Scientists Take the Field First When Two Armies Meet
In other words, humanity has four years and three months left.
Of course, four years and three months is the time from now on when the Unknown Civilization's fleet arrives at Aldebaran. If humanity wants to escape, they should run in the opposite direction before it arrives.
As for how much time in advance is safe to flee, that needs to be estimated based on the effective range of weapons of Tier 1 Civilization.
Yes, theoretically, beam weapons are Laser Weapon, which travel at the speed of light and have a range that can be measured in light-years. However, considering that space is not a true vacuum where nothing is, Laser Weapon will inevitably experience some attenuation at extremely long distances.
The same applies to Positron Cannon.
Therefore, this is a typical example of adapting to local conditions and analyzing specific problems in specific ways.
In order to deal with the series of matters that followed, Yue Yuan quickly summoned all the relevant scientists on the Lyra to the bridge and also connected with many experts via Video Communication.
After Man Yuemei returned to the bridge, Yue Yuan, who was sitting steadily in the captain's seat, looked at the group of scientists in related fields gathered together. "The situation between the enemy and ourselves is nothing more than the three elements of heaven, earth and man. When two armies clash, it is nothing more than knowing oneself and knowing the enemy. But now we do not know the enemy, so we must know ourselves first."
Yue Yuan habitually started with a theoretical point before continuing, "As for our own knowledge, we first need to know all aspects of our internal information. Putting everything else aside for now, we first need to know the various indicators of our own weapons and warships in the Aldebaran environment. You are all experts in various fields, and you need to test these data as soon as possible."
"That's easy. We just need to release small laser beams and small Positron Cannon in various parts of the space and test them at different power, distances, and locations to get specific data. But this requires the cooperation of the military."
It was Liu Miyan who spoke. He paused, and only after seeing Yue Yuan nod did he extend his finger and tap on his Personal Terminal. After his Personal Terminal screen was projected onto the large screen, he continued while gesturing, "According to the Chief of Staff's concealment requirements, we can conduct experiments here, here, and here. We have ready-made Small Escort Ship. Once we upload the test program, we can start. I expect to get the data we need within half an hour."
Everyone looked at the map that Liu Miyan had projected onto the big screen. These points were all obscured by planets or asteroids between them and the location of the Interstellar Dust.
"Yes, there's no time to lose. Professor Liu, you should get started on this now. The Astronomy Department has synchronized all the relevant parameters for Aldebaran to the system, which you can access at your convenience. In addition, the twelve Escort Ship near these points will cooperate with you." Yue Yuan said immediately without hesitation.
To obtain accurate data, all environmental factors must be taken into account. Only then can humans make targeted strategic arrangements based on these parameters.
Just as a sniper needs all the information about the environment, humanity must also have all the information about the environment, as well as the performance data of its own spaceships and warships in this environment, without missing a single detail.
So don't underestimate the fact that this is just collecting test parameters for Laser Weapon and Positron Cannon; it also requires taking into account all the parameters of Aldebaran.
This cannot be ignored, because humans are now very close to Aldebaran, only about 2.1 Astronomical Unit away. Aldebaran is an Orange Giant Star with a diameter 44 times that of the Sun, and its powerful Stellar Wind are constantly influencing everything around it.
Therefore, what seems like a simple "go test" actually includes a series of parameters such as Aldebaran's Gravity, Stellar Wind patterns, Stellar Wind intensity, density, space temperature, spectral type, magnetic pole stability, magnetic field strength parameters, orbital resonance frequency, and so on.
It really can't be done without physicists, astronomers, and other experts in related fields.
This also shows that in the interstellar era, scientists and technicians are the real main force, and almost everything is inseparable from professionals.
Seeing Liu Miyan start organizing his team to write test programs right on the bridge, Yue Yuan felt much more at ease. Then he looked at the military personnel.
"What are your thoughts on the alien fleet?"
Yue Yuan had his own judgment, but he still preferred to listen to the opinions of others.
"All specific tactics can only be planned after Professor Liu and his team obtain the concrete data. However, before that, we can analyze some useful information from our previous observations." It was Man Yuemei spoke, loosening her slightly tight collar, and continued:
"Based on the trajectory of the dust cloud, we have determined that the enemy has 413 ships, including 120 large ships. Based on this, we can preliminarily conclude that if this fleet is the vanguard of a civilization, then these 120 large ships are most likely to be main warships. If this is confirmed in subsequent reconnaissance, then I suggest that we complete some resupply within three years and then withdraw."
"In another scenario, if this fleet comprises all the ships of the entire civilization, then most of these 120 ships are likely Residential Spaceship. If that's the case, I think we can consider engaging them and then making further plans."
"Of course, all of this is based on the premise that we are well prepared for evacuation." Perhaps learning from the previous experience with Silver Mist, Man Yuemei added.
"Let me add something," a sociologist interjected after Man Yuemei finished speaking. "I believe this is the first civilization of the same level that humanity has encountered since embarking on interstellar travels. Contact is more meaningful than immediate withdrawal. Therefore, if it is the second scenario that Minister Man Yuemei mentioned, I think we should make contact."
After the scholar finished speaking, heads of various departments spoke, but their main focus was not on the alien fleet. Instead, they used data to illustrate the probability of humanity completing a major resupply before the alien fleet arrived.
Yue Yuan listened quietly to their opinions.
Although it wasn't explicitly stated, he could sense that most of these people preferred to at least make contact with the alien fleet first, since it was the first time humanity had encountered a civilization of the same level since venturing into space.
Yue Yuan was well aware of this, but humanity currently only had 10 Mountain-Class Warship. If even if not all of the enemy's 120 large ships were combat-type Main Battleship, that would still be four times the size of humanity's Main Battleship. The disparity in strength was obvious.
"I hope it's an entire civilization, not just a vanguard," Yue Yuan muttered to himself, stroking his chin.