Chapter Summaries

Ren Feng and Zhang Zhengqing learned that the search had found no anomalies beyond Ross 154, while Proxima Centauri’s birth rate had fallen sharply. Zhang Zhengqing proposed a public child-rearing system, and Ren Feng agreed to discuss it after the Ross 154 situation was resolved.

• A young researcher told Zhang Zhengqing and Ren Feng that the latest survey found no anomalies apart from Ross 154, and Zhang ordered the search to continue.
• Zhang Zhengqing described the Academy of Sciences’ progress toward building a starship, but Ren Feng revealed that the birth rate had fallen by twenty-five percent in twenty-five years.
• Zhang Zhengqing suggested addressing the population decline through a public child-rearing system rather than more incentives for marriage and childbirth.
• Ren Feng warned that the system could raise serious ethical issues, then agreed to convene a meeting and asked Zhang to prepare a feasibility proposal after the Ross 154 situation was resolved.

Ren Feng and Zhang Zhengqing contacted Earth with a Morse-code greeting, then exchanged messages that led Lü Yongchang to suspect Proxima b had been attacked. After Zero infiltrated their system and opened a video link, Lü Yongchang recognized Ren Feng and Zhang Zhengqing and demanded to know what they were doing.

• Ren Feng told Zhang Zhengqing to send only “Hello” in Morse Code to the Human Fleet.
• Lü Yongchang received the greeting from Proxima b and replied in Morse Code on behalf of Earth’s Human Community of Shared Destiny.
• Ren Feng celebrated when the Human Fleet sent back its greetings, while Zhang Zhengqing wondered what had happened at Ross 154.
• Lü Yongchang asked for Proxima b’s location, but Ren Feng and Zhang Zhengqing rejected his communication request.
• Lü Yongchang ordered Zero to infiltrate their network, then recognized Ren Feng and Zhang Zhengqing on the video feed and demanded an explanation.

Lü Yongchang reconnected with Ren Feng and Zhang Zhengqing, explained the Human Fleet’s recent experiences, and learned that the Proxima Centauri civilization faced a falling birth rate. He approved their plan for communal child-rearing and offered Zero’s computational support.

• Lü Yongchang contacted Ren Feng and Zhang Zhengqing, who had feared something had happened to him after Ross 154 vanished.
• Lü Yongchang recounted [Hua]'s death, the Two-Dimensional Fragment, the fleet’s departure, and its encounter with the Lator Space Pirate Civilization, including the capture of Level Three Starships.
• Zhang Zhengqing reported that Proxima Centauri had absorbed forty percent of the technological framework but suffered a declining birth rate.
• Zhang Zhengqing and Ren Feng told Lü Yongchang they planned to adopt a communal child-rearing system, using artificial wombs and robots to raise children.
• Lü Yongchang accepted their plan and offered computational support from Zero.

Zhang Zhengqing and Lü Yongchang struck a mutual exchange: Zero would help Proxima b test communal child-rearing, while the Human Fleet would share information about alien civilizations. After eighty years of travel, Lü Yongchang awakened as the fleet reached Gliese 555 and awaited the probe’s survey of a barren planet.

• Zhang Zhengqing agreed to provide three centuries of information about Proxima b’s communal child-rearing system in exchange for Zero’s computational support and regular communication with Lü Yongchang.
• Zhang Zhengqing offered research on an improved longevity enzyme, projected to raise average human lifespan to a thousand years, in exchange for information about alien civilizations gathered by the Human Fleet.
• Lü Yongchang accepted the exchange and promised to send information about Hua and the Lator Civilization.
• Lü Yongchang entered hibernation as the Human Fleet resumed its journey toward Gliese 555, with the travel estimate extended to 105 years.
• Eighty years later, Lü Yongchang awakened as the fleet reached the edge of the Gliese 555 system and learned that a probe was approaching its outermost planet.
• Lü Yongchang asked Zero to display the probe feed, which showed a barren reddish-brown planet with a small moon nearby.

Lü Yongchang assessed a Super-Earth and its unusually large moon as possible homes for humanity, but learned that the planet’s extreme gravity could make long-term settlement difficult. He and Mao Zhengzhi considered alternatives, leaving the Supermoon’s role as a planetary fortress in tension with the need for room to support humanity’s growth.

• Lü Yongchang examined Gliese 555 Planet Six and found that its atmosphere lacked oxygen, though its clouds, volcanoes, and active core suggested it had a magnetic field.
• Lü Yongchang studied the Supermoon and concluded that the remote, resource-poor system could give humanity a temporary refuge.
• Lü Yongchang summoned Mao Zhengzhi to discuss whether humans could adapt to the Super-Earth’s gravity, which was nearly 1.9 times Earth’s.
• Mao Zhengzhi warned that training could strengthen muscles but would not adequately protect the heart, brain, and other internal organs from long-term high gravity.
• Mao Zhengzhi suggested settling the Supermoon instead, but Lü Yongchang said it was too small for humanity’s planned population and was meant to become a planetary fortress.
• Lü Yongchang asked whether mechanical exoskeletons could help, and Mao Zhengzhi said they would not protect internal organs unless they functioned like moving beds.

