From Titan Corporation to the Empire of Man

Chapter 726 A Watershed Moment in Fate

Before the Man-Mighty Fortress tore through the barrier of reality and opened the space gate, this is the solar system side of the Dead Space universe;
This place serves as proof of the pinnacle of human technological prowess in Dead Space.

Through generations of tireless exploration and colonization, those barren planets that were once deemed "no-life zones" by early astronomers have all succumbed to human will, been transformed and conquered, and ultimately woven into a vast interstellar civilization network with the solar system at its core, radiating to the edge of the Orion Arm.

Within this territory, humanity undoubtedly occupies the dominant position.

Looking across the entire galaxy, human footprints and transformation projects are almost everywhere.

Every Earth-like planet, and even its moons, bears the deep imprint of civilization.

Among them, the changes on Mars are particularly noteworthy.

This once red wasteland has been transformed through an unprecedented planetary-scale project—

From the re-ignition of the Earth's core to generate an artificial magnetic field, to the introduction of comet ice cores to construct a water cycle system, it has transformed into a vibrant green planet.

Its activated magnetic field acts like an invisible giant shield, effectively deflecting the deadly solar wind, while the newly formed atmosphere fosters a mild and pleasant climate.

Today, the Martian surface is dotted with mirror-like lakes and lush gardens, much like Earth, making it a premier vacation paradise and habitable place in interstellar space.

The urban landscape of Mars is a direct reflection of its prosperity.

Skyscrapers are not densely packed together, but rather harmoniously integrated with vast natural parks and clean water bodies, distributed in a staggered manner around the world.

The air here is fresh, the environment is beautiful, and cutting-edge technology is cleverly integrated into daily life without feeling out of place.

Naturally, it attracted a large number of social elites and wealthy people to settle down, becoming the economic and power hub of human civilization in the Dead Space universe.

However, beneath this glamorous facade, Mars also clearly reflects the deep-seated inequalities in human societies within that universe.

The heavy industrial zones, energy hubs, and labor-intensive areas essential to maintaining the luxurious operation of the entire planet stand in stark contrast to the affluent tranquility of the resort areas.

In these regions, the landscape is strikingly different. The environment may still be strictly controlled and not polluted, but the hardships of life and the rigid social classes are ubiquitous, forming an unavoidable shadow in this picture of "human miracles".

Nevertheless, Mars is still far more "habitable" than Earth, with almost all of its resources being allocated and used in the most rational way.

Meanwhile, other moons, such as Titan and Europa, have also established multiple long-term colonies.

Humanity's footprints have spread throughout the entire solar system, from Jupiter's moons to Saturn's rings, expanding our living space and completely dominating the world.

The establishment of these colonies not only greatly promoted human scientific research and industrial development, but also gave humanity more choices and survival opportunities in the universe.

However, the situation on Earth is far more complex than on Mars.

As the birthplace of humankind, Earth possesses the largest and most complex social structure.

On the surface, Earth's technological level is far superior to that of all colonies, but here, the gap between the rich and the poor is directly presented to everyone.

The city is a stark contrast between prosperity and poverty, with modern technological facilities and backward slums intertwined.

Many of Earth's major cities, like Coruscant in Star Wars, have almost no exposed land; all the buildings are encased in metal and glass.

Above the city, countless hovercraft and aircraft shuttle through busy airways, and aerial rail trains run through major building districts. All transportation relies on a highly developed maglev system.

The surface of this human home planet appears prosperous, but it is actually full of deep contradictions.

The city's affluent and impoverished areas present a stark contrast.

The wealthy and powerful living in skyscrapers lead carefree lives, enjoying state-of-the-art technology and comfortable living environments.

In slums, billions of ordinary people are still struggling for basic survival.

The factories, schools, and commercial areas here still bear the marks of most people's hard work, but their living conditions are heartbreakingly poor.

Every day, they while away the time in repetitive, mechanical labor, their only goal being to survive.

In stark contrast to the wealthy neighborhoods, the streets of the slums are rife with violence and crime. The poor live in appalling conditions and face a dire security situation. In contrast, the areas where the wealthy live, move around, and play are peaceful, and even the security personnel there are far better equipped than the local police.

