Courtyard House: Primordial Chaos Pearl

The morning light of the Pallas Ecological Hub shines through the radiation shielding windows onto the crimson surface. Just one week after the conclusion of the first Interstellar Agricultural Technology Expo, the groundbreaking ceremony for the second phase of the project was held as scheduled. Neat rows of silver-white modular modules lined the west side of the subglacial lake. Red Star-130G geological adaptive agricultural machines swung their robotic arms, excavating foundations in the designated area. In the distance, the convention center module had been converted into a temporary training base, where the first batch of trainees from various Alliance countries were arriving.

"The core of the second phase of the Hub project comprises three major modules: a scientific research experimental module, a personnel training module, and a resource reserve module." Yan Jiecheng explained to the Alliance engineering team, holding the design drawings. "The scientific research module will focus on studying the subglacial lake ecosystem and interstellar crop breeding; the training module adopts a 'theory + practice' model, where trainees can experience agricultural operations in a low-gravity, extreme radiation environment within a simulation chamber; and the resource reserve module can store enough water, food, and fuel for 100 people for a year, serving as an emergency supply center for the asteroid belt."

Lin Xiangyang, dressed in training instructor's uniform, was debugging the gravity control system of the simulation cabin. On the screen in front of him, trainees from Australia were practicing remote control of the Hongxing-130G agricultural machine, its robotic arm operating precisely in a simulated gravity anomaly zone. "The training system has integrated core technologies from various alliance countries. The courses include four modules: geologically adaptive agricultural machine operation, lighthouse system operation and maintenance, ecological cabin management, and microbial cultivation," Lin Xiangyang said, pulling up the trainee handbook. "We have also invited Professor He Yushui, a tropical crop expert from Brazil, and a water-saving technology consultant from India to serve as lecturers, ensuring that trainees master comprehensive skills."

He Yushui was frequently seen at the Underglacial Lake Ecological Reserve. Since detecting abnormal fluctuations in the lakebed sediments during the Expo, she had intensified ecological monitoring efforts. On this day, the images transmitted by the underwater exploration robot made her pupils shrink—tender green shoots were emerging from the white sediments at the bottom of the lake. The leaves were needle-like, about 1 centimeter high, and covered with a layer of transparent mucus, shimmering faintly under the LED lights.

"They're seedlings of lower plants!" He Yushui exclaimed excitedly. "They resemble mosses on Earth, but their cell structure is more compact. The mucus in their cell walls is likely for locking in moisture and protecting against radiation. This indicates that the subglacial lake's ecosystem is evolving, moving from a microbial community to a more complex plant ecosystem!"

The probe collected seedling samples, and the test data showed that this plant can use the weak starlight transmitted through the ice layer to carry out photosynthesis. Although the amount of oxygen produced is small, it is enough to provide some oxygen for the microorganisms in the lake water. Its roots can secrete organic matter, which further promotes the reproduction of microorganisms and forms a "plant-microorganism" symbiotic system.

"This is a cosmic discovery!" Professor Pierre of ESA, Chairman of the Alliance's Scientific Committee, exclaimed in a video conference. "The presence of lower plants means that the subglacial lake on Pallas has the conditions to form a complex ecosystem. We recommend upgrading the subglacial lake ecological reserve to an 'International Interstellar Ecological Research Zone,' prohibiting any destructive development and concentrating global scientific research efforts for long-term observation and research."

Lin Dong proposed a specific plan: "First, deploy unmanned observation stations around the subglacial lake to monitor plant growth and ecosystem changes in real time; second, under the leadership of He Yushui, conduct aseptic culture of plant samples to study their growth mechanisms and environmental adaptability; third, strictly prohibit the removal of plant samples or related microorganisms from Pallas to avoid cross-planetary ecological invasion; fourth, incorporate the 'plant-microbe symbiosis system' into the research direction of interplanetary agriculture and explore its application potential in closed ecological cabins."

The plan was approved unanimously. The research and experimental module on Pallas was completed first, and He Yushui and his team moved in, transforming the sterile culture room into an "under-ice plant cultivation center." In the low temperature, low light, and low oxygen environment simulating an under-ice lake, the plant seedlings grew slowly but steadily. After a week, the leaves reached a length of 3 centimeters, and the root system began to spread.

"The mucus of this plant contains natural anti-radiation substances," He Yushui wrote in his research report. "After extraction, it can be added to the air circulation system of the ecological cabin to reduce the radiation intensity inside the cabin by 10%; the organic matter secreted by its roots can improve the nitrogen fixation efficiency of microorganisms, forming a virtuous cycle."

