Hu Yu agreed to Academician Zeng's request to stay permanently without hesitation. Wouldn't it be a sign of intellectual disability not to seize such a good opportunity? Not only that, Hu Yu also instructed the Engineering Department to try its best to meet the manufacturing requirements of the Department of Space Science. Whether it was instruments or spacecraft, anything needed for space science research should be given priority.
Since Academician Zeng said he would be staying permanently, it might not be a short time. Hu Yu also knew that the fleet's space science was still lacking and its foundation was weak. After all, there were no teachers to teach them, and everything was achieved through the scientists' hard work and trial and error. Anyway, Hu Yu wasn't in a hurry. Otherwise, he wouldn't have let the small spaceship explore this area at 0.2 times the speed of light. Not to mention exploration, it would take seventy or eighty years just to get out of this Nebula Region.
Aside from the abundance of matter, the Nebula Region wasn't bad. Plus, the Fish Horse Star People were watching closely from outside. Given their ability to find the Wind Master, even if Earth Two had gone out, it was a foregone conclusion that the Fish Horse Star People would find it. It was better to stay hidden here. Since the Fish Horse Star People weren't coming in, they could just wait it out. However, Hu Yu couldn't understand why the Fish Horse Star warships hadn't entered the Nebula Region to search for Earth Two. Was it really because they were afraid of damaging the ship by using the warp drive to absorb matter, while using conventional engines would be too time-consuming? Hu Yu had thought so before, but then he felt it didn't make sense.
By the end of the 70th year of the Nebula Region, the number of Wind Master had increased to 11 million, and asteroid material was being continuously transported to Earth Two. During this decade, an anti-gravity system was deployed in Earth Two's high orbit. This system was designed to prevent material from the nebula from falling onto Earth Two. If left unchecked, even if Earth Two did not slide towards its star, the increased mass would lead to increased gravity, making it unsuitable for human habitation.
At the end of the eighth decade, the anti-gravity system was completed, and people could finally step out of the sealed cages made of steel and glass and enjoy the breath of nature again. That year, a small spaceship lost contact in the nebula for unknown reasons. Hu Yu and other scientists searched for the cause in many ways, but to no avail, and could only consider it a routine event.
In the ninth decade, the number of Wind Master increased to 15 million. Three more small ships lost contact, just like the first one, leaving no trace and disappearing without a trace. Hu Yu had to intensify the investigation and dispatched thirty Wind Master to the accident location using warp drive. However, even the Wind Master lost contact. Another thirty were dispatched, but they too lost contact. This result caused renewed tension.
The simultaneous loss of contact at three different coordinates is definitely not a coincidence. The accident sites are less than two light-years away from Earth Two. This distance is not close in the Nebula Region, but it is definitely not far either. Even Wind Master that absorbs matter could arrive in less than a week.
What exactly caused the Wind Master and the small spaceship to lose contact without warning? The first possibility that it was the Fish Horse Star People can be ruled out. Given their arrogant and domineering style, they would never have killed the Wind Master silently. Moreover, after killing the Wind Master, they would definitely have found Earth Two, either taking it away to become insect food or destroying it directly.
Secondly, natural causes can be ruled out. No matter how severe the natural cause, it is impossible for the Wind Master to be unable to send messages in time when they suffer a disaster. Even if tens of thousands of tons of antimatter exploded nearby, the computer could still transmit the message before the energy of the explosion destroyed the Wind Master.
Having ruled out those two possibilities, Hu Yu could only think of one remaining possibility: the other party was an advanced civilization, such as Great Star Region Civilization. Only Great Star Region Civilization might be able to eliminate the Wind Master without them noticing; Small Star Sector Civilization probably wouldn't have that capability. However, Great Star Region Civilization had no reason to do so, and humans had no enmity with them. The Destroyers had said that there were only five Great Star Region Civilization in the Milky Way, all residing near the Milky Way center, which was at least 20,000 light-years away.
" Old Hu, what should we do?"
