Chapter 330: Intrigue in the Cosmos

After Du Qiu finished giving the orders, he still couldn’t shake his unease.

He had Star Ocean gather every piece of information and report on the meteor Oumuamua, spending considerable time reviewing each one.

Within these reports, two camps emerged. Most scientists believed it was a natural meteor; by calculating its trajectory, they deduced it had come from beyond our galaxy.

If so, it must have endured millennia of cosmic wear and gradually morphed into its current cigar-like shape — purely by chance.

A minority of scientists and several media outlets, however, argued that it was an alien probe, with some even simulating the vessel’s true appearance.

They pointed out that the object’s surface density, even greater than that of a meteor, was undeniable proof. Moreover, its sudden 90-degree turn while speeding out of the Solar System clearly signaled a reconnaissance mission by an alien civilization.

Du Qiu quickly ordered Star Ocean to simulate the meteor’s trajectory. The results sent a chill down his spine.

The entire flight path was something no natural meteor could ever achieve—this was undoubtedly an artificial craft.

Coupled with the bright spot detected three light years from the Solar System, Du Qiu had preliminarily concluded that an alien civilization had discovered our intelligent life.

Thus, they had dispatched a reconnaissance probe into the Solar System.

Therefore, the Pteranodon Formation must catch up with that probe and bring it back; only then could they truly know both themselves and the enemy.

Without knowing where this alien civilization came from or its level of advancement, Du Qiu wouldn’t be able to devise an effective defense strategy.

If their civilization is above Level 4, it would be best to abandon the Solar System immediately.

But if they are Level 3 or below, proactive defense measures should be taken to delay their advance—buying time to construct more space warships.

Although the probe’s current speed suggests the civilization might not exceed Level 3, a probe disguised as a meteor certainly can’t fly too fast; its speed can’t be the standard by which to gauge their technological level.

“Star Ocean, notify the Astronomy Institute to redirect all our space telescopes toward Serpens! I recall a star about 5.963 light years away—perhaps there’s an alien civilization in that system.”

Du Qiu studied the star map surrounding the Solar System as he issued the command to Star Ocean.

The bright spot discovered by Professor Weitman’s research team lay exactly midway between the Solar System and the star system known as Barnard’s Star, named by experienced Earth astronomers.

If we assume the bright spot belongs to an alien fleet, the only star systems around that vast emptiness—aside from Barnard’s—is our own Solar System, making it highly probable that the civilization hails from the Barnard system.

Currently, Du Qiu personally controls the armed forces of Dream Technology, most of which consist of intelligent robots.

Although he had already begun recruiting military talent, he hadn’t granted them extensive authority.

Due to China’s strict management of military personnel, it was nearly impossible for Du Qiu to obtain such experts from within China.

It was ‘nearly’ because he had managed to recruit a few overseas; most of these individuals had retired and come over after their declassification period.

Undergoing declassification meant that these people were either from non-sensitive military branches or not high-ranking officers, resulting in a short declassification period.

Although Dream Technology was a company Du Qiu built overseas, he had always intentionally prioritized recruiting ethnic Chinese, ensuring they comprised a large portion of the team.

Later, many were transferred from Dream Technology, leading to a company dominated by Chinese personnel.

While Du Qiu does not discriminate against other ethnicities, being Chinese himself, he naturally favored recruiting fellow Chinese—it’s just human nature.

The United States’ GIA had targeted Dream Technology and Du Qiu partly because the company’s workforce was so overwhelmingly Chinese.

Even without Du Qiu, the United States would have imposed various sanctions and strikes on a high-tech company dominated by ethnic Chinese and operating independently.

Although the initial armed forces didn’t have a Chinese majority, Du Qiu had already ramped up his recruitment efforts for Chinese personnel.

Fortunately, with vast numbers of overseas Chinese around the globe, Dream Technology’s current appeal made attracting young military enthusiasts relatively easy.

With this global recruitment drive, the newly established Defense Department had been quickly filled with Chinese recruits.

Song Yuanting was among them. He had once served as a lieutenant colonel in China’s military and worked as an advisor for the Tanga Federation’s national defense army before, due to personal reasons, rejoining the Tanga Federation after retirement.

When Du Qiu established Iron Guard Security, he recruited Song Yuanting from the Tanga Federation’s national defense army. Over the years, Song gradually earned Du Qiu’s trust.

With the construction of the command center, Song became an integral part of Dream Technology’s armed forces, ultimately being appointed as the new head of the Defense Department.

The Defense Department head’s office was on the same floor as the Heaven Realm command center hall. Song’s idea was simple: in any emergency, he could immediately access the command hall, get firsthand information, and respond at once.

As Song Yuanting took charge of the Defense Department, he was exposed to more of Dream Technology’s military innovations—many of which had upended traditional military theories.

For instance, in the face of the Pteranodon Aerospace Fighter, Earth’s naval supremacy was nothing more than a joke.

At just 48, Song Yuanting was in his prime, and his appointment underscored his status as one of the earliest military personnel to join Dream Technology.

However, while he was Chinese, his few deputies were Westerners.

Thus, he constantly pushed himself to learn more, insisting every Defense Department soldier do the same.

Du Qiu had once told him that the Defense Department’s target wasn’t the nations on Earth, but the intelligent civilizations beyond the Solar System.

Consequently, a full-scale holographic projection of the Solar System continuously adorned his office, where he devised strategies to build an effective defense system.

A pleasant chime broke the silence. “Minister Song, the boss wants to start a videoconference.”

Song Yuanting looked up and said, “Connect him.”

In an instant, Du Qiu’s projection appeared before Song.

“Boss.”

“Minister Song, the Defense Department is preparing to enter Level 1 war readiness!”

Clearly surprised, Song asked, “Boss, what happened?”

Du Qiu recounted the details of meteor Oumuamua and the bright spot three light years away, along with his own deductions.

“Boss, if they truly are a fleet, how long before they reach the Solar System?”

Du Qiu shook his head. “We can’t yet determine if the bright spot is moving, or how fast. The Defense Department must prepare now and be ready for battle.”

“Yes, boss,” Song replied, adding, “The Defense Department’s new space warship unit has already started live training. I’ll accelerate their move into combat exercises.”

He continued, “Moreover, our fortress troops on the Moon have taken over the ultra-long-range particle cannon defense system. Although they’ve conducted numerous simulation drills, they’ve never executed live-fire exercises.”

“The soldiers still don’t know the true destructive power of the ultra-long-range particle cannon defense system.”

Du Qiu reacted in surprise, “Aren’t there any effective responses in the simulation?”

“Uh, the soldiers assumed it was just a simulation—not real effects.”

Song admitted as much in his heart.

The ultra-long-range particle cannon defense system can reach up to 50 million kilometers and shatter a 20-kilometer asteroid with a single shot.

Of course, these figures came from the simulation system.

Du Qiu looked at Song Yuanting and asked, “Minister Song, do you share my view?”