396: Ten Years of Starry Sea

As Penacony's "Golden Hour" became a Holy Land where the wealthiest of all humanity's civilizations squandered their riches, a grander and more magnificent Interstellar Development was quietly accelerating.

Everything began with a meeting marked as "Sweet Trouble" in the Interstellar Peace Corporation's database.

Year 48 of the Star Calendar, March, Eastern Federation, Zijin Pavilion weekly meeting.

"We must speed up!" Director Mao, then head of the Eastern Federation Aerospace Administration, stood before the holographic star map, his finger tracing a dim Star Domain.

"Penacony's success proved two things. First, we should change our mindset and view planets as regions, not other worlds. Second, the Interstellar Peace Corporation's technology is still at least fifty years ahead of ours!"

Seated below were the heads of all the Eastern Federation's core departments, as well as the previous Premier, who had only stepped down a few months prior.

Although he now only looked after his great-grandchildren at home, his prestige as the "Founder of the Eastern Federation Star Sea Era" was enough to signify the importance of this meeting.

"Director Mao, we understand your urgency." The Director of the Economic Planning Committee pushed up his glasses. "But the Eastern Federation's current priority is to digest existing achievements."

"The transformation of the Moon is only seventy percent complete, and Mars' transformation still has a year's worth of work before completion. Aid for Crossbell's Starport has just begun construction, and the Barnard I orbital space station also requires significant resources."

"To start large-scale Interstellar Migration now? This would require at least twenty thousand 'Kunpeng' class migrant ships, and we currently only have one thousand!"

"We are not the Interstellar Peace Corporation; we don't have the confidence of unlimited resource supply."

"Then buy first! And then build!" Director Mao slammed his hand on the table. "Not enough money? The engineering profits the Eastern Federation earned from the Penacony project weren't a small sum, were they?"

"Not enough Materials? It's just business; the Interstellar Peace Corporation won't refuse. The larger our territory expands, the more money they can earn. It's a win-win situation."

The meeting reached an impasse. The conservatives believed that the Solar System should be developed first, while the radicals advocated for immediate expansion.

The turning point came a few days later with an announcement.

"Ya Ya, calculate the Eastern Federation's maximum sustainable expansion plan." Chen Hao finished their post-dinner leisure time and stretched.

"Hao, do you want to exhaust the Eastern Federation, or exhaust the Interstellar Peace Corporation?" Bronya sat to the side, legs crossed. "According to the model, if fully supported, the Eastern Federation could colonize three to four Earth-like planets within ten years. But the cost is that the budget for the next twenty years would be tied to Interstellar Development."

"What if the Interstellar Peace Corporation assists?"

"In that case, the expansion speed could increase by 300%." Bronya's eyes lit up. "If the Interstellar Peace Corporation participates under the name of 'market expansion,' it's quite feasible. For example, 'helping' them lay the Star Gates first?"

"Hmm~ Isn't that using your position for personal gain? You, a Chairman, leading the charge with micromanagement, huh?"

"Oh, just giving them a push." Chen Hao showed a profound smile. "A new era of less than forty years cannot immediately diminish the local attachment forged over thousands of years."

A week later, the Interstellar Peace Corporation issued an announcement to all known civilizations and star Systems.

Launching the "Star Sea Corridor" plan, which will construct one hundred Star Gates in resource-rich areas within the next ten years, fully open to all civilizations that abide by the "Interstellar Peace Navigation Convention."

Anyone with a discerning eye knew that this so-called "all civilizations" was somewhat specific.

Currently, in the Universe, besides the Interstellar Peace Corporation itself, only the Eastern Federation and a few on the Zemuria continent could be considered civilizations.

The Eastern Federation quickly passed the "Interstellar Development Regulations (Trial Version)." An unspoken "race" had begun.

Centered on the Solar System, the Interstellar Peace Corporation systematically surveyed two hundred and eleven star Systems within a forty-light-year radius.

While it was called a survey, the Interstellar Peace Corporation had actually completed it long ago. Now, they just packaged and sent out batches every few days.

No pressure, it's very easy.

I've told you the news, and I've told you what good things there are. If you don't want them, then I'll enjoy them first~

Year 49 of the Star Calendar, the first Star Gate fully invested and built by the Eastern Federation, "Xuanyuan," was completed and opened to traffic in the Solar System.

When the Eastern Federation's exploration vessel passed through the Star Gate, made three transfers, and finally arrived at the orbit of a target planet in a star System twenty light-years away, the transmitted images caused the entire command center to erupt.

