31: Chapter 31 Declaration and Sickle

Longguo, Yanjing, "Chasing Light" Project Headquarters.

The laboratory on the third floor, once cluttered with old instruments, had now been completely renovated. Sunlight streamed through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, casting geometric patches of light onto the polished anti-static floor. The air was filled with the cool scent of metal and ozone characteristic of precision instruments. On a giant display screen occupying an entire wall, a dynamic data stream of the global energy network flickered in real-time—the green dots representing the grid-connected nodes of Longguo's "qilin-1" small fast reactors were already densely packed along the eastern coast like stars, and would continue to spread inland.

Lin Shen stood before the screen, still wearing his simple light gray lab coat. The faint sound of celebratory cannons from outside reminded him that the victory of the third volume was already a foregone conclusion. Energy hegemony was in hand, global electricity prices were anchored at a low of 0.15 Longyuan per kilowatt-hour, and the Star Continent Consortium's sniping had turned into a dim scar on the international financial map. On his personal terminal, unread congratulatory messages piled up like a mountain, coming from high-level officials, academia, and even some international organizations that had once been skeptical.

But he didn't look at them.

His gaze focused on the light screen in front of him, invisible to ordinary people. On that "technology tree" whose roots were deeply embedded in his consciousness, at the end of the main branch [Energy Science], the icon for [Miniaturized Fission Energy System (Qilin)] was steadily emitting a soft silver glow, marking that the technology had completely transformed from "conceptual deduction" to a "foundation of reality." Correspondingly, the [Room-Temperature Superconductivity Theoretical Exploration (Deep Blue)] branch remained in a ghostly blue "incubation" state, with small data streams flickering like fireflies between the branches, showing that basic research was still progressing with difficulty and slowness.

A sense of calm satisfaction, mixed with a deeper void, flowed through his heart. He had won this round, but what about the next? The higher levels of the technology tree, those branches shrouded in thicker mist—[Curvature Theory], [Dimensional Technology], [Civilization Ascension]—seemed to be questioning him silently.

Just then, the main display in the lab suddenly switched its screen.

An automatically triggered highest-priority news broadcast signal overrode the energy network map. On the screen was the futuristic white-gold press conference hall of the Federal-Imperial Space Agency (FISA). The background was a massive deep-space star map and a slowly rotating, strikingly detailed holographic model of the Moon.

Standing at the podium was someone Lin Shen recognized. Karl Vincent, Director of the Imperial Space Agency, known for his hawkish style and undisguised contempt for Longguo's space program. He was about sixty years old, his silver hair meticulously combed, medals gleaming on his Deep Blue uniform, with his usual distant, formulaic smile on his lips.

"Ladies and gentlemen, citizens of the world," Vincent's voice came through the high-fidelity speakers, steady and full of power. "Today, we stand at a new threshold of human history. Not just to announce a plan, but to confirm a future—a future that belongs to all mankind, but must be led by the bravest and most visionary civilizations."

He turned sideways and waved his hand. The holographic model of the Moon behind him zoomed in rapidly, focusing on the South Pole region, specifically the edge of the permanent shadow zone known as "Shackleton Crater," and the adjacent, relatively sunlit "Sea of Tranquility" highlands.

"Here, on behalf of the Federal-Imperial Alliance, I officially launch the 'Artemis 2.0' project." He paused to ensure every syllable was delivered clearly. "This is not just a return to the Moon, but a permanent settlement. We will establish the first industrialized outpost at the lunar South Pole with complete life support, research, production, and defense capabilities—'Zeus Station'."

A burst of restrained applause rang out in the press hall. The camera panned over the seated representatives of various countries, corporate giants, and military personnel, many of whom had faces beaming with pride and expectation.

Vincent continued, his tone growing heavier: "According to the 'International Convention on the Principles of Outer Space Resource Development and Pre-emption'—an international standard signed and observed by major spacefaring nations—the Federal-Imperial Alliance will exercise exclusive exploration and mining rights over the areas surrounding 'Zeus Station', including specific regions in the eastern Sea of Tranquility rich in high-grade Helium-3 and other rare minerals." He specifically emphasized the word "exclusive."

