Crossover Shipgirls: Building a Dimensional Empire from Scratch

After finishing the entirety of Heaven’s Lost Property and reading through the materials Richelieu had compiled, the people in the room wore various expressions.

The anime, though flying the harem flag, was clearly a fanservice show. That much was obvious from the angels’ outfits and protagonist Tomoki Sakurai’s rather outrageous gentlemanly behaviors.

Undeniably, he did have a few redeeming qualities at times. But whether it was his interactions with Ikaros or anyone else, or his bizarre obsession with panties, the shipgirls and Spirits found it a bit headache-inducing.

”The Commander didn’t even flinch watching all that... Amazing...”

One shipgirl secretly admired him.

”Maybe it’s because Tomoki Sakurai’s experiences are too tame compared to the Commander’s.”

Jeanne Alter, who knew the truth, offered a casual comment.

Surrounded daily by shipgirls and Spirits, and spending nights with a different companion each evening, she couldn’t possibly compare Setsuna to some blushing high school boy from Japan who gets a nosebleed at the sight of skin.

”You think that’s bold? Please, I’ve done far more than that in the base. If it were me, I’d have already found a way to win her over—kiss first, then... and finally... you know?!”

That was the general sentiment.

”...”

”Back to business.”

Setsuna knocked on the table.

”What do you all think of Synapse?”

”I find it hard to understand...”

Yat Sen tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, replying uncertainly.

”Their technological level is indeed advanced—nearly on par with a creation-level civilization—but their lifestyle and societal structure are incredibly perplexing...”

Synapse.

A super civilization in the world of Heaven’s Lost Property.

Their technology had reached an extreme, capable of creating universes and achieving near-immortal eternal life.

However, in an age of such prolonged prosperity, with every desire easily granted, the people of Synapse gradually lost all hope or excitement for life.

After all, anything they wanted could be fulfilled with a mere wish.

Living such boring lives, a large portion chose to commit suicide, leading to a drastic population drop to around 3,000.

After billions of years, the few thousand remaining individuals became mentally twisted, finding pleasure in creating and destroying things.

In the lore of Heaven’s Lost Property, they created the human world and observed life on Earth from above for entertainment.

Eventually, in humanity, they found what they had long sought: restraint.

Humans couldn’t do everything, and thus they held hope for the future—dreams.

Both dreams of ambition and literal dreams.

This greatly intrigued the Synapse residents, who were incapable of dreaming themselves.

With help from an angel scientist named Daedalus, the Synapse people entered ”dreams.”

Using a type of stasis pod, they projected themselves into Earth as humans.

These dream-state Synapse inhabitants had no memory of their original selves and could fully experience the joys and sorrows of ordinary life.

When they died on Earth, completing a full human lifetime, they would awaken above, only to start another dream.

Each time they projected to Earth, they had no recollection of their past life, and would begin again as a new person.

And so the cycle continued.

A civilization with unfathomable technological power drifted endlessly within their woven dreams.

Meanwhile, figures like the Master of Synapse, who were Synapse administrators unable to enter dreams, slowly fell into psychological ruin from eons of solitude.

The dream-state technology was thus developed...

Daedalus went on to create the first-generation universal angel: the strategic combat-use universal angel Ikaros.

Ikaros had once been abused by the Master of Synapse and ordered to destroy an entire civilization (a few thousand years ago).

However, on her return, a malfunction forced her to crash-land and reboot, during which she was found by a surviving human child who ordered her to strike back at Synapse. Synapse was nearly destroyed.

Afterward, for unclear reasons, a conflict broke out between Daedalus and the Synapse people.

Her movements were confined within a protective barrier, and her three strongest angelic androids were taken away.

Daedalus sent Ikaros to Tomoki Sakurai as a way of seeking ”salvation.”

Thus began the story of Heaven’s Lost Property.

”...”

”Isn’t this just a Fallen Empire?”

Gudako rolled her eyes.

”Technology has reached its peak, people no longer need to do anything productive, and everyone just wallows in virtual dreams.”

”Society has lost all momentum. Synapse is basically a lifeless nation.”

”You have a point.”

Setsuna chuckled.

”Though a Fallen Empire can still awaken, rise up, and fight a war in heaven to dominate the galaxy... Synapse people, though? I’m not so sure.”

The greatest desire of those Synapse shut-ins seemed to be dreaming on Earth again and again in human form.

Over countless ages, the original Synapse residents’ technological knowledge had either been lost or stagnated. Their only remaining crutch was Daedalus’ Wishing Stone Tablet, the Rule.

—A stone slab capable of fulfilling nearly any wish.

With it, theoretically, no other technology was necessary.

Beyond that, everything had fallen into stasis.

”So we’re going to sweep them into the trash heap of history? Compete for dominion of the stars?”

Ritsuka Fujimaru’s eyes sparkled.

”Hmm...”

Bismarck, dressed in her military uniform, thought for a moment.

”If we’re considering pure military strength, and assuming they don’t use the stone tablet’s power, then I believe total conquest is possible.”

”The combat power of the universal angels isn’t that extreme. Ikaros, the so-called ’Queen of the Sky’ and strongest angel, only has mobility at 20-30 times the speed of sound—still much slower than our starships and missiles.”

”Her most powerful weapons, Apollo and the Uranus System, appear to have continent-destroying capabilities. In terms of mobility, defense, and firepower, we still hold the advantage.”

”Not to mention, we also have support from Spirits and Heroic Spirits. Defeating them won’t be difficult.”

As Iron Blood’s flagship, Bismarck had a natural commanding aura. She immediately began analyzing the comparative strengths of both sides.

Synapse’s conventional military strength relied entirely on artificial angels.

Given that Ikaros alone had nearly overturned Synapse, their overall strength clearly did not match their technological level.

”Never underestimate a civilization more advanced than us, or we’ll end up like the Chinese New Year firecracker humans in Three-Body.”

Setsuna patted Bismarck on the shoulder, signaling her to stay calm.

He then added jokingly:

”We haven’t unlocked the ’Ascend to Rule the Stars’ tech tree yet.”

”Ah... Yes, Commander. Apologies.”

Bismarck bowed slightly and sat back down.

”I have a few plans for the Heaven’s Lost Property world.”

After explaining the situation,

As usual, Setsuna wrote his objectives on the blackboard.

”First, bring back Ikaros, Nymph, and Astraea. If possible, capture a few more artificial angels as well.”

”Second, acquire the artificial angel technology. In the future, we should be able to manufacture our own universal angels.”

”Third, if the opportunity arises, study the Wishing Stone Tablet of Synapse.”

Collecting the three angels was a given for Setsuna.

Though the Synapse people were now mostly shut-ins living in dreams, their artificial angel technology was still highly practical.

Since these were entirely technological creations, Setsuna could even enhance them using technologies from other worlds.

Under his control, Ikaros would definitely be able to unleash combat power far beyond the original.

”But isn’t Nymph and Astraea under the control of the Master of Synapse? How are we going to bring them back?”

”Are we really going to fight the Master of Synapse? Capture him before he can use the stone tablet?”

Richelieu asked curiously.

”Hmm...”

Setsuna paused.

”That would be plan D. I have a few more interesting options in mind.”

”Like supporting Daedalus to overthrow the Master of Synapse and become the ruler of Synapse herself. Then I could act as the Supreme Overlord behind the throne...”

”???”

Everyone was stunned.

”Isn’t your idea even more dangerous?!”

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