"Atmospheric composition: Nitrogen 76%, Oxygen 23%, Carbon Dioxide 0.04%... Gravity 0.99 G... Surface temperature 15-25 degrees Celsius... Liquid water oceans found!"

"My goodness, this is practically Earth's twin brother!"

Just three months later, the Eastern Federation's first reclamation fleet, carrying five hundred thousand volunteers, set sail for this new World. The fleet's overall commander stood on the bridge, gazing at the gradually enlarging emerald green planet outside the viewport, taking a deep breath.

"Everyone, beneath our feet will be the Eastern Federation's first territory outside the Solar System. I have only one request: quickly plant everything that can be planted!"

Years 50 to 57 of the Star Calendar marked the most frenzied period of pioneering in the Eastern Federation's history. An average of 130 million people left the Solar System each year, heading for the ten carefully selected new planets.

(Checked the star System names, all were letters and numbers, changed them all. Fictional historian, activate!)

New Chang'an Star, Taoyuan Star System, Capital "Weiyang," population 210 million, known for agriculture and livable environment, called the "Eastern Federation Granary."

Red Star, Chiyan Star System, Capital "Dansha," population 180 million, rich in rare minerals, heavy industry center.

Penglai Star, Yingzhou Star System, Capital "Penglai," population 150 million, 95% ocean coverage, aquatic products and genetic medicine base.

Kunlun Star, Yuxu Star System, Capital "Tianshan," population 120 million, high mountain terrain, Interstellar tourism and extreme sports Holy Land.

Xiaojin Star, Tianhe Star System, Capital "Yanhuang," population 110 million, most Earth-like environment, Eastern Federation culture preservation and Legacy center.

Qingyun Star, Nine Heavens Star System, Capital "Qingyun," population 90 million, low-gravity planet, aerospace research and development base.

Xuanwu Star, Beiming Star System, Capital "Xuanwu," population 80 million, polar planet, low-temperature technology and energy center.

Qilin Star, Auspicious Beast Star System, Capital "Yunmeng," population 70 million, grassland planet, animal husbandry and Biotechnica hub.

Phoenix Star, Nirvana Star System, Capital "Nanli," population 60 million, frequent volcanic activity, geothermal energy and Materials science center.

Taoyuan Star, Shiwai Star System, Capital "Taohuayuan," population 50 million, multi-ecosystem planet, designated as an ecological reserve.

The frantic expansion brought profound social changes, most notably in population structure. Earth's native population experienced negative growth for the first time, while the average age of new planets was less than fifty.

Young people were more willing to venture to the frontier than to stay on Earth and compete.

However, it also had something to do with the extremely long school life. Although the average IQ increased significantly, there was also more to learn.

Even the slowest learned calculus by age 14. But the things after that, those were truly difficult.

Year 54 of the Star Calendar, Qingyun Star, "Sky City" Bar.

"My great-grandfather's generation never left their province in their entire lives. My grandfather went to Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand once and bragged about it his whole life, although now, that really is something to brag about; those places are all gone." Engineer Xiao Li, thirty-nine, drank beer and sighed to his companion, "And me? I never left Blue Star before I was thirty, but now I have work experience on three planets!"

His old classmate, a female Engineer from Red Star, laughed, "You're right, this change in scope is truly extraordinary. We really caught the wave. But, good as it is, the place where I work is a bit too tough."

"But you earn a lot! You make almost half of what I make in a month!"

"What's money for? There isn't even a decent shopping mall; if I want to buy a good dress, I have to wait for the monthly cargo shipment!"

"Sigh, I wonder when the Interstellar Peace Corporation will set up shop here; I haven't had a good shopping spree in ages, I'm practically suffocating."

"Yeah, if it weren't for the Interstellar Peace Forum, I'd really be depressed."

Such conversations played out in bars, tea houses, and cafes on every planet. A new generation of Interstellar humans was forming; they were braver and more adaptable to diverse environments than their ancestors.

However, there were still drawbacks, namely the sense of alienation caused by physical distance. Although the Eastern Federation government tried to maintain cultural centripetal force, unified management still had many problems.

Fortunately, these problems were not insurmountable. As the Eastern Federation's fleet size increased, the situation could return to normal, though it would take time.

Year 57 of the Star Calendar, the Eastern Federation Ministry of Culture attempted to simultaneously host the "Interstellar Spring Festival Gala" on all planets.

As a result, due to time differences and some minor technical issues, many awkward moments for the hosts were recorded in history.

Despite the numerous jokes, when the melody of "Unforgettable Tonight" played simultaneously on thirteen planets, countless people still had tears in their eyes.

"Mom, I see Earth!" In a family on New Chang'an Star, a little girl pointed to a star in the sky. "Teacher said that's our old home."