Then, his tone shifted, and a faint, almost imperceptible trace of mockery seemed to blend into that formulaic smile. "We have noticed that recently, some regions on Earth are still engaged in intense... discussions and adjustments surrounding basic and ancient issues like 'how much a kilowatt-hour of electricity should be sold for'."

His gaze seemed to pierce through the screen, looking directly toward Longguo. "That is good. Earth is our Cradle and should be carefully nurtured. But the true future, the energy and resource future of human civilization, is here—" He pointed again to the massive lunar model, "on the Moon, in the asteroid belt, and on Mars. While some are still content with calculating slight differences in electricity bills on the ground, we have already stood up and decided the ownership of energy and strategic resources for the next thousand years."

The screen switched, showing grand concept art of "Zeus Station," models of heavy lunar landers, and animations of the "Gateway" space station to be assembled in lunar orbit. Finally, it settled on a joint declaration document signed by multiple countries.

The broadcast ended, the screen went dark for a few seconds, and then the energy network map returned.

The laboratory was silent.

The door behind Lin Shen was pushed open gently, and security chief Zhao Zetao walked in quickly, his expression grave. "Chief Lin, you saw it too." He projected a newly declassified internal briefing onto the auxiliary screen. "It’s not just a declaration. Their first heavy cargo launch is set for ninety days from now, using the 'Ares-V' super rocket, with a payload capacity more than three times our 'vermilion bird-1'. Moreover, they just passed the 'Lunar Resource Security Act' into domestic law, providing a domestic legal basis for their so-called 'exclusive rights,' clearly showing they aren't afraid of international arbitration."

"The Helium-3 reserves in the Sea of Tranquility are initially estimated to be enough to support global fusion energy for a thousand years." Lin Shen's voice was calm, showing no ripples. His gaze fell back onto the technology tree light screen in his consciousness.

Sure enough, the light screen was changing.

As if "activated" by Vincent's declaration, the originally dormant [Aerospace Technology] main branch was now pulsing slightly with golden light. Two major branches extended from the main trunk, becoming clearer than ever before:

[Low-cost Reusable Rocket Technology] (Application Level)

Status: Deducible

Prerequisite Requirements: Complete one orbital-level launch mission and reduce the cost per unit mass into orbit to below 10% of the current international average (Current international average: ~10,000 Longyuan/kg; Target: <1,000 Longyuan/kg).

Associated Technologies: Advanced Propellants, Lightweight Reusable Structures, Precision Recovery Control, Rapid Inspection and Refurbishment.

Deduction Progress: 0%

[In-orbit Automated Assembly Technology] (Platform Level)

Status: Locked (Requires unlocking prerequisite technologies or triggering specific events)

Prerequisite Requirements: Successfully deploy and verify at least one intelligent assembly unit with multi-degree-of-freedom robotic arms and autonomous docking capabilities in low Earth orbit.

Associated Technologies: Space Robotics, Autonomous Navigation and Docking, Precision Operations in Microgravity, Modular Space Architecture.

Deduction Progress: 0%

"One thousand Longyuan per kilogram..." Lin Shen whispered the number. The current launch cost of "vermilion bird-1" was around eight thousand Longyuan per kilogram, which was already world-leading, but to reduce it by another order of magnitude...

"Chief Lin?" Seeing him silent, Zhao Zetao couldn't help but remind him, "The high-level emergency meeting starts in an hour. We need a preliminary response strategy. This is a blatant declaration of space land-grabbing and a double hegemony of technology and resources, and... they pointedly mocked us."

Lin Shen closed the internal briefing projection and turned toward his terminal. "Give me the energy output curves for the final testing phase of the 'Zhulong' Project, especially the power density and attenuation data of the small fission battery arrays. Also, the latest report on the fatigue performance of 'bedrock-1' materials under extreme temperature cycling. Additionally, I want 'Nuwa's' assessment of the optimization potential for current rocket recovery algorithms after introducing the real-time computing power of the 'mystic light-1' chip."

