Cataclysmic Era: I can unlock the tech tree

"The Enroget civilization did not have the ability to change the trajectory of the stars."

"However, we can help you select a star that meets our criteria."

"Imperial fortresses should have the ability to move, right?"

[10] After a moment of silence, he gave his answer.

Two hundred thousand years ago, the power of a supernova explosion exceeded the Empire's expectations, causing irreparable damage to the warp drive.

Currently, the fortress has lost its basic mobility.

Upon seeing these lines of text, Lü Yongchang immediately frowned.

This is a difficult situation.

Sufficient amounts of hydrogen and helium can serve as substitutes.

A line of bright white text appeared on the projection screen in front of the command center.

Lü Yongchang felt much more at ease.

It's just hydrogen and helium.

If all else fails, just bring it a few gas giants.

While stars are too large to move, gas giants can be moved with some difficulty.

For human civilization, this is nothing more than a trivial matter that consumes some computing power and time.

Putting aside everything else.

The detailed observation data on the fortress's optical computer alone is far more valuable than the resources needed to move the gas giant!

As for [Ten], it didn't give up anything; it simply allowed the "Enroget Civilization" to visit the control room of the fortress's main brain in exchange for precious energy materials.

Therefore, both parties are very satisfied with this transaction.

Win-win.

……

A month later.

The Human Alliance expeditionary fleet arrived at the Imperial fortress with a large amount of supplies and replenished the fuel for the depleted research fleet.

The research fleet also completed all the "permitted" testing procedures and successfully withdrew from the Imperial fortress.

At the same time, the Human Union Megastructure Project Team also received a new order from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Mega-project: [The Star-Hunter].

Its appearance is similar to that of the "Ghost Eater," and it is also a giant structure composed of several movable concentric rings.

However, unlike the [Star Devourer], the [Star Picker] does not have a smelting device installed inside.

Its interior space, apart from housing the ultra-powerful warp drive, is left only with energy storage space.

According to the Academy of Sciences' design, ideally, a single "Star Picker" could transport a gas giant planet the size of Jupiter.

Because the mass of the celestial body being transported is so enormous, the travel speed is naturally appalling.

It doesn't even reach 0.1 times the speed of light.

Undoubtedly, it is the slowest aircraft in the Human Alliance fleet.

However, it is also the aircraft with the largest payload in the Human Alliance fleet.

According to the requirements of [Ten], human civilization needs to collect more than 1000 gas giants with diameters exceeding 12 kilometers.

Even for human civilization, this is an incredibly difficult task.

Given the current capabilities of human civilization, completing this collection task would likely take thousands of years.

However, with the rapid advancement of technology in human civilization, the specific timeframe is likely to be far shorter than expected.

……

Earth year 3757.

The research fleet returned to the Kepler 452 star system, and Lü Yongchang also awoke from hibernation.

Even more than a decade after the research fleet left, the Academy of Sciences did not cease its research work.

Due to the lack of key scientific research personnel, the original scientific research work has visibly slowed down considerably.

The return of the main force has greatly enlivened the atmosphere at the Academy of Sciences located on Kepler 452b.

All researchers knew about the research fleet's achievements—optical computers, space rift cutting devices…

These two technologies alone are enough to put the Academy of Sciences into a long-awaited period of intense work!

Therefore, on the eve of the scientific research fleet's arrival in the Kepler 452 star system, the Academy of Sciences was unusually quiet—everyone was conserving their energy for the upcoming "great battle"!

But to everyone's surprise, after learning about the research results of the Chinese Academy of Sciences during this period, Lü Yongchang hurriedly returned to his office.

This unusual phenomenon immediately aroused the doubts of some of the newcomers.

"Academician Fang?"

Although the time spent in hibernation is not counted in actual age, in the eyes of the new generation born in Kepler, Lü Yongchang is already an "old relic" from 1700 years ago.

The vast age and seniority gap makes these younger generations even more respectful of this legendary figure who has led human civilization to rapid development for thousands of years.

Therefore, it's rare to hear them addressed affectionately as "Professor Lü" anymore; instead, the more formal title "Chief Lü" has taken its place.

Of course, for those "old hands," the unique title of "professor" is still retained.

"Those space rift cutting devices... are they just sitting there in the Earth's hangar, not being studied anymore?"

The young researcher asked somewhat anxiously.

Fang Xu turned to look at him, and after a moment's thought, suddenly realized: "Lin...Lin Yongnian, right?"

"I remember you majored in spacetime theory?"

"You haven't been at the Academy of Sciences for very long, have you?"

As a newcomer, and given that it involves his own research topic...

It would be a miracle if they could stay calm.

Lin Yongnian, whose face was still somewhat youthful, showed a hint of excitement in his eyes. Clearly, for him, it was a great honor to have his name remembered by the second-in-command of the Academy of Sciences.

"Yes, yes, Academician Fang, you know me?" Lin Yongnian nodded repeatedly, his face full of a proud smile.

Looking at the new recruits from the Academy of Sciences whose faces were filled with excitement, Fang Xu couldn't help but chuckle.

"You're new here, it's normal that you don't know."

"Human civilization has now reached the peak level of a Type V civilization."

"The technology we obtained from the homeworld fortress of the Tenth Empire was that of a Level 7 civilization."

"The difference between them is significant!"

"None of us have ever seen a Level 6 civilization."

"They have no idea about the technological standards of a Level 6 civilization."

"As the chief scientist, Yongchang naturally had to identify the most feasible research direction for the Academy of Sciences."

Seeing the astonished look on Lin Yongnian's face, Fang Xu patted him on the shoulder with some emotion: "For the past 1700 years, humanity has lived this way."

"Under his guidance, human civilization has avoided countless detours."

So...

"Let's wait patiently."

"Based on my experience, Yongchang should have a concrete research plan within a week."

Lin Yongnian swallowed hard, nodded repeatedly, and turned his gaze toward the office door in the distance.

P.S.: Thanks to Tenth Art for the amazing certification!

Thanks to Xiaoqiu Pro for the expert certification!

The boss is generous! The boss will make a fortune!

Don't worry, everyone, I haven't forgotten about the extra chapters QAQ. I've been adjusting my mindset these past few days, trying to accumulate some chapters. It's just too agonizing to live without any drafts...