Supplementary Plan

Longevity and immortality hold immense allure for people of all eras.

Who wouldn't want to live for hundreds of years? In the past, such promises were mere scams, but with the revelation of the Red Gas's effects, this pie in the sky has become a real hope.

In fact, the new government understands that the human population is currently facing a significant deficit. Logically, if such a drug were truly developed, it should be universally accessible.

However, this is complicated by the technology's contraceptive side effects and the issue of human nature. Giving a little is appreciated, but giving too much breeds resentment. Empty slogans of unity and struggle can't compare to tangible benefits. Since power rests with the new government, it can be used to strengthen people's drive, so why not use it?

As for those who understand nothing and contribute nothing, the new government can only apologize.

In the current situation, humanity cannot afford idlers.

Everything must give way to survival.

To support this plan, experts have also hastily created a Civilization Contribution Coin system. This system, distinct from everyday currency, was primarily designed to complement the White Paper on Application Standards for Life-Related Technologies. Its core concept is to use Civilization Contribution Coins as the standard for measuring access to life-extension technologies, with these coins linked to scientific contributions.

Of course, other avenues for acquisition are considered, such as major projects specially approved by the new government, like participating in aircraft construction, which would earn Civilization Contribution Coins.

The goal is to stimulate people's potential as laborers.

Some feel that this approach is inhumane, even depriving people of their personal rights, no different from exploiting labor. The new government is well aware of this, but there is no other way. If humanity still numbered in the billions, there would be no need for such measures.

Of course, being a hastily created system, many details, such as whether it should be linked to everyday currency, remain unresolved.

The Hibernation Plan proposal has been on Yue Yuan's desk for two months, but he has yet to approve it, because he and the leaders of various departments still harbor illusions about Controlled Nuclear Fusion research and the Warp Engine.

Thus, another two months passed.

The lukewarm progress of the two projects finally made Yue Yuan determined.

The Hibernation Plan officially began.

To this end, Yue Yuan convened another expanded meeting.

Once all the dignitaries had arrived, Yue Yuan, in full military uniform, stepped onto the podium. He looked at the sea of heads and spoke into the microphone, "Comrades, I'll skip the pleasantries. I believe you are all aware of the purpose of this meeting. Yes, as you saw on your personal data terminals, there is only one item on the agenda: the vote on the Hibernation Plan."

"You heard correctly, the Hibernation Plan. Some of you may already know the reasons behind it, but others may not be clear. Allow me to explain the background and necessity of this plan."

"First, I must tell you all that the total proven reserves of nuclear fission minerals on Callisto have been determined. After repeated calculations by relevant experts, it has been confirmed that these reserves can only sustain us for about seventy years. If we continue our current lifestyle without taking any action, then in seventy years, we will die on Callisto due to resource depletion."

After explaining the background of the Hibernation Plan in detail, Yue Yuan continued, "According to scientists in relevant fields, after completing the construction of the spacecraft, we will need thirty years to accelerate it to 1% of the speed of light, and the deceleration phase will take just as long. After accounting for the nuclear fission fuel consumed during acceleration and deceleration, we will have little energy left."

"The Hibernation Plan is designed to solve this problem. It is essentially an energy redistribution plan. As we all know, solving the energy problem can be approached in two ways: increasing supply and reducing consumption. Having already lost the sun, we have no new sources to tap, so we can only reduce consumption."

"To have enough energy to cross that chasm-like sea of stars, to allow humanity to continue, we must unite and take action."

After his explanation, Yue Yuan briefly reiterated the main points of the plan, then paused for a while to allow the attendees to think and digest the information.

When he felt enough time had passed, Yue Yuan said, "Now, does anyone have any suggestions or opinions on this plan? Please speak freely!"

After Yue Yuan finished speaking, a rustling sound filled the conference hall again, as if the digestion time had been too short. Seeing this, he did not urge them, but waited quietly for everyone to consider the matter thoroughly.

After a while, the murmuring gradually subsided. Just as Yue Yuan was about to speak again, a voice suddenly rang out from the conference hall's sound system.

"Chief, I have a suggestion."

Speaking freely was the established tone of the conference from the beginning, so it was normal for someone to offer an opinion before the vote.

Although the voice came from the sound system, Yue Yuan felt that it sounded familiar. He looked towards the area where the scientists were gathered and saw someone in the front row speaking into a microphone.

At that moment, the speaker's name appeared on the large screen behind Yue Yuan.

Gan De!

"Gan Boshi, please speak," Yue Yuan said, nodding to Gan De.

"I noticed that the plan does not specify a precise launch date, only stating that the launch will take place on a suitable day after the spacecraft is completed. There is a problem here. According to the spacecraft construction plan, the spacecraft will be completed in about seventeen years, but I want to tell you all that we will likely have to wait another twenty-three to twenty-five years before we can set off."

After presenting his conclusion, Gan De began to explain the reason, "I believe you have not forgotten that our sun was not the only one to experience a supernova explosion. The Centaurus Trinary Star System also experienced one. From a temporal perspective, the Centaurus Trinary Star System was struck earlier than our sun, but their mass ejection did not reach us."

Yes, them.

Recent astronomical observations have confirmed that it was not just one star in the Centaurus Trinary Star System that was destroyed, but all three.

Gan De paused briefly to allow everyone to recall the report he had given before continuing, "In other words, our spacecraft will need Callisto as a shield to help withstand the impact of the mass ejection."

Supernova explosions not only cause initial gamma-ray damage, but also subsequent mass ejections traveling at up to 10% of the speed of light.

The sun was blasted into nothing, so the Centaurus Trinary Star System, which was destroyed in the same disaster, must have suffered the same fate.

Realizing the severity of the problem, Yue Yuan immediately looked at the members of the science team who had formulated the detailed plan: "Did you take this part of the energy consumption into account?"

Thank you to every reader for following along!