Transformed into Cosmic Horror in a Sci-Fi Universe

Transformed into Cosmic Horror in a Sci-Fi Universe

EP.80 The Intruder

“According to the investigation results, it shouldn’t be too difficult. The report states that no particularly dangerous energy was detected.”

The first target for expanding the Galactic Union’s territory was set as Sector Y.

They had considered going for both Sectors Y and Z simultaneously.

However, due to the possibility of unforeseen variables, they decided to play it safe and concentrate their forces on one side instead of dividing them into two.

Given that this was their first operation, the impact of failure would be significant, so it was an unavoidable choice.

Of course, that’s not to say that any danger factors were found in either sector.

No energy emissions from giant monsters or highly advanced civilizations were detected, nor were there any traces of foreign entities.

At most, Sector Y contained the largest black hole ever observed, but that could be avoided by simply going around it.

There wasn’t much difficulty to speak of.

They would simply go in, secure the major galaxies as strongholds first, and then expand outward from there, terraforming suitable planets to secure the surrounding cosmic space.

Repeating this process, considering their current technology and the available Elven workforce,

They estimated that with about 20 years of intense effort, they could claim one entire Y sector.

Of course, terraforming wouldn’t be completely finished, but at least the foundations would be laid.

That should be enough.

After all, from that point on, they just needed to spread out and wait.

Having finished these calculations, Eugene and the elders proceeded with the plan.

“I have been given overall command. I look forward to working with you all.”

Lowie Hendrick, who was now a full-fledged elder rather than an elder-in-waiting.

He had been entrusted with the role of chief executive for this Y sector pioneering mission.

Based on the assessment that it wouldn’t be too difficult, this was the Meias elders’ gesture of goodwill, allowing the young new elder to achieve the great feat of successfully completing the first expansion.

Of course, it was also Eugene’s consideration.

“I will ensure its success without fail.”

Lowie Hendrick, well aware of this fact, was determined to make it succeed no matter what.

Even though there were said to be no difficult obstacles, this was still their first external sector expansion.

Since anything could happen, he planned to proceed with the utmost caution.

“The total number of available Elves is 20 million. Most of them are not warriors but ordinary Elves skilled in terraforming, so their protection is our top priority.”

“Understood.”

Lowie Hendrick nodded at Lasi’s words.

A total of 20 million Elves.

With them, they should be able to securely establish key footholds in each galaxy within the vast 30 billion light-year sector.

Now the preparations were complete.

All that remained was to wait for an easy success.

…At least up until this moment, that’s what everyone thought.

#

“Space mothership ‘Rios’. We are now departing.”

The Elves’ planet.

There, massive spaceships carrying Elves to pioneer Sector Y were now holding a departure ceremony.

And leading this massive spaceship fleet was the space mothership ‘Rios’.

Built with the Elves’ own technology, this state-of-the-art mothership boasted 1.5 times the durability of regular Alliance motherships while being even lighter in weight.

With anti-gravity propulsion systems capable of free directional movement even in the vacuum of space, and the latest neutron cannon arrays.

It was truly the epitome of cutting-edge technology.

The total capacity was 5 million.

It was not an exaggeration to say it was on the scale of a large city.

Including all the fleet it commanded, the total capacity reached up to 30 million.

It boasted a truly enormous scale, comparable to that of an entire nation.

To commemorate this incredible scale and power, as well as the estimated initial Elven population of 30 million, it was named after their god ‘Rios’.

“Ooooh!”

“Wow!”

As the massive space fleet rose, the Elves erupted in cheers.

They were rejoicing at the thought of this state-of-the-art mothership and its fleet traversing space and achieving countless feats.

“Well then, shall we depart?”

The overall commander was Elma, an Alliance elder and the Elven warrior chief.

Woooong─

They rise beyond the atmosphere into space.

The blue Elven planet could be seen below.

“Enter the wormhole. Move to the designated location.”

“Yes! Opening wormhole!”

“Opening wormhole!”

“Opening wormhole!”

Woooooong─

Upon entering space, they quickly move to the designated location by opening a wormhole at the specified coordinates near the Elven planet.

Fwoop!

The massive mothership and fleet disappear in an instant.

After several wormhole jumps, they reappeared on the outskirts of Sector U, near Sector Y.

