159: Wandering explorers

Although the successful trial voyage of the alcubierre sparked cheers among all members of the space research institute, once the champagne bubbles dissipated, they were left with floors covered in data and technical problems that made one's hair fall out.

The path to truth is never smooth. The Warp Engine, the key that unlocks the door to the stars, has been inserted into the keyhole, but turning it still produces a grating, rusty friction.

Over the next six months, the alcubierre underwent dozens more test flights of varying distances and energy levels. While there were no catastrophic accidents like crashes or disintegration, the problems exposed popped up like a game of Whac-A-Mole, each one enough to make a genius physicist scratch their head.

At this moment, Dr. Ilya von Klein stood in the center of the holographic conference room, holding a pointer stick and gesturing toward a massive, densely marked, red-highlighted holographic dissection map of the ship behind her.

Seated below the podium, besides Lei Wen and Walker Tala, were dozens of top engineers from major military industrial enterprises and scientific research institutions.

They were currently listening like primary school students to the "lecture" given by this chief human scientist, who appeared to be only a teenager.

"Look at this! The spatial drag effect!" Ilya hammered the pointer stick onto the engine core location on the screen. "During the twelfth test flight, when the warp layer level was raised to Level 8 (approximately eight times the speed of light), there was a 0.04-second delay in the spatial curvature restoration at the ship's stern."

"Do you know what this means?" Her red eyes scanned the room. "It means the ship's rear end was still inside the warp bubble while the front had already exited! If the load-bearing crystals hadn't operated at super capacity, the test pilot's lower body would have been stretched into noodles by now!"

"And there's the navigation blind spot issue." She pointed to the ship's sensor array. "Inside the warp bubble, external light is distorted, rendering conventional optical and radar detection completely ineffective. Although we have Tachyon Radar, the Doppler effect of tachyon signals becomes extremely complex at superluminal speeds, causing the navigation computer's error rate to increase exponentially."

"During the seventh test flight, we were scheduled to arrive at Saturn's orbit, but when the ship jumped out, it nearly crashed headfirst into Saturn's rings! The error exceeded fifty thousand kilometers! In interstellar navigation, that error is enough for us to miss the entire target star system and wander in the dark deep space until we die!"

An elderly engineer below wiped sweat from his brow and quietly defended, "Doctor, that's the limit of the algorithmic layer. The current hardware..."

"Hardware is no excuse; the algorithm is the soul!" Ilya interrupted him. She then took a deep breath, and her previously stern expression instantly switched to one of confidence and composure.

"However, these problems are not unsolvable."

She snapped her fingers, and the blueprint filled with red crosses behind her instantly transformed into a brand new design blueprint.

"Regarding spatial drag, I designed a compensator." Ilya pointed to a ring-shaped device added near the engine nozzle. "By utilizing the high-frequency vibration adaptability of Kul Alloy, we can artificially create a spatial lubrication layer at the rear of the warp bubble, increasing the smoothness of spacetime closure by 300% and completely eliminating the drag effect."

"As for the navigation blind spot..." She looked at Walker Tala, who was sitting in the front row. "We have our kari friend to thank for this."

Walker stood up with a smile and presented a new algorithmic model to the crowd: "We have developed a set of superluminal Star Map calibration algorithms. This algorithm does not rely on real-time visual feedback but locates the ship by sensing the gravity ripples left by surrounding stellar gravity wells. Just like how a bat uses echolocation in the dark, the ship can navigate by 'feeling' the gravity waves while in warp."

"After simulation, the navigation error of this system can be controlled within 0.01%, fully meeting the requirements for interstellar travel."

As Ilya and Walker presented solution after solution, the engineers below gradually transitioned from initial apprehension to excitement.

Ilya looked at the crowd, whose fighting spirit was rekindled, and a satisfied smile curled up at the corner of her mouth.

"This isn't just patching; this is optimization," she summarized. "After this round of optimization, I am confident in announcing that our first-generation Warp Engine is approaching maturity."

She looked at Lei Wen, who had been silently watching her from the corner. "We only need three more full-system integration tests—the so-called Beta iteration—before we can send the blueprints down to the factories."

"Whether it's a military heavy battleship or a civilian transport ship, as long as they install this box..." She pointed to the compactly designed engine core. "Humanity will officially sprout wings."

...After the meeting, the crowd dispersed.

Lei Wen stayed behind alone. He walked over to Ilya, watching the brilliant scientist tidy up the snack bags on the table.

"A wonderful presentation, Doctor." Lei Wen applauded. "You not only solved technical problems but also gave the entire Federation's industrial sector a shot in the arm."

"They're just too slow; they need someone holding a whip to drive them." Ilya tore open a new bag of potato chips and unceremoniously shoved one into her mouth. "But seriously, this thing is truly ready for use. The rest is just a matter of scaling up materials and ramping up production capacity. That's your strength, not mine."

Lei Wen nodded, walking to the floor-to-ceiling window and looking out at the alcubierre undergoing modifications, a surge of pride swelling in his heart.

With the mass production of the Warp Engine, the Human Federation was about to experience a true explosion of growth.

The Interstellar Fleet would no longer be a garrison restricted to the Solar System and a few surrounding star systems, but a genuine interstellar expeditionary force.

Civilian explorers, merchants, and colonists would pilot ships equipped with the civilian version of the Warp Engine, pouring into surrounding star systems just like in the Age of Discovery centuries ago.

Barnards Star, Sirius, Eridanus... names that once existed only through astronomical telescopes would become bustling colonies and trading posts.

