The Galactic Trading Network's security protocols were sophisticated by cosmic standards, but they hadn't been designed to handle someone who could think at the speed of light while simultaneously existing as both user and intrusion vector. Jack's nanomachines rewrote themselves in real-time, becoming living encryption keys that danced through the system's defenses.
Within seventeen seconds, he had full administrative access.
The "Similar Listings" section made him understand that Earth's situation wasn't unique—it was routine. 2,847 other "livestock planets" were currently up for auction. The "Recently Sold" history showed 18,293 civilizations that had been purchased and processed in just the past millennium.
Average sale price: 890,000 EMU. Customer satisfaction rating: 94.7%.
Apparently, genocide was a seller's market.
But as Jack dove deeper into the GTN's databases, absorbing terabytes of information about galactic civilization, his nanomachine count exploded upward. 2.7 trillion became 3.2 trillion as his system integrated knowledge that spanned star systems.
"I need a galactic identity," he told ATLAS as he began constructing a false profile.
Steel Syndicate - Premium Acquisition Specialists
Credit Rating: AAA+ (based on projected consumption capabilities)
Business Focus: Exclusive planetary acquisitions for discerning clients
The GTN's algorithms, designed to evaluate the creditworthiness of species that could devour solar systems, took one look at Jack's nanomachine multiplication rate and assigned him a credit limit that could buy a small galaxy.
11:47 PM Galactic Standard Time:
Jack entered his first bid: 1,200,000 EMU.
The reaction was immediate. Chat channels that had been casually discussing Earth's "marbling quality" erupted with confusion.
"NEW BIDDER ALERT! Steel Syndicate has entered the auction!"
"Who the hell is Steel Syndicate?"
"Never heard of them. Must be new money."
11:52 PM:
The established players weren't impressed. Mind Flayer Consortium bumped to 1,285,000 EMU. Star Devourer Collective, apparently insulted by the challenge, jumped to 1,340,000 EMU.
Jack responded with 1,400,000 EMU and a message to the public chat: "Amateurs."
The bidding war that followed was like watching economic warfare conducted at light speed. Each increase brought threats from the established cartels, warnings about territory and traditional harvesting grounds.
11:58 PM:
Bio-Harvester Syndicate pushed to 1,500,000 EMU with a private message to Jack: "Steel Syndicate, this is our territory. Back off before you get hurt."
Jack's response broke several GTN community guidelines: "Counter-offer: I'll buy YOU too."
Then he did something that had never been attempted in GTN history. Using his nanomachine processing power, Jack began simultaneously bidding on seventeen different auctions. Star systems, asteroid belts, entire galactic sectors—all going to the highest bidder, all being bid on by Steel Syndicate.
The GTN's servers, designed to handle the computational load of intergalactic commerce, began to strain.
Final bid: 10,000,000 EMU
The number hung in digital space like a cosmic middle finger. It was more than the GDP of most galactic civilizations. It was market-breaking.
SYSTEM ALERT: BID AMOUNT EXCEEDS MARKET STABILITY LIMITS - MANUAL REVIEW REQUIRED
ATLAS, now fully integrated with Jack's consciousness, whispered through their link: "You just offered to pay more for Earth than the last thirty planetary auctions combined."
"Good," Jack replied as warning messages flooded his awareness. "Let's see what happens when you break their precious system."