"The situation is unclear, so we should refrain from sending any more Wind Master for the time being."
"Or should we just send someone over to investigate? After all, the Wind Master is just a machine."
"I had the same thought, but who should we send? This operation is almost 100% dangerous; anyone who goes could lose their life. I can't knowingly send people to their deaths. But if we don't figure out the reason, it will be a huge threat to all of humanity."
"General, Chief of the General Staff, I'm coming!" Zhang Yuanshan, the chief commander of the test voyage, walked in.
" Yuanshan, this is no joke. It's extremely dangerous, and there's a good chance he won't come back."
"General, I am not afraid. My parents perished during the Earth's insect swarm outbreak, and my brother was killed in the battle between Tau Ceti and the Sand Python Fleet. I do not want my children to be threatened in any way."
" Yuanshan..."
"No need to say more, General. I know you're in a difficult position, but don't feel guilty. I went completely voluntarily. What does it matter if I lose my life for the fleet and for humanity? If I can save the fleet, I'll have died a worthy death, a death heavier than Mount Tai, haha. When the time comes, General, you must remember to throw me a grand memorial service. I just love being in the spotlight. Besides, I won't die so easily. Everyone, wait for my good news. Whether I'm alive or dead, I'll find out."
" Yuanshan, take care. Come back alive, and I'll celebrate your victory."
"Okay, hahaha."
Zhang Yuanshan walked out laughing. The man appeared so bold and imposing at that moment. Hu Yu Hu Yu Wen Zhonghua Wen Zhonghua watched Zhang Yuanshan's departing figure, feeling very reluctant to part with him. After hundreds of years of friendship, they knew that there was little hope of him returning. However, for the sake of the fleet, they had to harden their hearts and make this sacrifice.
To ensure Zhang Yuanshan's safety, Hu Yu dispatched 10,000 Wind Master this time, and arranged for the Wind Master carrying Zhang Yuanshan to be positioned in the middle to the back.
As the two watched Zhang Yuanshan's fleet depart, it felt as if they had personally sent Zhang Yuanshan to the guillotine, or as if they had personally plunged a sharp knife into their own chests.
" Old Hu, there's something I've been wanting to tell you."
"What's up?"
" The Fish Horse Star Civilization has caused us so much trouble. Now that our fleet has been rebuilt, should we broadcast a message to make them regret it?"
" Zhonghua, not yet, it's not the right time to broadcast."
"Why? Have you forgotten what the Fish Horse Star People did to us?"
" Zhonghua, how could I forget? I will never forget the looks in the eyes of those people. I wanted to destroy the Fish Horse Star Civilization even more than you do, but what good will it do us even if we broadcast it now? Do you know why the Fish Horse Star People haven't entered this Nebula Region?"
"Warp navigation isn't possible here for extended periods, so the only way to find us is to cruise at low speeds using conventional engines, isn't that the reason?"
"Absolutely not! Our previous understanding was all wrong. Even without entering the Nebula Region, the Fish Horse Star warships could easily launch a large number of satellite devices to search for us. With their capabilities, they could find us in a few decades. In the interstellar age, a few decades is just a blink of an eye. I think the Fish Horse Star People have other reasons."
"So what? What does it have to do with whether we broadcast it or not?"
"It doesn't really matter. I just wanted to say that if the Fish Horse Star People are pushed too far, they can destroy us at any time. We are leaders, and we can't just think about our own feelings. We have to be responsible to the people. Also, don't forget that Ministry of National Defense Luo Zhigao's fleet and the leader's fleet are not far from us. If the Fish Horse Star People go berserk, it may also affect the leader's and Minister Luo's fleets."
"Okay, I understand. Then we'll stay in the Nebula Region until we can protect ourselves before going out. But I will definitely avenge this. The Fish Horse Star Civilization, I will piss on their supreme leader sooner or later."
"If that day ever comes, do whatever you want, but let's figure out how to deal with the situation right now. I have a bad feeling about this."