Humanity's living space would expand exponentially.

"Ilya." Lei Wen suddenly turned around and looked at the girl eating chips, his tone becoming solemn.

"What is it? Why so serious all of a sudden?" Ilya stopped what she was doing and looked at him confusedly.

"I'm thinking about how I should reward you."

Lei Wen said earnestly, "You have accomplished a magnificent feat that will be recorded in human history—no, a feat that will change the destiny of our entire civilization. Without you, humanity might still be struggling in the mire of sub-light speeds for another century."

"The Earth Council wants to award you the highest Medal of Honor, and they want to erect statues of you on Earth, the Moon, Mars, and every future colony."

"The Nikola Group and several other giants have offered to give you ownership of three star systems they develop in the future as your private domain."

"Some have even proposed establishing your birthday as a legal holiday for all humanity—the Speed of Light Festival."

"Tell me, what do you want?" Lei Wen looked into her eyes. "Is it the glory of being remembered forever? Or wealth beyond compare? Just name it, and I have the capacity now to fulfill your wish as much as possible."

This was Lei Wen's genuine thought. For such a contributor who propelled the progress of civilization, any material reward seemed pale and weak.

Ilya listened to Lei Wen list the astounding rewards, yet her expression was surprisingly bland, even carrying a hint of disdain.

"Statues? Forget it. Turning myself into a stone pillar in a plaza for pigeons to poop on? The thought is disgusting."

"Ownership of star systems is unnecessary. What would I do with such a large territory? I don't want to be a warlord, and I don't know how to mine."

"As for the holiday..." She rolled her eyes. "If it's just to give everyone an extra day off, that's passable, but what good does it do me?"

She jumped off the chair, clapped the crumbs off her hands, and walked step by step toward Lei Wen.

Although she only reached Lei Wen's chest height, the aura she exuded at this moment was in no way weak.

"Director Raven, do you really think I risked everything to research this thing for such vulgar rewards?"

"Then what was it for?" Lei Wen asked curiously. "For truth?"

"Truth is certainly one aspect." Ilya paced in front of Lei Wen with her hands behind her back. "But I also have a more personal desire."

She stopped, raised her head, and her crimson eyes flickered with a light Lei Wen had never seen before—a flame mixed with ambition, curiosity, and yearning.

"I want a ship."

"A ship?" Lei Wen was stunned. "What kind of ship do you want? The newest battleship? Or a private yacht specially designed for you?"

"No, not that mass-produced garbage." Ilya shook her head. "I want a research and exploration vessel designed entirely by me, integrating the highest technology of humanity and... well, the Faleim Civilization."

"It must have the most powerful engine, the most sensitive sensors, the most complete laboratory, and the strongest defense system."

"And then?" Lei Wen asked.

"Then, I want to be its captain." Ilya's voice became firm and loud.

"I want to resign from all my administrative posts at the Earth Science Research Center. I want to leave this laboratory, which is comfortable but feels like a cage."

"I want to go see it myself."

She pointed toward the boundless starry sea outside the window.

"I want to see what the edge of a black hole's event horizon looks like, how a neutron star's pulse shatters spacetime, and whether new life is truly nurtured within those so-called supernova remnants."

"I've spent my entire life calculating the universe on paper and screens, but I've never truly touched it."

"Lei Wen, I gave humanity wings, but I don't want to just be the one who made the wings. I want to be the one who flies the farthest."

"That is my wish."

"Give me a ship, give me the right to explore freely. I don't need to report to anyone, and I don't need to serve any political purpose."

"I want to be a wandering explorer."

Lei Wen looked at the petite girl before him, a wave of immense shock surging in his heart.

He had expected her to demand more resources to verify her theories through experiments, or perhaps a higher status to dominate the scientific community.

But he never expected her wish to be so pure, yet so romantic.

She didn't want to be an idol enshrined on a pedestal; she wanted to be the explorer who was always on the road.

"A wandering explorer..." Lei Wen murmured.

He seemed to see, years later, a solitary ship traversing every corner of the Milky Way. In desolate places not even marked on the Star Map, a silver-haired girl was excitedly recording the mysteries of the universe.

Perhaps this was the true destiny of a "darling of truth."

"Done."

Lei Wen agreed without any hesitation.

"I will request that the Faleim People's shipyard specifically clear out a production base for you, using their most advanced technology to build your ship."

"This ship will be personally designed by you, and the name will also be up to you."

"Furthermore, in my capacity as Director of the Interstellar Affairs General Bureau, I grant you the authority of a Special Grade Explorer Officer. You may go anywhere you wish, and all Federation starports and bases will unconditionally provide you with supplies going forward."

Ilya's eyes instantly lit up with a brilliance even more dazzling than when she discovered a new particle.

"Really?"

"Really." Lei Wen smiled and extended his hand. "Deal?"

"Deal!"

Ilya leaped up excitedly, clapped his palm, and then, like a little girl, cheered and rushed toward her desk.

"Amazing! I already have a hundred design inspirations! The main cannon must be an Antimatter Annihilation Cannon! The engine must be dual-core driven! And there must be a super-large panoramic ecological garden to raise a flock of real penguins!"

Watching the figure who had instantly transformed from a cold scientist back into a chuunibyou girl, Lei Wen smiled and shook his head.

He turned to look at the starry sky outside the window.

Humanity's future requires not only iron-blooded fleets and prosperous trade, but also souls like this, who venture into the star sea purely out of curiosity.

This curiosity is the eternal driving force for a civilization's continuous ascent.