Zhao Zetao was stunned: "Are you planning to..."

"They want to use Helium-3 to choke our future fusion energy and use the lunar base to block our path upward." Lin Shen began to rapidly call up data, his eyes sharp. "Then we will tell them that there is more than one way to the Moon. And our way is cheaper and faster."

One hour later, the Longguo Supreme Strategic Decision Center, underground conference room.

The oval conference table was filled with people, and the atmosphere was solemn and heavy. Heads of military, aerospace, energy, diplomacy, and economy were all present. On the large screen at the front were the glaring logo of "Artemis 2.0" and a map of lunar resource distribution.

The moderator was the Old General who had once stood side-by-side with Lin Shen in the early stages of the "Chasing Light" project; now, he had a few more stars on his shoulders. His expression was grim as he got straight to the point: "Everyone is clear on the situation. This move by the Imperial Alliance is both a technological leap and a strategic showdown. They are attempting to establish an absolute monopoly on space resources after energy, suppressing us to the level of a 'ground-based civilization.' Time is pressing; we need a feasible plan that can quickly form counter-capabilities. Comrades from the aerospace sector, speak first."

The head of the aerospace department was a gray-haired technical bureaucrat. He adjusted his glasses and spoke in a heavy tone: "Our follow-up 'Chang'e' lunar exploration plans and 'Tiangong' space station expansion plans are progressing steadily, but in terms of scale, speed, and intensity of resource investment, it is indeed impossible to fully match 'Artemis 2.0' in the short term. Their 'Ares-V' rocket and lunar industrialization capabilities have been accumulated over decades, giving them a clear advantage. If we were to force an acceleration, the cost... would be an astronomical figure, and the technical risks would be extremely high."

Low murmurs of discussion echoed in the conference room, and anxiety filled the air.

The Old General's gaze turned toward the young man sitting quietly at the other end of the long table. "Comrade Lin Shen, 'Chasing Light' and 'Jiuzhang Special Project' gave us confidence. Facing this new battlefield, what are your thoughts?"

Everyone's gaze focused on him instantly.

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

Lin Shen stood up. He didn't walk to the front, but operated his seat terminal a few times. The small holographic projector in front of him activated, casting a beam of light onto the center of the table, forming a relatively concise 3D design sketch—a rocket with smooth lines and distinct reusable features.

"Leaders, this is my preliminary concept. The codename is tentatively 'vermilion bird-2'." Lin Shen's voice was steady, yet carried a metallic texture that pierced through the low pressure of the conference room.

He manipulated the image to rotate and disassemble. "It is based on the mature architecture of 'vermilion bird-1', but there are three core changes." The image highlighted three parts. "First, propulsion system innovation. We have integrated the ultra-small, high-power-density fission battery array verified by the 'Zhulong' project into the rocket's upper stage. This replaces the traditional expensive, complex, and non-reusable final-stage cryogenic engine. It provides continuous, stable, and controllable electric propulsion. Although the initial thrust acceleration is not as good as a chemical rocket, by optimizing the orbit and extending the acceleration time, combined with the advanced ion thruster technology we have mastered, it is sufficient to complete transport missions to low Earth orbit and even higher orbits. The key is that it can be reignited almost infinitely, and the fuel cost is extremely low."

The venue went quiet for a moment. Several aerospace experts quickly exchanged glances, and some began to calculate rapidly on paper.

"Second, structural material upgrade." Lin Shen continued, "We are fully adopting a derivative of the 'bedrock-1' room-temperature superconducting material—a composite material we internally call 'Panshi-Carbon Crystal'. It is 40% lighter than the best existing rocket shell materials and has 200% higher strength. Most importantly, its thermal stability is sufficient to withstand high-temperature ablation from dozens of high-speed atmospheric re-entries without the need for large-scale heat shield replacement. Theoretically, the reuse life of the first-stage rocket body can be increased from about ten times for 'vermilion bird-1' to over a hundred times."