Even so, Earth remains the center of human civilization, bearing a wealth of historical sites, cultural heritage, and intellectual treasures.

Its inextinguishable vitality continues to attract countless eyes.

In Dead Space, human technology continues to advance in the hands of Earth's scientists, with breakthroughs in space exploration and interstellar travel technologies, and Earth's space stations, research bases, and military facilities constantly expanding.

Although technology remains a driving force for social development, the gap between the rich and the poor, the unfair distribution of resources, and the overexploitation of the Earth's environment are making this planet seem increasingly burdened.

High above the city, aircraft shuttle between massive metal buildings, transporting goods and transferring people, while everything on the ground is no longer as beautiful.

Poverty, corruption, and greed seem to be deeply rooted in the soil of Earth's civilization in Dead Space, and are difficult to eradicate.

The figures of homeless people wander through the dark corners of the city, and violent incidents occur frequently in the slums, but these are just "social ills" that the powerful and wealthy turn a blind eye to.

The future of Earth seems to be facing unprecedented challenges.

This once-glorious planet is now surrounded by layers of social structures and increasingly severe class divisions. The middle class is rapidly disappearing, and the gap between the rich and the poor is widening.

This land, once considered paradise by humankind, is heading towards destruction.

No wonder the Unification Church's development is "endless." Faced with this situation, the Unification Church will never lack new believers or dare-to-fight suicide fighters.

But at that moment, a tremendous change suddenly occurred in the sky above the Earth.

A dazzling curtain of light ripped through the blue sky, followed by a massive energy surge that shook the entire city.

A large number of aircraft suddenly came to a standstill on the high-altitude airway, and citizens on the street also stopped in their tracks and looked up at the sky.

The windows of buildings in the city began to vibrate, and in the distance, dazzling lights flashed continuously, as if the gates of the universe were being opened.

The light curtain grew stronger and stronger until a huge crack appeared in the "sky," and a spatial gate with a diameter of more than two hundred kilometers was fully opened, as if all the rules of reality collapsed in that instant.

The citizens looked tense and panicked, clearly having never seen such a strange sight before. Their hearts were pounding, and the atmosphere in the entire city became unusually heavy.

The Earth Federation's military satellites and space monitoring systems have begun high-frequency signal acquisition and analysis.

The alarms blared incessantly, and air defense systems and security measures were activated. However, faced with this "supernatural" phenomenon, all the technology and preparations seemed utterly powerless.

Both impoverished and affluent neighborhoods were gripped by an unprecedented panic. The cracks in Earth's near-Earth orbit on the sunlit side had fully expanded, posing an endless "threat" to the federal government, the elites, and capital.

People had never seen such a vast and mysterious power. The enormous spatial gate was like a nightmare from another universe, opening rapidly and devouring everything around it.
As the Renwei Yonggu passed through the light curtain and slowly sailed out of the portal, all eyes were drawn to this behemoth.

As it appeared in near-Earth orbit above Earth in Dead Space, billions of Earth's inhabitants instantly stopped what they were doing and looked up at the colossal ship that resembled a mobile palace.

Its length exceeds forty kilometers, reflecting the brilliance of the starry sky and exuding a mysterious and majestic aura.

Such a sight is unprecedented and awe-inspiring for humankind on Earth.

Following closely behind were the ships of the Imperial Guards' 1st to 14th Regiments. These ships were equally large in size and number, almost occupying the entire near-Earth orbit on the sunlit side.

The arrival of the fleet was like a silent giant hand, quietly controlling the entire sky and looking down on the earth.

On the ground, people's eyes turned to "excitement," and even believers in the Unification Church began to get excited.

Some of them had already bowed their heads and begun to kneel in the street, muttering incessantly:

"The gods have finally descended!"

"Lead us to integration, sublimation, and liberation from the suffering of this world." and so on.

Their voices trembled, yet were filled with extreme excitement and fervor.

Faced with this sudden and powerful fleet, they naturally believed that it was a sacred race sent by the "gods" they had long admired, and that it was the moment when they were chosen to be elevated.

