Deep Space Wandering Fleet-Chapter 536 - 533: Symbiotic Civilization

Curvature navigation in the universe was a very boring affair, even more so than navigating near cosmic strings using gravity...

Gravitational navigation could reach speeds of about 10% of the speed of light, at least allowing the enjoyment of the stars outside, enough to organize cosmic education for the children, but curvature navigation was not the same case at all.

This rented War Star was capable of speeds up to 10 times the speed of light!

Under these circumstances, the images observed with the naked eye were chaotically scrambled. All of the stars in front had piled up on top of each other, forming a giant light cluster like the Sun.

If one used a high-energy computer for careful analysis, one would find that this light cluster contained at least a quadrillion stacked images!

To the point where it was completely impossible to discern which beam of light came from which star.

That is to say, during curvature navigation, external observation became a major difficulty; the faster the speed of travel, the more photons overlapped. A special algorithm was required to separate these overlapping images.

This observational algorithm was essential for research by fourth-level civilizations; otherwise, it was like flying blind, and safety accidents could easily occur.

After discovering this new phenomenon, humans and the Tos Civilization began to study the new subject with keen interest. After all, there was nothing better to do, and it didn’t hurt to research in this area in advance.

If one were to look backward, there was nothing but pitch-black darkness—neither electromagnetic waves nor X-rays, absolutely nothing, just emptiness, one could say the purest form of darkness ever!

Because no material could catch up with the speed of this planet, naturally, nothing could be observed when looking toward the back.

Under these circumstances, a hundred-year journey seemed exceedingly dull—except for the occasional cultural exchanges with the Tos Civilization. This fellow would be someone one had to deal with long-term in the future, whether you liked or disliked him; he just stood there.

In a nutshell, that was essentially the situation.

Since all preparations were already in place, it was not until a real observation of the neutron star system that an adaptable plan could be made.

Therefore, apart from some astronomers and information experts studying the light cluster made up of a vast number of overlapping stars, the human fleet alternated between hibernation and awakening, resembling the alternating growth rings of trees.

A hundred-year journey wasn’t considered too long; most people only needed to hibernate once or twice to reach their final destination.

...

A hundred years passed in a hurry.

In the last few days of the journey, a team of human diplomats entered the large mother ship of the Tos Civilization to discuss related cooperation matters. There wasn’t anything particularly special about the external structure of the Tos Civilization’s mother ship, which resembled a super-large disc.

However, the various structures inside were as narrow as caves, somewhat similar to the pangolin underground city encountered at Gliese 581.

This was because the Tos People excelled in using ultrasonic perception and magnetic field sensing, especially ultrasonic waves which were more effective in narrow spaces. In open areas, this sensorial capability was undoubtedly much blurrier.

Looking at the carefully selected partner with the perspective of the present, they were still quite reliable...

Compared to those third-level civilizations aged hundreds of thousands of years, the Tos Civilization was a relatively young civilization, having entered the interstellar era just forty thousand years ago.

Actually, for many third-level civilizations, even hundreds of thousands of years represented a long period, during which technological development nearly came to a standstill—the longer the stagnation lasted, the lower the chances of a breakthrough... That’s why numerous interstellar civilizations remain stuck in the interstellar trading market.

It could not be said that they were entirely sinking civilizations, but the gap was not very large.

Only relatively youthful and ambitious civilizations would choose to spend a great deal of effort to come to this unfamiliar star domain, to take such a gamble.

In the interstellar trading market, the Tos Civilization was known for being old-fashioned and sluggish. Conversing with them always came off as standoffish, making it difficult to form genuine friendships.

Of course, humans didn’t actually need genuine friends. Civilizations that could fully integrate with one another were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns; rough cooperation was sufficient.

Rather than confronting each other head-on, it was better to collaborate. After all, the universe gaining another Level 4 Civilization wouldn’t cause humans to lose anything—they might even gain a friendship, so why not?

With this mindset, Zhang Yuan was among the diplomatic team, having been invited to tour the Tos People’s Mother Ship.

"Cough cough... The view inside your spaceship is quite remarkable," Mr. Chen Mu said with a smile.

The lighting inside the Tos People’s Mother Ship wasn’t bright; the air was very humid, and the atmospheric pressure was slightly higher than what humans were accustomed to. However, the oxygen concentration the Tos People needed amounted to only about 10%.

People gradually discovered that if accepted by them, these large axolotl-like creatures could be quite interesting...

Every one of the Tos People had a large four-clawed beast as a mount. The beast had eyes, was furry, and had highly flexible arms, seemingly serving the role of soldiers inside the spaceship.

To accommodate these intelligent beasts, the Tos People’s spaceship interiors still had a gentle light.

"It’s called a Momo Luo. After it has undergone training, its intelligence is equivalent to our 10-12 year-old children—it can carry out some simple tasks. Most importantly, it has eyes and has been our symbiotic partner since ancient times."

"They also have their own simple language and were brought into the spaceship; they are an inseparable part of my civilization."

A giant axolotl-like being was introducing its native culture to Zhang Yuan and the others; the visual experience of "axolotls lying on the backs of hunting dogs" was quite fascinating.

"Aoow! Adaxiva! Kamajilak!"

A Momo Luo upon seeing the group of humans clad in mecha loudly called out, then stood upright as if to greet them.

Zhang Yuan was extremely surprised to learn that the spaceship harbored a wise species with limited intelligence. Later, after listening to the entire historical background, he gradually came to terms with it, understanding this unique culture.

In ancient times, the Tos People lived in underground caverns filled with magnetic fields. They evolved echolocation and magnetic field sensing abilities, dominating the caverns.

But given the limited living space and scarce food available in the caverns, they couldn’t support a large population.

As the population increased, the Tos People inevitably had to leave the caverns and come up to the real surface.

Without eyes, the Tos People had little competitive edge on the bright surface. On the spacious plains, there were creatures far stronger than them.

According to the brutal laws of survival of the fittest, they had to either retreat to their narrow caverns, forever remaining cave dwellers, or face extinction on the surface.

However, these Tos People were incredibly fortunate to encounter the "Momo Luo," a species of moderately intelligent, docile herbivores!

Thus, the two wise species slowly became symbiotic, enduring the harsh ancient times and developing all the way to the interstellar era.

In the interstellar era, "Momo Luo," the less intellectually advanced beasts, had little utilitarian value and could only serve as guard soldiers or perform simple handicraft tasks. The productivity of such crafts was almost negligible for an interstellar civilization.

Nevertheless, the Tos People did not abandon their former companions. Each newly born baby would choose their symbiotic partner, forming a family and staying together for life.

This was their unique culture...

Zhang Yuan reached out to tease the furry creature. A Momo Luo was somewhat of a cross between a large wolf-dog and a gorilla. They were herbivorous with modest food needs, yet they were sturdier and more intelligent than wolf-dogs.