23: And this swarm of insects...

On the morning of January 12, 2027, Lei Wen opened his computer as he did every day to check the movements of the Faleim Civilization in his special save file for the stellar universe.

Then, he saw it: on the cold Star Map of the stellar universe, the ten blue dots representing the Faleim Far Star Fleet collectively traced a smooth, elegant arc, deviating from the course heading straight for the Solar System.

Their new target was a star system on the Star Map shrouded in the fog of war.

Lei Wen sat before the computer, watching this scene in silence, and after a long while, he let out a long sigh.

It was the feeling of nerves stretched to their limit suddenly relaxing, accompanied by a hint of exhausted fatigue and the relief of a burden lifted.

Although he did not know what had happened with the Faleim Civilization or what they had discovered in that star system, for the past year or more, that cold, impending countdown—with an estimated arrival time of February 2028—had hung over his head like a Sword of Damocles.

He was like someone walking on a tightrope, where every step had to be calculated to the extreme, fearing that any tiny mistake would cause the entire plan to collapse.

He frantically accumulated wealth, established Paradox Technology, and pushed for Earth's technological explosion... everything he did was a race against that ruthless countdown.

He had even prepared for the worst-case scenario—if time really ran out, he would have to use "white flower" to release all the technical data from the Faleim Civilization to the entire world, forcibly elevating Earth's technological level in the most extreme and chaotic way possible, even if that triggered unpredictable global turmoil.

But now, this hanging sword had been temporarily removed.

""white flower"," he said softly to the empty room, "recalculate the estimated time of arrival in the Solar System based on the Far Star Fleet's new course, speed, and the distance to the target star system."

"Calculating, Father." The voice of "white flower" rang directly in his mind through his bone conduction headset. "Based on the behavioral logic model of the Faleim People: assuming they need 3 to 4 Earth years for exploration and initial resource collection in the target star system before setting off again for the Solar System... the new estimated arrival time window is between August 2035 and February 2036. Since we do not know their true purpose, there may be fluctuations in the timing."

2035. This meant that humanity had gained at least 7 more years of precious time.

This variable was an unexpected surprise outside of his plans.

But it was not enough.

He could not let Human Civilization become complacent because of this sudden "postponement." On the contrary, he wanted to use this intelligence to pull that already taut string even tighter.

He opened a one-way anonymous information delivery channel set up by "white flower," with the other end connected to Academician Chen Haikang in Beijing and Dr. Thorne in Manhattan.

He edited a new message using the emotionless, oracle-like tone of "the guide."

【To: Those who look up at the stars. A reminder. That vanguard fleet has temporarily changed course due to an unexpected discovery; their destination is an ownerless star system full of unknowns. Do not let this make you complacent. This is merely a brief interlude. Once they have completed their initial exploration and resource plundering of that star system, their power will become even greater than it is now, and their next target will still be you. There is not much time left for you. —the guide】

He did not reveal the specific time, only using the phrases "brief interlude" and "even greater" to create a sense of more urgent pressure.

He was like a skilled chess player, giving his opponents a moment to breathe while simultaneously whipping them with his words, making them run even faster.

The message was sent. Lei Wen closed the computer, left the desk, and began to tidy his attire.

Today was the day his sister Renee started her winter break, and Lei Wen intended to go to the school to pick her up in person.

...

The new intelligence from "the guide" was like a dose of potent adrenaline, injected once again into the massive state machines of China and the United States, which were already operating at high speed.

"Even greater?" At an emergency meeting, the voice of Academician Chen Haikang was incredibly grave. "This means they might achieve some kind of technological breakthrough or replenish key strategic resources in that star system; we must prepare to face a better-equipped fleet."

"This also explains why they suddenly changed course." The holographic image of Dr. Thorne was equally serious. "For them, that might be a higher-priority strategic target; we must assume that when they set off again, our technological window will be further compressed."

The sense of urgency not only did not diminish but became unprecedentedly intense. The various space programs, already advancing at full speed, were accelerated once again.

