Cataclysmic Era: I can unlock the tech tree

Looking at the star map in the holographic projection, Lü Yongchang couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

132 light-years...

That distance sounds a bit exaggerated.

Human civilization has developed to the point where the total distance traveled in interstellar space is estimated to be less than this number.

But that's all in the past now.

For modern human civilization, 132 light-years is not an unbearable distance.

With the antimatter engine installed, the human fleet's top cruising speed can approach 50% of the speed of light.

In other words, even with the time for acceleration and deceleration, it would only take about 350 years for humans to reach the vicinity of that small black hole.

Of course, this is assuming there is sufficient fuel.

And that's precisely where the problem lies!

Although the Dyson Cloud antimatter manufacturing base has been successfully built, the amount of antimatter that humanity currently possesses is far from sufficient to support such a long-distance voyage.

Of course, there are corresponding solutions to this.

Alternatively, humanity can wait on Dawn Star for a while.

Interstellar travel will only begin once the Dyson Cloud antimatter manufacturing base has produced enough antimatter fuel.

Alternatively, they could take the Dyson Cloud with them and run away to a nearby star system to replenish their antimatter fuel.

Then adjust the flight path to head towards the black hole.

It took Lü Yongchang less than a second to think before he came to an answer.

The second option!

"That's it."

Lu Yongchang pointed confidently at the small black hole in the holographic projection: "Whether humanity can master warp drive technology depends on how well it performs!"

"Complete the pre-flight preparations as quickly as possible."

"As for the issue of antimatter fuel..."

Lu Yongchang twitched his fingers slightly, making minor adjustments to the flight path on the star chart—he marked a Heng system that was on his way.

"Replenish in this star system."

Zero quickly provided the calculation result.

Including the time needed to refuel with antimatter, the entire journey would take 402.3 years.

He Bilin checked the star chart once and nodded in agreement.

It wasn't that long.

Replenishing antimatter fuel allows Zero to maintain full control.

All they had to do was close their eyes and open them again, and they would arrive at their destination.

But the next moment, a hint of confusion appeared in his eyes.

After going around in circles, Professor Lü still hasn't explained why they wanted to go near the black hole!

"Professor, the flight path is fine, but..."

Why are we going near a black hole?

"That place... is not a safe place."

He Bilin's words resonated with many people.

As the most powerful celestial body in the universe, even a small black hole is beyond the reach of humankind today!

Its immense gravity causes the escape velocity within the event horizon to exceed the speed of light.

Simply put, within a certain range, even light cannot escape the attraction of a black hole.

Such a dangerous area has naturally caused concern among many researchers.

What if... the human fleet encounters an accident and enters the event horizon of a black hole?

Lü Yongchang sighed softly: "Do you remember what I said not long ago?"

"We lack a constant to describe the gravitational field."

Only after seeing the people around him nod did he continue his explanation.

"Only by finding that elusive graviton can we have a chance to obtain that constant."

"The energy of the orbital satellite particle accelerator is far from sufficient to obtain gravitons."

"Of course, we can build even larger particle accelerators," Lü Yongchang shrugged. "For example, a particle accelerator around Dawn, or around Gliese 555, or even around the Ghent system."

"But we don't have that time."

Lu Yongchang's eyes dimmed slightly: "We don't know when the Pastoral Faction will arrive here."

"Therefore, I thought of a shortcut."

Lu Yongchang turned to look at the small black hole marked in the holographic projection, a hint of longing in his eyes: "Perhaps, we can use the powerful gravity of the black hole to find that mysterious graviton."

He Bilin and the other researchers suddenly realized what was going on, and their eyes also showed a similar look to Lü Yongchang's.

That's a black hole!

The most powerful celestial body known to humankind to date.

No researcher can resist the allure of black holes.

If so, then use a much larger black hole.

……

"Beep! Beep! Beep!"

The piercing alarm sounded from all around, interrupting Lü Yongchang and his group of researchers' reverie.

Seeing the blood-red holographic warning signs constantly appearing around him, Lü Yongchang suddenly came to his senses.

"Zero, what happened?!"

Before the words were even finished, a familiar electronic synthesized voice rang out.

"Professor, the antimatter collection device located outside the Gliese 555 star system has detected an unidentified flying object!"

The antimatter collection device was put into use before the Dyson Sphere Phase I project.

A giant funnel-like antimatter collection device "wanders" around the Gliese 555 galaxy, collecting antimatter that has escaped from the universe.

In addition, these antimatter collection devices also integrate high-precision detection units.

It can be considered the first warning line of human civilization.

Therefore, upon hearing this, Lü Yongchang's expression changed drastically.

Unidentified flying objects from outside the stars...

Subconsciously, he thought of the pastoral civilization he had just mentioned.

"So fast?!" he blurted out. "How is that possible?!"

The researchers around them naturally shared the same idea.

A hint of panic was visible on everyone's face.

The once peaceful laboratory was now filled with a growing atmosphere of panic.

"calm!"

Lu Yongchang's expression turned serious, and he said in a deep voice, "What's the panic? We haven't confirmed the specifics yet, everyone calm down!"

"According to the information revealed by the painting, there is only one pastoral civilization in the Milky Way galaxy, the painting."

"In other words, other pastoral civilizations would need to travel across river systems to get here."

"How much time has passed?!"

Under Lü Yongchang's loud shout, the group of researchers barely managed to regain their composure.

Seeing the gazes directed at him from all around, Lü Yongchang methodically issued one order after another.

"Zero, notify Zhao Zijie that all starships belonging to the combat formation, except for the Earth, shall set sail immediately."

"Ready to launch the Dandelion Project."

"..."

As he issued the order, a hint of worry appeared in Lü Yongchang's eyes.

Yes, normal interstellar travel cannot reach such a high speed.

But what if the other side possesses wormhole technology?

According to the superstring gravitational field equations, wormhole technology is possible.

"Yongchang, the real-time images are out."

Fang Xu's voice came from the side, and at the same time, a holographic projection with a deep blue background was dragged to his side.

Lu Yongchang quickly concealed the worry in his eyes and turned his gaze to the holographic screen.

He was stunned in place after just one glance.

The unidentified flying object was spherical and dark gray in color.

Its diameter is approximately 100 meters.

Very small.

Its flight speed is not fast, even slower than the antimatter collection device next to it.

"This is not idyllic civilization!"

Lu Yongchang looked at the image with some doubt and murmured, "If what the painting says is true, then the pastoral civilization must be dimensional beings."

"Just like a painting, it is either a low-dimensional life form or a high-dimensional life form that is invisible to us."

"In short, it absolutely cannot be like that!"