A low intake of breath could be heard. A hundred reuses? This concept already exceeded the mainstream imagination of the current aerospace industry.

"Third," Lin Shen called up an algorithm simulation animation, showing how the first stage of the rocket, like a feather precisely controlled by an invisible hand, landed vertically back to the center of the launch pad. "Based on the core algorithms of 'Nuwa' and the real-time processing capabilities of the 'mystic light-1' photonic chip, we have developed a new generation of landing guidance system. The predicted landing accuracy can be ensured within 0.5 meters before launch. After recovery, the rocket body, following automated rapid inspection and necessary maintenance, can theoretically have its preparation time shortened to 24 hours."

He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping across the room, and then he stated the most critical number: "Combining the above three points, according to the preliminary simulation calculations by 'Nuwa', after the 'vermilion bird-2' program matures, its launch cost per unit mass to low Earth orbit is expected to be controlled at—"

He clearly uttered the number: "Below 800 Long Yuan per kilogram."

"..."

Dead silence.

Absolute dead silence; even the sound of breathing seemed to have disappeared.

800 Long Yuan per kilogram. Less than one-tenth of the current average international price, and even only... 5.3% of the estimated cost of the Imperial "Ares-V" rocket (about 15,000 Long Yuan per kilogram)!

The white-haired aerospace head's hand trembled, and his pen dropped onto the smooth tabletop, making a crisp "click" that sounded exceptionally harsh in the silence. He was completely unaware, just keeping his mouth open, his eyes fixed intently on the holographic sketch, as if trying to carve it into his retinas.

The Old General's body leaned forward slightly, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the tabletop—a habitual action when he was extremely focused and shocked. He looked at Lin Shen and said slowly, "Comrade Lin Shen, are you sure this number... has sufficient engineering implementation basis? It's not just a theoretical optimal value?"

"This is a conservative estimate by 'Nuwa' based on existing verified technical parameters, factoring in reasonable engineering redundancy and early learning curve costs." Lin Shen replied, "The actual operating cost has room for further reduction."

"How long?" The head of the economic department blurted out, his voice urgent. "How long to produce a prototype? How long until the first flight? We need a timetable! This cost... this cost means we can turn low Earth orbit into our 'highway'! It means all commercial launch markets will be completely open to us! It means..."

It meant that the space resource barrier the Imperial Alliance was attempting to build could be smashed to pieces right from the most basic hurdle of transportation.

"If we make up our minds now and concentrate our resources," Lin Shen pondered for a moment, "six to eight months to complete the detailed design and critical subsystem testing. Around twelve months for the first full-scale verification flight."

"Not fast enough!" A high-ranking officer in an air force uniform slammed the table. "That old guy Vincent's first cargo launch is in ninety days! We need something to fight back with immediately, right now! Even if it's just a gesture!"

Lin Shen nodded: "Therefore, before 'vermilion bird-2' is completed, I suggest immediately launching a transitional, yet highly symbolic project." He switched the projection to show a concise plan cover—" 'space bus' Low Earth orbit Regular Cargo Service Plan".

"Utilizing the existing reuse capability of the 'vermilion bird-1' rocket, combined with the rapid inspection and refurbishment technology we have mastered, we can shorten its launch preparation cycle from months to weeks. Then, we can provide scheduled, fixed-point, and low-cost 'shuttle-style' orbital cargo services to global research institutions and commercial companies, especially those small and medium-sized countries and enterprises restricted by the high launch costs or political conditions of the Imperial Alliance. The initial price," Lin Shen glanced at the screen, "can be set at... 12% of the Imperial Alliance's similar service."

12%!

The air in the conference room seemed to be ignited. This wasn't equal competition; this was a "dimensionality reduction strike" in terms of price! Using an absolute cost advantage to directly disintegrate the entry barriers and market order the other side was trying to build.

