206: Chapter 206 A "Broadcast" from Deep Space

Lin Mo's brisk pace as he returned to the command center was completely different from the somber stillness he had shown on the observation deck just moments ago; every step carried a renewed, sharpened spirit.

Su Xiaowan's insight regarding "humanity as the soul" had not dissolved the crisis, but it had injected purer fuel into his mental engine, allowing his vision to become clearer as he faced the darkness—to see the enemy clearly, and to see clearly what it was he needed to protect.

"What is the status of the 'Thousand-Mile Eye Plan - γ'?" Lin Mo stepped into the main control hall, his voice having returned to its accustomed calmness.

Inside the hall, the team responsible for deep space monitoring was already fully in position, the atmosphere tense.

"Consultant Lin, seven hours ago, the 'Thousand-Mile Eye Plan - γ' array captured an anomalous information stream while conducting a routine scan of the background radiation in the direction of the Galactic Core."

The monitoring supervisor spoke quickly but clearly, "It is not the regular 'pulse' signal we have been tracking from the Kuiper Belt. It is more... ancient, more complex, more chaotic, like some kind of cosmic 'noise' or... 'background broadcast.' The signal strength is extremely weak, spanning multiple frequency bands from ultra-low frequency to gamma rays, superimposed in a complex modulation method we have never seen before; it had previously been masked by more obvious local signals and natural radiation."

"Content?" Lin Mo went straight to the core.

"We are decoding it with full effort! The 'system' has utilized over 30% of its conventional computing power for demodulation and pattern recognition."

The supervisor pulled up the constantly scrolling data waterfall, "The signal itself seems extremely fragmented, full of breakpoints and garbled code, but it contains some... information packets with clearly structured characteristics. We just successfully isolated and preliminarily parsed one of the relatively complete data packet fragments."

The holographic screen lit up, displaying the parsed content. It was not text or images, but a highly abstract, symbolic encoding sequence based on mathematics and fundamental physical constants.

With the help of the 'system's' powerful semantic association and civilization database comparisons, a message that could be understood by humans was translated and projected before them:

[…Fragment…Log Update…Region: Orion Arm - Edge Sector…Detected traces of 'Scavenger' activity…Model identification retrieval…Match: Scavenger-Type 7…Characteristics: High mobility, spatial cloaking, targeted 'purification'…Origin tracing: Protocol core directive…'orchard' maintenance unit…Associated civilization markers: None discovered…Threat assessment: Low (single unit, non-swarm)…Recommendation: Continuous observation, record data, update 'fallen leaf' archives…Fragment end…]

The hall was deathly silent, with only the low hum of equipment running. Everyone stared intently at the information, as if trying to etch it into their retinas.

"'Scavenger-Type 7'..." Elder Chen repeated, his voice trembling with disbelief, "It matches what was mentioned in the ancient database! This isn't a name we guessed blindly; this is... this is the official naming and classification of the 'reaper' by that extinct super-civilization!"

"It's more than that!" A young decoding expert pointed excitedly at several words in the information fragment, "'orchard' maintenance unit! 'Purification'! 'Fallen leaf' archives! This... this sounds like it's describing a type of automated... 'gardening' or 'cleaning' behavior! The 'Scavenger' is not an independent civilization; they are 'gardener' tools created by some higher existence! Responsible for 'pruning' or 'clearing' the 'plants' in the 'orchard' that do not meet the requirements?"

This metaphor sent a chill down everyone's spines. If the Solar System was a corner of some unknown 'orchard' and human civilization was a 'plant' growing within it, then the 'Scavenger-Type 7' was an automated robot sent to execute 'pruning' or 'clearing' tasks!

What humanity was facing might not be an aggressive civilization with subjective malice at all, but a cold, efficient, program-driven cosmic "pest control system"!

"Then what about the 'test'?" Lin Mo immediately pressed, "The ancient database mentioned a 'test.' If the 'Scavenger' is just a tool for cleaning, then who set the 'test'? What are the standards? What happens if we pass? Do we get 'purified' if we don't?"

