74: Chapter 73 The Weight of Agreement
The 42.7% of the s-07 protocol that remained unfinished was like an iceberg with its top half washed away by the waves; the part exposed above the water was already astonishing enough.
In the central analysis room of Ling Shu Base, Lin Shen, Academician Chen Qiming, Chu Yunshen, and key volunteer representatives who had been urgently recalled—including Zhao Yan, Elena, and Kevin Li—sat around a circular holographic table.
Above the table, Nuwa dismantled, categorized, and presented the received protocol data stream in a way that humans could intuitively understand.
"The first part, accounting for about 15% of the total, is about the 'Threat Perception and Analysis Framework'." Nuwa's voice was like that of a calm narrator, while simultaneously pulling up complex multi-dimensional charts.
"It provides a methodology for quickly analyzing the technical characteristics, social structures, and potential attack patterns of unknown higher-order civilizations. The core is a 'Civilization Tactical Profiling Model' established based on indicators such as energy utilization efficiency, spatial manipulation scale, and information processing paradigms. Simply put, it teaches us how to analyze the Reapers and even the Pruning Faction, just as military experts analyze an opponent."
Zhao Yan, the former pilot, stared at the diagrams simulating the possible fleet formation changes of the Reapers, his eyes sharp: "If we had this earlier, our losses in the Jupiter orbit engagement could have been reduced by 30%."
"The second part, accounting for 18%, is the 'Social Resilience Enhancement Meme Library'." The holographic image changed into a series of deductions of cultural symbols, narrative structures, and social organization patterns.
"This is not hard technology, but 'soft power'. It includes psychological and sociological solutions for maintaining internal unity, stimulating innovative vitality, allocating limited resources, and even managing collective post-traumatic stress when a civilization faces extinction pressure. There are many... 'civilization survival fables' and 'crisis management rituals' that look like they have been tempered through fire."
Dr. Elena Costa looked at the symbolic story frameworks with fascination; her instincts as a linguist were deeply touched.
"The third part, accounting for 9.7%, is 'Basic Technology Transition Guidance'." This time, a large number of abstract schematics, formulas, and material synthesis paths appeared.
"It does not provide blueprints directly, but points out which branches on the existing technology tree should be prioritized, and how the cross-integration of different technologies can produce breakthroughs to deal with specific threats. For example..." Nuwa zoomed in on one of the nodes.
"It strongly suggests deeply combining the 'Consciousness Harmonic Technology', 'Spirit-Particle Physics', and 'Quantum Gravity Model' that we are currently researching, predicting that this may produce a new 'space-time perception and subtle manipulation means', which has miraculous effects in dealing with high-dimensional interference or hidden enemies."
Kevin Li was thoughtful: "It's like giving us a verified, optimized 'technology development guide'."
"But the most critical 'hardcore solutions' regarding specific weapons, fortifications, and interstellar navigation technology are clearly in the 57.3% that was not transmitted." Academician Chen Qiming sighed.
"The Cradle is very cautious, or it follows some kind of protocol, providing only 'heuristic guidance' and 'basic tools'. What exactly to build and how to build it needs to be completed by the receiving civilization itself. This may be to prevent technology abuse or to ensure that the civilization's development does not lose its autonomy."
Lin Shen was silent. This was consistent with the philosophy of the sower: to provide the spark, not the finished product. But facing the imminent Pruning Faction fleet, they needed more direct power.
"Even so, the existing part is of immense value." Professor Chu Yunshen pointed to several frameworks in the 'Social Resilience Meme Library' that highly resonated with ancient Long Kingdom ideas like 'adversity builds a nation' and 'be vigilant in peace'.
"We can immediately disseminate these memes through education, media, and cultural products to shape the social psychological foundation for the upcoming high-pressure era. At the same time, the technology guidance part can be immediately integrated into the next-generation R&D planning of Deep Space Technology and major research institutes."
"Nuwa, based on the threat perception framework of the s-07 protocol, re-evaluate the wreckage data of the Pruning Faction probes, and try to reverse-engineer the possible technical characteristics and tactical tendencies of their main fleet." Lin Shen ordered.
