In the dim light of Pangea's subterranean research complex, glowing glyphs hummed across curved Isu panels, each inscribed with thousands of hours of theoretical work. Crystalline prototypes glinted faintly under suspended nutrient mists—half-complete shells of an idea not yet realized. These were not soldiers. Not yet. Just hopeful fragments of another kind of defense. Dr. Dew stood over one, arms crossed, silently evaluating.
They had studied every record—scrapings of data from Dr. Dew memories about a universe not their own. The "gems" of Steven Universe were intriguing: light-based, hard-light constructs born from specialized injectors and grown in specific geological conditions. But reproducing that process in this new chaotic reality, without the proper insight in the extremely advances technology they where resourcing, was proving far more complicated than anticipated much like the Isu technology.
"No viable reaction from the injector cores," Paracelsus reported from across the lab. "Our crystalline seeds stabilize at 27% but for some unknown reason they just stop, maybe they don't have enough energy to properly form?"
Leonardo da Vinci paced unsure
"Which means our secret wepon for dealing with cjaos is not ready," Dew muttered.
He turned away from the screen as Cassidy's voice crackled through the lab comms from orbit. "Scout drones reporting in. No signs of Chaos fleets in nearby systems. Warp trace patterns holding to the outer reaches—but the spread is directional. They're making there move and are slowly making there way from solar system to solar system."
She paused.
"And they're headed this way."
Silence fell.
They had time—but not much.
The spread of Chaos hadn't yet reached Pangea's solar system, but the tide was flowing steadily and slowly towards them. An encounter was unfortunately inevitable. Dr. Dew's mind worked at inhuman speed, reviewing defense plans, analyzing battlefield conditions, calculating troop deployment efficiencies, and cross-referencing with simulations of Death Guard contagions.
And despite all of the advantages there technology gives them they lack one key resource, man power. They lack the man power to properly protect themselves from chaos and all of it's inhabitants. Not even mentioning the fact that being around warp energy can corrupt there own citizen's as thoughts of corrupted conduit running a muck pop's into there minds or worse the Tyranids manage to eat a couple of conduits and become a god like super bug monster literally.
The gem soldiers—once imagined as their solution—were still only a theory. Prototypes Injectors failed or to be more precise, the liquid that creates the gems. The liquid injected into the earth failed. Even using the Koh-I-Noor as a loose basis for creating the gem was helping a little bit but not enough since these two gems where created by two different types of society from two completely different universe's, they couldn't yet reproduce gem-based life. Time, as always, was the enemy.
Which is why they made a decision earlier despite not wanting to make such decisions.
They wouldn't wait for failure to strike. They would prepare for relocation—and Dr. Dew would need to go first to properly prepare everything.
"There's no chance of victory if we get invaded again but by there main forces," Dew said finally, his voice firm. "We can't mass-produce gem/Synth hybrids. Not yet. So we prepare to fallback to a new safer solarsystem. I'll be prepared to leave and begin my mission within the day."
Paracelsus looked up. "Alone?"
Dew shook his head. "Not quite. We need to prepare that new planet and terraforming a plant to be livable is going require man power, atmosphere regulation, artificial agriculture, emergency housing. The planet in question is currently uninhabitable and there no other places we can just land on that isn't controlled and protected by other factions and is completely isolated. I'll need to go in advance, lead the setup, and make sure it's ready when the time comes to migrate."
Da Vinci leaned in, concerned. "And if they attack while you're gone?"
"The planetary cloakimg should hide us long enough. Plus we've already reinforced our frontline troops," Dew replied. "Our current forces may not have gem base enhancements like being parsley immune to the warp corruption naturally, but they have enough enhancements to keep up with chaos infused enemies and as long as the force field stay strong and active at all times, they should be safe from the corruption of the warp. Gen 3 synth physique combined with senior armstrong cybernetic heart, with isu wepons and armor combined with Punishing Gray Raven wepons and armor including Cyberpunk wepons should suffice. They should be able hold the line no problem as long as our enemies don't have any planet destroying weapons and or destroy the Isu pillars that we have set up around the planet. If those pillars get destroyed then the invisible forces fuild protecting Pangea will go down."
Cassidy's voice returned. "Your transport's prepped and ready. Coordinates for isolated system XG-99, ready. Our scput drones are triple checking to see if it's safe. No factions or other forms of life have been found and no logged saying that they found any structure anywhere near it below or above ground, we got the all clear single."
Morgan le Fay stepped forward. "I'll be going with you. I will not allow our future to hinge on one man walking into uncertainty without proper backing incase things don't work out."
Artoria Pendragon gave a solemn nod. "And I as well. The people are leaving there trust to you and I as your servant will be your sword when the time comes."
Cassidy descended from the lift as the group made their way to the hangar, already in her lightweight armor and gear. "You'll need a navigator. That system's wild. Solar storms, shifting magnetic fields. If you want to land without frying half the hull, I'm your Nova."
Dew smiled faintly, appreciative. "Then it's decided. The four of us go. Everyone else stays here to protect Pangea if something happens, better safe then sorry. Someone must oversee the cloak systems, control the information, and monitor Nurgle's position."
Da Vinci placed a hand on Dew's shoulder. "If the worst happens, we'll manage. But where counting on you, must succeed. Our future depends on it."
Outside the hangar, black-clad armored Synths loaded the long-range terraforming vessel. It was sleek, modified from scavenged Imperium scout ships, now fused with Isu circuitry and hard-light shield cores and tenology from Fallout, broken age, metal gear, and Punishing Gray Raven. Inside of it was everything needed to turn a dead rock into a living world.
Cassidy did one last system check at the helm. "Engines clean. Jump ready. Time on that system runs fast—about one full day for every hour back here. We'll have a few months to prep before where even missed."
Morgan stood behind her staring at the screen somewhat confused with all the things popping up on it. She was a magus not a rocket scientist or technician.
Artoria clasped her armored hands. "Let us go forth and bring order to this new frontier."
As Dew stepped up into the ship, he looked back toward Pangea—the life he had rebuilt from the ashes, into a sanctuary ment for all was now at risk. He would not abandon them to die in the cruel universe.
Once aboard, the engines began to hum.
Da Vinci's voice came over comms. "You'll be alone out there so be careful."
Dew responded, calm and clear. "Got it, be safe as well. I'll be praying for your safety too."
In the silence that followed, he input the final coordinate. The warp engine surged.
Cassidy activated the core. "Jump in three… two…"
With a flash, the ship launched into hyperspace. Space folded around it, reality stretched, and the stars became streaks of lights.
Pangea vanished behind them.
Ahead, a lifeless planet waited.
And with it—a glimmer of hope for his people survival.
End of Chapter Forty-Six