Deep Space Wandering Fleet
Chapter 574 - 571: A Survivor’s Account

Chapter 574: Chapter 571: A Survivor’s Account

The entire story must be traced back to over four hundred years ago when people were still industriously developing Planet Engines without any daylight...

Generation after generation, the torch was passed on; this blazing inferno seemed as if it would never extinguish, yet also as if it could go out at any moment...

The whole civilization always had so many people who toiled tirelessly and some who worked doggedly, eating dust all day, with only one or two days of rest in a month.

Some quickly got used to it, some didn’t, but still forced themselves to; there were those who wanted to cheat and slack off and even various kinds of "Sinners" who simply refused to work.

Historically, there has never been a society with only good people and no bad people. A mix of all sorts of people is what forms a vibrant civilization.

However, the patience and endurance of people were eroded with each passing generation, the government’s prestige also waned, and no passion could sustain for so long...

Finally, one day, a tide of "born free" swept through the New Human Civilization, sparking an unprecedented massive strike!

The impact of this great strike was profound, and though people soon resumed work, the government had to make concessions to the populace.

In the forty years that followed, the New Human Civilization underwent tremendous changes with a large number of Transcendents temporarily conscripted, reappearing in the real world...

Meanwhile, the Radiant Galaxy, carrying fifty million people, escaped from that light-less planet and set off for a brilliant Constant Star more than 1 light year away.

That is to say, the former New Human Civilization split into two, ideologically divided, with the original population ruled by the "Progressive Faction" representing the "Blue Wave," and the other by the "Liberals" representing the "Green Tide."

Both sides went their separate ways, each pursuing their own paths.

Lin Yingdong sighed deeply as he gazed upon the planet he had lived on for over a hundred years, vast and desolate, with Planet Engines standing tall on its surface like giant mountains.

He stepped onto the deck of the Radiant Galaxy and chose to leave.

Lin Yingdong was a government education worker, whose past job was to indoctrinate children, filling their heads with the traditional belief that "civilization must advance, and personal interest should be sacrificed for the greater good of civilization."

Maintaining this traditional social atmosphere was indeed very difficult if one wanted to achieve long-term overwork...

However, after spending so much time brainwashing others, he himself found the whole thing utterly repulsive!

What greater good of civilization, the need for civilization to progress, and so on, sounded hollow.

He knew deeply that humans are not naturally altruistic beings. From an early age, it is clear some people naturally enjoy bullying others, this bullying doesn’t need any reason, hence the existence of various forms of school bullying. If a person doesn’t have their own sense of superiority, can they still be called human? So he believed that human nature itself was wicked.

And this "greater good of civilization" was clearly a distortion of human nature, imposed by the upper ruling class, unsustainable.

It could even be said... to be a form of dictatorship!

Thus, the thought "born free" emerged from chaos.

In reality, this idea was not new; the Enlightenment movement of the 17th-18th centuries already proclaimed the ideas of liberty, democracy, and equality.

The 21st century had so-called neoliberalism.

Yet, against this backdrop, people finally grasped its true meaning.

It was as if suddenly a spring breeze had arrived, under such oppressive conditions, this refreshing change seemed to come from another universe, becoming a driving force deep inside.

"Are you also boarding the spaceship?"

At that time, human civilization was irreconcilably split between the Blue Wave and the Green Tide, each forming their own factions.

A journalist from the Blue faction asked a former government worker, "You were government employees, weren’t you? Why? This is betrayal!"

Lin Yingdong replied, "Of course, it will be a better world! We should also strive to create a better society... a society that is more in line with human nature. If we can’t change genetic philosophy, why not make the entire society more accommodating to human nature?"

The journalist pressed on, "But what about the people here? The entire engineering project is not yet complete, and they still need to work for the long term. All the work planned for the engineering project is substantial! If you leave, who will carry out these necessary tasks?"

During a television interview, Lin Yingdong spoke loudly, "We have already dedicated half a lifetime of effort to our civilization, and we would leave with a clear conscience even now! Moreover, I believe it is the government’s responsibility to undertake such plans!"

"The original plan was flawed from the start!"

"All responsibility should be borne by the original government!"

Lin Yingdong raised his arms high, "If the others want to leave and the government doesn’t allow them, we would fight for their rights! But if they don’t want to leave on their own, we won’t force them..."

This seemed like the most passionate and purposeful days of his life, fighting for his own ideals.

Lin Yingdong did not feel that he had betrayed his original beliefs; rather, his original beliefs had betrayed him.

"Civilization certainly needs to progress, but not at the cost of sacrificing so many people’s happiness!"

That was his core belief.

Of course, the old government’s prestige was still there, and many would rather suffer here than leave, so there wasn’t much that could be done about it.

The entire Planet Engine project was not allowed to fail, and the Tos Civilization was casting a covetous eye on it. If all humans ran away, the Tos Civilization alone could not handle all the work, and a significant conflict with humans would be inevitable.

Inside, Lin Yingdong even felt somewhat Schadenfreude: "Fortunately, some people are willing to stay here; otherwise, with the Tos Civilization hindering us, the Radiant Galaxy wouldn’t be able to get away... sigh."

Just like that, the people aboard the spaceship left without looking back.

The Radiant Galaxy shot out towering ion flames and disappeared into the distant sky...

Naturally, many political parties emerged from the splintered civilization.

In the dangerous expanse of space, anarchy was of course unfeasible; without a government to unite society, humans would quickly perish in the vast universe.

After years of fierce competition, two parties came to the forefront: the "Industrial Union Party" and the "Democracy Promotion Association"!

Because everyone on the spaceship had received a traditional education, after they fled the planet, guilt persisted in their hearts, and it wasn’t something that could be simply covered up with the flag of "freedom."

Subconsciously, they also knew that their escape was a betrayal of the entire civilization.

Therefore, these citizens were still citizens of exceptional quality.

They sought a happier life but rejected meaningless indulgence; they also understood the concept of a "Sinking Civilization," which represented a massive social inertia.

"So, how did these outstanding human citizens rapidly fall into decline and decadence within a few short decades?"

At this very moment, Lin Yingdong was standing on the podium of the Scientific Council, recounting the history of these years with a despondent expression. After such a massive storm, his figure was gaunt and utterly hopeless...