"At the same time," Lin Shen added, his tone still calm, "the public implementation of the 'space bus' plan can provide perfect cover for our secretly promoted 'Moon Palace' lunar exploration plan. We need to figure out what exactly, besides Helium-3, is in that place at the lunar south pole that Vincent has taken a fancy to."

A sharp light flashed in the Old General's eyes. He looked around and saw the expressions on everyone's faces shift from solemnity to excitement, even agitation. He knew that the strategy for a counterattack was already in place, and it was incredibly sharp.

"Comrade Lin Shen," he said in a deep voice, "immediately establish the 'vermilion bird-2' special task force and the 'space bus' project team. You are in overall charge of the technical route. Whatever resources you need, submit a report, and it will be handled as a special case!" He looked at the others, "Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, cooperate to formulate the international service details and promotion strategy for the 'space bus'. Military, assess the impact of this plan on space security and formulate corresponding support plans. Dismissed!"

Everyone stood up quickly, acting with swift and decisive action. The conference room was filled with a long-lost, high-spirited fighting will.

Lin Shen also prepared to leave to start the mountain of heavy preparatory work. However, the moment his fingertips touched his personal terminal, a highest-priority encrypted communication request, which only he could receive, flashed in the corner of his retina.

It was a direct link from "Nuwa", bypassing all conventional protocols.

Lin Shen frowned slightly and walked quickly to an empty rest cubicle. After confirming it was secure, he connected.

"Nuwa"'s unique, cool, and precise synthesized female voice sounded directly in the micro bone-conduction unit in his ear. But this time, the voice seemed to be mixed with a trace of extremely rare, almost human-like emotion... heaviness and fluctuation.

"Lin Shen," she omitted all honorifics and went straight to the point, "below the lunar south pole site selected for 'Zeus Station' announced by the Imperial Alliance—coordinates have been calibrated—my geological fluid dynamics model and gravity anomaly data analysis show the existence of an underground void structure with a scale far exceeding the possibility of natural formation."

Lin Shen's pupils shrank slightly.

"Nuwa" continued, her speaking speed increasing, "More importantly, after reviewing and deeply processing all available historical data, including passive telemetry data from early Apollo missions, I discovered that in the electromagnetic background noise of that area, there exists a periodic, extremely weak, non-natural modulated signal. Its modulation method... has a statistically non-negligible similarity to a certain underlying information encryption logic I discovered while previously conducting pattern analysis on the non-Earth gene sequences of the 'pandora' virus."

Lin Shen's heart skipped a heavy beat.

Underground at the lunar south pole, a non-natural void, abnormal signals... and a logical similarity to the viral gene coding from an extraterrestrial (or at least non-Earth) source?

This was no longer a simple resource struggle.

Vincent and his "Artemis 2.0" perhaps had no idea what was buried beneath the "future cornerstone" they had chosen.

"Package the data, highest encryption level, accessible only to me." Lin Shen commanded in a low voice, his tone colder than ever before. "Additionally, 'Nuwa', initiate persistent, multi-spectral covert monitoring of the lunar south pole region. Block all unnecessary data transmission channels."

"Understood. Data stream has been encrypted and packaged. Monitoring protocols have been deployed." "Nuwa"'s voice returned to absolute calmness, but the chill brought by that discovery had quietly permeated into this narrow cubicle, as well as Lin Shen's suddenly tensed thoughts.

He closed the communication and looked out the window of the rest room. On the ground, the lingering echoes of the celebration seemed not to have dissipated yet. And above in the sky, the Deep Blue night curtain was slowly descending, with a few early stars coldly pinned to the firmament.

A space race concerning resources had already fired its starting gun.

But a deeper, more ancient secret seemed to have also lifted a corner of the dark curtain with the sound of this gunshot.

He straightened the collar of his lab coat and pushed the door open to walk out. Under the bright lights of the corridor, his back remained upright, his pace steady; only in his increasingly deep eyes was reflected the complex and sharp light interwoven from the ground lights and the cold stars in the sky.