Chapter 28: The Meteor from Beyond

Words : 1445 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Xiao Yu was not particularly worried about encountering alien civilizations with technologies far superior to his own. While theoretical arguments suggested that intelligent alien civilizations should exist in large numbers, the Fermi Paradox indicated that advanced alien civilizations were far fewer than expected. The likelihood of encountering one with technology significantly beyond his was even lower. Xiao Yu didn’t believe he would be unlucky enough to face such a scenario. Xiao Yu had another reason for his confidence. The hydrogen bomb represents the pinnacle of weaponry achievable within the frameworks of relativity and quantum theory. In other words, any civilization yet to surpass these two foundational theories could not possess weapons more powerful than hydrogen bombs. With this in mind, what did Xiao Yu have to fear? Civilizational development tends to follow similar patterns. For example, on ancient Earth, multiple civilizations independently adopted gold as a medium of exchange—a specific manifestation of civilizational similarity. Xiao Yu firmly believed that scientific advancement progresses from simpler to more complex concepts. It was inconceivable for a civilization to develop science in reverse order, from complex to simple. Thus, any alien intelligence was likely to have traversed stages akin to humanity’s: cold weapons, hot weapons, and nuclear power. As long as they had not surpassed nuclear power, Xiao Yu was confident he could prevail. Moreover, Xiao Yu’s power was an exception. His fleet lacked societal structures, meaning no internal conflicts or inefficiencies. Unlike civilizations burdened by internal friction and disputes, Xiao Yu could harness his resources with 100% efficiency. Coupled with his unparalleled computational ability, Xiao Yu’s forces could even operate beyond their theoretical maximums. As long as his opponents weren’t technologically far superior, Xiao Yu was confident in his ability to dominate. This synergy between human ingenuity and computational power was Xiao Yu’s greatest strength. Following its successful maiden flight, the Dawn replaced the Hope as the primary vessel for collecting fusion fuel within the Saturnian system. Its larger size made it more efficient for such tasks. The Hope, in turn, returned to Titan, where it handled routine satellite maintenance. Everything proceeded smoothly. Six months later, the first meteoroid from Earth’s former orbital region entered Saturn’s orbit. The Hope had been stationed 1 million kilometers beyond Saturn’s orbit, ready to intercept. In the silence of space, with Saturn as a colossal backdrop, a small black dot appeared, racing toward the planet, trailing a long plume of fire as it streaked through the void. Once the meteoroid passed the Hope, Xiao Yu accelerated the ship to match its trajectory. Gradually, the Hope closed the distance and reached a relative standstill beside the meteoroid. Both now hurtled toward Saturn at a shared speed of over 30 kilometers per second. Carefully approaching the meteoroid, Xiao Yu secured it using robotic arms and installed six small fusion engines at its optimal stabilization points. On the opposite side, he affixed a massive parachute. Once preparations were complete, Xiao Yu piloted the Hope to a safe distance. After calculating the ideal trajectory, the fusion engines ignited, propelling the meteoroid onto its new course. At 100,000 kilometers from Titan’s atmosphere, the engines fired again, this time all seven working together to slow the meteoroid’s approach. The meteoroid’s velocity relative to Titan began to drop—from 25 kilometers per second to 15, then to 5, and it continued to decrease steadily. By the time it reached Titan’s atmosphere, its speed was less than 1 kilometer per second. This deceleration was essential. Without it, the meteoroid would have slammed into Titan at catastrophic speeds. While this first meteoroid was relatively small, Xiao Yu couldn’t afford such recklessness with the largest meteoroid in the batch, which weighed a staggering 300,000 tons. A direct impact of that magnitude could significantly disrupt Titan’s crust, potentially triggering earthquakes capable of destroying several of Xiao Yu’s bases. At just 10 kilometers from the atmosphere, the meteoroid, now traveling at 300 meters per second under the thrust of its fusion engines, finally collided with Titan’s atmosphere. Titan’s thick atmosphere caused intense friction with the meteoroid, heating its surface to a glowing red. However, the same friction further reduced its speed. The parachute deployed, a high-strength, large-scale parachute custom-designed for these meteoroids. Spanning hundreds of square meters, it