"We are trying to isolate other data packets! This signal stream is too complex and fragmented, like the embers of a cosmic-scale information explosion!" The monitoring supervisor's forehead was sweating.

Just then, the 'system's' electronic voice suddenly interrupted, carrying a rare, anthropomorphic sense of "urgency": "Warning! A brief but intense peak in energy fluctuation has been detected in the signal stream from the core direction. Correlation analysis shows a 97.4% spatiotemporal correlation between this fluctuation and the forced decoding attempt of one of the newly isolated, structurally complex data packets. The fluctuation is suspected to have triggered some kind of... residual 'echo' or 'response mechanism'."

"What?" Lin Mo's heart tightened.

Before anyone could react, the signal waterfall that had been scrolling chaotically on the main screen suddenly changed! A strong signal, far clearer, more stable, and even carrying a certain eerie "rhythmic sense" than before, abruptly cut in, instantly suppressing the other background noise!

This signal was no longer a fragmented log entry; it was more like a... pre-recorded, looping "announcement" or "warning." Its encoding method was more ancient, yet more fundamental, as if designed to be understood by as many civilizations as possible that had reached a certain stage of development.

" 'system'! Prioritize decoding this strong signal!" Lin Mo said sternly.

"Parsing... encoding foundation is universal constants and fundamental particle physics symbols... translating..."

A few seconds of waiting felt as long as a century. Finally, new text emerged line by line:

[To all listeners: This is the final broadcast of the 'Watchers' protocol. We have perished. The 'orchard' is out of control. The 'gardener' is asleep. The 'Scavenger' sequences (models 1-9) are still executing the 'fallen leaf' program according to the final directive. Judgment criteria: Those whose civilization's technology tree reaches 'fundamental gravity manipulation' or the 'dimensional cognition threshold' and have not demonstrated 'symbiotic tendencies' are marked as 'potential disorder factors,' initiating purification. The 'test' was not set by us, but is the universe's own filter. The only known path for exemption: Prove 'non-predatory civilization symbiotic potential.' Evidence must be presented within the 'Scavenger' contact assessment period. Database coordinates are attached (damage rate estimated at 99.8%). If you encounter a 'Scavenger,' be cautious. If you are marked, resist. If you find the 'gardener'... awaken Him. May the light of order eventually reappear in the sea of chaos. —The last generation of 'Watchers,' at the moment of extinction.]

The broadcast stopped abruptly there; the strong signal vanished as suddenly as it had appeared, leaving behind a screen full of silence and the stunned, wooden expressions of everyone present.

The amount of information was too vast, too shocking, and too despair-inducing!

"'Watchers' protocol... an extinct super-civilization... an out-of-control 'orchard'... a sleeping 'gardener'..." Elder Chen clutched the console, his fingers trembling slightly, "The 'Scavenger'... is really an automated cleaning tool... the trigger condition... is that the technology tree reaches the 'gravity manipulation' or 'dimensional cognition' threshold, and... has not shown 'symbiotic tendencies'?"

"Our gravity research... the 'shadow catcher' project..." A scientist looked ghastly pale.

"And the 'Prometheus' project... genetic optimization... does this count as 'non-symbiotic'? Does it count as 'predatory' self-development?" Another ethicist's voice trembled.

"'Prove non-predatory civilization symbiotic potential'... what kind of bullshit test is this!" A hot-tempered general couldn't help but growl, "How do we prove it? By showing our art and philosophy to those cold machines? Will they care?!"

Lin Mo's brain was racing, filtering every word and phrase. "Gravity manipulation threshold"... humanity had indeed just touched the edge. "Dimensional cognition"... not yet reached. But when 'the piercer' arrived, humanity's technology had clearly already triggered some warning threshold. "Not demonstrated symbiotic tendencies"... humanity had been full of internal conflict in the past, only uniting recently under the pressure of life and death; how would that be judged?

"'Scavenger' contact assessment period..." He captured this key phrase, "This means they don't destroy us immediately upon meeting? There will be a process of observation and assessment? During this process, if we can demonstrate the 'symbiotic potential' recognized by their programming, is it possible to be exempted?"

