Starry Expanse
(P. S.: Requesting votes at the end of the month.)
No sooner had this member of the Think Tank finished speaking than a physicist stepped forward and shook his head, saying, "Actually, I think it's unnecessary for two reasons. First, if the enemy is backed by Level 3 Civilization, then if they want to, we absolutely cannot escape. Second, slowing down now will inevitably expose our entire fleet to their view. Think of the Kun-Tai Civilization back then; we must heed their warning!"
The member of the Think Tank who was speaking was momentarily speechless.
Indeed, as this physicist said, if it were Level 3 Civilization, the other side would have no chance of escaping if they wanted to pursue it.
If humans slow down their entire fleet without knowing the enemy's situation, the bright exhaust plumes from the slowing down will inevitably be observed by the enemy. Just like the Kun-Tai Civilization, they will be observed by humans, but they will know nothing about humans.
The current situation seems to have become like that of the Kun-Tai Civilization, except that humanity is not suffering from such a severe fuel shortage as the Kun-Tai Civilization.
After a moment of silence, someone in the Command Center said worriedly, "But if we don't slow down, are we supposed to just rush up and take out those three ships? We know nothing about them right now, and rashly launching an attack could lead to our destruction."
"Who said anything about using force?" The physicist who had spoken earlier rolled his eyes at him.
"Then what do you suggest we do?"
The physicist didn't mince words, stating directly based on his judgment. "We'll wait until the Electromagnetic Wave signal is deciphered and we communicate with the other side before assessing the situation. In the meantime, the fleet can use the steering thrusters to adjust its attitude. At this distance, the light from the Steering Engine isn't very strong, and the enemy shouldn't be able to detect it."
"That's acceptable. Have you chosen a backup destination?" Yue Yuan nodded, as it seemed that this was the only option for now.
"This! It's currently 10.77 light-years away from us. With our current stockpile of supplies and fuel, getting there shouldn't be a problem at all." The physicist raised his hand and tapped his Personal Terminal, projecting a star map onto the large screen.
Yue Yuan looked up and saw that the star marked was a Red Dwarf Star, which appeared very dim on the star map.
"Well, let's arrange it this way for now." After thinking for a while, Yue Yuan nodded.
Since the probe team has been stopped, it's possible that the Unknown Civilization resides on the Yellow Dwarf Star ahead. Therefore, humanity certainly can't rush forward recklessly.
Humanity currently knows nothing about the internal structure of the Yellow Dwarf Star or the civilization on it. If we rush in rashly, we might just end up following in the footsteps of the Kun-Tai Civilization.
After a brief discussion, everyone reached a consensus, and Yue Yuan then issued the order to the entire human fleet.
Time ticked by, and half a day passed in the blink of an eye.
Just as lunchtime was approaching, the doors to the Lyra's Command Center were finally pushed open—or rather, opened automatically after someone arrived and verified their identity.
People from the linguistics team and the cryptography team floated in.
Dr. Lu Xiaofen, a linguistics PhD, did not come; instead, other linguistics PhDs were present. Yue Yuan remembered that one of them was named Zheng Shan. The cryptography expert was not Sinskaya, but a young man named Kui Mu Mu.
He is indeed a young man, because not only does he look young, but he is also only seventy years old.
The current population is naturally not limited to the same few individuals as before. Therefore, it's normal that the original PhD is no longer in charge of the deciphering work. Humanity is no longer the same as when it first escaped from Callisto. Experts, scholars, and scientists from various disciplines and fields are now involved.
The two entered the Command Center, still floating and not yet on the ground. One of them, Dr. Zheng Shan, a linguistics expert, said in her unique voice, "Everyone, the signal has been deciphered. Just as we expected, it's a communication with a Clear Code dictionary. However, the content is somewhat unexpected. We didn't just encounter the civilization to which those three spaceships belong in space; we've actually come to their territory!"
"Oh?! Upload it so everyone can see." Yue Yuan, who was about to tell everyone to go eat first and then come back, immediately changed his mind upon hearing this.
Upon hearing Yue Yuan's words, everyone quickly abandoned their appetite.
Upon hearing Zheng Shan mention that the Electromagnetic Wave signal contained a dictionary, they secretly breathed a sigh of relief and felt much more at ease.
The fact that the signal contained obvious dictionary entries suggests that the civilization was willing to communicate and had experience communicating with Alien Civilization; otherwise, it would have been impossible for them to so skillfully convert their language dictionary into Electromagnetic Wave signals.
A moment later, Zheng Shan pressed a button on her waistband to activate the Magnetic Boots. After regaining her balance, she raised her slender, white left arm in front of her without a word, and then used her right hand to press buttons on the small screen on her left arm.
This is her Personal Terminal computer. With human technology, it has long been possible to combine a computer and a mobile phone, and various different appearances have been designed.
Wearing her Personal Terminal on her forearm is a habit of hers.
Some people are used to using Personal Terminal that look like laptops, or even mobile phones. There are countless other styles and types of Personal Terminal. The type of Personal Terminal used is a matter of personal preference.
As for Personal Terminal that don't require a screen and simply display a virtual window with a tap, they only exist in dreams now.
Although humanity is Level 2 Civilization, it has no way of accessing the Holographic Technology often seen in science fiction. Whether that technology is a stable light technology, a confined light technology, or a field technology, humanity does not know. At most, it can achieve various realistic projections.
However, it is sufficient. Just like the large screen in the bridge of the Lyra, it is not just a large screen like a TV. With the addition of lighting and shadow equipment in other locations, it can actually turn the entire bridge into a 3D light and shadow world.
If the star map were projected in this form, people inside the bridge would see the stars within reach.
That's all. It's just a projection. To control its movements, you need a remote control or to make gestures in front of the sensors. It can't be like Holographic Technology where you can directly grab the phantom with your hand.
Shortly after, Zheng Shan completed the operation. At the same time, everyone saw the content of the Unknown Civilization's Electromagnetic Wave signal on the large screen: [Warning! Unknown Civilization Detector Team, you have entered the range/territory of my Nairwen Star Territory. Please immediately cease your navigation/movement/travel and register/report to us where your civilization originated and what your purpose is. In the spirit of friendly contact, please frankly disclose/transmit the number of your ships, provide your star map and route, and clearly state your technological level, racial characteristics, and living environment. Please complete the required registration— Nair Second Star Territory Patrol.]
The effective content of Electromagnetic Wave signals is not long; following these words is a long dictionary.