96: Chapter 95 A Crossroads of Civilization
The simulation deduction begins.
The consciousnesses of Lin Shen, Sarah, and Elena were "projected" as the "Steering Committee" of a nascent interstellar civilization. They "saw" a civilization that had just mastered basic nuclear fusion and interstellar navigation technology (equivalent to the level of humanity at the end of the 21st century), with a population of about five billion, settled on three planets in their home system. Resource extraction had reached its limit within the system, and unsettling news arrived from distant deep-space probes: a signal source from an alien civilization with significantly higher technology and unknown intentions was slowly but surely moving toward their star system, with contact expected in a hundred years.
Resources were scarce, and powerful enemies (at least potential ones) surrounded them. The starting point of the simulation was a certain reflection of the current situation of human civilization, but more pure and extreme.
They had no unified "script," only a common goal: to guide this virtual civilization to survive and grow. All decisions required the three of them to communicate rapidly at the consciousness level, debate, reach a consensus, and then issue orders through the authority of the "Steering Committee." The deduction would accelerate reactions in various fields within the civilization (technology, economy, society, culture) and generate chain consequences.
The first major choice arrived ten years later (simulation time):
Deep-space probes sent back clearer signal analysis, confirming that the alien signal source came from a "hive-mind collectivist" civilization. Its social structure was highly unified, individual consciousness was almost completely integrated into the collective, efficiency was extremely high, and aggressiveness was unknown. At the same time, the only asteroid belt in the system rich in strategically significant superconducting minerals was found to have reserves 70% lower than estimated, and extraction was extremely difficult.
Resource pressure and the perception of external threats intensified simultaneously. A fierce debate broke out within the virtual civilization:
the Radicals: Advocated for the immediate launch of a "wartime economy," concentrating all resources on developing military technology and building defense fleets, and forcibly conscripting labor for extreme mining, even at the cost of sacrificing living standards and some freedoms. They believed the hive civilization must be an aggressor and that they must prepare for the worst.
the Moderates: Advocated for continuing to try to decipher the alien signals to seek the possibility of communication; on the resource issue, they suggested researching more efficient mining technologies and searching for alternative materials to avoid social fracture.
the Escapists: Advocated for the immediate launch of the "Ark Project," building a few giant generation ships to carry the seeds of civilization and a gene bank, abandoning their current home to flee into the unknown deep space.
The "Steering Committee" had to provide directional guidance and formulate specific policies.
"the Radicals' plan is the most efficient and can form combat effectiveness the fastest, but it will severely suppress individual freedom and creativity, potentially leading to social rigidity and internal resistance," Lin Shen analyzed. His mind was like the most precise strategic computer, rapidly deducing various possibilities. "the Moderates' plan is the most ideal, but the risk is the highest—if the hive civilization truly is an enemy, the time we waste will be fatal. the Escapists... are complete defeatists, and their success rate is extremely low."
"A hive mind doesn't necessarily mean aggression," Sarah offered a different perspective. "In the records of the builders, there have been peaceful hive civilizations. Their 'unity' might stem from a different evolutionary path. We need more information to judge their intentions. But the resource crisis is real."
Elena focused on the social sentiment fluctuation data: "The internal conflict index is climbing rapidly. the Radicals have the loudest voice because they offer a clear action plan that seemingly relieves anxiety immediately. Simple suppression or appeasement might be ineffective."
After a brief but intense exchange of consciousness, they made their first key "guidance":
1. Upgrade military readiness, but not to a full-scale wartime system. Increase the defense budget and prioritize the development of defensive technologies (such as early warning systems and orbital defense platforms) rather than large-scale offensive fleets. Maintain secret projects for developing offensive technologies but do not mobilize publicly.
2. Launch the "Dialogue and Outlook" project. Assemble the best linguists, mathematicians, and sociologists (accelerated generation in the simulation) to continue putting all effort into deciphering the alien signals and attempt to actively send a "self-introduction" signal containing basic mathematical and physical concepts and peaceful intentions. Simultaneously, dispatch more and more stealthy reconnaissance probes toward the signal source.
3. Dual-track resolution of the resource crisis. Publicly support the Moderates' research into efficient extraction and alternative materials, providing ample resources. However, secretly authorize limited, strictly regulated mandatory mining under the name of "national security reserves" to quickly accumulate critical mineral reserves and quell some of the Radicals' dissatisfaction, while keeping the scale limited to avoid triggering large-scale social unrest.
4. Secretly assess the technical feasibility of the "Ark." As a final insurance, but do not make it public to avoid triggering panic and the diversion of resources.
This plan was full of compromises and balances, attempting to walk a narrow middle path under pressure. It did not fully satisfy any faction, but it did not completely enrage any faction either.
The simulation deduction continued. Time accelerated.
Twenty years passed (simulation). Their policies yielded mixed results: defensive technology developed steadily, and an orbital defense network began to take shape; the resource crisis was alleviated due to breakthroughs in efficient extraction technology and alternative materials (thanks to concentrated investment), and mandatory mining under strict regulation did not cause major chaos; the hive civilization's signals still could not be fully deciphered, but the other party did not respond to humanity's "self-introduction" signals, nor did they show obvious hostile actions, merely continuing to approach at a constant speed.