[Welcome, Elder Elma.]

Upon arriving at the designated location, a message came from Lowie Hendrick’s main force, which had arrived earlier.

“I leave the mission command in your capable hands, Elder Lowie.”

[Of course.]

A warm atmosphere.

Up until this point, no one doubted that the mission would succeed easily.

They were only thinking about living out the rest of their lives receiving excellent treatment as members of the fleet that succeeded in the first external pioneering mission.

…

“Retreat! Retreat!”

“Aaaah!”

“Damn it! What is that!”

They encounter a tremendous obstacle and fall into crisis.

A few days before that happened.

There was no particular difficulty at the first point.

They just arrived, checked the planet’s condition, and went down for terraforming.

A planet full of only plants, with no dynamic life forms.

Perhaps because of this, the air was extremely clear and clean.

In addition, it seemed like it would be extremely useful as the planet was filled with various minerals embedded in the ground.

“Terraforming isn’t necessary.”

“There’s also enough water that can be used as drinking water… It seems optimal to use as a temporary base.”

Following the orders of the overall commander, Lowie Hendrick, they decided to use this place as a temporary base and quickly began to build a provisional facility.

After confirming that there were no risk factors on the planet, they left only the personnel needed to build the base and the fleet returned to space.

The second point they arrived at.

It was a place with a main sequence star of suitable size for use as an energy source, along with resources suitable for creating a Dyson sphere scattered on the surrounding planets.

“We can start terraforming from here.”

Although there were no planets with life, there was one planet that could meet the requirements for life if it had an oxygen layer, allowing for the creation of water.

Just as they were about to settle there and start terraforming.

Beep beep beep beep─

Suddenly, an emergency alarm started ringing on one of the Elven ships.

It’s something that rings in case of a sudden external attack or intrusion.

Since there were clearly no life form reactions in the vicinity, everyone thought it was just a small rock or something flying and hitting the ship.

But.

[E-emergency! Intruder! There’s an intruder! Everyone, quickly come here… Aaaagh!]

The Elf who went to check the scene left this radio message before the signal was cut off.

“What? An intruder?”

“But there were no life form reactions in the vicinity. And even at the location where we’re supposedly under attack, there’s no life form reaction…”

The reporter stopped mid-sentence, startled.

Isn’t it strange?

No life form reactions?

They sent five Elves to check the scene.

Does this mean all five, including the Elf who just radioed, are dead?

From what?

There was external damage, but the ship is equipped with an automatic repair function, so repairs were completed immediately.

This means there’s no possibility of oxygen deficiency or being sucked into space.

“It’s an intruder. There might be some kind of stealth robot. Warriors, prepare yourselves.”

Of course, they have radar technology that can detect even the most advanced stealth.

But thinking there might be a machine with stealth capabilities that can evade even that, the ship’s captain quickly prepared the warriors.

“Report to Elder Elma at the main force. The current situation as is.”

“Y-yes! Understood.”

And after informing the main force of this fact, they headed to the scene with the warriors.

30 warriors including the captain.

To prepare for any unforeseen situations, they had more warriors on standby behind them, and the regular crew members moved to safety bunkers.

“Is this the place?”

[Yes. This is where the motion detection sensor last detected something.]

About 200M away from the accident site.

Since life detection, temperature detection, and energy emission detection all failed, they checked the old-fashioned motion detection sensor they used to use, just in case.

And it had momentarily detected and transmitted movement from this location.

The fact that movement was detected from such a distance means that there must be some kind of life form or machine somewhere.

The captain and warriors began to look around tensely.

Then.

“Captain. This.”

One of the Elven warriors discovered something and called the captain.

“…Huh.”

And what he discovered was that one of the doors of the food storage, made of strong titanium alloy, was smashed as if it had been torn off by something.

‘It tore through titanium alloy like paper?’

At that moment, he could guess how the intruder was able to penetrate the outer hull.

Although the outer hull material is harder than the interior, if it can tear through the interior material like paper, the outer hull probably wouldn’t have held out for long either.

Unless it was the radiation-removing beryllium alloy used in the mothership ‘Rios’.

‘Is it inside the storage?’

Thinking this, he slowly entered the storage.

And there.

“Kieeeeek!!”

They came face to face with it.

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