90: Chapter 90 A New Mission: Listening for Civilization
The images and data transmitted back by the "Quantum Long-Distance Sensor" were like ice water poured over the heads of all those in the know, instantly snapping them awake. The "reaper" was no longer a vague concept or a distant signal; it was a real, accelerating entity threat approaching with a clear purpose. The three-to-eight-year time window hung over the heads of the entire Dragon Kingdom and even human civilization like the Sword of Damocles.
Tension, oppression, and even a hint of unspeakable fear permeated the Supreme Command Headquarters and the "Guanghan Palace" base. But inside the "Zhulong" safe house, after the initial shock, Lin Mo's eyes quickly regained their calm, becoming even sharper than before.
Fear won't solve problems, and panic will only accelerate destruction. What he needs now is a clearer vision and more precise control.
Just then, the long-silent system interface lit up in his mind with an unprecedented solemnity.
[Detection of confirmed civilization-level physical threat, threat level raised to "Extinction".]
[Main mission updated!]
[Mission Name: Eye of Deep Space.]
[Mission Requirements: Lead or assist in the construction of the "Thousand-Mile Eye Plan" planetary-scale quantum deep space detection array. This array must possess the capability for continuous, stable, and high-precision monitoring of the "reaper's" movements, and provide early warning for its possible sub-units, companion craft, or lead probes.]
[Mission Rewards: 50,000 points, unlock [Detailed Explanation of Large-Scale Gravitational Wave Detection Technology], [Civilization Threat Assessment Model (Primary)].]
[Failure Penalty: Significant reduction in the probability of continuing the sparks of civilization.]
[Remark: Your gaze is the first line of defense for the survival of civilization.]
The "Thousand-Mile Eye Plan" array... continuous monitoring...
Lin Mo took a deep breath, instantly understanding the importance of this mission. A single successful detection was just a fleeting glimpse. To seize the initiative in the coming years, they must possess a pair of eyes that can always watch the "reaper," eyes that never close.
This pair of "eyes" cannot rely solely on that prototype on the moon. It needs to be a network, a system—a planetary-scale observation system with wider coverage, higher redundancy, and the capacity for cross-verification and continuous optimization.
Without any hesitation, his consciousness sank into the system and accepted the mission.
Almost the moment he accepted the mission, a vast amount of knowledge regarding large-scale quantum sensor array design, layout optimization, signal fusion processing, and how to coordinate multiple observation sites on a planetary scale flooded into his mind. This was no longer the design of a single device, but the organizational science of a massive system engineering project.
He immediately went into action, combining the system's knowledge with his previous concepts, "Fuxi"'s computing power, and the Dragon Kingdom's existing infrastructure capabilities to begin sketching the blueprint for the "Thousand-Mile Eye Plan."
His conception was extremely grand:
Using the sensors of the "Guanghan Palace" base as the core node, occupying the commanding height of the Earth-Moon space.
Within the territory of the Dragon Kingdom, several remote locations with superior geographical environments and extremely low electromagnetic interference (such as the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the depths of the Taklamakan Desert, and South China Sea artificial islands and reefs) would be selected to establish large-scale ground-based quantum sensing stations, forming the basic observation network.
In low Earth orbit and Lagrange points, dedicated quantum detection satellites would be deployed to form spatial supplementary nodes, eliminating blind spots.
All nodes are connected through the "network" quantum fusion network, with data converging in real-time to "Fuxi" for fusion processing and intelligent analysis.
This will be an invisible giant monitoring net with the Earth as its base, extending to the moon and covering the entire inner Solar System. Its sole mission is to keep a death grip on that threat from the Oort Cloud.
Lin Mo organized this preliminary conception, along with some key technical details provided by the system, into the "Thousand-Mile Eye Plan Feasibility Report and Preliminary Proposal" and sent it again through a quantum encrypted channel.
Shortly after the report was delivered, Elder Chen's communication request came in. In the holographic image, Elder Chen's face showed weariness, but his eyes were exceptionally firm.
"Lin Mo, the 'Thousand-Mile Eye Plan' has been approved by the Supreme Command Headquarters and listed as a core priority project for the first phase of the 'network'!" Elder Chen's voice was resolute. "We need these eyes, urgently! Resources, personnel, everything will be allocated with the highest priority!"
"I understand, Elder Chen," Lin Mo nodded. "This is the only way we can buy ourselves early warning time."
"Go ahead and do it, Lin Mo." Elder Chen looked at him, his gaze full of trust and entrustment. "The entire Dragon Kingdom will be your most solid backing. From now on, your mission is to light up these eyes watching the deep space for our civilization."
The communication ended.
Lin Mo stood alone in front of the holographic star map in the safe house. On the map, the hideous silhouette representing the "reaper" was highlighted, glaring and conspicuous. A dashed line extended from the edge of the Solar System, pointing inward.
He slowly raised his hand, and a virtual control interface expanded before him. The various nodes of the "Thousand-Mile Eye Plan" began to be lit up and connected one by one under his fingertips.
His gaze pierced through the virtual star map, as if seeing the not-so-distant future, and how that monitoring network he helped weave would, like vigilant sentinels, illuminate a tiny bit of the deep, dark starry sky.
A new mission has arrived.
It was no longer just a simple provision of technology or an anonymous contribution.
He is "Patriot X", he is Lin Mo. From now on, he will shoulder the responsibility of monitoring for the survival of the entire civilization.
He whispered to himself, but with unquestionable power:
"Then, starting from this moment... I will stare at you until the end of destiny."