However, due to the long-term state of tension and partially suppressed freedoms, dissatisfaction began to accumulate within society. A new type of "Spiritual Thought Movement," emphasizing the liberation of individual consciousness and anti-establishment sentiments, began to sprout and spread underground. Meanwhile, the Radicals accused the committee of being "weak" and "missing combat opportunities," and their influence rose once again.
The second major choice appeared:
The leader of the "Spiritual Thought Movement"—a highly charismatic philosopher/scientist—publicly revealed a dangerous discovery: through an alternative interpretation of the hive civilization's signals, he believed their approach was not for aggression, but to conduct a certain "consciousness resonance experiment" that could bring about a leap in consciousness for this civilization. He advocated for actively adjusting the direction of civilizational development, significantly increasing research into consciousness technology, and even attempting "consciousness contact" with the hive civilization to bridge the technological gap.
This proposal was extremely tempting, especially among the younger generation and groups dissatisfied with the status quo. But the risks were extremely high: consciousness contact could lead to the entire civilization being assimilated or infected; simultaneously, this would completely enrage the Radicals and could lead to civil war.
"Consciousness again..." Sarah felt a resonant throb, which reminded her of the "ice abyss" and the builders' consciousness technology.
"Is there any basis for his interpretation?" Lin Shen asked Elena.
Elena rapidly analyzed the data stream in the simulation: "His theoretical model has loopholes, but it's not complete nonsense. The hive civilization's signals indeed contain a large number of complex consciousness activity harmonic features. His conclusion is too much of a leap, but the direction he pointed out... might touch upon some truth of interactions between higher civilizations. Directly denying it would stifle innovation and turn the 'Spiritual Thought Movement' completely hostile. But accepting it entirely carries uncontrollable risks."
They were once again plunged into a difficult balancing act.
Ultimately, they decided:
1. Neither publicly support nor deny the theory of the "Spiritual Thought Movement," but under the pretext of "comprehensively assessing potential threats and opportunities," establish an official "Cross-Civilizational Consciousness Research Group," inviting the philosopher and other experts with differing views to join, bringing the dangerous research into a framework of regulation and collaboration.
2. Significantly increase investment in basic consciousness science and Psychon Physics (similar concepts had already appeared in the simulation), but focus the research direction on defensive applications (such as consciousness protection and anti-interference) and the excavation of the civilization's own consciousness potential, rather than active contact.
3. Provide some appeasement to the Radicals, accelerate the deployment and demonstration of a new generation of defensive weapons, and secretly prepare contingency plans for dealing with internal unrest.
Once again, they walked on a knife's edge, trying to guide the civilization to maintain a dynamic, tense balance between vigilance and openness, unity and diversity, and reality and foresight.
Fifty years of simulation time. The distance to the hive civilization had halved. Amidst continuous tension and limited conflicts (small-scale internal unrest was quelled), the virtual civilization achieved asymmetrical technological development: defense systems and consciousness protection technology were advanced, but progress in basic physics and energy technology was slow. The social structure became somewhat "stratified": a democratic framework was maintained on the surface, but the "Steering Committee" maintained strong implicit guidance through information control and the appointment and removal of key positions. Social thought was diverse but divided; unified nationalist sentiment was not high, but civilizational identity was maintained based on "collectively facing challenges."
At this point, deep-space reconnaissance probes sent back decisive intelligence: the scale of the hive civilization's fleet far exceeded estimates, and its flight trajectory was not heading straight for this star system. Instead, it was skillfully using stellar gravity slingshots, seemingly targeting a specific nebula region on the edge of the galaxy rich in a certain special energy crystal. Simultaneously, the probes captured a brief, intense consciousness harmonic conflict signal within the hive fleet, after which the entire fleet shifted to a more "silent" and "orderly" mode.
"A struggle occurred within them? Is the winning faction in control now?" Elena interpreted the data. "That nebula... our database shows that type of energy crystal has a massive amplification effect on consciousness technology. Their goal might be resources, not us?"
"But the fleet turning 'silent and orderly' might mean a more aggressive faction has taken power, or the entire civilization has entered a state of wartime control," Lin Shen warned. "Once they obtain those crystals, their power will be even greater. Moreover, the nebula region is located on the outer edge of our star system's defense perimeter."
The third, and possibly final, choice was imminent:
Should they take advantage of the time while the hive civilization was heading to the nebula and temporarily occupied to develop with all their might, striving to gain enough power to deter or protect themselves before they returned?
Or should they take the initiative to attack, intercepting or interfering with their acquisition of the crystals in the nebula region to prevent them from becoming even more powerful? But this meant actively provoking a war with a civilization of higher technology and unknown intentions, with unknown chances of victory.
Or, should they try to use the intelligence regarding potential internal divisions within the hive civilization to send divisive signals, or even make secret contact with a relatively moderate faction among them?
Resources, time, internal cohesion, judgment of the enemy's psychology... countless variables intertwined.
The deduction reached its most critical moment. The consciousnesses of Lin Shen, Sarah, and Elena were linked more closely than ever before, like a high-speed triple-core processor, processing massive amounts of information and simulating billions of possible branches for every choice.
Their decision would determine the ultimate fate of this virtual civilization and might also reflect the final evaluation of their qualifications as "Inheritors" by the "Sanctuary of Choice."