252: Energy Core and "Star Marrow" Engine

The success of the ecological dome resolved the survival concerns for hope.

However, for a starship intended for interstellar voyages, the most core and fundamental issue remains its propulsion.

No matter how sturdy the keel, how intelligent the System, or how abundant the food, without sufficient energy to drive it, everything is just an iron coffin floating in the Void Realm.

The main star core fragments and crystal key are certainly powerful, but their primary task is to maintain the internal energy environment of the base (and future starship), drive the starnet and critical Systems, and serve as a trump card in critical moments.

To support hyperspace jumps lasting several years or continuous sub-light speed cruising, a specialized, more powerful, and durable propulsion engine is needed.

The ancient database and key information record several powerful starship engine technologies, among which a design called the "Star Marrow Fusion Reactor" caught the immense interest of Senior Brother Li and Senior Brother Zhang.

Its principle is not simple combustion or explosion, but rather simulating the deeper and more violent energy released during the birth and annihilation of stars.

"But the theoretical energy consumption and manufacturing difficulty of this thing..." Senior Brother Zhang looked at the dizzyingly complex energy circuits and Materials list on the light screen, feeling his head swell, "The core material required, 'Star Marrow', I've never even heard of it."

"And these stabilizing force fields and energy diversion runes... with our current technological level, even building a model would be a stretch."

"The key information mentions that 'Star Marrow' is an energy crystal formed under extreme conditions after the collapse of certain special celestial bodies or the fall of ancient stars, and it is more than a grade higher than our existing star iron and star pattern gold."

Senior Brother Li also frowned, "There might be some in the Starry Sky Debris, but it would definitely be like finding a needle in a haystack, and extraction and refining are also major issues."

Just as the propulsion research reached a stalemate and everyone was worrying about Materials again, Wen Youyi proposed a bolder conjecture.

"We have been looking outwards," he pointed to the crystal key, "but is it possible that 'Star Marrow' or similar top-tier energy Materials have actually been right beside us all along, and we just didn't recognize them, or... didn't find the correct 'way to open' them?"

His gaze turned to the center of the main control room, to the main star core fragment emitting a gentle glow.

"The star core fragment... is the power core of ancient starships. The key information also says it is the ideal ignition source and stabilizer for the 'Star Marrow Fusion Reactor'," Wen Youyi said slowly, "So, is it possible that we don't need to search for the elusive 'Star Marrow', but instead... use the star core fragment itself as the engine's core fuel and converter?"

This idea was earth-shattering!

Use the star core fragment as fuel? That is the energy foundation of their base! What if it gets damaged?

"The risk is too high!" someone immediately opposed, "The star core fragment is non-renewable; every bit used is a bit less! If it's not controlled properly and the energy goes berserk, never mind the engine, the entire starship will be blown to smithereens!"

"That's right! This is simply gambling with everyone's lives!"

Facing the skepticism, Wen Youyi did not refute it, but instead proposed a more concrete approach: "I am not saying we should burn it like firewood."

"The key information mentions that the core of the 'Star Marrow Fusion Reactor' actually utilizes a special force field to guide and amplify the energy circulation and annihilation reactions already existing within 'Star Marrow'."

"Our star core fragment itself contains vast Star Power and complete energy circulation rules."

He looked at Senior Brother Zhang and Senior Brother Li: "Perhaps we can change our approach: instead of seeking to build a brand new 'fusion reactor' that we can hardly control, we should design a precise 'energy guidance and amplification System', using the star core fragment as the source to safely, controllably, and efficiently extract its energy and convert it into propulsion."

"At the same time, by utilizing the key's regulatory capabilities and the adaptability of Flowing Silver, we can ensure the absolute stability of the entire process."

"Turning the star core from a 'battery' into an 'engine'..." Senior Brother Zhang muttered to himself, his eyes beginning to flicker with the light of calculation, "By utilizing its own stable internal circulation, we only need to 'hitch a ride' on the periphery and extract a portion of the energy... Theoretically, energy loss will be greatly reduced, and stability might actually be higher!"

"Yes!" Senior Brother Li also became excited, "We can refer to the force field structure of ancient engines, but replace the most core, most dangerous reaction part with the familiar, docile star core! This is like... putting a harness and a cart on a docile but immensely powerful beast, letting it pull the cart instead of forcing it to ram into a mountain!"

The shift in thinking instantly opened up a new situation.

The technical team stopped obsessing over finding "Star Marrow" and replicating the complete "Star Marrow Fusion Reactor", and instead began to focus their efforts on designing a "star core energy guidance and propulsion System" that uses the star core fragment as the core, combining ancient force field technology and real-time control by Flowing Silver, abbreviated as the "star core engine".

The design work remained arduous.

How to efficiently extract energy without disrupting the stable internal circulation of the star core? How to build a force field that can gently convert violent Star Power into thrust? How to ensure the Flowing Silver control System is foolproof? Every question required repeated deduction and extensive experimentation.

But the direction was correct, and hope was right before their eyes.

The base's limited resources were once again tilted towards propulsion research.

Small-scale principle verification devices began to be built, and test after test proceeded, alternating between small sparks of success and thick smoke of failure (along with Zhao Iron Pillar's swearing as he put out the fires).

Wen Youyi spent more time in deep communication with the star core fragment and the crystal key.

He needed to understand the energy operation laws of the star core more deeply, and also needed the key to provide more detailed force field construction data.

Time passed in repeated attempts and adjustments.

Although the advent of a true "star core engine" was still far away, the path of propulsion that once seemed like a dead end had already been illuminated by a ray of starlight.

The future of hope will not only have a "living ship spirit" and an "ecological dome", but will also possess a unique and powerful "heart module" fueled by ancient stars!

(End of chapter)