Lü Yongchang chose to begin research into genetic modification so humanity could adapt to hostile worlds, then watched probes land on a super-Earth. The chapter left him and Mao Zhengzhi viewing the planet’s lakes, supermoon, and active volcano as they considered its potential as humanity’s new home.

• Mao Zhengzhi suggested genetic modification as a way to address humanity’s challenges, but hesitated over its dangers and ethical issues.
• Lü Yongchang argued that humanity had to embrace evolution to survive future environments, then unlocked Basic Genetic Modification Technology in the technology tree and ordered research to begin.
• Zero reported that a probe had entered orbit and was about to land, and Lü Yongchang invited Mao Zhengzhi to view the planet’s survey footage.
• The probe’s readings showed a dense atmosphere and moderate surface temperature as it descended toward lakes near the equator.
• The first probe landed beside a lake, while a second landed in a volcanic crater; their footage showed a vast supermoon and glowing lava.

Lü Yongchang and Mao Zhengzhi discovered that Super-Earth’s moon resembled prehistoric Mars, with dried riverbeds, active volcanoes, and a trace of oxygen. Lü Yongchang ordered the probe to land and planned to build another Mars City there as the fleet headed toward Super-Earth.

• Zero reported that the probe was about to land on the moon, and Lü Yongchang asked it to display the probe’s images.
• Lü Yongchang and Mao Zhengzhi saw riverbeds and active volcanoes, then concluded that the moon resembled Mars before its core cooled and its atmosphere escaped.
• The probe landed and recorded iron-oxide soil, a blue-black sky, and an atmosphere containing 0.03% oxygen.
• Lü Yongchang proposed building another Mars City on the moon, and Mao Zhengzhi agreed that he wanted to visit it.
• Mao Zhengzhi left to continue his research on whether humans could live on Super-Earth, while Lü Yongchang asked Zero to have Zhu Ziping wait for him in Laboratory One.

Lü Yongchang and Zhu Ziwen restarted mechanical exoskeleton research to equip the first landing personnel on Super-Earth. After five days of work, their team produced the first suit, though its final capabilities were not yet described.

• Lü Yongchang told Zhu Ziwen that the Academy of Sciences was restarting mechanical exoskeleton research for the Super-Earth landing operation.
• Zhu Ziwen proposed a partially enclosing suit and outlined how current technology could handle its interface, power, and drive systems.
• Lü Yongchang assigned Zhu Ziwen to solve the suit’s flexibility problem and ordered Zero to collect motion-capture data from awakened people.
• Researchers assembled in Laboratory One to work on the Heaven-Supporting Exoskeleton Armor project.
• Five days later, the team completed the first suit, with head and neck protection, an energy-storing backplate, and limb-assist units.

Lü Yongchang inspected the Mechanical Exoskeleton Armor and found that Zhu Ziwen’s upgrades had turned his planned body-support device into powerful combat equipment. Concerned about the risks of testing it on civilians or researchers, Lü summoned veteran captains Bai Yixuan, Xia Wanyi, and Hong Fan to test it in a Gravity Chamber.

• Zhu Ziwen showed Lü Yongchang test data demonstrating the armor’s strength, load-bearing capacity, and mobility, and Lü praised the upgrades.
• Lü changed his testing plan and asked Zero to summon Bai Yixuan and the other veteran captains instead of using researchers as test subjects.
• Bai Yixuan, Xia Wanyi, and Hong Fan arrived at the laboratory, where Hong Fan mistook the armor for individual combat equipment.
• Lü explained the armor’s purpose, and Hong Fan disappointedly headed to the Gravity Chamber to begin the test.

Bai Yixuan tested the Exoskeleton Armor, which used stored movement samples to keep him from falling and let him perform difficult maneuvers. After he excelled in the Gravity Chamber at 1 g, Lü Yongchang prepared to raise the gravity to 1.5 g.

• Lü Yongchang had Zero fit the Exoskeleton Armor to Bai Yixuan and explained that he could control it through the Brainwave Reading Device.
• Bai Yixuan lost his balance after commanding the armor to step, but the armor used stored movement samples to perform a dramatic recovery and land safely.
• Lü Yongchang took Bai Yixuan to the Gravity Chamber, where Zero raised the equivalent gravity from 0.1 g to 1 g.
• Bai Yixuan completed ordinary exercises and difficult gymnastics maneuvers flawlessly with Zero's assistance.
• Bai Yixuan said he felt good and agreed to raise the gravity to 1.5 g, and the chamber began spinning faster.

