Day 9.
Sector Cleared: 48%.
Mission 1 nearly complete.
Mission 2 (Silent Guardian) stable.
Industrial Sovereignty achieved.
The third major facility — the Tech Research Complex — activated.
A system chime echoed.
▣ MISSION COMPLETE — INDUSTRIAL SOVEREIGNTY
Rewards Granted:
• Corvette Core Blueprint (Complete)• Drone Efficiency +5%• +1 Research Slot
Additional Unlock:
• Population Summoning Protocol• Civic Development Framework
Daniel's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Population?"
Snow responded calmly:
"Civilization Tier threshold reached."
A new panel unfolded.
▣ SUMMONING EXPANSION — CIVILIZATION PROTOCOL
Unlocked Categories:
• Civilian Population• Skilled Workers• Military Recruits• Administrative Personnel
Current Capacity: 100 IndividualsExpansion scalable via infrastructure.
Daniel was quiet for a moment.
Aris stood respectfully beside him.
"System Lord. This marks transition from installation to society."
Lyra nodded.
"Industry without population remains incomplete."
Daniel looked out at the expanding base.
Metal structures.
Hydroponic chambers.
Barracks.
Research labs.
"…We're ready."
Snow displayed options.
▣ CIVILIAN SUMMON OPTIONS
Tier 1 Colonists (Balanced Skillset)Tier 1 EngineersTier 1 FarmersTier 1 Logistics Workers
Military Recruit Option:
Basic Infantry Cadre (10 Units per summon)
Daniel made his decision calmly.
"Summon 40 Tier 1 Colonists."
"Summon 10 Engineers."
"Summon 10 Farmers."
"Summon 10 Logistics Workers."
"Summon 20 Basic Infantry Cadre."
Energy reserves dipped.
Production diverted slightly.
Light formed across the central plaza.
One by one, people materialized.
Confused at first.
But quickly stabilizing.
Snow's voice filled the area gently:
"Integration protocol active. Language and contextual memory synchronized."
The civilians looked toward Daniel instinctively.
Not blind worship.
But recognition of authority.
One of the colonists stepped forward respectfully.
"System Lord."
Daniel nodded.
"Welcome."
Aris observed the military recruits forming into clean lines.
Twenty soldiers.
Light armor.
Disciplined posture.
They bowed slightly.
"We stand ready to defend the domain."
Daniel raised his hand slightly.
"You are not tools."
"You are foundation."
Lyra observed the civilian engineers immediately integrating into the industrial workflow.
Efficiency increased.
Drone output improved.
Hydroponic chambers stabilized food surplus.
Snow updated the panel.
▣ CIVILIZATION STATUS
Population: 90Military Personnel: 32Industrial Workforce: OperationalCivil Infrastructure: Expanding
Civilization Tier: 22%
Daniel stood at the elevated platform.
The scrap graveyard was no longer empty.
Voices echoed softly.
Movement.
Life.
For the first time—
It felt like a city in birth.
Snow then asked:
"Designation required."
Daniel blinked.
"Designation?"
"Civilization name required for political registration."
Silence.
Aris waited.
Lyra waited.
The colonists waited.
Daniel looked at the Terra fragment projection.
Then at the industrial zone.
Then at the stars beyond the invisible boundary.
"…We are born from ruin."
He spoke clearly.
"From scrap and silence."
He turned back to the system panel.
"Designation: Stormhold Dominion."
The system processed.
▣ CIVILIZATION REGISTERED
Name: Stormhold DominionGovernment Type: Central Command AuthorityFounder: Daniel StormSymbol: Pending
Snow's voice carried softly:
"Stormhold Dominion officially recognized."
Aris bowed his head.
"For the Dominion."
Lyra inclined hers.
"For progress."
The soldiers spoke in unison.
"For Stormhold."
Daniel looked over the growing base.
Industry humming.
Drones moving.
Civilians working.
Military standing ready.
And beneath the debris—
Terra remained hidden.
For now.