"I wasn't supposed to answer these questions, but since you've lost so many people, I'll tell you a little more as compensation. After all, our civilization is a peace-loving one. It's true that the several Great Star Region Civilizations in our Milky Way haven't fully mastered dimensional technology yet, but they're highly accomplished in spatial technology. They shouldn't be too far from traveling across space, and may have a chance of making a breakthrough within a few tens of millions of years."
"A few tens of millions of years? That long?"
"What did you expect? These long-established Great Star Region Civilizations have all developed for billions of years. They made whatever breakthroughs they could long ago. If they can master dimensional technology within a few tens of millions of years, that would already be very good for them. Once a civilization reaches their level, even the slightest progress is extremely difficult. Unlike you lower-level civilizations, which can make progress every day. You should understand that."
"Lord Destroyers, what is the bugs' purpose? From what we saw on Earth, the bugs had no technological means and could hardly be called intelligent. How are they carrying out an organized attack on the Milky Way?"
"I don't know. But there's a widespread rumor that the bugs are merely the minions of some advanced civilization, which is controlling everything from behind the scenes. That's also why the Great Star Region Civilizations only wiped them out in half the Milky Way, leaving the other half to the bugs, even though they clearly still had the strength to fight. They didn't exterminate them all. I think the Great Star Region Civilizations may also be wary of the advanced civilization that could be behind the bugs. And the fact that most civilizations in the Milky Way suddenly emerged more than two million years ago is another huge mystery. Alas, unfortunately, the civilizations in our Milky Way are still at too low a level."
"Lord Destroyers."
"All right, no more questions. I've said enough. Originally, all I needed to do was tell you the basics about the Milky Way and give you a slightly better chance of survival. Now I need to hurry to the Solar System to deal with the bugs. Do as you please. Good luck."
"Thank you, Lord Destroyers."
"Goodbye."
The holographic image flickered, and the Destroyers vanished. In the distance, the blue ship finished turning and became a streak of light, speeding off in the direction the Patrols had taken, leaving everyone with a colossal mess.
In less than half an hour, the fleet had lost sixteen ships and more than eighty million residents. Faced with such a tremendous loss, the Leader and the others could only hold back their grief, regroup the fleet, and calm the panicked public.
After considerable effort, they finally put everything in order, and the fleet slowly came to a stop. Everyone gathered around once more and waited quietly for the Leader's instructions.
"Comrades, after this disaster, I think we need to revise our original plan to head for Barnard's Star. Let's analyze the situation we're about to face based on what the Destroyers and the Executor said. This is very important. It will determine whether we live or die," the Leader said slowly.
"Leader, I believe what the Patrols and the Destroyers told us was mostly true. Much of what the Destroyers said was deduction and speculation, but judging by their objectives, neither of them had a reason to deceive us." Director Xu of the Chinese Academy of Sciences stroked his snowy white beard as he spoke.
"Mm, I think so too. At the very least, deceiving us would bring them no practical benefit. Besides, they're Small Star Sector Civilizations. If there were anything they wanted from us, they could simply take it by force. But if everything they said is true, then the situation we face is extremely grave."
"Yes, Leader," Director Xu continued. "According to the Patrols and the Destroyers, the Insect Race has now occupied nearly half the Milky Way, and there are far more civilizations in the Milky Way than we imagined—hundreds of millions of them. Although most are low-level Planetary-Level Civilizations, the total is so large that there are probably more than a million advanced civilizations. We've only just entered the early Star-Level Civilization stage. Running into any Star-Level Civilization would be a disaster for us."
"Leader," Defense Minister Luo Zhigao said gravely, "we have no offensive strength at all, and even our defenses are woefully inadequate. The J-85s have fought for years without proper maintenance. We were already planning to dismantle them after they finished defending the Solar System. Only 200,000 J-90s are barely fit for interstellar warfare. That number is hardly enough to guard our more than 200 Polaris resident ships, let alone launch an attack. But circumstances forced our hand back then; we couldn't afford to build more fighters. The Polaris ships have poor maneuverability and are large targets. If we come into conflict with another civilization now, the consequences would be unthinkable."
"So we need to reconsider our destination. If Barnard's Star lies within the sphere of influence of a Stellar-Level Civilization or one of an even higher level, heading there would be like sheep walking into a pack of wolves."
"Then what should we do now, Leader?" Luo Zhigao asked.
The Leader slowly stood and looked around at everyone. His bloodshot eyes closed tightly, then slowly opened again. In a little over ten hours, he seemed to have aged ten years.
"Comrades, I truly can't bring myself to make this decision, but I have no choice."
"Please tell us, Leader. We'll abide by whatever you decide," everyone said.
