Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
"Don't you have your own planet? Are you willing to watch your planet come to an end?" Mentor Lian Hongbo wrote angrily on the message board.
It wasn't just Mentor Lian Hongbo who was furious; everyone was, including me. This was undoubtedly a moment that had just given us hope, only to cruelly extinguish it immediately. However, while everyone else was filled with anger, I managed to maintain a degree of calm and restraint as I began to recall the conditions mentioned by Naga.
Seventy percent...
The entire bridge fell into silence, with Han Li being the only one moving about, pacing back and forth. His face was noticeably red as we all awaited a solution; no one could just sit and wait for death.
Seventy percent...
"Let's send this message back to the United Nations," Han Li finally said helplessly.
If there were no ifs, then this would be the result.
"Wait!" I shouted, raising my hand. "She said that if it extends beyond seventy percent, it cannot be stopped. That means as long as one Cannon Barrel hasn't reached seventy percent, we still have hope to stop it!"
Mentor Lian Hongbo was the first to turn and look at me, followed by others who directed their gazes toward me. The light in their eyes converged like a galaxy, allowing me to see humanity's hope in this dark space. Han Li came down and eagerly grabbed my hand, asking, "What did you just say?"
"I said we still have hope!" I replied firmly. "Mr. Han, do you remember the conditions she mentioned? The cannon extending from the direction of the sun is the deciding factor. If we can make it stop extending, then both Cannon Barrels will cease their extension, and Earth won't be threatened by the Cannon Barrel connecting the planets!"
"But how do we know how to stop it?" Han Li asked.
"Seventy percent."
We received another reply from Naga; everyone looked up as the first translated words were "seventy percent."
"This will be my final answer. Based on my observations, the cannon extending from the direction of your star has not yet reached seventy percent; you still have a chance to prevent your planet's destruction. However, I will not assist you in stopping it because I am currently conflicted: although my descendants have indeed made mistakes, I still hope they can play happily and explore the universe freely. Therefore, in my eyes, occasionally allowing a living planet to disappear is not a significant loss. I admit I have selfish motives; I want my descendants to enjoy their childhood happily—that is my interest. The rise and fall of your civilization is something you must strive for yourselves; it is not something I will grant out of respect for life. This is a truth that your primitive civilization should understand.
Thus, I will only give your civilization one hint: if the material at the tip of the firework tube—the frontmost 3%—is destroyed, it will effectively remove its terminal signal source and it will stop transforming. This is your only feasible option. If you can achieve this, I will take my descendants away from your star system and no longer interfere; if you cannot do it, then I will allow my descendants to enjoy watching your planet explode under the Firework Cannon's aim. In survival or becoming our children's toy, everything is up to you."
We stared at those familiar yet strange words in silence for over ten minutes. Everyone struggled to ease the oppressive atmosphere; Han Li lowered his head deep in thought before pushing past me and Mentor Lian Hongbo towards the military personnel at the back of the crowd, asking, "How many Outer Space aircraft are loaded on our Armed Airship?"
"Fifty."
He then turned back to me and Mentor Lian Hongbo and asked, "What length did you calculate last time from the model? The distance from near the sun to Venus?"
"Basically about the same as the distance from Venus to the sun," Mentor Lian Hongbo replied.
We all knew what Han Li was thinking; at this moment, the fastest way was to destroy 3% of the material at the tip of that pipe before it reached an uncontrollable length using all firepower on this airship. At that moment, I calculated on my phone and reported, "Even for 3% of the pipe, we need to blow it up at 3,246,000 kilometers."
Han Li pondered as everyone awaited his next instructions; after a long while he said, "Maintain communication with Earth."
"That's it?" one crew member retorted. The people in the bridge began to disperse like sand; even without speaking out loud, I could clearly feel their pessimism because this pessimism was not without reason: with a three-million-kilometer-long pipe, we didn't even know what material it was made of. Moreover, there were probably only a few dozen hours left before it reached seventy percent extension length. With fifty aircraft on board our Armed Airship, completing a destruction mission seemed nearly impossible.
I slumped down onto the cold floor of the bridge as I watched people gradually disperse. I saw some starting to cry and heard others expressing their desire to go back and spend time with their wives and children. Mentor Lian Hongbo lit a cigarette and stared into those eyes in Cosmic Space; despite regulations prohibiting smoking at this moment, it felt utterly meaningless.
