Know Thy Enemy

In the unforgiving expanse of 2450's post-Singularity cosmos, where trans-human immortals decant consciousnesses into bespoke "shells" and AI overlords orchestrate mega-corporate empires, Patrick Murphy's Corpus Ad Astra (CAA) expedition to HD260655 promised a jackpot: the highest-probability star system for multiple Earth-like worlds, ripe for colonization amid Earth's teeming billions.

But paradise shatters under the brutal onslaught of rival mega-corp Hipponike, whose "kinetic acquisition" unleashes a relativistic nightmare of interstellar warfare. The crew of the Elephans—bolstered by MOMI's eleventh-hour personnel shuffle, including cunning ancient warriors like master engineer Karl Holtzhauser—must endure hard-SF crucibles: cyber-ninja infiltrations hacking neural archives, mutinous fractures in the trans-human ranks, and overwhelming enemy hordes numbering in the millions, armed with every dirty trick of 25th-century corporate MilSF warfare— from relativistic bombardments to AI-swarm ambushes.

Yet hope flickers in the digital fray: a legion of battle-ravenous CUYA war-bots, Karl's kaiju-inspired killing machines programmed to dominate as "OP" apex predators in every clash. As shells shatter, minds upload under fire, and galactic betrayals unravel, survival hinges on decoding the enemy's plans—before Hipponike claims the stars. In this relentless war for cosmic dominion, Karl’s directive to trans-humans and AI is clear: Know Thy Enemy!