"Comrades, my decision is to split up. The fleet will divide into three and go its separate ways. But once we separate, it's hard to say whether we'll ever have a chance to reunite."
"Leader." "Leader." "Leader."
"I know what you want to say, and I know you can't accept it. Not just you-our more than a billion people may be unable to accept it too. But everyone, calm down and think carefully about the situation we face. Only by splitting up can we avoid having one wrong step wipe us all out."
Everyone fell silent, each doing their best to calm their emotions. Those in positions of leadership could not let emotion enter into any decision, or it could very well lead to disaster. Especially now, at a moment when the fate of their entire nation was being decided, emotion had to be set aside.
"Leader, you're right, but how should we split up?" After thinking it over, Luo Zhigao asked.
Luo Zhigao had finally raised the difficult question everyone most wanted to ask but dared not face. If they parted, they might never have a chance to meet again. This parting could very well be forever.
"We won't simply split up and flee. We'll develop our civilization according to three different models. We have 234 Polaris ships left, which will be divided into three groups. The first group, fifty Polaris ships, will be led by Luo Zhigao. Its civilization will develop primarily through war and plunder, taking as much technology and resources from other civilizations as possible while keeping itself safe. This will be a risky journey, which is why Luo Zhigao will lead it. It suits your bold and daring character. I've given the second group considerable thought. General Hu Yu will lead one hundred Polaris ships. Their civilization will seek progress while maintaining stability: plundering when possible, making peace when possible. I'll lead the remaining eighty-four Polaris ships. Our civilization will follow a conservative model, developing only when our absolute safety is assured. We'll seek only to preserve the spark of civilization. Does everyone understand?"
"I agree with the Leader," Director Xu said, nodding.
"Leader, I'm afraid I'm not up to such a great responsibility," Hu Yu said, somewhat lacking in confidence.
"No, General Hu Yu, I'm certainly not choosing you at the last minute. In fact, I had already considered this possibility before we left Earth. I just didn't expect it to actually happen, or to come so soon. I thought long and hard before entrusting the fleet to you. You're bold but thoughtful, and you can take risks while keeping the danger to a minimum. You're careful beneath your rough exterior, and you have both courage and resourcefulness. You're absolutely the best person to lead them."
"But, Leader-"
"General Hu Yu, don't refuse. My mind is made up."
"All right, Leader. I'll make sure I complete the task."
"Dividing up the fleet itself will be relatively simple. When people boarded, we took their relationships into account and assigned them together according to family ties or where they came from. There shouldn't be much trouble separating them. Besides, as long as we explain things clearly to the people and do the work of persuading them, they'll understand."
"All right, Leader. I'll make the arrangements," Luo Zhigao said helplessly.
"What remains is deciding how to assign the rest of us. Old friends, we've worked together for many years, joining forces to resist the Insect Race. I truly can't bear to part with you like this. And the older people get, the less they want to leave familiar friends behind. But for our civilization, for our nation, we have to separate."
"Leader." "Leader," everyone called out.
"All right, let me make the assignments. Li Wenfei, Fang Xinyun, you two go with Luo Zhigao and take a third of the scientific and technical personnel. Wu Haifeng will come with me. I'm old, and I need a young general to oversee things. Wu Haifeng's character also suits the development model my group will follow. We'll take a third of the scientific and technical personnel as well. Director Xu, you and the others will go with General Hu Yu's group."
"We'll follow your arrangements, Leader."
"Leader," Director Xu said slowly, "I'm old. I'd rather go with you. Academician Zeng Zhaoyuan and Academician Xiao Yi are more than capable of handling General Hu's group."
"Director."
"Director."
"All right, don't doubt your abilities. You've far surpassed me and are more than capable of overseeing the scientific and technical work. I really am old. If I keep following you, I'll only hold things up. Besides, the Leader and I have worked together for over half a century. Now that we're both old, we can at least keep each other company."
Director Xu looked at the Leader. Both men were nearly a hundred years old. They had spent half their lives toiling and giving their all for the nation. Their hair had turned white, and wrinkles lined their foreheads. The Leader nodded, agreeing with Director Xu.
"Everyone, after we part, each of you will develop on your own. But please, whatever you do, don't abandon the essence of our Chinese Nation. If possible, we may have a chance to meet again. I hope all of you can stay alive."
"Rest assured, Leader. Even if we part, we'll surely carry on the spirit of the Chinese Nation and let our descendants know that they are descendants of Yan and Huang, descendants of the dragon," Luo Zhigao and Hu Yu promised.
"Mm, with you there, I can rest easy." The Leader nodded. "Now I have something important to announce. Our Long River Project can begin."
"What Long River Project?"
"Academician Xiao, please explain," the Leader said, smiling at Academician Xiao Yi.