Bai Yixuan tested the Exoskeleton Armor in the Gravity Chamber, where its performance helped him move under 1.5g but could not protect his internal organs from extreme strain. After he lost consciousness attempting Mo's Somersault, the chamber's gravity was lowered and he woke with pain, leaving the test unfinished.

• Lü Yongchang asked Bai Yixuan to assess his condition and repeat physical tests as the Gravity Chamber reached 1.5g.
• Bai Yixuan completed basic strength and movement tests, demonstrating the Exoskeleton Armor's reduced but still impressive performance under higher gravity.
• Bai Yixuan performed difficult jumps and twists, becoming pale and winded as the exertion pushed him toward his limit.
• Bai Yixuan lost consciousness while attempting Mo's Somersault, and Zero controlled the armor's landing while Lü Yongchang ordered the chamber's gravity reduced and a Medical Pod prepared.
• Bai Yixuan woke after the gravity fell to 0.5g, reported pain from the strain, and Lü Yongchang sent him to Doctor Wen to rest.

After Bai Yixuan struggled with the Exoskeleton Armor’s acceleration, Lü Yongchang used Hong Fan’s old G-Force Suit to test it again and confirmed that the armor’s full performance was suitable only for fit soldiers. He ordered Zhu Ziwen to make a civilian version, then reminded him that the next project was the Weapons Modules.

• Lü Yongchang asked whether the Starship had any G-Force Suits, and Hong Fan revealed that he had kept the suit from the first-generation Black Lady One.
• Hong Fan wore the old G-Force Suit and completed the Exoskeleton Armor tests in the Gravity Chamber, including Mo's Somersault.
• Hong Fan explained that even with the suit, the extreme acceleration had briefly made his vision go black, though the suit kept him from losing consciousness.
• Lü Yongchang concluded that ordinary people could not withstand the armor’s extreme acceleration and asked Zhu Ziwen to remove unnecessary functions for a civilian version.
• Lü Yongchang assured Zhu Ziwen that the military version would retain its original design and told him to begin work on the Weapons Modules after a two-day break.

As the Human Fleet reached Dawn Star, Lü Yongchang and Su Yutong discussed the hope of living peacefully and shyly agreed to spend time together on the planet. Their near-kiss was interrupted by Fang Xu, whom Lü Yongchang went to confront.

• The Human Fleet arrived at the sixth planet of the Gliese 555 Stellar System, which was named Dawn Star, and its satellite was named Dawn One Satellite.
• After finishing his work, Lü Yongchang watched Dawn Star from his office with Su Yutong and reassured her that they would live in peace for a long time.
• Lü Yongchang suggested that he and Su Yutong visit Dawn Star's surface together once construction was on track, and Su Yutong agreed.
• As Lü Yongchang and Su Yutong leaned in to kiss, Fang Xu entered the office and immediately left.
• Lü Yongchang told Su Yutong he would deal with Fang Xu, confirmed their plan still stood, and headed for the door.

Lü Yongchang visited the shipboard biological laboratory after Fang Xu told him Mao Zhengzhi’s project had made progress. Mao revealed that the extinct Magna of Proxima b had adaptations that let them grow to enormous sizes under high gravity, and the researchers had identified more than a dozen relevant gene segments.

• Fang Xu told Lü Yongchang that Mao Zhengzhi’s project had made progress, prompting Lü to head to the Biological Laboratory.
• Lü Yongchang examined records describing the Magna, enormous land animals that had gone extinct roughly five hundred years earlier.
• Mao Zhengzhi explained that the Magna’s organs were supported by reticular membranes and that their genes had several unusual adaptations for Proxima b’s gravity.
• Mao Zhengzhi said his team had identified more than a dozen gene segments and showed Lü a genome unlike those of Earth’s organisms.

Lü Yongchang identified three gene sequences that could explain Magna’s extinction, but the fleet’s arrival at Dawn Star forced him to leave the research and prepare for the landing. Fang Xu briefed the landing units, while Hong Fan led a team in place of the injured Bai Yixuan.

• Lü Yongchang used Proxima Centauri’s genetic records to identify a gene linked to digesting Koka, a plant that disappeared 550 years before Magna went extinct, and began explaining two other gene sequences.
• Zero told Lü Yongchang that the fleet was nearing its landing point and that the first batch of Exoskeleton Armor and G-Force Suits was ready.
• Mao Zhengzhi offered to handle the genetics work, and Lü Yongchang asked where Fang Xu was.
• Fang Xu prepared the landing units aboard the [Earth], reminding them to check their Exoskeleton Armor and Medical Pods.
• Hong Fan led the landing team aboard a modified Black Lady Two because Bai Yixuan had been injured testing the Exoskeleton Armor, and he confirmed the team’s equipment was ready.