The Westerner was the last to leave; with a loud crash of breaking glass, he smashed his drink bottle against a nearby metal wall and turned back to point at Han Li—standing like a statue in the unlit darkness—and shouted, "Maintain communication? What’s the point of keeping in touch with Earth now? We can't change anything! So I'm demanding that you take us back right now! At least before destruction comes, I want to see my son Jason!"
"Enough!" Mentor Lian Hongbo scolded him. The Westerner snorted coldly and sighed deeply; he remained silent until he left the bridge.
From being yelled at until complete silence fell over us, Han Li didn’t move an inch but calmly sent messages to Earth Base Station as if he had shrunk into shadows—everything resting heavily on his shoulders. In that moment, I suddenly recalled a conversation I had with my father while paying respects to my mother a month ago under sunlight: "This is what believing in miracles leads to."
But...
I still didn't want to believe it. Was there something wrong with believing in miracles? Why couldn't they happen? Clearly there had been days in my life that were nothing short of miraculous.
"This is our only feasible measure," Han Li's voice echoed in my ears. "I understand now; Commander, we'll start immediately."
"What feasible measure?" I suddenly asked as if jolted by adrenaline.
"The Converging Ray Cannon." Han Li finally stepped out from the darkness. "After all, this airship is an Armed Airship; its combat power isn't limited just to its aircraft. The only method I've thought of so far is to open the control gate for the Converging Ray Cannon while also opening the Solar Collector Panel to gather electromagnetic waves—transforming as many as possible into lasers—to extend burning time. Perhaps we can really burn away that three-million-kilometer-long material?"
"Not just that!" Mentor Lian Hongbo added. "The Cannon Barrel penetrating Venus is only twenty million kilometers away from Earth now! If armed satellites from various countries fire satellite beams at it too, that could also help burn it down—but this requires extremely high precision and massive power support."
"The only hope left," I murmured to myself.
"Yes, this is the only hope," Han Li announced. "Fengqi, go to the broadcasting room and report our next actions—first, fly at full speed away from the Earth-Moon System to intercept the Cannon Barrel. Second, activate the Solar Collector Panel. Third, conduct a comprehensive overhaul of the airship's main gun, the Converging Ray Cannon. We must create a miracle within these few dozen hours."
"Understood!"
"And," Han Li said earnestly, "never give up hope, even if you have never received a response."
"I have always believed," I turned around and responded with resolute eyes, "because that is the original intention that has brought me to today."
An hour later, all crew members were mobilized. Although everyone was skeptical of my words, at least they were still cooperating with our efforts.
Three hours later, the Earth Base Station sent us the estimated landing coordinates. We would wait five thousand kilometers outside the far side of the moon for the Cosmic String child's Cannon Barrel toy to align automatically with us.
After another seven hours, Mentor Lian Hongbo, I, and several researchers provided the precise time for launching the Laser Launch at the estimated location. Our Armed Airship had already left the Earth-Moon System, and all onboard fighter jets were equipped with laser weapons to burn through the target material alongside lasers fired from the Earth's surface—we had no idea if we would make it in time, but before being killed by danger, all efforts were worth trying for humanity.
"We have only ten hours until we reach peak capacity!" Mentor Lian Hongbo warned everyone in the command room. We had already achieved seventy percent of pipeline length referred to as peak capacity. Given our current extension speed, ten hours was probably an optimistic estimate; however, there were still reasons for cautious optimism. For instance, we had reached the designated landing coordinates outside the Earth-Moon System; the Converging Ray Cannon had completed full functionality tests and was on standby; fifty Cosmic Aerospace Fighters had taken off into Cosmic Space under the control of our crew members, forming two teams heading towards a position closer to Venus's Cannon Barrel—closer proximity meant their firepower would not be diminished. We just needed to wait for orders from Earth Base Station; this final attempt would begin.
"This is truly humanity's last attempt," I wrote in a signal sent to Earth Base Station for my father. "Although your son hasn't been much help, perhaps I am one of the few who still holds onto hope. Father, you once said I can be too idealistic, but in this harsh reality, ideals and reality are always engaged in a great struggle. We who believe in miracles stumble along the way but are never short of successes; this time is no different. All of humanity embodies this spirit—one that believes in miracles and strives for them. Father, if we fail this time, I still want you to understand that believing mother can survive is not our fault; faith and destiny are essentially a war between ideals and reality. We have lost before but will not compromise—that is the faith miracles have given me."
I pressed the final enter key and watched as the signal was sent out. There would be several minutes of delay for signals returning from Earth Base Station, so I did not expect a reply from my father. I stood up, ready to witness the spectacle of three lasers burning through the Cosmic String child's toy together.
