Getting a Technology System in Modern Day - Chapter 937 - 937: Precedent

Aron hovered in the silent void of the Universal Simulation, a silent observer observing a dozen different wars unfold across a dozen different star systems. Before him and the high-level government officials and their corresponding AIs, holographic displays bloomed like malevolent flowers, each one a window into a world under siege. They watched as Dreznor’s fleets, a mix of Imperial-forged warships and locally produced vessels, engaged the probing forces of the Conclave.

{We are holding our ground, for now,} Nyx’s voice echoed in the quiet of his private observation deck. Her avatar stood beside him, a calm, analytical presence amidst the chaos. {Dreznor was wise to follow our suggestion. He left ample forces to defend each captured world and has been aggressively recruiting from the local populations. The excess manufacturing capacity on those planets is now dedicated entirely to producing new warships.}

She highlighted a tactical overlay. It had been less than ten minutes since the first Conclave fleets had arrived in the targeted systems. These were not the full, overwhelming armadas of the top-tier powers, but smaller, more agile task forces. They were testing the waters, gathering intelligence, gauging the strength and resolve of this new, unknown enemy.

“But this won’t last long,” Aron said, his eyes tracing the flow of battle on one of the displays. Dreznor’s forces were winning, but they were paying a price for every victory.

{Correct,} Nyx confirmed. {These are mid-tier fleets, likely from the lower half of the top fifty civilizations. Their tactics are cautious, their formations designed for reconnaissance, not conquest. They are a far cry from the grand fleets we faced during our own war with the Conclave.}

Aron’s brow furrowed as he cross-referenced the ship classifications flowing in from the data streams. “But why are among the top ten powers only the Elara and the Feryn leading these probes? If this is purely an intelligence-gathering mission, wouldn’t it make more sense to use the Shadari? Their stealth capabilities are unmatched. Or the Trinarians, now that they have a surplus of mana stones to power their wormholes?” The question had been nagging at him. The composition of the attacking forces felt… wrong.

{Using a Shadari fleet for a simple probe would be like using a fusion cannon to light a candle,} Nyx theorized. {It’s possible the top-ten powers view this as a problem for the lesser civilizations to handle, a chance for them to prove their worth without the top tier having to expend resources or risk their own assets. Or, perhaps, there is another reason we are not yet privy to.}

Aron fell silent, his gaze sweeping across the myriad battlefields. He watched a squadron of Dreznor’s fighters execute a flawless flanking maneuver, their Imperial design a stark contrast to the clunkier, less efficient ships they were eviscerating. He felt a flicker of pride, followed by a wave of cold calculation.

{Are we going to intervene?} Nova’s voice was a soft counterpoint to the silent destruction on the screens. {Or do we leave him to handle this alone?}

Aron took a moment before answering, his mind weighing a dozen different variables. “We will continue to monitor the situation,” he said finally. “But we will not intervene directly. We made it clear that the last shipment of vessels was the final act of our direct aid. This is his war now. It is time for him to step into the light, to use the support of the people he has liberated as a shield and a sword. He needs to put pressure on the Conclave leaders himself, to limit their course of action by becoming a political force they cannot ignore.”

A soft “Oooooooooh” of realization came from Youssef, who had been observing the conversation in silence. The final piece of a puzzle he had been struggling with for weeks had just clicked into place. The other humans in the virtual room, John and the ministry heads, had a similar dawning of comprehension on their faces.

“Is that why?” Youssef asked, his voice filled with a mixture of disbelief and a newfound reverence for the man he served. “Is that why you remained silent during the Bilakis situation? You allowed them to attack our citizens, you allowed the chaos in the VR to escalate, all to set a precedent. You wanted to establish that the Empire will remain impartial, that our laws apply to everyone, regardless of their status. So that now, when Dreznor’s supporters use the VR to fight for him, to spread his message, to disrupt the economies of the slave-holding civilizations, we can point to our past actions as proof. We can claim that no one is above the law, not even our own people, and that the rules will not be bent simply because they are inconvenient for one side.”

A faint smile touched Aron’s lips. “I did not know precisely what Kumakar’s provocations were for, or that the conclave was planning a liberation force. But I recognized it as an opportunity to set a precedent we could point to later. I admit, I did not know how soon it would come into use.” He had weathered the storm of public opinion, the two-percent dip in his near-perfect approval ratings, and the complaints from his own citizens. He had remained silent, knowing that the short-term political cost was a small price to pay for the long-term strategic advantage.

{I have already prepared a public relations campaign for Dreznor that will look natural and not point any fingers at us,} Nyx interjected, her avatar displaying a detailed, multi-phased plan. {It is based on the suggestions from Youssef. With a few modifications, it is ready for implementation.}

“Inform Dreznor to begin preparations,” Aron commanded. “But we do not go live immediately. I want to see how the Conclave reacts to these initial probes. We will not commit to this course of action until we have a clearer picture of the battlefield.”

He then turned his attention to John and Athena. “Maintain our current readiness level. But be prepared to escalate the moment we receive intelligence that this conflict is spilling over toward us.” He paused, a grim look in his eyes. “Thank God we accelerated production.” He was thinking of the gut feeling he’d had in their last meeting, the decision to bring the dormant atomic printers online to churn out military vessels. That single, intuition-driven choice might have just saved them years of preparation.

“Yes, Sir,” John and Athena replied in unison. John’s voice was grave, the voice of a man preparing for war. Athena’s was calm, almost serene. For her, a being made to fight wars, this was not a crisis. It was simply a Tuesday.