"Theoretically that is the case, but..." the monitoring supervisor said bitterly, "According to the images sent back by 'pathfinder beta' earlier, those 'Scavenger' units are killing each other; does their 'programming' really still have reliable judgment? The 'orchard' is already out of control! These 'Scavenger' units are more like zombies blindly executing tasks according to flawed final directives!"

"And the 'gardener'..." Su Xiaowan said softly, though a glimmer of faint hope ignited in her eyes, "If we could find and awaken this 'gardener,' could we stop all 'Scavenger' units?"

"The database coordinates have a 99.8% damage rate... where is the 'gardener' sleeping? How do we awaken it? This is even more hopeless than proving 'symbiotic potential'!" someone said pessimistically.

The hall was filled with shock, confusion, fear, and a hint of absurdity. Humanity had been on high alert, thinking they were facing a life-or-death civilization war, only to find in the end that the enemy might just be a group of out-of-control, rigid cleaning robots, and the true path to survival was hidden within a vague, perhaps even obsolete, "cosmic moral test" and the search for some mythical "sleeping 'gardener'"!

Just then, the 'system's' alarm sounded sharply again, pulling everyone back from their chaotic thoughts: "Emergency! In the direction of the Kuiper Belt, the signals of all previously tracked 'Scavenger' units have undergone a synchronized mutation! The regular 'pulse' signal has ceased! It has converted into a highly directional, high-intensity, directed broadcast containing complex structural information! Broadcast target vector analysis—locked onto the Solar System! Preliminary analysis of broadcast content shows keywords repeating: [Target Confirmed], [Civilization Identifier: Unregistered - Potential Disorder Factor], ['Scavenger-Type 7' Unit Response], [Purification Protocol Initiated], [Estimated Contact Window: 117 to 135 Standard Cycles]!"

117 to 135 standard cycles! According to the 'system's' rapid calculation, in Earth days, that is approximately... four to five months!

It was nearly half the time compared to the eight months previously estimated based on the trajectory! Clearly, at the same time the ancient "Watchers broadcast" from the Galactic Core was received and attempted to be decoded by humanity, it also acted like a key, unintentionally triggering some kind of "response" or "status update," allowing the approaching 'Scavenger-Type 7' units to confirm their target and enter their final action sequence!

"They... have received the 'order confirmation'." Long Zhantian's holographic image appeared in the hall, his face pale, "Now, it is not wandering and observation; it is the official 'purification' countdown. Four to five months."

All philosophical speculation, all questions of civilization, were crushed to pieces in this moment by this cold, cruel countdown.

Lin Mo slowly raised his head, all the confusion and shock in his eyes having settled, leaving only a calmness and determination like the ice of an abyss. He swept his gaze across every pale, angry, or resolute face in the hall.

"Did you hear that?" His voice was not loud, but it drowned out all the noise, "The universe's 'filter' has opened, and the 'cleaning program' has started. There is no reason to be reasoned with, no fairness to be had. Either pass that damned, ethereal 'test,' or... use the only language they can understand—force—to smash their 'purification' protocol to pieces!"

He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.

"Four months. This is our final time. It is not to prove to anyone that we have 'symbiotic potential,' but to declare to this cold and cruel universe—human civilization is not a weed to be pruned! We are fire, we are a storm, we are the... unyielding ones who, even when facing out-of-control 'providence,' will swim against the current and carve out a path to survival!"

"Order the entire GDA: War status elevated to the highest level, 'Other Shore.' All plans, all resources, all manpower, must be directed toward the 'North Heaven Gate' final defense line! Accelerate the 'sower' prototype ship! Advance the 'pegasus' combat testing! Initiate the volunteer recruitment for the second phase of 'Prometheus'!"

"In these four months, we must sharpen our teeth to the keenest edge and cast our armor to the thickest! Welcome our 'guests'!"

The order was like a mountain, instantly transmitted through the quantum network across the globe, the moon, and Mars. Human civilization, this massive war machine, after a brief shock and chaos, let out an even more violent and reckless roar, launching a final, desperate sprint toward that already-determined date with destruction four months away!