Aside from those piloting Cosmic Aerospace Fighters and those authorized to launch the Converging Ray Cannon, only about thirty people remained gathered at the bow of the ship. Han Li stood at the front with fiery eyes fixed on the direction of Venus where the Cannon Barrel extended. Then a signal from Earth Base Station came through like a floodgate being opened:
"All units pay attention; the Laser Launch tower towards Earth has been activated; high-power rays have entered Cosmic Space—Beijing T-1 and all combat units take care to avoid! You are also authorized to fire at will!"
The personnel fully controlling the energy beam cannon immediately sent us a message: "Report Commander Han; the energy beam cannon has locked onto its target!"
"Fire!" Han Li's voice rang out like a bell. As he gave his order, ahead of us, a row of Cosmic Aerospace Fighters began full fire output two seconds later. We felt a strong tremor inside the airship as below us was instantly illuminated by a massive beam shooting straight toward its target.
In less than five minutes' time, beams from our Armed Airship first reached and burned into the Cannon Barrel; then countless beams and small intercontinental missiles launched by Cosmic Aerospace Fighters followed suit, creating brilliant sparks on both sides of the Cannon Barrel. Although our Armed Airship's main gun was located below deck, we could clearly feel both light and heat generated by its continuous firing; I even felt my shoe soles slightly roasting in that cold space.
Twenty minutes later, I saw another energy beam coming from one side outside my window; Mentor Lian Hongbo said it must be support coming from Earth. Thus three beams crafted by humanity surged toward the toy of Cosmic String Life—this was undoubtedly a gamble on whether our civilization would live or die. But we had no way back; these three beams carried all of humanity's hopes as they struck against Firework Cannon and Cannon Barrel together.
Inside the bridge, we all instinctively raised our hands in unison—now we could do nothing but pray for a moment of peace for our hearts.
"Calling mothership! Calling mothership!" A signal appeared; following Han Li's gaze revealed it was a call from the lead aircraft of Cosmic Aerospace Fighter formation.
"What’s going on? How long can you sustain bombardment?" Han Li's jaw glistened with sweat; his tension mirrored what everyone else felt inside.
"We can hold out, Commander! At least for another thirty minutes before all our fighters run out of energy." The captain responded, "But we're closest to Cannon Barrel and have found its melting speed much faster than we expected—like ignited paper catching fire quickly! It seems it cannot withstand continuous exposure to beams; if it needs to burn three million kilometers within five hours, then we might still have hope!"
I exclaimed: "So even if all our platforms run out of energy, it will continue burning until it's finished!"
"This is dawn before miracles," I saw a smile on Han Li's illuminated profile as he spoke those words.
In those initial hours and later two hours, all platforms' beams burned steadily online; based on images transmitted by Cosmic Aerospace Fighter formation, we had confirmed that we had burned through two million kilometers of material within two hours—a speed entirely sufficient for success. However, what happened next was something none of us wanted to see: our Armed Airship's Converging Ray Cannon malfunctioned due to prolonged high-power operation and could no longer function; despair filled everyone around me as they fretted over it—but just then, Cosmic Aerospace Fighter formation also declared they had exhausted all their firepower; only beams coming from Earth continued burning into Firework Cannon and Cannon Barrel material—sure enough after three hours passed, during these sixty minutes we had only burned through five hundred thousand kilometers of material.
"Ahhh!" Mentor Lian Hongbo cried out in despair as he pounded his chest; lamentations filled the bridge again: "I told you this time humanity definitely has no chance!" "Go home! Get me home!" "What are we even fighting for?"
I felt those around me becoming dazed; they moved like dancing demons making me fearful and disappointed—I had never been someone who truly despaired; I always believed there would be ways to solve any problem. This notion was something I could only see reflected in Han Li standing at the front displaying similar emotions. I walked over beside him hoping to find some comfort from him—even if we truly had no chance this time around, I wished someone shared my original intention.
"You all come back," Han Li made his final decision: "Activate Antimatter Engine; return early to ship—we’ll go back together and spend more time with family in these last moments."
Han Li's decision felt like an official declaration of failure; if previously there were sobs now those below erupted into wails—but within his words I heard a glimmer of possibility as I quickly called out to Han Li: "What powers these fighters' engines? Antimatter?"
"Yes."
"Commander..." For the first time I addressed Han Li this way, "Although I know this doesn't align with human values..."
"No!" Han Li knew what I was about to say and firmly rejected it: "I can't say that."