Early 2027, Cape Canaveral, Florida. Accompanied by a deafening roar, a giant reusable launch vehicle named "Artemis II," which looked like an enlarged version of a Falcon starship, rose from the ground, propelled by blue-white plasma flames, and pierced the clouds.

Unlike its predecessors, "Artemis II" did not discard any parts. After precisely delivering the 300-ton core module of the Guanghan Palace Base into the Earth-Moon transfer orbit, its main rocket body, like a scene from a science fiction movie, landed vertically and steadily on an offshore recovery platform in the Atlantic Ocean under the control of retro-thrusters.

Because its engine nozzles used the 【el-3 composite target material】, they remained as clean as new after enduring thousands of degrees of scorching heat, requiring only simple maintenance and refueling to be ready for the next launch within 48 hours. An era of cheap and efficient space-to-Earth transit had arrived.

Over the next six months, "Artemis II" and its sister rocket, "Sky Shuttle," in Hainan, China, traveled between the heavens and Earth at an unprecedentedly high frequency.

Like a swarm of industrious worker bees, they continuously transported tens of thousands of tons of supplies—base modules, solar panels, engineering robots, life support systems, and fully automated industrial equipment provided by Paradox Technology—to the Moon.

August 2027, in the Sea of Tranquility on the near side of the Moon. The first permanent lunar base jointly built by China and the United States—Guanghan Palace Base—was declared initially completed.

But this was only the first step. With the help of the automated engineering robots from Paradox Technology that required almost no human intervention, a more magnificent project was in full swing on the land of the Moon that had been silent for billions of years.

They wanted to build a true starport here, utilizing the Moon's lower gravity and richer mineral resources. A space shipyard capable of assembling, building, and maintaining starships of the voyager class directly in space.

Future Human Civilization Interstellar Fleets would no longer need to struggle to take off from Earth's heavy gravity well. They would be born directly among the stars.

...

However, just as Human Civilization was taking solid steps toward the sea of stars with an unprecedented posture of unity, an undercurrent full of shortsightedness and greed from within the civilization began to surge quietly.

United States, Washington D.C. On Capitol Hill, a fierce hearing was underway. A senior senator named John McConnell was delivering a passionate speech to the media cameras, spitting as he spoke.

"...Ladies and gentlemen! Look at what our government is doing!" He waved his arms, speaking with heartache, "They are pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into a nebulous, so-called alien threat! This money should have been used to improve the welfare of our veterans, to repair our dilapidated infrastructure, and to provide new jobs for our unemployed workers!"

Senator McConnell was the leader of the "isolationist" faction in Congress and also the spokesperson for several major traditional energy and military-industrial complexes.

The signing of the dome accord was an unmitigated disaster for them. The reconciliation with China had caused them to lose their greatest imaginary enemy, causing those hundreds of billions of dollars in arms orders to vanish into thin air overnight.

And the success of the "Zhulong/Prometheus" project had directly pronounced the death sentence on traditional fossil fuels. Cutting off someone's wealth is like killing their parents.

Under the secret guidance and funding of these politicians who were unwilling to lose power and wealth, a "mass movement" against the space program began to intensify in the United States and even the entire Western world.

Television news played interviews with various "experts" every day.

"...HIAL-137 Galaxy incident is likely just a rare natural phenomenon; NASA's conclusion is too hasty and lacks sufficient evidence." A physicist bought off by an oil group talked eloquently on television.

"...The so-called 'the guide' emails are more like a carefully orchestrated hoax, the purpose of which is to drag down our economy and make us waste precious resources on meaningless space fantasies." A think-tank scholar with close ties to the military-industrial complex analyzed alarmingly.

Various conspiracy theories were rampant on social media. "Wake up! There are no aliens at all! This is all a lie made up by the government to control us!" "Give us back our money! We want jobs, not some damn lunar base!"

At first, this was just noise on the internet. But soon, this sentiment spread to the real world. From Wall Street in New York to Hollywood in Los Angeles, and then to Paris and Berlin in Europe... large-scale protest marches began to appear frequently on the streets of major cities.