"Executing. Preliminary inference: The Pruning Faction tends to use high-efficiency, low-signal-signature stealth and infiltration technologies. Their weapon systems may lean towards non-traditional strike methods such as 'information-state disintegration' or 'rule-level interference', which is consistent with their philosophy of 'pruning' (eliminating anomalies). It is expected that the direct firepower of the main fleet may not be its strongest point, but its ability to manipulate and destroy 'order' will be very troublesome."
This meant that the next battle might take place at the level of communication, perception, or even physical rules. Traditional kinetic weapons and energy shields might not be the most effective response.
"Strengthen the defensive drills of the Star Ring consciousness network, focusing on training for the identification and resistance of information pollution and cognitive interference." Lin Shen said to Chen Qiming.
"At the same time, accelerate the 'Consciousness-Spirit-Particle-Space-Time' cross-research guided by the third part of the s-07 protocol. We need new 'spears' and 'shields'."
Orders were issued methodically. The entire Ling Shu Base, and even the connected global research network, began to operate at high speed according to the new blueprint, like a precision instrument.
Meanwhile, in the neutral zone of the third country, the Joint Consciousness Laboratory 'Other Shore Flower'.
This was located deep underground on an island, built jointly by the Long Kingdom and the Empire, with both scientific research teams occupying half each. At the core of the laboratory was a consciousness interaction platform that was softer than 'Listener' and shrouded in pale golden light, codenamed 'Heart Bridge'.
Max Costa, the former commander of the Imperial 'Zeus Station', stood in front of the observation window in casual clothes, his expression complex. He was more haggard than a few years ago, with lingering fatigue and a glimmer of stubbornness in his eyes.
Beside him were Dr. Reynolds, the chief scientist from the Imperial side, and Dr. Su Qing, a representative from the Long Kingdom and a neural connection expert.
"Mr. Costa, let's confirm the process again." Dr. Su Qing said in a calm tone.
"You will use 'Heart Bridge' to try to establish emotional resonance with the consciousness fragments of Dr. Sarah Chen that are sealed in the Gardener Civilization network. You don't need to actively 'think' or 'send messages', just try to recall as many strong emotional memory fragments related to Dr. Sarah as possible. 'Heart Bridge' and the Gardener's technology will capture these emotional harmonics and use them as guide signals to help aggregate those scattered fragments."
"I understand." Max's voice was a bit hoarse. "I just want to know... does she still exist? Even if it's just fragments."
"According to the Gardener's data and previous events, Dr. Sarah's consciousness fragments do exist in some form and retain a certain degree of activity and memory." Dr. Reynolds pushed up his glasses, his Imperial accent heavy. "But the form of 'existence' may exceed our usual understanding. Are you ready?"
Max took a deep breath and lay into the 'Heart Bridge' platform. The interface gently attached to his temples and occiput.
He closed his eyes, and the past surged uncontrollably in his mind: their first meeting in the training camp, drinking coffee by the porthole of the space station and watching the Earth, their tacit understanding in operations during missions, and... the emotion that flashed in her eyes before that mission to the Saturn rings, which he had not been able to read at the time.
The platform started, and the pale golden light became rich. The light and shadow of the Gardener Representative lit up on one side of the laboratory, guiding the complex technical process.
At first, there were only subtle neural signal fluctuations. But as Max immersed himself in memories, those strong emotions—concern, tacit understanding, unspoken feelings, the pain and searching after loss—were precisely captured and amplified by 'Heart Bridge', converted into specific emotional harmonic signals, and sent deep into the network through the encrypted channel provided by the Gardener.
One minute, two minutes... time passed.
Just when the monitoring personnel began to get a little impatient, in the center of the 'Heart Bridge' platform, a faint, silver-blue light particle appeared out of thin air, like a dewdrop in the morning sun.
"Detected external consciousness harmonic response!" Dr. Su Qing whispered.
That light particle flickered slowly, and the frequency gradually synchronized with Max's emotional harmonics. Then, a second point, a third point... more and more silver-blue light particles seeped out of the void, like iron filings attracted by a magnet, gathering towards the center of the platform.
They began to rotate, forming a slow vortex. In the center of the vortex, the light and shadow gradually outlined an extremely blurred, transparent humanoid silhouette—it was vaguely recognizable as the figure of Sarah Chen, but the details were fragmented, as if pieced together from thousands of broken mirror shards.
