Humanity is missing, luckily I have billions of clones-Chapter 409: I Have a Small Request

"This civilization doesn't plan to assemble a fleet and escape, but rather, they want to take their home planet with them and leave this solar system?

Pushing a large planet for interstellar travel?

Is this civilization so attached to its homeland?"

Tom was a bit confused at first.

It's just a planet, there are so many in the universe, couldn't they just find another one?

But suddenly, Tom remembered his own civilization.

"Back then, our Human Civilization also valued its homeland greatly... If we had the ability, facing such a disaster, perhaps our civilization would have made this choice too."

Looking at the scene before him, Tom felt a bit more empathy.

However...

Pushing a large planet for interstellar travel is a monumental undertaking. Back when I was in the Strong Nuclear stage, even at the peak of Strong Nuclear, even though my unique existence allowed me to possess engineering capabilities far surpassing civilizations of the same level, I only dared to push a dwarf planet, and a relatively small one at that, for interstellar travel.

Even now that I have advanced to a Gravity Civilization, I cannot make a large planet enter warp travel. For conventional travel, it would still take a great deal of effort, requiring who knows how many resources and how much dedication.

You are merely a Strong Nuclear Civilization, and at most a medium-level one, yet you dare to undertake such a project? Isn't that a bit overreaching?

Further probing allowed Tom to obtain more intelligence about this civilization.

He saw massive tunnels leading underground, saw countless resilient-faced people performing heavy and dangerous work day after day in vast construction sites, and saw in certain dangerous areas, when one spaceship was destroyed by an accident, the next one immediately rushed over...

From some timers, Tom also saw that this project had been ongoing for over 1,000 years for this civilization.

"Alright, with generations pressing forward, persevering continuously, and relying on a long period of time, it is indeed possible for an ordinary civilization to achieve this.

But I am here, so you don't need to persist anymore. Your 'Wandering Planet' project is no longer necessary.

Because... I can cure this 'illness' of the star.

I can restore this star to a stable burning state."

Since this 'illness' of the star is caused by an excessive accumulation of heavy elements in the core, the treatment plan is simple: just find a way to disperse that 'lump'.

This sounds simple, but it is actually very difficult. After all, the 'patient' is a massive star, not some dwarf planet or asteroid.

To penetrate hundreds of thousands of kilometers of stellar material and transmit influence to the star's core, it requires not only extremely precise manipulation techniques and a deep understanding of stellar operations but also enormous energy.

Fortunately, Tom can meet both of these requirements.

Gravitational level detection methods allow Tom to grasp the detailed distribution and convection state of matter within the star, much like an X-ray examines a human body for lesions. The Universal Force Field and the 'Stellar Cannon' launched by the Electromagnetic Life forms, these two unique technologies and abilities of Tom, can provide sufficient energy.

Of course, even if Tom can meet these requirements, it cannot completely cure the star's illness. Because under the influence of its own gravity, even if those heavy elements are dispersed, they will still slowly accumulate towards the core, eventually forming a 'lump' again.

However, this method is sufficient to allow this star to last for another 100,000 years or more. And who knows what will happen after 100,000 years; no one considers that far ahead.

"Let's make this a trade: you help me keep an eye out for traces of the Grey Worm civilization..."

With this thought in mind, Tom's massive fleet began decelerating towards the ailing star.

...

Planet Tavira, Underground City One, Chief's Office.

Having just finished a day's work, Chief Yashan had just fallen asleep. But after sleeping for less than 20 minutes, a series of urgent rings woke him up.

Opening the door, he saw his secretary's face full of panic, terror, and even some despair.

"Major emergency. Chief, our deep space exploration department has detected, has detected..."

A premonition of ill fortune flashed through Chief Yashan's mind: "What's wrong with our Sun? Has the aging process accelerated?"

"No, no, we detected, detected a massive fleet, suddenly, suddenly appearing at the edge of the solar system, approaching our star, solar system...

Preliminary analysis indicates that this fleet is most likely, is likely to have arrived using faster-than-light travel. Their, their technology far surpasses mine, ours..."

Chief Yashan's vision went black, and he almost fell. But he still forced himself to stay composed and said in a deep voice, "Has any message arrived?"

"Not yet. At the same time, this fleet is still too far from us, beyond the limit of our electromagnetic wave communication range. We currently, currently cannot establish contact..."

"Call a meeting!"

Soon, a meeting attended by all civilization leaders and top scientists was convened.

Everyone's face was filled with panic, terror, and despair.

The meeting lasted for a full three days before concluding. People did not discuss any countermeasures, but merely clarified some information.

Sitting quietly behind his desk, Chief Yashan's expression was full of solemnity.

During the previous meeting, the military commander's voice, full of despair, seemed to still echo in his ears.

"Chief, you should understand that the technology of this foreign fleet is not just a matter of how much it surpasses ours, but that there is at least a huge generational gap between us. A generational gap, do you understand?

It's like our ancient ancestors facing airplanes and cannons with stone axes. It's impossible, impossible—there is no hope whatsoever, and we ourselves should not harbor any slightest hope of defeating them."

Then...

Chief Yashan picked up a pen and, with a slight tremor, wrote the first line on the paper: "Impossible to resist."

The words of that cosmic sociologist appeared in his mind.

"There are countless stars in this universe, and resources are everywhere. This advanced civilization fleet coming to our solar system cannot be for the natural resources of our solar system.

Yes, impossible, not the slightest possibility.

What is special about our solar system? There is only one thing, and that is our civilization..."

Chief Yashan wrote the second line.

"The target is our civilization itself."

Then, his gaze fell upon the assessment report jointly produced by the think tank of the Strategic Intelligence Research Office.

