Stellaris Tech Tree HSR

The battle concluded, and as the trio headed toward the elevator, they ran into Dan Heng and a young boy named Arlan, who had also been drawn by the commotion.

After a brief discussion, the group boarded the elevator, descending to the space station's secure zone.

At the elevator's exit, a woman was waiting for them—a striking figure in a gray-black military-style short jacket paired with a halter-neck white dress. Her outfit was elegant without being ostentatious, exuding a sense of refined authority.

Her tall, curvaceous figure, complemented by glimpses of smooth, pale skin beneath the hem of her dress, made her appear even more statuesque.

The moment the doors slid open, March 7th bounded forward with excitement.

"Himeko!!"

Himeko chuckled softly. "Looks like you all had quite the adventure. I imagine there were plenty of enemies up there?"

March puffed up her chest proudly. "Hah! Those small fry were no match for us! Oh, and I brought you a surprise!"

She stepped aside, revealing Chen Lin and the dazed Stelle standing behind her.

"This is Chen Lin. He's lost his memory and doesn't remember how he got here, but he's smart and a skilled fighter. And this is Stelle—same situation, also a total powerhouse! We've got new members for the Astral Express!"

Himeko's lips curved into a smile as she extended a hand. "Welcome, both of you. I'm Himeko, the navigator of the Astral Express. It's a pleasure to meet you. I watched your battle earlier through the drones—impressive work. You saved me the trouble of stepping in. Thank you for looking after March."

After a round of introductions, Himeko gestured to the corridor ahead.

"Let's go. I still need to confirm your identities with Asta. If everything checks out, the Astral Express will gladly welcome you aboard."

Asta, the red-haired girl who managed the station, was busy at the communications console, issuing commands to the defense team to secure the area and prevent further incursions by the Antimatter Legion.

Upon seeing Himeko approach with the group, Asta exhaled in relief.

"I'm glad you're all safe. Arlan told me how much we owe to your help."

Himeko nodded and asked, "These two were found in the containment zone. Their memories are hazy and they say they aren't from the station. Do you recognize them?"

"They're not from the station?" Asta blinked, surprised, before shaking her head. "No, they're not from the station. I'm sorry about this; it's likely that some spatial anomaly caused by the Antimatter Legion drew them here."

"Good to know. I'll leave Stelle to you for now." Himeko turned to Stelle. "Would you mind coming with me for a chat?"

"(Frantically shakes head.)"

Stelle immediately retreated behind Chen Lin, using his taller frame as a makeshift shield.

Himeko raised an eyebrow, then directed her gaze at Chen Lin.

Sighing, Chen Lin spoke reassuringly. "Stelle, go with Miss Himeko for a bit. I'll come find you after, okay?"

Reluctantly, Stelle agreed, trailing after Himeko like a sulking child.

As they left, Himeko gave Chen Lin a knowing look. "Chen Lin, right? I look forward to working with you. If you have questions, feel free to ask anytime."

"Thank you, Miss Himeko. I will."

Dan Heng had already disappeared into a quiet corner to rest, while March 7th darted off to explore the station's curiosities. Within minutes, the communications console area was empty save for Chen Lin and Asta.

"Miss Asta, may I ask you a few questions?"

"Of course. I'd be happy to chat with a new partner of the station. By the way, how should I address you?"

"Chen Lin will do," he replied with a polite nod.

Chen Lin's curiosity about the station's advanced technology had been growing ever since he arrived. After hearing about the Antimatter Legion's capabilities, his interest was piqued even further. He needed to understand this world to set meaningful goals for the future.

After some thought, he asked, "How do those energy bridges in the station work?"

Asta tilted her head, caught off guard by the unexpected question.

She had assumed Chen Lin might inquire about the station's leadership or her role as its director—not technical details.

"This isn't classified information," Asta said, before launching into an explanation. "The bridges are formed by collecting a substance we call Charis Energy, which is scattered throughout space. It's then filtered, reinforced, and condensed into a physical structure using a device called a Projection Materializer."

Impressed, Chen Lin nodded and followed up, "What about the gravity simulation? Is it managed by some sort of device?"

"Oh, that would be the Gravity Simulator, developed by the Interstellar Peace Corporation's research team. Let me see… Ah, here's the published paper on its mechanics."

"And the oxygen barriers you mentioned earlier?"

"They're part of a large-scale shield that envelopes the entire station. Besides generating breathable oxygen and simulating gravity, the barrier also acts as a defensive measure. Its principle relies on…"

"What powers the elevator? It doesn't seem to use conventional electricity."

What started as a casual Q&A quickly turned into an in-depth discussion.

Asta explained everything she could, from the station's everyday technology to the specialized metals used in its construction. When the questions grew too complex—particularly when they veered into the realm of space-time theory—Asta called in a few idle researchers to assist.

Throughout their conversation, Asta noticed that Chen Lin's knowledge spanned a wide range of disciplines. While his understanding of some topics was shallow, his curiosity and dedication to learning were undeniable.

To a scientist like Asta, this was both admirable and inspiring. Anyone willing to delve into the unknown deserved respect, especially someone who had clearly studied astronomy—her own field of expertise.

Within minutes, Asta found herself fully engrossed in their dialogue, appreciating the rare opportunity to converse with someone who shared her passion.

Eventually, she interrupted the discussion with a sudden proposal.

"Pardon me, Chen Lin, but would you be interested in working here at the station? Not as a full-time hire, of course—more like a part-time assistant. My lab could really use someone like you. We'd have plenty of interesting topics to explore together!"

"But the Astral Express isn't stationary, is it?" Chen Lin asked, taken aback.

Asta waved off his concern.

"Once you're a member of the Astral Express, you'll have access to the Path of the Trailblaze. It allows you to instantly travel to any location the train has marked!"

"How does that work?"

"Uh… I haven't studied it myself…" Asta admitted sheepishly before adding, "But don't worry! I'll hire someone to figure it out and get you a detailed report. Trust me—you'll love it!"

"Well, if Miss Himeko approves, I'd be happy to help," Chen Lin replied, deferring the final decision to Himeko.

Satisfied, Asta returned to managing the station's defenses. As she issued orders to the security team, Chen Lin's attention was drawn to a notification in his UI.

The [Fleet Management] button was glowing faintly.

Curious, he tapped it and found a fleet of three corvette-class ships listed in his interface.

Wait a second. Could those unknown vessels Asta mentioned be… my starting ships?

Testing a theory, Chen Lin mentally commanded the ships to move away.

Asta's communicator buzzed moments later with a report from the defense team.

"What? The unknown ships are leaving on their own? Whew… At least they're not hostile."

Chen Lin's eyes lit up. So I can control the fleet with just my thoughts? Does that mean I can board them too?

He had never piloted a corvette before, and the idea of exploring one filled him with excitement.

Just as he was reveling in the discovery, a countdown in his [Intelligence Log] reached zero. The research on the Dual-Blade Marauder's remains was complete.

But before he could check the results, the station was plunged into chaos.

Red lights began flashing, accompanied by a deafening alarm.

A mechanical voice blared over the speakers:

"Planetary destruction weapon detected. Doomsday Beast incoming. All personnel, prepare for combat."

The announcement left the command center in pandemonium.

Asta's face paled as she turned to Chen Lin, her voice shaking.

"Chen Lin… Go find Himeko and the others! The Doomsday Beast—why is that thing here?!"

---

T/N: HE HAS A FLEET??? hmm i feel like playhing sterllaris now (if you ever point out my spelling during notes i will kill u, i do not have the energy to care about sp[elling if it's not the actual chapter)

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