Hong Fan led Black Lady Two's crew through the landing preparations while Lü Yongchang and Mao Zhengzhi began experiments to adapt Magna traits for humans. The craft entered Dawn Star's atmosphere, and the crew prepared to land in their Exoskeleton Armor.

• Fang Xu announced that the fleet had reached its landing point, and Hong Fan ordered the crew into their Deep-Sea Pods.
• Lü Yongchang and Mao Zhengzhi narrowed the Magna gene candidates to five and planned hormone production and gene-editing experiments on lab mice.
• The researchers split into groups to translate genes and test hormones, while senior researchers worked to transfer the Magna's protective internal-organ membrane trait to mice.
• Black Lady Two entered Dawn Star's atmosphere, and Hong Fan climbed into his Exoskeleton Armor after the Deep-Sea Pod drained.
• Hong Fan helped his teammates into their Exoskeleton Armor and told them to prepare for landing in ten minutes.

Hong Fan's landing team arrived on Dawn Star and prepared to disembark, but the planet's dense atmosphere made even a mild wind dangerously powerful. The chapter ended with Hong Fan checking the weather forecast before deciding whether the team should go outside.

• Black Lady Two's fleet blasted a level landing area beside the water and landed successfully on Dawn Star.
• Hong Fan and the team put on oversized spacesuits while robots and engineering equipment emerged from the cargo bays, leaving the first footprint on the planet.
• A sudden dust storm swept across the landing site as Hong Fan prepared to open the airlock hatch.
• Hong Fan noticed dust striking his visor with unusual force, though Andrew's watch showed a wind speed of only fifteen kilometers per hour.
• Fang Xu warned the team that Dawn Star's dense atmosphere made storms far more destructive and that winds above forty kilometers per hour could endanger their lives.
• Andrew asked whether they should wait for the wind to ease, and Hong Fan opened the real-time weather forecast on his watch.

Hong Fan led his team out onto Dawn Star to survey suspected mineral deposits despite the strong winds, while Lü Yongchang and the researchers worked on extracting a gene segment from Magna’s organs. Hong Fan’s team neared its first survey area.

• Hong Fan briefed his teammates on their ten survey areas and ordered them to depart before the Mining Robots arrived.
• Hong Fan stepped onto Dawn Star’s windblown surface, and his team gained confidence after seeing their Exoskeleton Armor’s power output.
• Hong Fan and his teammates drove two Planetary Landers through the rough terrain toward their first destination.
• Lü Yongchang finished his portion of the experiment and helped Mao Zhengzhi and the other researchers extract Magna’s Reticular Membrane growth gene segment.
• Hong Fan warned Andrew and Bruno to drive safely, then told the team to prepare as they approached the first survey area.

Hong Fan's crew landed on Dawn Star to survey its mineral deposits, but discovered abundant hematite despite the planet's oxygen-free atmosphere. The contradiction suggested Dawn Star once had oxygen and might have supported life, so Hong Fan sent a distress signal and ordered everyone back to the Planetary Landers.

• Hong Fan and the crew exited their Planetary Landers and began testing the silvery mineral deposits, confirming they contained elemental iron.
• Andrew reported finding hematite in the ground and dust, despite the lack of oxygen on Dawn Star.
• Hong Fan tested the reddish-brown soil and confirmed it was Fe2O3, then found hematite at multiple digging sites.
• Hong Fan realized Dawn Star may once have had oxygen and other conditions suitable for life, and wondered what had happened to the planet.
• Hong Fan sent a distress signal to [Earth] and ordered the crew to return to the Planetary Landers immediately.

Hong Fan's team took shelter in their Planetary Lander after discovering hematite on Dawn Star, while Fang Xu and Feng Yuanliang investigated how it could have formed. Feng Yuanliang proposed that hematite dust had blown from Light Satellite One, and Fang Xu considered testing the hypothesis with deep drilling.

• Hong Fan led his team into the Planetary Lander and waited for orders from Earth.
• Fang Xu learned that exploration teams across Dawn Star had found vast quantities of hematite, so construction was suspended and the teams returned to safety.
• Feng Yuanliang told Fang Xu that hematite could not have formed on Dawn Star under current conditions and suggested the planet might once have had oxygen.
• Feng Yuanliang proposed that hematite dust had blown from Light Satellite One to Dawn Star, and Fang Xu asked Zero to simulate the possibility.
• Feng Yuanliang recommended deep drilling to test whether the hematite was evenly distributed at a particular depth.