Speculation (Part One)
Currently, judging from the images alone, it is impossible to tell what kind of weapons the other party is equipped with. Furthermore, because it is surrounded by a ball of light, it is impossible to distinguish whether the other party is a mechanical creation or a living being.
"My Overlord, based on the data from the images, we've deduced that the enemy is heading towards Proxima Star System. Judging from their apparent speed, they should reach the outer reaches of the Origin Star System, Great Valley Star, in about five years. And this is without their ship accelerating. Currently, we don't know their maximum speed, so we can't calculate their fastest arrival time in Proxima Star System," said a Swarm Intellect Hamis. He was an expert in stellar observation, skilled at calculating various data based on the angles and positions of celestial bodies, and led a team of over 200 Intellect.
Rowan nodded, signaling everyone to continue.
"My Overlord, we couldn't observe a clear exhaust plume from the alien spaceship in the image, so we can't determine the principle behind its propulsion system. Perhaps their engine technology is beyond our comprehension," Kevi said.
Rowan had some recollection of Kevi; he was among the first Intellect to enter the Swarm Network. Before his death, he was the chief engineer in charge of the development of the first-generation rocket engine for the Rat-folk. After being transformed into Intellect, he was currently also in charge of research in the related field. His conclusions were also the conclusions of the entire engine team, so the situation was not optimistic.
"My Overlord, based on our deductions, we've essentially confirmed that the unknown civilization did observe the energy reaction emitted when the Godzilla breathed on Big Origin Star. This abnormal energy burst is very noticeable in advanced observation instruments," Morgan said, then continued after a moment's thought. "Our Swarm's technology in this area was somewhat outdated before, and our observation range was limited, so we hadn't observed this energy reaction on Big Origin Star before."
"But we can be certain that Godzilla, as a living being, must have used that kind of..." He glanced at Rowan and continued, "Yes, that kind of Thermonuclear Breath. However, we are unsure how long ago it used that Thermonuclear Breath. We also cannot determine which Thermonuclear Breath the unknown civilization observed and then sent their spaceship to investigate."
"It's possible that they observed an energy burst hundreds of years ago and, after hundreds of years of travel, have just arrived here. Or perhaps they were just passing through, observed the energy reaction, and came here temporarily to investigate."
After Morgan finished speaking, the discussion session on Intellect began, with the group leaders taking turns to speak.
"But that's very contradictory, because technology can't develop to a very high level when it's severely unbalanced," one of the Intellect countered Morgan.
"Yes, if a civilization can observe an energy burst of this level from an extremely long distance, their technological level must be quite high. Moreover, given their flight speed, there is no option for them to simply pass by. At their speed, they can only travel in space with a clear goal; they cannot travel aimlessly. Their technological level does not allow for such recklessness," an Intellect echoed.
"How can it be impossible? Have you forgotten our Swarm Meteor? They are randomized routes," one of the Intellect retorted.
"Our Swarm is an exception. According to sociology and economics, only a civilization like our Swarm, with a supreme will, could possibly waste resources like capital," the previous Intellect retorted.
"Are you saying that the Overlord is wasteful?"
"You're twisting my words! That's not what I meant at all!"
"What does that mean?"
Rowan knew these two; they hadn't gotten along in their previous lives, and bickering was a common occurrence. Even after being transformed into Intellect, this hadn't changed. Seeing that the two were on the verge of escalating their verbal sparring into a physical fight, Rowan, in a flash, stuffed one of them into Aphid's body and the other into Worker Ant's body, letting one expel sugar water and the other lick it, to cultivate their relationship and avoid confusion about the situation.
Having learned their lesson, the tension between some Intellect with similar conflicts instantly decreased, as if they had suddenly remembered their camaraderie. They acted like close friends, almost ready to share a drink and have a good chat.
Rowan ignored the clowns; what those two guys said earlier did make some sense. Unless the opposing civilization was like the Swarm, a one-man show, it would be difficult to pass a resolution on something that would waste resources.
After thinking for a moment, he pulled the two guys back into the conference room just before they were about to make their move. The reason this was punishment was that they were forced inside were just spectators; their bodies were still controlled by their original consciousness, and they could only passively experience everything.
However, Rowan felt that this mutual flattery was really disgusting. They were all respectable people, so he decided to let it go. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to look at these two normally in the future.
The two returned as if they were bosom friends, making no mention of what had just happened. One of them said, "My Overlord, what Tumani said actually makes some sense. A superior civilization must concentrate all its resources to promote its progress. And this requires a highly centralized ideology. If the other side is an advanced civilization, then there is a high probability that their ideology is similar to our Swarm."
"Yes, Overlord Majesty, we have only observed them for a short period of time and cannot be certain that this speed is their maximum speed. In case they are some kind of advanced civilization that has traveled from a great distance using some special means, then the data we have obtained now is useless," Tumani agreed.
"I think the probability is very low. If their technology had reached the level of space travel, they would have come to check it out long ago. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that their technology has made a breakthrough in the last few years," one of the Intellect said.
"That's right. My team also thinks the probability of them being an advanced civilization is very low. If their technology were really that advanced, they would only need to send a reconnaissance unit; there would be no need to send such a large spaceship."
"Perhaps this is their reconnaissance spacecraft? Some kind of giant biological civilization?"
"Although the probability is very low, it cannot be ruled out."
"But if they can traverse space directly, why would they traverse into the void instead of directly into the Proxima Star System?"
"Perhaps it's because the environment inside the star system is harsh, with too many obstacles. We don't understand the principles of the shuttle mechanism, and there might be some limitations."
"But it doesn't need to go that far, does it? At that spaceship's speed, it will take about five more years to enter the Proxima Star System."
"This is indeed a problem; is this also a limitation?"
"We cannot confirm yet whether the other party is an advanced civilization; it could be something else entirely. Don't let your thinking go astray."
"I just feel there's something contradictory about the other party's spaceship."
"I feel the same way."
"To accelerate a spaceship tens of kilometers in size to one-tenth the speed of light requires unimaginable technological capabilities, but the other side didn't demonstrate this. The light emitted by that spaceship was too dazzling, indicating severe energy leakage, which shouldn't happen with advanced technology."
"That's right, that's exactly it."
"I agree, I felt something was off about it before."
"Yes, advanced technologies should not overlook this point; they should make full use of every bit of energy."
One Intellect put forward a viewpoint, which was instantly agreed upon by many other Intellect.
"But these are all just our guesses. We don't know what it will be like when technology reaches that level. Perhaps this is just a result of their imperfections. Some kind of experimental prototype?"
Why were the test subjects sent here?
The intellectuals started discussing it again, chattering away.