Meanwhile, the first batch of trainees at the talent training base have entered the practical training phase. Sarah, a trainee from South Africa, successfully completed the maintenance work on the water intake pipeline of the subglacial lake by operating a Red Star-130G agricultural machine; Mark, a trainee from Australia, used microbial polysaccharides to improve the nutrient solution in the ecological cabin, shortening the growth cycle of interstellar rice by 3 days.

"The training on Pallas was so practical!" Mark said excitedly after the graduation assessment. "Back in Australia, I'm going to apply the techniques I learned to our country's interplanetary agriculture experimental base and cultivate crop varieties adapted to the deep space environment as soon as possible."

While grading students' assignments, Lin Xiangyang discovered a pleasant surprise: Amir, a student from India, designed a "plant-microbe symbiotic ecological cabin solution" that combines the lower plants of Pallas with the microorganisms of the subglacial lake to create a small closed ecosystem with an oxygen self-sufficiency rate of 60% and a water resource recycling rate of 95%.

"This plan is very creative!" Lin Xiangyang recommended the plan to Lin Dong. "Amir combines India's water-saving technology with the ecological discoveries of Pallas. The idea is novel and highly feasible. We can support him in conducting prototype verification in the scientific research experimental module."

Lin Dong immediately approved the plan: "Allocate special funds, with Amir leading the effort, in conjunction with the technical team from Red Star Agricultural Machinery, to advance the prototype construction of the symbiotic ecological cabin. This may become the prototype of the next generation of interstellar ecological cabins."

Construction of the second phase of the hub project is in full swing, and preparations for the distant star exploration program are also underway. The alliance has established the "Distant Star Exploration Committee," with Lin Dong as director, Yan Jiecheng as technical director, and Lin Xiangyang responsible for the design of navigation and emergency systems. After three months of screening and evaluation, the committee finally selected Vesta as the first target celestial body for the distant star exploration program.

"Vesta is the second most massive object in the asteroid belt, with a diameter of about 525 kilometers. Its surface is rich in metallic resources such as iron, calcium, and aluminum, and it may also contain deep ice layers," Yan Jiecheng introduced at the project launch. "It is about 2.3 million kilometers away from Pallas, and the journey is expected to take 60 days. We will upgrade and modify the Starship-1, carrying a new generation of geologically adaptive agricultural machinery, a prototype symbiotic ecological cabin, and a deep-space navigation system. The goal is to complete resource exploration on Vesta and select a site for an outpost."

When the news reached the courtyard, the Interstellar Agriculture Museum had been completed. Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and Yan Bugui sat in the "Distant Star Exploration Exhibition Area" of the museum, looking at the simulated model of Vesta, their faces full of anticipation.

"Lin Dong and the others are going to even farther places again," Yi Zhonghai said with emotion. "From the courtyard house to Pallas, and then to Vesta, it's been a difficult journey step by step."

Liu Haizhong held up a calligraphy scroll he had just written, bearing four powerful characters: "Boundless Journey to the Stars." "I present this to them, wishing the distant star exploration project smooth sailing! I believe that as long as they persevere, one day they will be able to cultivate crops throughout the entire universe!"

Pointing to models of lower plants in the exhibition area, Yan Bugui explained to the children, "This is a 'space grass' discovered in a subglacial lake on Pallas. It can grow in extreme environments and even produce oxygen. It is these amazing discoveries that have allowed humanity to go further and more steadily on the path of deep space exploration."

Seeing the museum during the video call filled Lin Xiangyang with warmth: "Grandpa Yi, Grandpa Liu, Uncle Yan, thank you for your continued support. Once the Vesta outpost site is selected, I will definitely send back the latest photos to enrich the museum's exhibits!"

On the night of Pallas, the lights of the ecological hub and the starlight of the subglacial lake reflect each other. In the scientific research experimental cabin, the leaves of lower plants sway gently under the red light; in the training base, a new batch of trainees are learning the operation and maintenance of the lighthouse system; at the upgrade and transformation site of the Starship-1, the Red Star-130G agricultural machinery is hoisting a new generation of nuclear fusion reactor.

Standing on the observation platform of the hub, Lin Dong gazed towards the distant subglacial lake, his heart filled with unwavering certainty. The ecological hub of Pallas was not only a hub of technology and resources, but also a hub of talent and hope. The new shoots of lower plants in the subglacial lake symbolized the tenacity and miracles of cosmic life; and the batches of interstellar agricultural talents who emerged from here would carry the light of the Red Star and the friendship of the Alliance, sowing the seeds of hope in even more distant cosmos.

Lin Xiangyang walked to his father's side and wrote a new note in the lighthouse system's log:

"The expansion of the hub nurtures new seedlings, and new buds beneath the ice herald a new era. Every step of Pallas's growth is inseparable from the courage to explore and the power of cooperation. May we take this as our starting point and journey to the far reaches of the stars, writing a new chapter of coexistence between humanity and nature in every corner of the universe."