Her mother stroked the child's head: "Yes, that's our old home."

...Year 58 of the Star Calendar, Blue Star, Zijin Pavilion.

"They're crazy, they're all f***ing crazy!"

Han Hui, Director of the Eastern Federation Resource Planning Administration, slammed a paper report onto the mahogany office desk, making the teacup lid clatter.

This old bureaucrat, always known for his composure, was now "excited" and flushed, his hand pointing at the starry sky outside the window trembling slightly.

"Ten years! Only f***ing ten years! Our Eastern Federation has 4.3 billion people, and now 1.3 billion are scattered across ten new planets! What the f*** kind of concept is that? It's equivalent to scattering the entire population of the old era!"

In the office, several Deputy Ministers exchanged bitter smiles. Outside the window, the Starport on the edge of the Capital, comparable in size to a third-tier city, was brightly lit, with several spacecraft trailing blue exhaust flames entering space every few minutes.

And in low Earth orbit, the Eastern Federation's newly launched "Kunlun Mountain" class transport ship was slowly turning, its massive body even visible to the naked eye.

"Old Han, calm down." The Executive Deputy Director handed him a cup of strong tea. "Isn't this the situation we dreamed of back then?"

"Back then, we thought of steady expansion, not a f***ing Interstellar exodus!" Han Hui gulped down his tea, pointing at a dense cluster of light points on the holographic star map. "Look! Ten years ago, we were still messing around in the Solar System, and now? This spread is vast, but the workload has also increased!"

"With AI assistance, I've almost worked overtime for three consecutive months; if not, I'd be collapsing at my post right now."

"Those bastards from the Interstellar Peace Corporation are even more ruthless; they laid sixty-five Star Gates just like that, like scattering beans! Within a forty-light-year radius, two hundred and eleven star Systems, almost all have their bases and space cities!"

"And they're all the most expensive unmanned models!"

"They're too f***ing rich!"

"Speaking of which, we must also admit that for the past ten years, we have actually been led by the nose by the Interstellar Peace Corporation." An old General said in a deep voice, "Although commerce has become more prosperous, the technological gap has not narrowed, but rather widened."

"But we have also gained ten times the development space, which cannot be denied." The Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Economy rotated the teacup in his hand. "Without the Interstellar Peace Corporation, our expansion would not have been so easy."

On the holographic star map, the Star Domain controlled by the Eastern Federation lit up red, and the Interstellar Peace Corporation's Star Gate network displayed as golden light points. The red area was constantly expanding, but the golden network always followed like a shadow.

"We need our own Star Gate technology." The Minister of Science and Technology said firmly, "We cannot always rely on the Interstellar Peace Corporation like this."

"Although we have some clues about Warp Engine technology, Star Gate technology is far more difficult. We need time, at least fifty years."

"Then let's continue to cooperate. At worst, we'll buy a complete one, but we must also increase investment in independent research and development of core technology. In the next ten years, no matter what, we must have star Systems on the star map that are completely developed and controlled by ourselves!"

"Agreed!"

Before the meeting ended, everyone looked up at the starry sky in unison.

Outside the Solar System, there were the Eastern Federation's ten planets, with hundreds of millions of compatriots living there. There were also the Interstellar Peace Corporation's sixty-five Star Gates, like golden chains connecting the frontiers of human civilization.

"You all say..." an official suddenly asked, "What exactly does the Interstellar Peace Corporation want to do? They help us expand, cultivating competitors for themselves?"

"Perhaps it's for the market. Just as the old saying goes, you can't squeeze oil from a pauper." Someone guessed.

"But now, we and those civilizations on the Zemuria continent use credit points for transactions. With the Interstellar Peace Corporation's strength, I completely believe that credit points will be the equivalent for Interstellar civilized transactions in the future."

Another person had a different view.

"Moreover, with the Interstellar Peace Corporation's almost infinite natural resources, industrial production capacity, and technology, even if they directly added two zeros to the credit points currently circulating in the market, there would be no inflation. The commercial profits we can provide now, how much is that?"

The new Premier had already learned the truth about the Chairman of the Interstellar Peace Corporation from the old Premier before taking office, but he did not speak of it.

On this point, his view was actually completely consistent with the old Premier's.

Having such a seemingly "both friend and foe" force existing was absolutely a good thing for the Eastern Federation's development and future.

After listening to the discussion below, the Premier ended the meeting with one sentence.

"I probably know what the Interstellar Peace Corporation is after, but idle speculation is useless."

"We just need to do our best to move forward and find our own way out."

"Everyone, cheer up and get to work."

"Meeting adjourned."