People held signs saying "Bread, Not Rockets" and "Earth First," shouting slogans against the government's "militarism."

Under the incitement of some extremists, peaceful marches even evolved into violent riots. The space center located at Cape Canaveral was repeatedly besieged and stormed by protesters. Some scientists involved in the dome project even received death threats.

This sudden internal unrest was like a stone thrown into the precise gears of the dome project, greatly affecting the US side's implementation of the accord. Budget approval became fraught with difficulties. The launch of new projects was indefinitely shelved. The immense pressure of public opinion left the decision-makers in The White House tied hand and foot.

In Dr. Thorne's office, the atmosphere was as oppressive as a vacuum.

"The President can no longer withstand the pressure." A liaison officer from The White House said wearily. "Senator McConnell has joined forces with a group of people and is preparing to initiate a bill in Congress to cut 70% of NDSM-RD's future budget and transfer the funds to domestic livelihood projects."

"Seventy percent?" Dr. Thorne's voice was exceptionally cold. "That's not a cut, that's murder! This will delay the construction plan of the voyager by at least five years!"

"We all know that, Doctor." The liaison officer spread his hands helplessly. "But public opinion... is just like that! When the threat has not yet appeared at their doorstep, people will always care more about their jobs tomorrow and the steak on their dinner table."

"Stupid!" Dr. Thorne slammed her fist onto the table hard. "Shortsighted! Greedy! Stupid!"

She felt like someone trying with all her might to plug a crack in a dam, while behind her, countless of her own people were frantically digging at the dam structure. For the first time, she felt a deep sense of powerlessness and disappointment toward the system she had sworn to serve and the people she was meant to protect.

...

"Father, is intervention required?" In the underground factory of Tianqiong City, the voice of "white flower" rang in Lei Wen's mind. On the screen, scenes of riots in major US cities were being broadcast in real-time.

"Intervention?" Lei Wen looked at the angry and blind crowds incited by politicians, a cold smile curling on his lips. "No, why should I intervene?"

"But Father, this unrest is seriously delaying the construction progress of the voyager. According to my model deduction, if it continues, the construction period on the US side will be delayed by at least five years." "white flower" analyzed calmly.

"Isn't that perfect?" Lei Wen's eyes became deep and sharp.

"I don't understand, Father... shouldn't our primary goal be to gather the strength of all humanity to jointly deal with the crisis?"

"Gathering the strength of all humanity is just a beautiful ideal, "white flower"." Lei Wen said slowly. "The reality is that humanity will not truly unite until they have been thoroughly beaten and hurt."

He stood up and walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking his underground factory that was operating efficiently.

"The current chaos in the United States is an inevitable result of its own system. A society hijacked by short-term interests and populist sentiment will inevitably fall into endless internal friction when facing a survival crisis that requires long-term planning and collective sacrifice."

"Let them make a fuss."

"Let their politicians argue in Congress for votes, and let their people protest on the streets for the bread right in front of them."

"Only when they have missed precious time due to internal friction, and when China's voyager stands alone above the lunar starport, will they understand what they have actually lost."

"A unified, efficient leadership core capable of twisting all strength into a single rope... that is our greatest trump card in facing this crisis."

In Lei Wen's eyes, a light belonging to a strategist, bordering on cold-bloodedness, flickered.

""white flower", execute the next step of the plan."

"Continue to increase investment; I want our production efficiency to increase by another fold."

"At the same time, initiate the preliminary design of the Ark Project."

"Confirm?" In the emotionless electronic voice of "white flower," a fluctuation similar to "surprise" appeared for the first time.

"Father, isn't the Ark Project the final backup plan you prepared to deal with the worst-case scenario?"

"That's correct." Lei Wen looked at his hand, slowly clenching it in the reflection of the window.

"I hope it is never needed."

"But if that day really comes..."

"I need a ship that obeys only my orders."