That wasn't a threat, Prowl. That was a simple explanation of the state of reality. And really, she'd be nicer about it than Uncle Doom. She was pragmatic. He got territorial.

"Define 'Space Bridge,'" she said. "But terminology aside, materials aren't the issue. Manufacturing capacity can be bootstrapped. I've run salvage scenarios so many times I could do it in my sleep." Val waved a hand at the room around them as proof she knew what she was doing.

"The real problem is twofold: determining the laws of physics of this universe and its local higher-dimensional group, since this planet's entire infosphere seems to have been erased, and keeping hostilities among your species from impeding my progress. I'm working on the latter right now." Like most humans, she had an understandable aversion to being stepped on, and it informed her priorities.