Cataclysmic Era: I can unlock the tech tree

Upon hearing what the commander said, the technician trembled again.

He looked up at the screen in front of him with a panicked expression, silently praying for the results of the investigation.

The screen above displays a countdown to the probe's arrival.

Ten days.

This meant he would have to spend ten long days in the shadow of death.

"You go first."

Perhaps because they failed to locate the human civilization, or perhaps because of an "unexpected" situation with the long-distance communication device, a hint of impatience flashed across the commander's face.

"In these ten days, I hope you can find sufficient evidence!"

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in the technician's eyes.

It nodded repeatedly, then stood up and ran quickly toward the gate.

……

The isolation room for long-distance communication devices.

Ten days have passed.

To it, the long-range communication device still appeared completely normal!

Not only that, it also brought in a group of its colleagues.

But no matter who it was, they couldn't find the problem.

The technician sat on the cold ground, feeling the faint gravity transmitted through the simulated gravity device, his eyes filled with deep despair.

He turned his head and glanced at the time.

Time is almost up.

It still hasn't found the so-called evidence.

If there are no enemy ships near the signal source...

With a bitter expression, it stood up, disconnected the maintenance terminal, and staggered toward the door of the isolation room.

Following the orders issued by the commander, it now needs to go to the command center to face its final "judgment".

The moment it stepped out of the isolation room.

A piercing alarm sounded inside the flagship!

This incredibly sharp sound did not frighten it at all!

in contrast.

After a brief moment of stunned silence, it revealed a relieved and relaxed smile.

Finally, the gamble paid off.

……

When the technician leisurely walked into the command center, it was already in complete chaos.

It glanced casually at the screen directly in front of it.

As expected.

Besides the flames from the explosion, a brand new signal source appeared before everyone.

"technician!"

The once calm commander was now in a state of utter panic.

It cried out, "What's going on?"

"Why was our long-range communication device compromised by a Type II civilization?!"

At this moment, the stubborn and arrogant commander finally admitted this unbelievable conclusion.

As for why...

The alarm just now is the best evidence.

Same starship, same self-destruction.

Although the self-destruction did not cause any damage to the detector, it was like a slap in the face.

While feeling embarrassed and ashamed, it also felt an uncontrollable rage rising within it!

In its heart, its anger toward human civilization had reached its peak!

Damn bugs!

"Commander." The grey technician remained calm and respectfully saluted the fleet commander.

"Technician, have you found the cause?!"

The commander, panting heavily, asked in a deep voice.

Upon hearing this question, the gray technician's expression changed slightly, but he still calmly replied, "Not yet."

"you……"

Before the fleet commander could even reprimand it, it spoke again: "To be precise, none of us have found the reason."

"...You guys?" The commander's expression shifted slightly as he suppressed his anger.

Although these technicians do not hold a high position in the civilization, it is not foolish enough to do something that would offend the entire group of technicians.

"Yes." The technician adopted a humble attitude. "Your Excellency Fleet Commander, not a single technician has discovered the problem in the past ten days."

"This only shows that in the field of computer software, the other side has far surpassed us."

"This is normal, after all..."

"As you know, we do not belong to a normally developing civilization."

The commander didn't speak, but simply sat quietly in his seat.

It was filled with awe!

This... how is this possible!

A Level 2 civilization has surpassed a near-Level 4 civilization in the field of computer software?!

It gritted its teeth fiercely, its eyes flashing with a cold light!

"Snapped!"

It raised its hand and slammed its hand on the control panel in front of it.

"In that case, I absolutely cannot let them escape!"

"Release all detectors!"

"Prepare to re-enter warp drive mode!"

"Even if I have to turn this entire area within a light-year radius upside down, I will find this tiny level-two civilization!"

……

Human fleet.

"Professor, the second Mystic Maiden has been discovered."

Zero's voice rang out in the command center.

Lu Yongchang slowly opened his eyes and murmured, "Ten days..."

After a moment's hesitation, he deactivated the electromagnetic suction device on the chair, stood up, and said, "Zero, tell everyone that from now on, be prepared to respond to any enemy attack!"

"All fleet, maintain radio silence!"

"Simultaneously, activate the defensive formation!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zijie, who was standing to the side, showed a hint of surprise.

"Starting now?"

"Don't we still have 15 baits?"

"Good." Lü Yongchang nodded vigorously and repeated, "From now on!"

"Otherwise, it might be too late."

Noticing the confusion in Zhao Zijie's eyes, he smiled and explained.

"Haven't you noticed that since the last change of course, the fleet has been sailing in a straight line?"

Zhao Zijie nodded: "I did notice that."

"Professor, you're probably trying to save some energy, right?"

Lü Yongchang nodded, then shook his head.

"You've answered half of it correctly."

"The fleet's turning requires a huge amount of energy, which is part of the reason."

"The most important reason is that we currently do not have the other party's location information."

"If the other side has a higher speed, blindly turning could very well result in a direct collision with the other side's array of probes."

At this point, Lü Yongchang sighed and sat down in his chair again.

"And bait is our tool for luring the other side to other areas."

"But that's precisely where the problem lies."

"Although these Mysterious Maidens II have changed direction several times, they are all heading in a direction away from us."

"A dozen or so samples are enough for them to calculate and deduce the possible direction the human fleet might be heading."

"therefore……"

"War has become a high-probability event."

"It all depends on when they realize what's happening."

……

While the two were talking, the human fleet was quietly changing formation.

One by one, the Homeship ships approached the Earth.

Under Zero's control, the distance between each [Homeship Ship] rapidly decreased until it was kept within a warning line.

Meanwhile, the spacing between the [Golden Crow] battleships increased rapidly.

They spread outwards slowly from the Earth and Homeship as their centers.

During the formation change, the fleet remained in radio silence.

All information is transmitted via long-distance communication devices.