Age of Cosmic Exploration

Chapter 349: Warp Drive!

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Space warp!

That became humanity's trump card after they headed into space. This technology was even more valuable than Homo Evolutis because without it, there would be no humanity, much less Homo Evolutis.

Of course, without this technology, Earth wouldn't have been targeted by neutron star fragment and human beings would still be languishing in its warm cradle. In any case, this was an issue of egg first or chicken first, so we shall not get into it now.

In conclusion, space warp was humanity's biggest trump card; it was not be an exaggeration to call it humanity's lifeline. After all, the cosmos was vast, how could a "small" spaceship like the Hope possibly fly in space for tens of thousands of years? When one really thought about it, almost all the level 2 or 3 space civilizations had a mothership that was the size of a small planet. They had to be to reflect the size of the cosmos; how else was a civilization going to last thousands of years in space?

However, it was obvious that this was not the case with the Hope. Simply put, the design theory behind the Hope was an exploratory ship using the anti-gravity system and space warp. Therefore, the two main Noahs weren't meant to be used as humanity's last fortresses, or else it would not have been so small.

After losing space warp, the Hope would be a low level 2 space civilization, or even at the peak of level 1 space civilizations!

It would be a real metallic coffin that would float for several hundred years in space!

"We're doomed!"

These two words cropped up in everyone's minds. Those who knew had their faces blanched white, while the others were red trying to figure out why.

Soon, with the aid of the AI system, the report returned. As they expected, the space warp system was down. All the mechanisms and functions of the space warp system were shut down, including energy charging. Whether it was the issue of the space warp engine itself or the effect of demonization or ZERO's tricks, no one could really tell. After all… humanity still hadn't found out how space warp truly worked, much less how to fix it.

"Repeat inspection…" Ji Jie immediately ordered the workers in central command, "Shut down all information, do not allow any information about the space warp engine to leak to the public. Call for a meeting among all the scientists and technicians familiar with the space warp engine… No, we don't have the time, ask them to use their communicators or home computers and connect to the central mainframe's secret government server. Use it to communicate with them, ask them what we should do now!"

Ji Jie was firm and resolute. While everyone was lost, her crisp voice rang out. In that instant, people still had a hard time following what had happened. They felt like Yao Yuan was still on the ship and the whole central command was in a panic. However, they still carried out Ji Jie's orders.

Several seconds later, many people there started to regain their senses. The person who gave the orders was Ji Jie and not Yao Yuan…. This woman was quite a good leader, wasn't she?

No matter what, several minutes later, several transport shuttles were already ascending from the planet. They were heading towards the Hope, and trailing behind them was a continuous stream of other shuttles. Flying alongside them was a Space Combat Jet Prototype 011. It looked like the rescue mission was reaching its end, but the Hope… had no means to leave this piece of space!

"…Impossible, we don't even know about the theory behind the space warp engine. How do you expect us to fix it?"

On screen, a white-haired scientist shook his pale face and explained, "We tried to study the design blueprint of the space warp engine and we have been into the machine ourselves. It has a simple structure, nothing more than a few metal rings and lines like circuits, but it could bring something as massive as the Hope over several thousand light years away. This is impossible… If it is really broken, unless we build a new one according to the blueprint, we will not be able to fix or use it!"

"Professor Pavlov, aren't you originally from Russia?" Ji Jie read the name appearing on the bottom of the screen and she shook her head to say, "We do not have the time to build another space warp engine, and rebuilding such a large and key object would use all the energy on the Hope. Can we possibly do that now? Stopping any other system will mean death… So, is there any other solution? Anyone?"

A middle-aged woman appeared on screen to say, "I think I can answer that, Black Star Troopers unit leader… If there is really a problem with the space warp engine, then I can confidently say we are doomed. We have no means to escape this solar system. From the star chart we have received, the closest solar system to this one we're in is at least 6 light years away. According to our current travelling speed, even using the particle flux engine at its maximum speed… we will need at least 500 years to reach the next solar system… The supply on the Hope will at most last us for another 100 years in space."

"…What if we use these aliens' spaceships?"

Right then, a male voice entered the discussion. It was Yao Yuan's voice. He said, "Thank you, Ji Jie. You have done a perfect job, leave the rest to me."

Ji Jie was startled before sighing in relief. She smiled and said, "Chancellor, it is great that you're back."

The middle-aged woman continued without missing a beat, "Chancellor, you're back… If it is you, you must understand what I mean, right? The original design of the Hope is not meant to cross from one solar system to another. After losing the space warp engine… humanity will be done for."

Yao Yuan's stern voice replied, "That is why I ask… What if we use the spaceships of the alien vassals? Those aliens have lost plenty of their population, so they have empty spaces on their spaceships. If we fill up those spaces with enough water and various materials, can we survive until the next solar system?"

Suddenly, a middle-aged man added, "Chancellor, that is a question of logistics. Even though I cannot give you an exact number now, I can tell you for sure… we cannot because we humans still do not have the hibernation devices described in sci-fi. In other words, during these hundred of years of travel, we humans will have to continue to survive. Then I have to ask an important question… What to do about our future generations? Planned parenthood? In that case, after this generation of Homo Evolutis all dies, we humans will start to deteriorate when we reach that solar system.

"Furthermore… We do not have the time to find enough materials to fill these vassal spaceships."

The latter was the real reason. Yao Yuan laughed bitterly. In fact, if the situation did not demand for it, they would not come up with the hibernation system. It was only needed now that they were thinking about going into an alien spaceship. In that case, in the next 100 years, most humans would be in a hibernation state, but now…

"Chancellor, I think we're too limited on our thoughts. There is still another way to cross distance."

Right then, a voice rang out. It was Ren Tao, who was in central command. Without Yao Yuan asking, he continued, "Other than space warp… we can still use warp drive."

Yao Yuan first smiled before it turned into a frown. "Our warp drive technology is still in research. It is a level 3 space civilization technology, so it is hard for us to instantly grasp it. Our current research progress doesn't allow us to use warp drive…"

"We can't, but they can…" Ren Tao said confidently. "I remember warp drive is not the spaceship itself bypassing the barrier of light speed but using some special method to warp the space in front of the spaceship, twisting the space, and thus technically bypassing the barrier of light speed, right?"

A few scientists who were responsible for dissecting warp drive nodded. One of them said, "You're right, warp drive works the way you just described."

"Then it'll work," Ren Tao said firmly. "Currently, we still have 4 vassal spaceships. Have them drive their spaceships to surround the Hope, 2 on each side, then have them use warp drive technology. Then, the Hope will exist within the warped space. In other words, we will be in the same space as the 4 spaceships. The space itself will be warping, so even though we do not know how to warp drive, we will be in warp drive! I think this is how those alien fleets deal with mass transportation. Not every spaceship will warp drive, but multiple spaceships combine together to create a warped space and the spaceships within the space will be warped together. That way, they can still maintain communication within the warped space."

When he said that, the few scientists were astounded. After a close discussion amongst themselves, they came to the same conclusion as Ren Tao… Yes, this was the only explanation to mass teleportation of alien space fleets across space. If they entered warp drive individually, there was no guarantee they would exit at the same spot.

Yao Yuan's Thinker power was activated to its maximum. In less than 5 seconds, he made his decision. "Then we will use warp drive… Call Blue 6. Didn't he love to exact his responsibility?

"It is time for him to shine!"