Cosmic Drift Bottle
!!
As the sound rang out, everyone couldn't help but look around. The reverberating sound made it difficult to discern the direction, but everyone quickly realized what was happening and focused their attention on the Rhomboid Crystal.
There is no one else that could utter such a statement.
At this moment, the Rhomboid Crystal looks crystal clear, like a fine work of art, or a piece of warm jade. The combination of these two characteristics makes it very pleasing to the eye.
The Rhomboid Crystal actually spoke, and it did so voluntarily.
This contrast was unexpected, because from the moment the Rhomboid Crystal appeared until it arrived on the Lyra, it gave people the feeling of being extremely advanced, a magnificent image of a creation of a higher civilization.
Such an image is often associated with disdain for weak civilizations, or even "What do you care if I destroy you!" However, this Rhomboid Crystal actually spoke on its own initiative, even before humans had asked it any questions.
It feels like someone speaking ant language to a group of ants on the roadside, with the human playing the role of the ants.
"Is that you speaking? You speak our language. We are Human Civilization of humanity. I am Yue Yuan, the leader of Human Civilization. Who are you?" Yue Yuan, standing at the very front of the group and closest to the Rhomboid Crystal, spoke. Although it was highly likely that the crystal was speaking, he still spoke up to confirm.
Having seen more, he no longer found it strange that a Rhomboid Crystal could speak. Yue Yuan now suspected that the thing's silence just now might have been due to it reading human language information.
Although it's unclear how it read the text, the fact is that it did speak in human language just now.
"Yes, it is I speaking. I am no one. I am just an Information Storage Device left in the Milky Way Galaxy by the creator," the voice replied quickly.
Just like before, it echoed in the Lyra's Command Center, like the sound of a god speaking, but without a trace of the arrogance of an advanced civilization, at least that's how Yue Yuan perceived it.
"Creator? Is it a civilization? Why have you come to the flagship of our Human Civilization?" a scientist who had been holding back for a long time asked.
"No, it is my creator. For you New Generation Civilization, my creator is Precursor. As for me, in your Human Civilization's terms, I might be called Drift Bottle." The Rhomboid Crystal's voice paused for a moment, then continued, "It is not that I came to your spaceship, but that you entered my range and awakened my mechanisms."
New Generation Civilization?!
Precursor? What Precursor? Drift Bottle? Entering my range?
"Awaken my mechanism?" The crowd was somewhat confused and began to whisper among themselves.
"You seem to be a Group Technological Civilization." The Rhomboid Crystal seemed to have heard the whispers of the crowd.
"Yes, we are a Group Technological Civilization. Hearing you say that, are there any other civilizations in this universe that are not technological civilizations?" Yue Yuan was very curious about this question, because this was not the first time he had heard the expression "Group Technological Civilization." The Awakeners had mentioned it before.
He was very curious: could there be other forms of civilization in this universe besides technological civilization?
"Of course there are, because the universe is so mysterious," the Rhomboid Crystal said slowly, but it only said one sentence and did not say what form of civilization it was.
The Rhomboid Crystal continued, "You should be a respectful title for your Human Civilization. I accept this title because you are so fortunate. You are the first civilization of the new generation to trigger my mechanism."
Yue Yuan felt that perhaps it was because he hadn't asked specifically.
Compared to other forms of civilization, at this moment, he, along with all the scientists and scholars present, were more concerned with the meaning of what the Rhomboid Crystal had just said than with this question.
After a few short exchanges, everyone now has an initial understanding of Rhomboid Crystal.
It calls itself Drift Bottle. Well, Cosmic Drift Bottle. Its core might be an intelligent agent, or it might be its creator speaking through Hyperdistance Communication.
They seem quite easy to talk to; at least for now, no one senses any malice.
At this moment, Yue Yuan, feeling the enthusiastic gazes of the crowd, asked, "We don't quite understand what you mean by 'Precursor, Drift Bottle, entering my range, awakening my mechanisms, and New Generation Civilization.' Could you tell us what they specifically mean?"
After a pause, Yue Yuan organized his thoughts, seemingly considering the best way to express himself. He carefully asked, "And regarding your creator, please forgive our impertinence, but are you an intelligent entity?"
Upon hearing Yue Yuan's words, the scientists did not find anything wrong with it. On the contrary, it seemed as if the question had been asked of their own volition. They all looked at the Rhomboid Crystal with expectant faces, eagerly awaiting its answer.
"You have quite a few questions, but I understand. Don't worry, from the moment you triggered my mechanism, I will answer them even if you don't ask. While some things may be too early for you, that's alright. After all, which civilization doesn't grow from weak to strong step by step?"
When the Rhomboid Crystal answered, its surface showed no other signs of activity, remaining crystal clear and smooth as jade. Could this be the state it was in after its mechanism was triggered? No one present saw any of its vocal organs, nor did they know how it produced sound, because the sound did not come from the amplification equipment of the Lyra, but seemed to come from any space in the Command Center.
The voice representing the Rhomboid Crystal continued, "So first, let's answer your question about my perception. I am a Drift Bottle, but I am not Artificial Intelligence- oriented self-awareness. When I say 'I' to refer to myself, I am a replicated life form consciousness, the consciousness that I voluntarily left behind after my civilization left the Milky Way Galaxy. Of course, I also agreed to it."
Accepting your use of the formal "you" is my way of acknowledging and respecting the identity of "I." I believe you, as Sentient Life, understand what I mean.
"So you're saying you're a living being?" a straightforward scientist asked.
"That depends on how you define life. You are still too weak. Perhaps in your eyes I am a life, but in the definition of our civilization, I am not a real life, nor am I a low-level thing like Strong Artificial Intelligence. Alright, aren't you curious about why I am on your spaceship? You will understand the question of my form of existence when you reach the Level 5 Civilization."