The survey of the mysterious base discovered by the Vulcan in the void of space moved forward at a deliberate pace.
Two hours later, nearly every inch of the interior had been scrutinized using the Peeper. The result remained the same: no signs of life or movement were detected within.
"It appears to be either malfunctioning or in a state of deep dormancy," Laojun concluded back on Hourai Island while analyzing the incoming data.
This was a relief; had the facility been destroyed by an external enemy, the situation would have become far more complicated to manage.
"An external enemy... do you really think one exists, Laojun?" Jin asked.
"I do, My Lord. However, by 'external enemy,' I do not necessarily mean an unknown foe or extraterrestrials. It is more likely a case of internal strife among the Haleans."
"I see."
Jin nodded, finding Laojun's reasoning sound. The Haleans were far from a monolithic group. Given their highly individualistic nature, it was only natural that they would eventually fall into conflict with one another.
Whether they would stoop to the folly of sabotage, however, was a different matter entirely.
"So, were there any signs of actual sabotage?" Jin asked.
"No, none were found. However, there are many ways to disable a facility without leaving physical scars, so we must remain vigilant."
"True. I'll leave that judgment to you."
"Yes, My Lord. I will proceed with the investigation with the utmost caution."
Jin saw no need to micromanage Laojun's actions, trusting the craft-intelligence to handle the details.
Suspended in the vacuum of space, the Vulcan held its position three kilometers from the enigmatic relay base.
"Orders have been issued to conduct a cautious, direct investigation of the base," Captain Cosmos 501 informed her first officer, Cosmos 502.
"Understood. Shall we deploy the investigation command units?"
"Indeed. There is a possibility that Magi Machines which ignored the Peeper's scans might react to the presence of physical command units. We are to proceed with caution while observing for any such response."
Laojun hoped that any reaction—no matter how small—would yield fresh intelligence.
"In that case, let us dispatch ten units equipped with powered suits."
The utility of the powered suits had already been thoroughly proven. Since the battle with the Disaster, Jin had mass-produced several dozen sets based on the models worn by the Land squad.
While material constraints made it impossible to outfit every golem on Hourai Island, Jin had prepared twenty dedicated suits each for the Sky, Land, Marine, Mermaid, and Cosmos squads.
Of the twenty sets designated for the Cosmos squad, ten were stationed aboard the flagship Adriana, and the remaining ten were carried by the Vulcan.
The ten units, Cosmos 551 through 560, donned their powered suits and descended toward the relay base, utilizing their force generators to navigate the void.
[Arrival confirmed. No gravity detected.]
{Understood. Proceed with the investigation.}
After the brief exchange, the ten golems began their survey of the base's flat surface.
[Material confirmed as nickel chrome molybdenum steel. It is of the same quality as the Disaster.]
[Significant surface scoring detected. Likely the result of long-term exposure to space dust.]
Because the flat section of the base faced Sun Celane, it was bathed in sunlight of unforgiving intensity.
Amidst this glare, the squad reached a structure that appeared to be a warehouse or hangar.
[Structural degradation appears minimal.]
Being constructed of metal, the facility showed little wear from ultraviolet radiation. The Peeper had already confirmed the interior was empty.
[Even so, a direct search may reveal things the telescope missed. Let's verify.]
[Acknowledged.]
Cosmos 551 and her team slowly forced the door open. It wasn't locked, and the lack of corrosion meant the mechanism moved without issue.
[As expected, it is empty.]
[So it seems... wait.]
Cosmos 551 paused, her sensors focusing on a discoloration on the floor.
[This stain looks relatively fresh... what do you make of it?]
[We are in outer space, inside a facility shielded from ultraviolet rays. We cannot definitively say it is 'new' based on appearance alone.]
[A fair point. But what is it? Oil?]
The stain was dark brown with a distinct greasy luster.
[Analyze.]
As every member of the Cosmos squad was capable of using Craft Magic, they immediately performed a scan.
[It is oil... specifically, something akin to grease.]
[That is unusual.]
In all the Halean technology they had encountered thus far, high-viscosity lubricants like grease had never been employed.
[This discovery may imply a shift in their manufacturing or a different origin entirely.]
Cosmos 551 immediately relayed this data back to Laojun.
The majority of the facilities on the flat surface proved to be warehouses or hangars, and to the team's surprise, every single one was vacant.
[Perhaps they were emptied for a sortie,] one unit suggested.
[A distinct possibility.]
Cosmos 556 and Cosmos 551 exchanged a look.
[It is entirely possible the Disaster launched from this very location.]
Finding nothing else of interest on the surface, the Cosmos squad moved to investigate the interior of the massive hemisphere.
[Should we begin with the periphery?]
[No, that would take too long. The Peeper's scans only identified material storage in those areas. We will prioritize the central core.]
[Understood.]
And so, the cycle of searching, investigating, and probing continued.
[Nothing of note.]
They discovered deactivated ether converters, mana drivers, and emergency mana tanks, but nothing more.
[The controlling brain, the maintenance golems, the Warp Gates for material intake... all of them are missing.]
[Even the stored materials are negligible in quantity.]
[Indeed.]
Faced with these reports, Laojun presented a bold new theory.
"My Lord, it is possible that this relay base was abandoned decades ago."
"What leads you to that?" Jin asked.
"The lack of any evidence of use within the last several decades, the absence of teleportation-related facilities, and the fact that essential components—like a management brain—have been removed."
Laojun elaborated on his analysis.
"Furthermore, there is no absolute strategic necessity for a relay base to be in this specific location."
There was another potential midpoint between Ars and Hale, located on the opposite side of the orbital path.
"Alternatively, they may have opted for two bases at sixty-degree and one-hundred-and-twenty-degree intervals rather than a single one at ninety degrees."
"I see."
Jin made a mental note to investigate those coordinates if time permitted.
"But for now, our priority is our own relay base. How should we proceed?"
Jin considered seizing and remodeling the abandoned facility, which would theoretically be faster. However, it also meant inheriting unknown risks and potential traps.
"Let's stick to the original plan."
"Understood."
Choosing reliability over a rushed schedule, Jin ordered the construction ship Vulcan to begin building a brand-new relay base from scratch.
[The order has been finalized. We are to construct the temporary base as planned.]
[Acknowledged.]
[Commencing construction immediately.]
The Vulcan and the Cosmos squad finally began the work they were designed for.