Rebirth of the Super Battleship-Chapter 545: The Escape Committee
This was truly an ironic matter for the Pegasus Civilization, especially for its current leadership. Only now did the new leader experience the former leader’s pain and helplessness.
If one did not hold high office, if one did not look at things from this height, it was hard to perceive this point. When the life and death of an entire civilization rested on one person, choosing reason or choosing emotion became a very difficult matter. The current leader knew that no matter what choice he made, if the Pegasus Civilization still had a future and could continue on, he would become a figure full of controversy.
“I do not know what to do either.” At this moment, a voice full of bitterness sounded in the conference room. This person was the most morally exalted figure remaining in the Pegasus Civilization and enjoyed immense prestige among the people. With a bitter face he said, “Rationally speaking, for the survival of the civilization, we should make the same choice as the former leader, abandoning low-value citizens and selecting high-value outstanding individuals. But I want to ask everyone a question.”
In the conference room, including the current leader, everyone turned their gaze to him. He paused, then continued, “I want to ask everyone, if we abandon the most basic value that all are born equal, and judge a person’s value purely by the level of knowledge he possesses, whether his personal ability is outstanding, and how much wealth he holds, then what value remains for our civilization to exist. Even if our civilization continues, our descendants will be ashamed of us. What need is there for our civilization to exist.”
“The former leader undoubtedly abandoned the most basic value that all are born equal. At that moment, our civilization had already died once. Now our civilization has been reborn in fire, yet another life-and-death crisis has come. This time, are we still to discard this most basic value.”
This person’s voice gradually rose. He said loudly, “I can now tell everyone what difference there is between us here and the former leader. It is that the former leader did not inherit our civilization’s spirit, while we have completely inherited our civilization’s spirit.”
The current leader’s expression grew increasingly solemn.
“I have decided.” the current leader said. “The escape will still proceed, but who is eligible to board the escaping ships will no longer be judged by social status and wealth and the like. Among the people of our Pegasus Civilization, whether the person is the supreme leader or the most humble commoner, everyone is equal. I have decided to establish the Escape Committee. The Escape Committee will arrange a drawing of lots in which the entire populace participates. Since everyone is equal, only this method can be used for selection. Whoever the system selects will have the qualification to escape.”
“The Escape Committee will lead all affairs of our civilization during the escape. All drawings will be organized by the Escape Committee. Anyone may apply to join the Escape Committee. However, becoming a member of the Escape Committee will be deemed a voluntary renunciation of the qualification to escape.” The current leader paused and said, “I apply to join the Escape Committee.”
Joining the Escape Committee would be deemed the renunciation of the qualification to escape, making one ineligible to participate in the drawing. The current leader proposed establishing the Escape Committee and was the first to apply to join it.
After a moment of silence, the military leader said, “I also apply to join the Escape Committee.”
The internal security leader said, “I apply to join the Escape Committee.”
The commercial leader said, “I apply to join the Escape Committee.”
Next came the social organizations leader, the industrial leader, the representative of the scientists…
All the attendees made the same request. “I apply to join the Escape Committee.”
Everyone renounced their own qualification to escape.
“Very good, very good.” The current leader nodded and said, “Then I hereby announce that the Escape Committee is established. Shortly I will hold a press conference to inform all the people of our Pegasus Civilization of this news and our decision. I believe our people will withstand this test and make the right choice. In this way, our descendants will also be proud of us. Though we will die, the spirit of our civilization will be passed down forever.”
“Our civilization has perished once already. It must not be destroyed in our hands again, it must not.”
Three days later, the press conference was held as scheduled. All members of the Escape Committee appeared on camera. Their video and audio messages would be transmitted through the far-reaching communications network to every corner of the Pegasus Civilization. Whether in cities or villages, on planets or in space, soldiers or civilians, all would see the live broadcast of this press conference.
“I have an important message to tell everyone.” The current leader’s gaze was calm and gentle, and all the citizens waiting at the receiving end felt the leader’s state of mind. “This message is very important. It concerns the future of our civilization. Before broadcasting this message, I hope everyone can first consider a question, namely, what is the foundation of our civilization’s existence, and what is our most important value.”
After a brief pause, the leader continued, “Three days ago, one of our long-range research ships reported to me a very bad piece of news. This long-range research ship discovered a very powerful existence approaching our capital star system at a speed exceeding one hundred times the speed of light. After querying the data, we confirmed that this unknown existence is the Arboreal Race alien beast, one of the three great alien beasts in our Milky Way Galaxy.”
“Everyone may not yet know what kind of existence an alien beast is. I can now tell you that alien beasts are a special kind of lifeform. They usually possess extremely powerful physical qualities. They develop only themselves and do not develop technology. They are entirely different from technological civilizations. Alien Beast Civilizations have the same stratification method as Technological Civilizations, and the Arboreal Race alien beast is a Level 6 alien beast. In other words, our civilization cannot be a match for the Arboreal Race alien beast, not even with the combined power of our whole civilization. Now, this Level 6 alien beast has already shown sufficient hostility toward us. All the devices with which we tried to make contact were decisively destroyed by it. Therefore, we have ample reason to believe that this creature has come to destroy our civilization.”
Countless hearts tightened, and some with fragile nerves began to weep in despair. Yet everyone still sat before the receivers and watched the leader’s speech.
“This creature will reach our star system in about eight months. Therefore, within these eight months we must take some countermeasures. Resistance is impossible. We cannot be a match for a Level 6 alien beast. Then, for the continuation of the civilization, only one path remains to us, escape.”
At this point, the leader sighed slightly.
“However, there is one thing I must tell everyone. At present, the total carrying capacity of all ships in our Pegasus Civilization can allow only one third of our current population to escape.”
“Our former leader has only just betrayed our civilization, leading away the essence of our civilization. We have only just pronounced judgment on the former leader’s crimes, and now we are compelled to make the same choice. This reality is truly ironic for us. However, we do not intend to repeat the former leader’s mistakes. We will make a different choice, because I believe that the most basic value that everyone is born equal has always been the code of conduct for the majority in our civilization. Whether the supreme leader of the civilization or the most ordinary commoner, our value is equal.”
“We cannot judge a person’s value by the height of his ability, the level of knowledge he possesses, or the amount of wealth he holds. This contradicts our most basic values. We must not commit the same error as the former leader. If we betray the spirit of our civilization, then what necessity is there for our civilization to continue to exist.”
“On this basis, I announce the establishment of the Escape Committee. The Escape Committee will organize a drawing of lots for the entire populace and will be responsible for overseeing whether the event is fair and just. Anyone may apply to join the Escape Committee to organize and supervise the drawing. At the same time, anyone joining the Escape Committee will be regarded as having forfeited the qualification to participate in the drawing. Here, I can tell everyone that I, and those seated beside me, have all joined the Escape Committee and have all given up the qualification to survive.”
“I believe the people of our Pegasus Civilization will resolutely adhere to the moral bottom line in their hearts and uphold the most basic value that everyone is born equal. This is also the most important difference between us and the former leader. In fact, is this not the most important factor in the continued existence of our civilization? Even if we face death, our descendants will be proud of us, because we have upheld the faith in our hearts. If we lose this faith, our civilization loses the necessity to continue to exist.”
“Here, I announce that the Escape Committee will begin accepting applications. One month from now, the drawing of lots for the entire populace will officially begin. This event will last for one month. Preparations for the escape will also continue for one month. Three months from now, the escape will officially begin.”
“At the same time, I again announce that the judgment of crimes against civilization pronounced by the Supreme Tribunal upon the former leader remains unchanged.”