"But if we succeed, the ones who survive will be all of humanity!" I looked at him with pleading eyes.
"No!" Han Li glared at me. "What do you know as a college student?!"
"You told me not to let my identity limit me!" I shouted. "Regardless of whether it's feasible, this is hope. It's you who made me realize that I'm not the only one who believes in miracles! Think rationally for a moment—if they can really detonate the Antimatter Engine near the Cannon Barrel, it could actually succeed! A miracle—aren't we pursuing miracles?"
Han Li and I stared at each other under the starry sky of Cosmic Space.
"Commander Han Li!" I knelt before him.
Han Li's eyes filled with tears as he shakily activated the communicator, ordering the Cosmic Aerospace Fighter array: "I, Han Li, hereby command you to pilot all aircraft towards the Cannon Barrel to detonate the Antimatter Engine in a suicide attack. I'm sorry, Brothers, but this is the only and final method we can think of. I cannot guarantee that your sacrifice will ensure humanity's survival, but without your sacrifice, we will completely lose our chance to resist. You may disobey this order; I do not insist. Crew Members, please consider it carefully. Thank you."
Everyone who was about to leave the bridge turned back, looking at Han Li and me with astonished expressions. This decision was undoubtedly terrifying because it wagered the lives of many. However, everyone understood that if we didn't take this gamble, it would mean the complete extinction of human civilization. The weight of that choice was clear, yet even so, no one could accept such a decision.
After a minute of silence, the Aerospace Fighter Array captain replied, "The entire team has received the instructions. None of us will leave our posts; this is our duty. Dying is a soldier's common fate; there is no need to be so heavy-hearted, Commander."
We did not respond to him.
"The choices in this world are never perfect. We long for miracles, but this is the price of miracles," we heard the captain sigh. "If our deaths can bring about a beautiful ending for everyone, we will not hesitate."
"Dong Dong Yao, Chinese National Lei Zhijun, we will not hesitate!"
"006, Icelandic Gansimov, we will not hesitate!"
"023, British Hausen, we will not hesitate!"
...
With each declaration of "we will not hesitate," we lost contact with one Cosmic Aerospace Fighter. Everyone stood in front of the large screen; "we will not hesitate" became the phrase we least wanted to hear. It was like a mechanism—after each utterance, a bright star would erupt in the distance; that was the explosion of the Antimatter Engine at the Cannon Barrel. After the last "we will not hesitate," all Cosmic Aerospace Fighters were destroyed. We could not imagine how they felt as they flew their planes towards the Cannon Barrel; they didn't even mention any requests for aftercare. These great heroes melted completely into the flames and scattered among the stars of the universe.
The explosion caused by matter and antimatter annihilation exceeded our expectations. The destructive impact from fifty fighters' Antimatter Engines caused unprecedented degradation of the Cannon Barrel; within just an hour, all materials needed for combustion had completely vanished! This time, I won my bet—we all won our bet. I was surrounded by everyone on board as cheers engulfed me. I simply smiled and looked towards Cosmic Space through everyone's joyful faces; that eye was still there—it was that mother watching our celebration. In an instant, I broke free from the crowd and locked eyes with her. I knew she would no longer speak to us, but I really wanted to ask her if my mother also lived in this Cosmic Space like her? I wanted to say that I wanted an answer, but the Naga in the universe sent us no message.
A pair of small eyes appeared behind those large eyes; I caught a glimpse of their enormous form as Mother Naga turned with her child and gradually disappeared from our galaxy.
My lips trembled; this scene reminded me of when I followed my mother slowly leaving a park filled with Yellow Butterflies as a child. The butterfly I had caught was released back into the park while I held my mother's hand—only this time there was no sunset as they left this galactic park. Yet at that moment, I was wrapped in the warmth of sunset as I slowly walked out of my own sight.
Mother...
This question should not have an answer.
The crisis was completely resolved as we returned to Earth's base with the belongings of our fallen comrades. Upon landing, I was embraced by my father and then kissed by my dear Zhu Lin. My hands rested on both of them as I looked back at the orange and dazzling slanting sun; I finally understood that perhaps my obsession with my mother was a miracle in itself. In pursuing this play, this question should not have an answer; yet here I was chasing an answer. Chasing an answer without knowing if it exists—that might be what I've always believed about miracles—the endless run and unyielding ideals. As we ran on, we had already surpassed what we once thought success meant.
"Dad," my eyes still reflected that pair of Cosmic String Life mother and child, "I think... I really saw Mom."
Comment 0 Comment Count