledged the Terran Sphere's appeals, let alone the fragmented remnants of the empire and regional warlords.
There's an ancient saying on Earth: "All roads lead to Rome," implying that if one way is blocked, another can always be found. Since the official channels are a dead end, turning to the populace makes perfect sense. In fact, there are numerous instances in human history where public fervor has spurred official processes. Therefore, the Terran Sphere Government's decision to adopt this approach doesn't surprise me at all.
Even with the wars still raging, the Terran Sphere Government formed the Dawn Tourism Bureau, officially launching tour routes to Earth to welcome every one across the galaxy.
Unfortunately, the move failed to meet the desired results, attracting only a small number of tourists.
Of course, this makes sense since the war hasn't really ended. Especially in recent years, even in regions without conflict, Privateers have been rampant, making many routes extremely dangerous. Even at the edges of the Solar System, the Wandering Brotherhood targets merchant ships coming through the Stargate. All merchant ships must equip formidable armaments before venturing forth.
Under such conditions, attempting to travel to Earth was literally writing yourself a death wish. As a result, the Dawn Tourism Bureau didn't welcome any tourists at all in its early years. It wasn't until recent years that efforts by the Antonios Consortium and the Terran Sphere Government against Privateers endangering their realms began to bear fruit. A prime example was the relentless campaign by Jupiter Industries' fleets against the Wandering Brotherhood near the Solar System's Stargate, effectively exiling them to the edges of the Solar System. (Remark: the Wandering Brotherhood wasn't completely wiped out; they took refuge near Pluto. Following the enactment of the "Dawn Accord," the Arbiter Committee teamed up with the Germanicus Corps to execute the "Carpet Plan" in multiple star systems harboring the Wandering Brotherhood. This campaign led to a major crackdown on the Wandering Brotherhood, pushing them toward the Kuiper Belt and other barren areas, significantly securing space travel routes.) With the ascendancy of the NOMA Shipping Group, they took measures to secure their routes by launching a massive crackdown on Privateers, significantly enhancing the safety of these routes. As a result, routes to the Solar System from other star systems were truly cleared and opened, attracting the first wave of curious tourists to the area.
Yet, to me, there seem to be very few genuine tourists among these visitors; the vast majority are spies sent by various factions and organizations. Given the Terran Sphere Government's decision to shut down the Stargate and uphold strict neutrality during the conflict, particularly keeping the Solar System and Proxima tightly sealed, the Terran Sphere has undoubtedly become a place of mystery in the eyes of those from other star systems. Nonetheless, I don't care about any of this. The government likely saw this coming, and keeping an eye on spies is the job of the Security Bureau. For me, I'm more focused on doing my tasks to the best of my ability.
...
"Breaking news received by the channel," as the interview wrapped up, only the attractive host remained onscreen, "the Arbiter Committee has finalized its decision, with their newly formed joint fleet preparing to launch towards the X Star System..."
Shaking my head, I diverted my attention from the screen and silenced the channel.
Humans are doomed.
