The refinery core hummed to life.
A deep, steady vibration spread through the scrap field as energy levels rose for the first time since Daniel arrived.
Energy Reserve: 27%Refinement Efficiency: 18%
Daniel watched the numbers climb.
"…That's more like it."
Snow stood beside him, calm as ever.
"Energy stability achieved. Infrastructure viability confirmed."
The skeletal frame of the Micro-Refinery stood firm, surrounded by 300 construction drones moving in disciplined formations.
For the first time, the junkyard didn't look abandoned.
It looked claimed.
Daniel folded his arms and stared at the massive debris field stretching in every direction.
"Snow."
"Yes, System Lord."
"How big is this sector?"
The holographic map zoomed outward.
The scrap field expanded into a circular battlefield remnant nearly 1,800 kilometers across.
Daniel blinked slowly.
"…That's not a junkyard."
"Correction: It is a planetary-scale war debris zone."
He exhaled.
Then something in his expression changed.
"We don't expand yet."
Snow paused.
"Clarify."
"We clean first."
The engineer he had summoned earlier turned from the control console.
"Define objective."
Daniel pointed at the rotating debris field.
"No blind zones."
"No uncontrolled tech."
"No floating reactors waiting to explode."
"No hidden AI waking up without permission."
His voice was calm.
"We strip this entire sector. Every metal fragment. Every weapon core. Every data chip."
Snow processed instantly.
"Recommendation: Initiate Domain Sanitation Protocol."
The system panel updated.
▣ DOMAIN SANITATION PROTOCOL
Objective:Total resource and technology control of Sector 01.
Phase 1 – High-Density Metal RecoveryPhase 2 – Reactor Core & Weapon Fragment ExtractionPhase 3 – AI Chip & Data Core IsolationPhase 4 – Structural Clearing & Stabilized Navigation Lanes
Estimated Duration:58 Days (Current Drone Count)
Daniel nodded once.
"Approved."
The 300 drones shifted formation immediately.
They no longer moved randomly.
They formed a grid.
Methodical.
Systematic.
Precise.
Scrap Alloy count began climbing rapidly.
Scrap Alloy: 1,204 → 1,987 → 3,142Rare Alloy Fragments: 73Unknown Tech Components: 12
Snow's voice remained steady.
"Production Ascension growth detected. Drone efficiency +3%."
Daniel smirked.
"See? I don't need enemies to level up."
"Adversity Engine remains dormant. However, structured expansion increases stability."
The engineer stepped forward.
"Recommend constructing Material Sorting Yard to prevent refinery bottleneck."
Daniel nodded immediately.
"Approved."
The Portable Fabrication Module deployed additional platforms.
Zones formed:
• Raw Scrap Intake• Refined Alloy Storage• Rare Material Vault• Unknown Technology Quarantine
Order began replacing chaos.
Daniel stared at the map again.
"If something is hiding here…"
Snow finished smoothly.
"It will be found during Phase 2."
He nodded.
"Exactly."
"No expansion beyond this sector until it's ours."
The engineer spoke again:
"With full cleanup, resource reserves could support cruiser-class construction."
Daniel smiled faintly.
"Then that's our goal."
Outside, the refinery roared louder.
Clear lanes began forming through the debris field.
The junkyard was no longer random destruction.
It was being organized into territory.
The system panel updated quietly:
Civilization Tier Progress: 7% → 12%Command Authority Stability: RisingSector Control: 4%
Daniel looked out at the drifting metal ocean.
"This is how empires start."
Snow responded calmly:
"With infrastructure."
Daniel nodded.
"And patience."
Far beyond the invisible boundary of the closed system—
The galaxy remained unaware.
But inside this sealed scrap world—
Every atom was slowly becoming property.