136: River outpost

"The 'Pioneers' fleet has completed its final 'Order Jump' and arrived at the designated coordinates on the outskirts of the 'Sanctuary' star system." Admiral Lei Huan's cold voice came back to the Keystone-1 Command Center through an ultra-long-range quantum communication relay, carrying a slight delay from traversing the endless void. On the holographic star map, the point of light representing the Pioneers finally merged with the point representing the Homeward Journey fleet, which hung isolated outside the galaxy.

The image transmission synchronized, but the signal was extremely unstable, filled with distorted light, shadows, and noise. One could barely make out the massive, dark-gold hull of the Titan expedition, covered in the marks of long-distance travel, leading a small but exceptionally elite fleet as it slowly approached that familiar region of space. In the distance was the sanctuary unit, like a silent guardian; the energy patterns flowing on its surface seemed dimmer than in the records, yet it still persistently emitted a glow of interwoven milky white and dark gold. Closer still was the scarred hull of the far gaze, wrapped in a faint film of light, along with several rather small scout ships of the Homeward Journey fleet.

"Establishing connection with the Homeward Journey fleet. Captain Li Mu reports: The energy level of the sanctuary unit has dropped to 17% below the critical point. The vital signs of the far gaze crew are stable, but the intensity of unconscious whispering has increased by 30% over the past three months. Its 'reality influence radius' has extended fifty meters beyond the isolation bay, requiring continuous consumption of the Homeward Journey fleet's energy for suppression." The communications officer quickly summarized the preliminary contact information.

"Activate the custodian remote protocols; attempt to establish a high-level connection with the sanctuary unit," Han Zhe ordered at the Command Center. With a hundredfold energy support, quantum communication and energy projection across the galaxy became possible, albeit at a massive cost.

Deep within the planetary core, the dark-gold and iron-gray core of custodian-alpha suddenly lit up. A condensed stream of energy and information, carrying complex 'order Handshake' protocols and Human Federation identity verification, was forcibly focused and shot toward the distant Extragalactic coordinates through a specialized transmitter array.

A moment later, the originally dim patterns on the surface of the sanctuary unit suddenly brightened as if injected with a stimulant! It seemed to 'recognize' this energy, which was of the same origin yet distinctly different (carrying a strong Human Federation imprint). The patterns began to flow in an unprecedentedly complex manner, and it transmitted a clearer, more specific 'data packet' to the Pioneers fleet.

[Connection established. Identity confirmed: Secondary order node - sanctuary unit (Serial Number: Theta-7). Detected high concentration of homologous order energy and additional ideological brand. Associated Spark: far gaze human cluster (Status: Protected, high imprint activity, low stability). Unit energy reserves: 12.4%, continuing to decay. Core Directive: Maintain Spark protection until energy depletion, or detection of a qualified successor/repair force. Assessment: Repair force detected (Human Federation fleet), but carrying non-standard ideological variables. Request: Clarify intent. Execute 'Spark Transfer' and 'Unit Data Recovery' protocols?]

Cold, efficient, and devoid of emotion, it made only logical judgments based on preset protocols. It did not care who the Human Federation was; it only cared whether the Human Federation could take over its duties and whether the 'ideological variables' carried by the Human Federation would affect the safety of the 'Spark'.

"custodian analysis complete. 'Spark Transfer' protocol: Requires the receiver to provide a stable energy field to maintain 'imprint' activity and ensure the safety of 'Spark' individuals. 'Unit Data Recovery': Requires physical connection to download its core database, including the blueprints for The Library's outer defense system, partial star maps, and the basic communication protocols of the Order Network," the Chief Technologist reported.

"Agree to it," Han Zhe said without hesitation. "Pioneers fleet, execute 'Spark Reception' and 'Data Recovery' immediately. The expedition shall deploy the Purification Dome to establish a stable order field and prepare to accommodate the far gaze and its crew. Engineering ships, dock with the sanctuary unit and begin data download."

"Understood!" Lei Huan's response was crisp and decisive.

However, just as the Pioneers fleet began its maneuvers and the engineering ships slowly sailed toward the sanctuary unit to prepare for a physical connection, an anomaly occurred—unexpected by everyone, yet seemingly anticipated within the deep logic of the custodian!

The whispering, which had merely increased in intensity, suddenly transformed from within the far gaze into countless overlapping, sharp shrieks that seemed capable of tearing the soul apart! It wasn't sound, but an information shockwave acting directly on the structure of reality! This shockwave exploded outward, centered on the far gaze!

The sanctuary unit's already dim light flickered wildly. The 'Conceptual Sanctuary Field' it maintained shattered like glass under this sudden shockwave originating from within! Without the suppression of the Sanctuary field, the imprints on the far gaze crew went completely out of control!

The space around that ancient exploration ship distorted and folded violently, like the surface of water after a stone is thrown in! The metal hull began to undergo deformations and growths that defied the laws of physics, with energy patterns similar to those of the sanctuary unit—but far more frantic and unstable—surfacing on it! More terrifyingly, through the observation windows, one could see the crew members who were originally in hibernation now floating at bizarre angles. Their eyes were open, containing no pupils but only a piercing milky white light, and the shrieks coming from their mouths were the very source of that horrific reality impact!

"imprint out of control! The far gaze is transforming into some kind of active 'Reality Aberration'! Its energy readings are skyrocketing! It's impacting the Pioneers fleet formation!" Lei Huan's exclamation came through, mixed with the sound of violent vibrations as the hull suffered impacts.

