With so much change taking place within the Genesis Project, as well as throughout the galaxy, it was only natural that Admiral Jack Steel and Vice Admiral Johnathan Maxwell spent more time together going over every detail imaginable concerning the interstellar state of affairs. Each morning was ripe with cups of tea, computer files and non-stop brainstorming. The news that other Starbases were joining Jack's cause was something that kept Vice Admiral Maxwell awake at night, which inevitably brought the two men to the holographic chessboard where they battled until the break of dawn.

John, have you thought about what we should do with the new Starbases?

• Of course I have! It's kept me up all night.

What do we know about this Dread Lord Mancer?

• Computer, load Project NextColony

• I'm still not used to the idea that these files are declassified.

Serves as a reminder of the circumstances we find ourselves in.

• Good point, Admiral! Computer, load the Zyklop files.

Wow, that's one beast of a planet!

• That's nothing, wait until you get the background story. As you know, Dread Lord Mancer is the current Ruler of the Zyklopian Empire. This wasn't the case on Earth, however. Dread Lord Mancer was one of the clan leaders at the table with your father, Admiral Oliver Steel, and the L.I.F.E. Movement. Most of the other leaders objected to his presence because he was not an Admiral, or a General, or anything of the sort. He was an Underworld Boss, and the world's leading expert and producer of weaponized robotics. His Assassin Droids were, and still are, the deadliest in the known universe. When the others objected to his participation in the bidding for a Legendary Planet on the grounds that he was not a Military Officer, your father lashed out at them, calling them all a bunch of hypocrites. As far as the Admiral was concerned, they were all warmongers! Hence the Dread Lord placed his bid on the table and was given the coordinates to the Legendary Planet Zyklop.

That makes sense. From what I understand, the Zyklopians are a cyborg race.

• That's correct! Computer, next file please.

Original NextColony artwork by @monsterwhale

• Admiral Oliver Steel, and the L.I.F.E. Movement were fully aware that the Zyklopians would accept Dread Lord Mancer's establishing of a Starbase on the Legendary Planet for two important reasons; one, his unmistakable talent in the field of weaponized robotics; and two, the promise that the Zyklopians would one day have the coveted Yamato Starships as part of their fleet. No one, however, could have imagined how lethal this decision would end up becoming for the galaxy!

Well, what did they expect, John, this is war! Eventually, the most ruthless leaders will emerge.

• That's true, Jack. So this is what I would suggest for our new ally Commodore Tinari Onay... Operation Epsilon Corridor!

What in the hell is Operation Epsilon Corridor? Don't tell me that we have more secrets in this already complicated drama?

• No, Sir! This was only an idea that Admiral Curione and the Chief were hoping to be able to some day work on.

Okay, I'm curious!

• Good! Computer, load Alpha Galaxy.

• As you know, Project NextColony mapped out the galaxy in Rings of Quadrants. The Epsilon Ring is the outermost Ring of each galaxy. With the Delta Ring being the final Spawning area, the Chief convinced us that our priority should be to get out to that Ring and begin building what he called a "Corridor" that would completely encircle the Alpha Galaxy, and hence give us easier access to the four galactic corners.

Damn, that was quite ambitious of the Chief!

• You can say that again! The idea was abandoned when we were under siege and unable to launch Explore Missions. But now that we have Commodore Onay already within the Epsilon Ring, we should resurrect this idea. The Chief would certainly be honored.

I agree! What should I instruct the Commodore to do?

• Explore as much as he can, working his way to the center of Epsilon Quadrant -1/-5. Once he reaches the galactic longitude -605, he can begin an 11 Sector Sweep to the galactic east and west. This will create a "Corridor" of planets that will ultimately encircle the Alpha Galaxy!

Which of course, Commodore Onay's great, great grandchildren will some day complete!

• Very funny, Jack! Good to hear your sense of humor is returning. The Commodore wanted our guidance; well let's give him something very meaningful to work on.

Jokes aside, it's an excellent idea. I'll contact him now, and give him these instructions!

Recently on Next Colony

• Yamato blueprints have been distributed
• Yamato: Phase 1 begins now
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• Legendaries are dropping Yamato blueprints
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