In the research labs above Rae 5, Uncle Lu and Ranarth were immersed in a deeply theological conversation, after an unknown relic recovered after the last battle at the Rift in space on the other side of the Anomaly had turned out to be a bit of antique human technology related to the manipulation of the layers of space.
They had managed to access some of the data stored in it, and it had been enough to determine that there was indeed a way to access the layer of space that the Gods were hiding in, using Cathedral Ship technology, which could be made compatible with human technology.
That meant that they could take the battle to the enemy, without relying on the Darklings or the Arisen, which was a huge step forward for humanity, but the presence of the Gods had so warped that layer of space that the operation of nearly all known weapons and technology was somewhere between ineffective and suicidal due to instability.
Uncle Lu knew that the new weapon they had developed would work there, as they had designed it specifically to combat the energy beings, and the interference that they brought with them from that layer.
But on the other hand, Ranarth thought that strapping a few thousand tonnes of antimatter to a malfunctioning Dyson sphere would be a much more cost-effective option.
Of course, it came with a few risks. Like the possibility of completely destabilizing the layers of space in the region and collapsing reality as they knew it, eliminating a billion species from existence instantly when reality ceased to exist in their layer.
"I have run the numbers, and the odds are no more than an eighteen percent chance that the primary layer would destabilize." Ranarth argued.
"That's nearly a one in five chance of ending reality." Uncle Lu reminded him.
"Do you even know any of those species? I don't, so who would miss them when they're gone? You don't even know their names." Ranarth countered.
"And what about the chances that the layer wouldn't stabilize, and it would ripple all the way across the universe?" Uncle Lu asked, dodging the question.
"That's just about guaranteed either way. The ripples have nothing to stop them, as they're not affected by any known law of nature in that way. But the layers in this region are dead already, things might shake in the primary layer here, but there is nothing in the others to be affected, so you'll never even know that the shockwave passed you by." Ranarth shrugged.
Uncle Lu never knew that it was possible to miss Nico's genocidal logic. Compared to Ranarth, she was sweet and innocent as a newborn kitten. When he had suggested the possibility of modifying a few members of the crew to be more efficient, and described the process, using genetic manipulation and hybridization surgeries, the normally carefree Mecha designer had been so horrified that he couldn't eat for three days.
"We are not giving them a weapon that will end reality." Uncle Lu declared in a tone that said he would not be swayed on this topic.
"What if we don't tell them? What they don't know won't trigger moral outrage." Ranarth suggested helpfully.
"The answer is still no."
"Can we at least tweak one or two regiments worth of soldiers? I've got some wonderful designs passed down from the last war, and they're incredibly effective. Some can even permanently destabilize lesser energy beings without using technology." Ranarth asked, getting bored with holding back because other species found his views too extreme.
"Alright, we can consider that. As long as it is voluntary, and doesn't cause them to lose their sense of self or free will. But I will need to see all the data on the experiments before you begin." Uncle Lu reluctantly agreed.
"See, now we're getting somewhere. But before we start on that, can I fix the lab assistant in Section 32B?" Ranarth asked hopefully.
Uncle Lu checked the section to see what the crazy old alien was talking about and found that there was a Valkia researcher there with a rare genetic disorder that their medicine couldn't cure. It had made his wings grow twisted and stumpy, and he was somewhat misshapen.
"Fix in what way, exactly?"
Ranarth smiled at Uncle Lu's question. "I will make him look and function just like the rest of his species. I'm a bit rusty after some time off from creative flesh art, so a simple reconstructive surgery to put the winged creature back to normal would be the perfect warm up. There's no risk, it's so simple that I could have done this with a field medic kit even when I was still a young man."
They were about to go ask him when an excited Innu ran up to them, waving a data tablet happily over her head.
"Boss, I did it. The sample chassis component is stable, and reads within your design specification." She called out as she ran toward them.
Her team had been working on a new chassis creation method that would combine the interlocking atomic bonds of the current monomolecular ship hulls with the increased density of the alloy for the Dyson Sphere, in an attempt to create a material that could give them substantially more durability for any given volume.
Size mattered quite a bit in any Mecha's design phase, so if they could make a hollow alloy superstructure that was stronger than the solid one they had now, and preferably even lighter, to reduce the need for gravity negation, it would allow them to do so much more when attempting to package components that could not be downsized before they would have to compromise on structural integrity or chassis volume.
Ranarth smiled at Uncle Lu. "The surgery can wait. If we really have a proper design sample, it is going to be an incredible breakthrough. This should be very close to what the ancient humans were using during the war, and your soldiers will finally have Mecha that can stand up to the real enemies of mortal life."
The ancient Collector chuckled, eagerly anticipating the day when they would be able to get vengeance on the energy beings and the Gods themselves.