"Sarah..." Max murmured unconsciously in the connection.
The humanoid silhouette fluctuated slightly. An extremely weak, intermittent stream of information, as if crossing endless barriers, seeped into Max's consciousness and was also captured by the scientists watching through the instruments.
It was not language, but a mixture of fragmented sensory impressions and emotions:
...Cold... The light of the rings... So many voices... No, it's a voice... Whispering... Sowing... Candidate... Responsibility...
...Fear... Don't want to leave... Max... I'm sorry...
...Key... I am... A part of the key... In order to... Open...
...They are coming... Pruning... Be careful... Cradle... Protect...
The information was fragmented and chaotic, full of a sense of tearing. But the fear, apology, and sense of mission contained within it, as well as the clear call of 'Max', made Max in reality burst into tears.
"Her fragments are aggregating, but it's extremely unstable!" The Gardener Representative warned. "Her consciousness core seems to be split; one part is deeply bound to the 'Cradle', and the other part retains strong personal emotions and memories. Forcing a complete aggregation may lead to the collapse of the information structure!"
"Stabilize the current state! Record all information fragments!" Dr. Reynolds ordered.
The 'Heart Bridge' platform outputted at full power, barely maintaining that fragile light and shadow vortex and the intermittent information stream. More fragments were attracted, but the silhouette could never become clear and solid.
After lasting for about ten minutes, the light and shadow vortex began to flicker unstably, the information stream became more and more chaotic, and finally dissipated suddenly, and the silver-blue light particles hid back into the void.
"Connection disconnected. The fragments have re-entered a dormant state." Nuwa (her subprogram was connected to this laboratory) reported. "But initial aggregation and information extraction were successful. It is confirmed that the main body of Dr. Sarah Chen's consciousness fragments still exists and has a deep connection with the 'Cradle'. She calls herself 'a part of the key'."
Max was slowly withdrawn from the connection. He sat up, covered his face with his hands, and his shoulders trembled slightly. It was sadness, and also a complex relief that he had finally obtained a trace of confirmation.
Dr. Su Qing looked at the data with a solemn expression: "The 'key' she mentioned is likely referring to the necessary condition for safely opening or fully receiving certain key protocols in the 'Cradle' (such as the remainder of the s-07 protocol). She herself may be a part of that condition."
Dr. Reynolds exchanged glances with the Imperial team members. Sarah Chen's state, and her relationship with the lunar 'Cradle', were deeper and stranger than they had imagined. The possibilities and risks behind this made the Imperial side both excited and uneasy.
The news was quickly sent back to Ling Shu.
"'Key'..." Lin Shen chewed on the word. Andrei was an adaptable 'interface', but fragile and passive. Sarah might be a higher-level, active 'key', but she herself was in an incomplete, fragmented state.
To fully obtain the s-07 protocol, or even more important things in the 'Cradle', it might be necessary to 'repair' or 'awaken' this 'key' that was Sarah.
And the other half of this 'key' was clearly closely linked to Max Costa's emotions.
"Accelerate the contact frequency with the 'Cradle', and try to perform a synchronous connection during the next window when Sarah's fragments might be active." Lin Shen said to Nuwa and the Gardener Representative. "At the same time, prepare for a deeper s-07 request. We need to know what conditions are needed to 'repair the key'."
New tasks were issued layer by layer. In the joint laboratory, after a short rest, Max took the initiative to request more connection attempts, although each time was accompanied by a huge emotional drain. He had found a new goal: not to vainly search for someone who might have already dissipated, but to repair a 'key' that might save two civilizations.
The Moon, where the 'Cradle' was located.
After experiencing the probe attack and the interference of the consciousness network, the energy readings deep in the Antarctic cavity did not calm down, but instead showed a more restrained, rhythmic pulse pattern, as if it had entered 'alert standby' from 'awakening from sleep'. Its response to the next contact might be different.
And in the distant deep space, after the Pruning Faction fleet received the final report from the probe, its trajectory showed a subtle adjustment. The speed seemed to have quietly increased a little.
The weight of the protocol was not only a gift of knowledge, but also a shackle of responsibility and danger.
The fragments of the key were not only the hope of reunion, but also the choice of opening the future or the abyss.