In the eyes of these believers, their world has always been filled with injustice and suffering, and the Unification Church's promise of ultimate "integration" and "sublimation" seems to be the only way to salvation.

For a long time, these believers had lived in poverty and oppression. Faced with this massive fleet, they saw as if a savior had descended, and their fear and despair were instantly replaced by hope and ecstasy.

However, unlike the ecstasy of these believers, the officials of the Earth Federation and the members of the Earth Defense Force (EDF) were completely shocked and confused.

As the dominant military force in the solar system, the Earth Defense Force possesses a world-class fleet and technology, but they have never seen such a large and unfamiliar fleet before.

Although the main warships of the EDF often have a hull length of over 500 meters, these are insignificant in terms of both quantity and size compared to the ships of the Imperial Army Corps.

The commanders of the Earth Defense Force fell silent, unable to comprehend what was happening before their eyes.

In order to deal with any threat, the EDF fleet had begun to take position, but faced with this unexpected "invasion," they seemed to have lost their ability to cope.

No one knows where these ships came from, or whether they represent friendliness or hostility.
What is most puzzling is that the composition and size of these fleets cannot be explained by conventional thinking.

At the same time, media organizations on Earth immediately began reporting on the event, with almost all news channels and social media platforms discussing the sudden arrival of the fleet.

Some major news channels even dispatched film crews, piloting space shuttles straight to near-Earth orbit, to prepare for close-up filming of the movements of these mysterious fleets.

The entire Earth's network traffic has almost reached its limit, discussions are rising and falling, and public panic is spreading.

"What are those?"

"Is it an alien?"

"What should we do?" and other such questions arose in the minds of countless people.

More and more people are starting to ask their neighbors, relatives, and even the analyses and speculations that are constantly emerging on the Internet.

The most anxious people on Earth are none other than those who follow the Unification Church.

Their voices grew louder and louder, believing that these were messengers sent by the gods, and that the creator of the divine seal had finally descended.

Even though others are confused and frightened by this, for these believers, all of this symbolizes the ultimate salvation they have been waiting for.

Just as the global network was about to collapse, suddenly, all the communication screens flickered, and then Sui Meng's figure appeared on every screen.

Through the fleet network system of the Imperial Guards, Sui Meng's calm and majestic face appeared in every corner of the world.

"I am Sui Meng, the original of the Imperial Warrior Legion of the Human Empire, the twentieth son of the Emperor."

The Primarch's voice was clear and powerful, without any hesitation, carrying an overwhelming aura.

"We have come here representing the human empire of the main universe. We will bring a new future and true salvation to all humankind in the universe."

The Earth Federation and the Earth Defense Force, please submit to the Empire within forty-eight hours and accept the rule and prosperity we bring.

Everyone in front of the screen held their breath.

Sui Meng's voice was full of authority, concise and clear, carrying unwavering confidence and determination.

The Primarch's words were concise and rational, devoid of any superfluous words. He did not deliver any lengthy pronouncements but instead issued a direct call to the inhabitants of Earth in a resolute tone.

This is not just a "threat," but a ruthless declaration.

"The corruption and darkness of the Earth Federation have reached their end, and all those forces that remain obstinate will perish."

The glory of the empire will soon illuminate this starry sky, and all you have to do is join our future and enjoy this new world.

Sui Meng's voice rang out again, carrying an undeniable power.

"No more poverty, no more oppression, we will rebuild everything for you."

His voice was like a thunderclap, resounding across the globe.

To countless people, Sui Meng's declaration was as irresistible as a divine oracle. With each word, it seemed that the fate of humanity was destined to move in a new direction.

Meanwhile, the commanders of the Earth Defense Force remained silent on the bridge.

They knew that in the face of such an unprecedented force, any resistance would be insignificant.

Although their warships were well-equipped, their military strength was almost meaningless compared to the powerful fleet before them.

As Sui Meng's figure gradually disappeared from the screen, everyone on Earth, and even within the solar system, fell into an unprecedented silence.

This is a turning point, a watershed moment in destiny.
(End of this chapter)