"...Based on our civilization's experience encountering the 'Demonic Eye Catastrophe' thousands of years ago, we believe that there is no possibility of two unfamiliar civilizations coexisting peacefully in this universe.

Even if both civilizations are well-intentioned, they cannot coexist peacefully. Because one civilization cannot be certain whether the other civilization harbors ill will.

Once two unfamiliar civilizations meet, keeping a great distance from each other is a sign of good intentions. If one civilization actively approaches another, then it can be considered one hundred percent malicious.

In this situation, this advanced civilization fleet must know that their approach will be judged by us as malicious. And knowing that they will be judged as malicious yet still approaching, then they are truly malicious.

..."

Chief Yashan, with trembling hands, wrote the third line: "This advanced civilization fleet harbors ill will."

Combining these three lines, a very simple and direct conclusion appeared in his mind.

"This advanced civilization fleet, which we are completely unable to resist, harboring ill will towards our civilization itself, has entered our solar system..."

At this moment, he felt a surge of emotion churning in his chest, making him want to roar and question the unseen fate, asking why it was so unfair to their civilization?

First, the star prematurely aged, forcing the civilization to pay a huge price to move with their home planet, and now they are targeted by a malicious advanced civilization.

Where exactly is the way out for our civilization?

But he still suppressed his surging emotions once again.

He knew very clearly that venting emotions was meaningless. As Chief, what he should do, what he should think about at this moment, is how to lead the civilization to find that glimmer of hope in a desperate situation.

Meeting after meeting was held continuously, integrating opinions and wisdom from all sides, and a final response plan was finally produced.

Facing the weary-faced attendees, Chief Yashan spoke slowly and heavily: "Mobilizing the entire civilization's strength, fighting to the death rather than yielding, even if everyone dies in battle and none become prisoners, while this upholds our values, it has no practical significance.

We will only choose this path when all hope is completely extinguished. And this path itself can serve as a bargaining chip for us in negotiations with this advanced civilization fleet.

According to comprehensive calculations by departments such as the Ministry of Society and the Ministry of Science, our civilization needs to retain at least 10% of its population, which is about 20 billion people, in order to pass on the current technology and culture and preserve the spark of civilization.

And since the target of this fleet is our civilization itself, then...

Our response plan is to peacefully sacrifice 90% of the population, ensuring that these 90% cooperate with the fleet's management and accept any disposition, in exchange for the retention of 10% of the population and the continuation of the civilization.

Our bargaining chip is that if this fleet rejects this plan and insists on capturing our entire civilization, then... everyone will resist, fighting to the last person, leaving nothing for this advanced civilization.

This is the plan with the greatest hope for our civilization to continue."

The attendees were silent, not a single person stood up to object.

This plan is very much against the civilization's values, but... everyone knew that the civilization must first be able to continue before discussing values and such.

If the civilization is gone, what use are values?

"Before this civilization enters communication range, we should first complete the lottery procedure to determine who will be left behind and who will be subjected to the disposition of this advanced civilization.

Among them, technical personnel rated level 2 and above are exempt from the lottery and automatically retained. Then there are the following categories of personnel..."

He explained the execution plan for the lottery one by one, and finally, he said in a low voice, "My family and I... don't need to participate in the lottery. We'll just go and be prisoners."

The attendees each raised their heads, full of shock.

It is understandable that the Chief would set an example by giving up the lottery and becoming a prisoner, but...

"They enjoyed the convenience of me being Chief, so at this moment, they should also bear the responsibility."

Yashan said lightly, "Besides, if my family and I don't set an example, how can we expect the public to accept this plan? This is not the time to talk about principles or morality. Everything is about ensuring the smooth execution of the lottery."

The attendees were silent, and after a long time, one after another stood up.

"My family and I also give up the lottery and voluntarily become prisoners..."

...

Time flew by rapidly. Tom's fleet finally decelerated and maneuvered to a distance of only about half a light-year from the star, entering the range of electromagnetic wave communication.

"Ah, not having super-long-range communication terminals is troublesome. Even as a Gravity Civilization, I still have to rely on electromagnetic wave communication to interact with other civilizations."

There are no other means besides electromagnetic wave communication. Gravitational waves? Strong Nuclear Civilization has not yet mastered advanced gravitational wave communication technology. At most, they can only receive some very simple information through gravitational wave detectors, and they themselves cannot send gravitational waves to respond.

Tom was too lazy to go through such trouble, so he simply sent electromagnetic waves once he was within range.

However, before Tom could send a message, one had already arrived at his signal receiving equipment.

"Respected foreign civilization, we are the Tavira Civilization, who have lived and grown here for generations.

With deep reverence, we implore you, may you allow us to leave behind some seeds, so that our civilization may continue?

To this end, our civilization is willing to sacrifice 70% of our population to become your captives, to be disposed of as you see fit. Even if we become slaves, even if you use all of us for biological experiments, we will not have the slightest complaint.

Our civilization is timid, cowardly, and only hopes to survive. We are a weak civilization with no aggressive tendencies. We implore your mercy, we implore that you allow us to continue...

Submitted by Chief Yashan of the Tavira Civilization, and the entire civilization of 200 billion lambs awaiting slaughter."

Seeing this message, Tom was momentarily stunned, then reacted, a wry smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"This Tavira Civilization is quite sincere... Unfortunately, I already have over 100 billion sentient beings under my command to support. If I were to support you as well, it would be very difficult for me. It's better for you to be self-sufficient; don't rely on me."

Thinking this, Tom replied to this civilization that called itself Tavira.

"Respected Supreme Commander Yashan, you and your civilization have misunderstood.

My side is not a malicious civilization and has not come to capture your sentient beings.

Your star is sick, and I can cure this illness.

This is the purpose of my side's arrival.

Of course, my side also has a small request, but let's wait until I have finished the 'treatment' before discussing it."