worked in conjunction with the fusion engines and atmospheric drag to provide sufficient deceleration, ensuring a controlled landing. The meteoroid continued to descend steadily. Around the designated landing zone, ten Fengshen helicopters maintained vigilant surveillance. Under the combined forces of the parachute, engines, and atmospheric drag, the meteoroid’s final landing speed was reduced to just 16 meters per second—comparable to a snail’s crawl. Even so, it created a 20-meter-deep crater with a 60-meter radius upon impact. The resulting shockwaves were detectable even 1,000 kilometers away, where Xiao Yu closely monitored the event. Thankfully, everything remained within acceptable limits. The ten Fengshen helicopters swooped in, lowering thick steel cables. Robots secured the cables to the meteoroid, and together, the helicopters lifted it and transported it to the titanium-zirconium processing facility. The entire operation was executed with precision and care, avoiding any major incidents. Three days later, a second meteoroid arrived. This one, a colossal 200,000-ton rock, required Xiao Yu to install over 50 small fusion engines to bring it safely to the surface. Upon landing, it left a crater several hundred meters in diameter. And so, every few days, another meteoroid descended from space. These celestial visitors provided Xiao Yu with an ample supply of titanium and zirconium. Now, Xiao Yu had abundant resources at his disposal. He had sufficient Black Bug carcasses, Jovian Phantom specimens, technological reserves, and construction materials. With this wealth of resources, Xiao Yu devised a new plan. “It’s time to start fleet construction,” Xiao Yu thought to himself. In his vision, the interstellar fleet destined for Proxima Centauri would consist of at least three County-Class ships, 30 Town-Class ships, and thousands of Village-Class ships. After all, the journey from the Solar System to Proxima Centauri covered a distance of approximately 10.5 light-years. Even at Xiao Yu’s estimated maximum speed of 500 kilometers per second, the voyage would take over 6,000 years. Six millennia—a span roughly equal to or longer than the entire history of human civilization. Over such a long period, the fleet would face significant wear and tear, from damaged components to the complete failure of some ships. Xiao Yu knew a small fleet wouldn’t suffice. In fact, Xiao Yu planned for at least half of the fleet to consist of supply ships—vessels dedicated solely to carrying resources while maintaining their ability to travel. Even so, Xiao Yu estimated that if half the fleet survived to reach the destination, it would be a miracle. This made choosing the right destination critically important. There would only be one chance. If the chosen destination turned out to be barren and devoid of resources, the consequences would be catastrophic, leaving Xiao Yu with no options but to await his end. Proxima Centauri offered some certainty. At least one gas giant existed there, which would provide an abundant supply of fusion fuel. Projections also suggested the presence of a terrestrial planet that could supply construction materials for building new ships. Even if the terrestrial planet didn’t exist, Xiao Yu could rely on Proxima Centauri’s extensive asteroid belt for resources. The immense distances and the time required to traverse them posed the greatest challenge to interstellar travel. Even with fusion power, Xiao Yu faced these hurdles; relying on chemical propulsion would have been an unthinkable fantasy—a madman’s delusion. The universe was simply too vast. The distance between Proxima Centauri and the Solar System was akin to that between a front yard and a backyard, yet the effort required to traverse it was monumental for humanity. Historically, humanity’s concepts of interstellar travel often revolved around colossal spacecraft capable of housing thousands. Such designs ensured sufficient genetic diversity for long-term survival, enabling generational turnover to fulfill the dream of interstellar travel. Xiao Yu, however, faced no such concerns. As long as the central computer remained powered, time was merely a number to him—whether a thousand years or ten thousand, it was all the same. By now, Xiao Yu had been away from Earth for nearly a decade. In that time, he had experienced countless events—his harrowing escape from Jupiter, landing on Titan, establishing the first base—all the moments, big and small, flowed through his mind. “Humans must always look forward. Home may be safe and comfortable, but without venturing beyond, how can one achieve greatness? It’s time to begin the fleet construction plan,” Xiao Yu sighed, starting his plan.

Chapter 28: The Meteor from Beyond

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