Deep Space Wandering Fleet
Chapter 542 - 539

Chapter 542: 539

A month of scientific exploration had passed quickly, and the final discussion meeting had begun.

Under the initiative of Zhang Yuan and others, the New Human Civilization had already approved Plan 17. What remained was convincing the Tos Civilization to choose this plan.

Theoretically, there should not be any major problems.

Upon hearing the various demands proposed by the humans, the experts of the Tos Civilization carefully calculated all the formulas of Plan 17, confirming there were no significant errors.

The leader of the other side nodded slightly, indicating, "You’re right. Taking into account the depreciation of various mechanical equipment, our industrial strength will slowly decline over hundreds of years until a thousand years later, when the machinery we purchase from the trading market will be essentially scrapped..."

"Then we will have to expend a great deal of effort to produce replacements for these machines on our own. Alas, adjusting the production lines will also be quite troublesome. Either way, there will still be a considerable slide in industrial power. Developing a second War Star will be much slower unless we significantly increase our population."

"But blindly expanding our population is detrimental to the development of civilization itself... There’s an optimal boundary for a civilization’s population. Exceeding this population, efficiency will actually decrease."

"Considering these points, developing only one War Star is indeed a better choice."

"But the risk involved will be greater... We must complete it on time and in full every year; otherwise, it’s very likely to fail and lead to planetary impacts, at which point everything will be over."

Captain Ke calmly said, "Your Excellency Thomas, you must understand that there could never be a perfect plan with high revenue and low risk."

"Plan 17, after being discussed within our civilization, was voted through. As long as it can be completed on time and in full, the risk is manageable. Both sides have paid a huge price, desiring to acquire Curvature Technology, it’s hardly possible to give up for no reason..."

"This is our consensus, so I believe the risk can be controlled."

The Tos People stayed silent for a long while. The Tos Civilization had spent a massive amount of AmiBa Points and extensively depleted their resources for the entire plan.

The New Human Civilization had done the same.

Both parties had come to this forsaken place without any Cosmic Strings, not for failure but for success.

And the New Humans had no motive to deceive them either; otherwise, it would mean a grave animosity.

Eventually, after a long discussion, they thought that if humans had such determination, why couldn’t the Tos Civilization possess it too?

If a generation’s effort could complete the entire plan, then that was obviously the best outcome.

After the meeting concluded, without any particular complications, both parties eventually opted for Plan 17.

The planets that both civilizations needed to develop were coded "JS131"; the Big Ice Ball that needed gravitational attraction was coded "JS144".

After decisions had been made, a large amount of engineering equipment was transported to Planet "JS131", beginning the first phase of construction—the Central Quark Energy room. This was a completely new energy technology that was needed in super-large flagships; of course, Planet-level Fortresses could also utilize it, theoretically needing 30-40 years to complete.

Zhang Yuan let out a sigh of relief, watching a plethora of shimmering mini-Suns appear in the sky, lights from highly intense nuclear fusion. Various devices continued to be relocated from the War Star, with robots staying bustlingly active.

Because the rented Planet Fortress was too close to "JS131", the gravitational pull between the two planets attracted each other, causing "JS131"’s orbital path to undergo a series of changes.

To avoid collisions, the giant engines of the Planet Fortress slowly started up, emitting bright ion flames.

These intense ion beams stretched thousands of kilometers, akin to brilliant rainbows in the universe. Both sides maintained a distance of 20,000 kilometers, effectively a rehearsal of people’s plans in advance.

"Such a pity," Zhang Yuan thought quietly below. "If we had more AmiBa Points, relying on this rented planet alone could have accomplished much."

But then he quickly shook his head, sighing to himself for thinking too much.

He listened to many scientists nearby discussing the formulas of planetary attraction.

The War Star, built by humans and the Tos Civilization over more than a thousand years, couldn’t possibly be controlled so perfectly, and a certain margin of error would be necessary when the time came.

These details would need careful study over the years.

Thus, 15 days later, as various goods were unloaded from the Planet Fortress, the rental period of this War Star was nearing its expiration, and it would soon return to the interstellar trading market.

"Respected representatives of the New Human Civilization, have you decided to stay here?"

The person in charge of this Planet Fortress was still the massive insect "Cocos-shaped Wart", who said, "I regret to inform you, but your civilization must decide on this matter. Time is almost up, and we’ll be heading back soon."

Zhang Yuan and others were bidding farewell to their host who had been receiving them all this while.

Captain Mister performed a standard interstellar etiquette with the insect, "We have decided to stay here, and we deeply appreciate your companionship over the years!"

Humans indeed should express gratitude; without this trading market, reaching this remote place would have been extremely difficult.

Even though humans paid a hefty sum of AmiBa Points, business is business, friendship is friendship, and gratitude must still be expressed.

Captain Mister added, "We hope that after 1400 years, some Curvature Spaceships could be sent here by the interstellar trading market to evacuate our population. We have already paid a portion of the AmiBa Points in advance, just not specifying the time. Now, we believe this time should be after 1400 years."

"No problem, we will definitely honor our promise!" Cocos-shaped Wart’s face displayed a faint smile, looking very peculiar, as if expectant yet also in doubt. "You’re sure your civilization agrees on after 1400 years?"

"Yes."

"Then, please sign here and leave an audio-visual recording. I will convey your wishes to the trading market."

Captain Mister, guided by the other party, quickly signed the relevant agreements and walked down solemnly.

That meant that within the next 1400 years, humans must complete this project.

Many onlookers watched with eagerness, their emotions mixed. They didn’t know what might happen in the distant future, nor if humanity would push itself to the limits to finish the work on time.

After this ceremony, Zhang Yuan, carrying a small safe, handed it over, explaining, "We had left a large safe in the interstellar trading market, intended as a gift to humans of the same origin, which should have already been preserved for a hundred years."

"Oh, yes, I remember this contract..." Cocos-shaped Wart said.

"We would like to add a clause: If after 1400 years, a civilization of humans of the same origin comes to this trading market, please give them this smaller safe as well."

"But if they come too early, then it’s not to be given to them. It’s a time-limited safe, unavailable if they come too early and only available if they arrive late."