Cataclysmic Era: I can unlock the tech tree

Earth Calendar: 2146.6.7

The outer edge of the Proxima Centauri galaxy.

It is located 0.01 light-years away from Proxima Centauri.

A fleet drifted toward Proxima Centauri like a ghost.

This is a human fleet that has traveled a long distance of 4.22 light-years.

Five years ago, the human fleet, under Zero's control, completed the turning and deceleration, and shut down all Hall thrusters and high-power radio facilities.

Through a series of skillful maneuvers, the entire fleet circled around, changed direction, and drifted towards its destination using inertia.

This is a marching pattern personally designed by Lü Yongchang.

When it is unclear whether the Proxima Centauri civilization has observed the movements of their fleet, this method of travel is undoubtedly the safest.

It is also the most insidious.

The war began the moment the human fleet shut down its engines.

The reason... is naturally quite simple.

On the eve of war, I lost the enemy ship's location.

……

five years ago.

"Tell me, why did that solar system fleet disappear right under our noses?!"

The elderly Augustus roared angrily at the observers.

"I...we don't know either," one observer said in a low voice, mustering his courage. "We were tracking them a while ago."

"It happened very suddenly; in the blink of an eye, they disappeared from our detection equipment."

"Some time ago?!" Augustus's anger intensified. He forcefully opened his breathing holes, taking deep breaths. "How long ago exactly? Tell me clearly!"

"...A month ago," the observer said repeatedly, "just a month ago, our radio telescope could still receive their radio signals."

"A month ago?" Augustus was stunned when he heard this.

"Then why are you only saying this now!"

As he spoke, he raised his short, sturdy forelimbs, ready to lash out at the observer in front of him.

"I...we reported the situation at the time, but...you only found out today," the observer said loudly, instinctively closing his eyes.

Upon hearing this, Augustus took a deep breath.

What is this?

This was the first time he personally experienced the problem of work efficiency at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Thinking that the solar system fleet had quietly changed its position in the past month, an unprecedented and intense sense of dizziness instantly rushed into his mind.

"Activate all detection equipment and scan the area where the fleet disappeared!" Augustus said through gritted teeth. "We must find that solar system fleet!"

Although he said that, his heart was already half-defeated.

As the chief Lyle, he knew perfectly well that with their technology, they would never be able to find a fleet in the universe that was deliberately hiding itself!

……

The outer periphery of Proxima Centauri.

As the fleet arrived at its designated location, countless lights suddenly illuminated the interior of the Earth!

[Destination location reached]

[Wake-up process in progress]

[Homeland Ship One, awakening begins...]

【…】

A series of Chinese characters flashed across the giant holographic image in the command center.

The wake-up process has begun!

……

My heavy eyelids were suddenly pried open by something.

A bright white light appeared before my eyes.

"A robotic arm? Where am I? So sleepy..."

A slightly chaotic stream of thoughts surfaced in my mind.

A distinct sense of mental stagnation hindered his thinking.

"The pupils react well to light."

"Captain Zhao Zijie, can you hear me?"

A familiar voice called out in my ear.

Upon hearing his name called, Zhao Zijie struggled to open his heavy eyelids.

"here it is……"

The incredibly hoarse voice startled him.

He could hardly believe that the sound came from his own mouth.

The words had barely left my mouth when an intensely aching sensation shot through my trachea and lungs.

"Cough cough cough!"

He coughed violently as he asked the question that had been nagging at him: "Where...where am I?"

Zero's virtual image appeared in front of him instantly.

"Captain Zhao Zijie, congratulations on your successful awakening."

"It is now Earth calendar 2146.6.7, and we are located 0.01 light-years away from Proxima Centauri."

Zhao Zijie instinctively held his breath.

2146... Proxima Centauri...

One word after another assaulted his brain, which had become sluggish due to a long period of hibernation.

"We...we've arrived?!"

After he stopped coughing, he turned his head and looked around.

The familiar hibernation pod, the familiar starship cabin, and the familiar coughing sound.

There were many other people around him who looked just as bewildered as he was.

He glanced at them briefly and saw that most of them were familiar companions.

Zhao Zijie struggled and tried to climb out of the hibernation pod.

"Captain Zhao Zijie, please wait a moment," Zero's virtual avatar spoke again.

"Prolonged hibernation has made your body weaker, which is normal."

As he spoke, a robot placed a package in front of him.

"What is this?" Zhao Zijie asked, a hint of doubt in his eyes.

"The nutrient solution can help you recover your strength quickly; you should find it useful," Zero explained quickly.

Glug...

A strong feeling of hunger came from my stomach.

With trembling hands, Zhao Zijie grabbed the packaging bag in front of him, forcefully opened the seal, and began to suck up the contents using the straw on the bag.

"call……"

The effects of high-concentration nutrient solutions are immediate.

Zhao Zijie, who had initially felt extremely weak, regained the strength to climb out of the hibernation pod in just a few minutes.

Floating in mid-air, Zhao Zijie looked at the familiar cabin in front of him, a hint of confusion in his eyes for a moment.

What should he do now?

"Captain Zhao Zijie, please follow me," a robot beside him whispered.

At the same time, a holographic image appeared in front of him.

"This is your schedule for the next week."

"To help you recover your strength as quickly as possible and prepare for the upcoming war, you will need to undergo a week of rehabilitation training..."

Looking at the densely packed schedule in front of him and listening to the explanation from the robot around him, Zhao Zijie suddenly felt excited!

war!

War is about to begin!

Proxima Centauri civilization, here we come!

Just as Zhao Zijie was shouting in his heart, the robot's voice pulled him out of his turbulent inner world.

"Captain Zhao Zijie, please follow me."

"Next, you will need to take a shower and change your clothes."

"I will take you for a medical check-up in thirty minutes."

"One hour later..."

Zhao Zijie: "..."

Similar scenes were happening in every corner of the Homeland One ship!

In preparation for the upcoming war, Zero, following a pre-programmed procedure, awakened all scientists and starship pilots!

In the command center of the Earth, Lü Yongchang silently gazed at the faintly glowing star ahead.

The war has begun!