The holographic image shook violently, showing the Purification Dome deployed by the expedition fluctuating wildly under the rampaging reality shock, with fine cracks even appearing at the edges! Several engineering and escort ships that were close by were struck by invisible Spatial Folds; their shields overloaded, and their hulls twisted and snapped!

"sanctuary unit energy plunging! 5%... 3%... 1%! It's concentrating all remaining energy in an attempt at a final 'Stabilization Suppression'! But it's not enough!"

At this critical juncture, custodian-alpha, through the remote connection, sent a forced definition pulse to the Pioneers fleet—or rather, directly to the rampaging Reality Aberration (formerly the far gaze) and the collapsing sanctuary unit. This pulse was extremely complex, containing the energy characteristics of the abyss of order and the collective will of the Human Federation!

This pulse was not an attack, but a higher-level 'Conceptual Overwrite' and 'Logical Anchor'! It was as if it were declaring to the out-of-control Aberration and the nearly extinguished sanctuary unit:

"Chaos, forbidden. Collapse, forbidden. Definition: This area, this existence, belongs to the Human Federation's order framework. Using 'Human Will' as the standard and 'Absolute Purity' as the goal—Reconstruct!"

The pulse swept through.

The frantic reality distortion of the far gaze suddenly stalled. The energy patterns on its surface began to rearrange in a slower, more 'regular' manner. Although still unstable, the violent, aimless impact stopped. The milky white light in the crew's eyes dimmed, and they closed them again as their bodies slowly drifted back into the hibernation pods. However, the whispering did not stop; instead, it became clearer and more orderly, as if they were chanting some ancient, rhythmic 'Order Liturgy'?

As for the sanctuary unit, after exhausting its last bit of energy to emit this 'Forced Definition', the light on its surface went out completely. It turned into a massive, cold, crack-covered metallic polyhedron, floating silently in the void. Only a faint blue light at its core, indicating the data core was still running, showed that it was not yet completely 'dead'.

"The far gaze has stabilized? No, it's been 'Forced Formatted' and 'Redefined'!" The Chief Technologist looked at the data being sent back—still soul-stirring but no longer worsening—with disbelief. "The custodian... it used our ideology and energy to forcibly 'overwrite' the out-of-control imprint, constraining it within a new order framework defined by us! Those crew members... rather than far gaze crew, they are now more like some kind of 'Living Order Nodes' or 'Conceptual Priests' carrying our modified Library imprints?!"

"Completion status of the sanctuary unit data download?" Han Zhe was more concerned with the actual gains.

"97%, the core database has been acquired. The remaining portion cannot be read because the unit core is about to shut down." Lei Huan's voice regained its calm, but carried a hint of lingering fear. "How do we handle the far gaze and its crew? They are currently in an extremely unstable state of 'Controlled Mutation' and cannot be subjected to conventional contact or transfer."

Han Zhe fell silent for a moment, his gaze sweeping over that Extragalactic star region on the star map and the massive Pioneer fleet group currently being assembled.

"order: The Pioneers fleet is to establish The Other Shore-1 outpost on-site in the 'Sanctuary' star system. With the expedition as the core, construct a high-intensity 'order Stabilization Field' to monitor and study the far gaze and its crew long-term. Attempt to establish a controllable 'Imprint Resonance' with them to see if we can extract deep knowledge about The Library and the Order Network, or even transform them into some kind of special weapon or tool."

"Simultaneously, transmit the acquired sanctuary unit database back immediately for full analysis by the custodian and the technical team. Especially the parts concerning the Order Network communication protocols and star maps."

"As for the Pioneer fleet group," a sharp light flashed in Han Zhe's eyes, "the plan remains unchanged. Using The Other Shore-1 as a forward base, proceed into the depths of the Extragalactic galaxy according to the designated coordinates. However, add a top-priority mission: Search for other Extragalactic 'nodes' or ruins that may be related to the sanctuary unit, The Library, or the Order Network. The far gaze incident proves that these ancient remnants are both treasures and traps. We must proactively discover, assess, and control and utilize them in the way of the Human Federation."

He paused, his voice becoming deeper and more powerful:

"The sacrifice and mutation of the far gaze will not be in vain. The knowledge they brought back and the changes they themselves have undergone will all become part of the Human Federation's power. The Extragalactic galaxy will no longer be a burial ground for heroes, but the stage for our next conquest and 'purification'!"

"Tell Lei Huan, and tell every soldier of the Pioneers:"

"What you face is no longer known galactic enemies, but deeper darkness, more ancient mysteries, and 'order' and 'Chaos' that may completely overturn your understanding. But no matter what lies ahead, remember—behind you is the Human Federation, supported by a hundredfold energy! In your hands is the steel immersed in the firmest will of humanity! Your goal is to Pioneer eternal living space for 'Pure Humanity'!"

"Advance! For the Human Federation! Let the fire of human order burn across all the starry skies we see!"

The order crossed the sea of stars, injected into the Pioneers and the Pioneer fleets about to depart.

The dark-gold light of the expedition, in the unfamiliar Extragalactic galaxy, was like a lonely but firm lighthouse, illuminating the construction site of The Other Shore-1 outpost and monitoring the far gaze, which had now turned into a 'Living Order Wonder'.

Meanwhile, at Keystone-1 on the other side of the galaxy, the engines of the massive Pioneer fleet group began to light up one by one, like awakening steel behemoths, preparing to sail into the deep space where even the starlight seemed unfamiliar.