How to choose the characteristics of "Flying Stars"

Mechanical soaring, not eating apples, double-trough population growth, ignoring livable punishment. The ascending route of the mechanical empire is different from the three ascending routes. The mechanical empire has its own exclusive ascending mechanical world and synthetic era, both of which need to unlock the other two ascending routes (and need specific technology) to choose.

"Mechanical World" unlocks a new terrain modification option, which can transform any livable planet into a mechanical planet. The "synthetic era" provides additional conversion points and reduces the conversion cost.