[Warning: Train energy depleted to 10%]*
Damian scrutinized energy logs. "Where's the nearest refuel?" Fuyao highlighted a standard solar system eight hundred million km away. "Proceed immediately."
As the train neared, passengers gathered—a sun-like star blazed ahead. An amateur astronomer cheered: "Entering a solar system! Maybe habitable worlds!" But Fuyao's scans revealed only asteroids, no life signs.
At parking orbit ninety million km from the star, Damian mused: "Why can I stare directly?"
[The train's hull blocks all radiation/EM waves—safe observation enabled.] [Prepare energy extraction?]
Curious, Damian authorized the process. Viewscreens displayed the train's flanks unfolding—densely packed compartments ejected pipelines kilometers wide that snaked toward the star. Nearing contact, the pipes bloomed like flowers, extending claws to latch onto the stellar surface.
"Direct energy siphoning?"
[Optimal efficiency via nuclear fusion element absorption.]
Damian scoffed: "Your definition of 'convenient' needs work."
Other worlds held fusion elements too—sure, slower to mine, but safer. This? Absurd.
But considering the mystique of the train, anything seemed possible.
"How much time is needed to fully replenish the energy?"
[If only replenishing the energy reserves, it would take just two hours. If restocking the fuel inventory, it would require four hours.]
"Definitely go for a full recharge—all stocks must be replenished."
Since there was four hours to spare, Damian decided to dispatch probe ships and mining ships to collect resources from nearby asteroids.
[The galaxy is too cluttered. It's advised to send warships for escort to clear the debris along the route.]
"Alright, let's do it."
The spacecraft traveled swiftly, reaching the nearest asteroid in ten minutes. It was rich with minerals—exactly what Damian needed. After analysis by Fuyao, the mineral information appeared on the screen, along with suggestions for manufacturing: mostly weapons or spacecraft.
"Why do some minerals only have numbers instead of names?" he asked, pointing to examples like
Mineral 47 (a basic material for warships) and Mineral 65 (used to upgrade the train's outer defenses).
[In the universe, countless civilizations have strange naming systems for materials. Numbers are more universal.]
"Do other civilizations use similar numbering systems?"
[Not significantly—mathematics is the most fundamental language across the cosmos. Any advanced civilization develops its own math, though the symbols might differ slightly.]
Mining robots were deployed to extract minerals from planets, ferrying them back to the train in batches. Damian activated the factories in the storage deck.
"For now, prioritize producing mining robots and transport ships."
It's like in a game: you need enough "farmers" to progress.
"What is the train doing?" The passengers, having nothing better to do, pressed themselves against the portholes to gaze outside. They could see spaceships constantly shuttling back and forth but had no idea what was being transported inside.
Someone with a quick mind suggested, "It's obvious. The train must need energy too. They're probably transporting fuel."
"For the train to have such tremendous power, it must be using nuclear fusion. Those pipes are for fuel transportation. I bet the spaceships are carrying minerals to continue building the train."
"My god, does that mean the train is going to expand further?" Some discussed the train itself, while others worried about survival.
"If the train stays here forever, what will we do? Are we just waiting to die?"
"The train has to provide us with food, right? Otherwise, there's no point in saving us from Purple Star."
Time passed amid various pointless discussions. Four hours later, when the train set off again, the passengers saw hope.