Chapter 152

Although the Primitive Lifeform Research Institute tried to interfere, the relocation of Planet Ragav was set to proceed as planned. After responding to the Federation Congress's inquiries, Kait boarded the Queen Bee and exited Ragav's gravity field.

Since he was invited to observe, he decided to watch from the VIP seat.

"Now then, where should we begin?"

'I'm excited.'

Emotion also didn't gather any information this time. She said she wanted to enjoy a fresh surprise, so Kait accepted without complaint. It seemed her emotions were developing smoothly.

Two ships flew in from Ragav. One carried Leen and Bunaha. They would board Emarimores's large vessel and, like Kait, observe the progress. The other was a research ship suddenly dispatched from the Corporation. It was sent by Palnesbrogia to collect and study the Tramnelende bacteria.

'Captain Kait. We've retrieved the Tramnelende bacteria you requested. We'll return to the Corporation and begin research for cultivation.'

"Please do."

'Well then, excuse us. Please visit again sometime. The President also wishes to meet you.'

"Sure, if I'm passing nearby, I definitely will."

That said, there was someone aboard Vovrimos, the Corporation's flagship, whom Kait didn't want to meet. He watched the ship depart, thinking irreverently that he might stop by if he heard they'd left Vovrimos. Accompanied by light, the Corporation's ship disappeared into the distance.

For now, the Tramnelende bacteria issue was resolved. If the Corporation's research couldn't handle it, then even the technologically regressed Federation wouldn't be able to. If that happened, he'd have to swallow his pride and ask the supporters of the Primitive Lifeform Research Institute for help.

From behind Emarimores's ship, twenty artificial planets appeared, loaded with segments of Ragav's lifeforms and soil. Each one had a highly motivated Terapolapaneshio aboard to teleport the artificial planets from the site.

'Kait, Third-Rank Citizen (Enec Lagif). Thanks to you, we're able to begin this project safely. I sincerely thank you.'

"No, I only provided the idea. I'm more surprised at how quickly it was put into action."

'Is that so? There are more people in the Federation than you think who are counting on your ideas.'

Unless it's a special case like Terapolapaneshio or Tuna, nearly all intelligent beings are born on a planet and eventually leave their homeworld. They then encounter the Federation or other organizations and expand their worlds.

Even if their world expands, they have only one homeland. Disasters like the one that befell Planet Ragav, where the planet is destroyed without any fault of its inhabitants, are not that rare. If the cause is a disaster, the Federation has accepted evacuating intelligent life and abandoning the planet. They've learned from experience that doing anything unreasonable causes problems elsewhere.

Kait wasn't aware of it, but apparently planetary relocation was just barely within the threshold of not causing adverse effects elsewhere.

"I wish you success."

'Yes, pray for us. For the Earth jellyfish too!'

So it comes back to that. As he thought how anticlimactic it was, familiar silhouettes emerged one after another from the artificial planets. It was Di-Kigaia Zarmos.

The space jellyfish scattered loosely into orbit around Planet Ragav and emitted a directional force toward the planet. He had seen this very recently.

"Forced sleep...!"

'I see, so it temporarily puts the planet's inhabitants to sleep.'

Regardless of day or night, regardless of species. A psychic power that forces all living beings to sleep. When it was used to put the remnants of Tsubanda to sleep, it was said to have targeted individuals modified by the Federation, so it must allow for fine-tuning.

The reason Kait wasn't affected was likely because he could use psychic power on par with the space jellyfish.

'I got the idea when we used it on the Tsubanda folks. I thought it could work on Ragav too.'

'Right. There had been concerns that chasing down panicked animals for capture would be time-consuming and stressful.'

If that incident ended up being useful here, then perhaps it was a blessing in disguise.

As Kait stood, countless ships passed by him and descended to Planet Ragav. They were collecting sleeping animals and transporting them to the artificial planets. From here on, it would be a matter of sheer volume.

"I thought they'd dock directly with the artificial planets, but I guess not."

'It's probably safer to avoid that while lifeforms are still present. Once we've moved on to soil collection, we plan to dock.'

'Oh. It's coming out, Captain.'

While they talked, several of the earlier recovery ships were seen ascending again. They returned to the artificial planets. Curiously, each ship entered a different location.

"Is there a reason they're entering separate places?"

'Yes. We've prepared optimal environments by species. We don't plan to wake them until after the relocation, but even so, a familiar environment reduces stress.'

It was Emarimores who answered. Indeed, no one knew how many different lifeforms existed on Planet Ragav, but it was clear they had adapted to different environments. They now planned to shift them from forced sleep into a state of hibernation.

A strong determination could be felt—to relocate them with as little burden as possible.

"That's reassuring. Oh, is that...?"

Exceptionally large ships rose up one after another. With their high capacity, they entered yet another artificial planet.

Emotion seemed to have investigated the interior and informed Kait before Emarimores could explain.

'Those are likely collecting Ragav's oceans. They'll probably be loaded along with the lifeforms.'

'Correct, Emotion, Fifth-Rank Citizen (Alto Romia). We're also adjusting the pressure on the organisms to ensure their safe survival.'

He had heard that Ragav's oceans were much smaller than Earth's, but even so, the number of large ships rising was immense.

He watched and thought how difficult it would be to do the same on Earth. He had roused the space jellyfish under the pretense of saving the Earth jellyfish, but maybe Earth itself had a lifespan. Even if they relocated, a time might come when Earth's death couldn't be avoided. When that happened, they would need to consider a fundamental solution.

"Well, that's for later."

'Captain?'

"No, it's nothing. Oh, did Ragav's color change a little?"

The color of Ragav had partially changed, likely because the ocean collection was complete. The last time he saw a planet's color change was when Earth was on the brink of destruction. Compared to that, this color change was filled with hope. No more large ships were emerging. Kait was only seeing part of the planet, but since no ships were circling around, the ocean collection must be done.

"Next is the trees and soil, I guess."

'Once that's done, it'll be time to collect the atmosphere.'

Once all that was complete, they would begin relocating Planet Ragav itself.

The overwhelming scale and speed of the operation far exceeded Kait's expectations. Watching it, he was once again impressed by the unimaginable power of the Federation's technology.

"I wonder what Leen thinks as she watches this."

Was she grieving the dismantling of her beloved homeland, or was she holding onto hope for the new world?

He hoped it was the latter. The scene before them was so majestic.

'I hope it's hope. For the future.'

Emotion was thinking the same thing, and that made Kait inexplicably happy.

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