After stepping out of the portal, Chen Yu was greeted by the sight of cold and deep space.
Beneath his feet, Earth's blue fluorescence flickered.
Above him, the dazzling sun shone brightly.
Standing at the intersection of three "worlds," Chen Yu listened to the echoing sounds in his ears, and a sense of loneliness and desolation welled up in his heart.
When he shifted his gaze to the Cygnus constellation in the Milky Way, the loneliness and desolation he felt inevitably turned into horror.
There it was.
Just 1,400 light-years away from Earth, there was an intelligent civilization whose technology far surpassed that of mankind by more than 2,000 years...
Were they watching this place as well?
Or... had they already been here?
Taking a deep breath, Chen Yu stopped letting his thoughts run wild. He then faced the camera, pointed at the Cygnus constellation, and explained, "That thing extending in the shape of a cross is the Cygnus constellation.
There are 191 stars with a visual magnitude of 6 and 22 stars with a visual magnitude of 4 in the constellation!
Hence, during summer, even if the Milky Way is bright, one can still discover the Cygnus constellation at a glance.
"Meanwhile, the star we are going to observe now is KIC.
8462852 stars, which is Tabby's Star, are located around the Cygnus' neck. "
After saying so, Chen Yu picked up the white delivery box and had it spin in space.
Afterward, he grabbed the tape and tore it.
Tear! Chen Yu began dubbing.
Without the restraint of gravity, the box's lid unfurled under the tape, revealing the round product inside.
Stretching out his hand, Chen Yu took out the orb and carefully observed it for a moment. He then displayed it to the camera and said, "This is the Hubble Space Telescope that was launched in 2105. It looks like a magnified version of a glass ball.
However, there is an instruction manual inside. Let me take a look first. "
After storing the tape and the empty box into the storage compartment on his back, Chen Yu carefully read through the electronic instruction manual. He then drew a cross on the ball.
The ball immediately lit up with a faint blue glow.
With the help of the instruction manual, Chen Yu completed all preparations and parameter settings before shooting. He then positioned the camera near the Cygnus constellation.
Afterward, the Hubble Telescope automatically adjusted its angle and aimed at Tabby's Star 1,400 light-years away.
"The way this telescope locates is very interesting.
To put it simply, its internal database contains a lot of pulsar coordinates. Based on the position of the pulsars around the observed star, it can aim at the target.
This positioning method is similar to the spaceship navigation system seen in sci-fi movies.
"I'll need at least half an hour to improve my accuracy, take pictures, and simulate photos.
In order to avoid wasting time, let's take this opportunity to do something. "
Pushing the engine forward, Chen Yu pointed down at Earth and said, "Clean up NASA's mess and stop those two Voyagers..."
[Voyager 2?]
[Smash it!]
[I'm glad to hear it.
(Eating melon)]
[I heard it flew out of the Solar System!
Can you stop them?]
[Bullshit!
You want to fly out in just a few decades?
Don't you think the solar system is too small?]
[NASA is stupid to launch such a dangerous thing into outer space. They're dragging the entire human race down with them.]
[It's not that serious. It'll probably be a hundred thousand years before we reach Proxima Centauri. It's hard to say if humans still exist.]
[The key is that the two discs above reveal too much information. If the aliens get their hands on them, they will be able to understand everything about humans.]
[What does it say?]
[CD: Is anyone there?
Come and play!]
[…]
[Impressive …]
"I think today's live broadcast is very meaningful."
While manipulating the Interstellar Portal, Chen Yu continued, "It allows us to know two things.
First, humans are not alone. It is normal for intelligent life to exist in the universe.
Second, intelligent civilizations may be densely distributed.
There might be a civilization with high technological strength no more than 1,400 light-years away.
In the Milky Way, 1,000 light-years is already a relatively close distance.
"As for lower life forms, there might be even more.
For example, our solar system has at least two planets with life.
Oh, by the way, most viewers should still be unaware of this matter. "
After establishing a spatial link with the Interstellar Portal, Chen Yu pointed toward Jupiter and said, "Previously, I caused a large fountain on Europa. Through the Chinese government's water sample test, it was confirmed that there are carbon-based single-celled organisms in the water.
There are also bacteria and viruses.
"This also proves that, so long as there is a suitable environment, organic macromolecules will form a specific DNA sequence, which in turn will give birth to life forms that we humans can understand.
"Originally, this information was not allowed to be leaked.
However, now that intelligent life has been discovered, there is no longer a need to keep this matter of lower life a secret. "
After saying so, Chen Yu activated the plasma engine and teleported through the Interstellar Portal. He then appeared in the deep space outside the solar wind layer and flew forward at full speed.
In the blink of an eye, he had left the metal arch far behind.
"There are a total of two Voyager probes, both of which were launched in 1977. I'll intercept the closer Voyager 2 first.
"According to the information I've gathered on NASA's official website, Voyager 2 is currently behind me.
However, why do I need to fly forward?
Because Voyager 1's current speed is extremely fast, reaching 17 kilometers per second.
If I want to intercept it successfully, I need to maintain a close relative speed with it. "
While interacting with the livestream rooms' nearly 50 million viewers, Chen Yu continued accelerating the plasma engine.
After a long time …
When Chen Yu's acceleration reached 16 kilometers per second, the silver Voyager 2 slowly "caught up" to him from behind.
"It's here!"
Turning around, Chen Yu looked at the horn-shaped probe. He then adjusted the probe's speed and angle through the helmet's smart system and slowly approached the probe.
"This is the legendary Voyager 2.
It will officially reach the solar wind's top layer in 2018 and enter the interstellar region that humans have never set foot in.
The so-called solar wind's top layer is the furthest distance that the solar wind can reach.
"However, this does not mean that Voyager 2 has rushed out of the solar system.
That's because the effective gravitational range of the solar system reaches the Oort Cloud. Only by reaching there can we be considered to have truly entered deep space. "
"At its current speed of 17 kilometers per second, it will take at least 30,000 years to fly."
"I'll say it again.
The universe is too big, so big that any civilization would feel despair. "
While Chen Yu was speaking, the relative speed between him and the probe successfully reached 0 meters per second. Immediately afterward, under everyone's gaze, Chen Yu rode on the metal frame supporting the antenna.
"Some friends might want to ask, since Voyager can only fly out of the solar system after 30,000 years, why is there a need to intercept it?"
Raising a finger, Chen Yu solemnly said, "Of course, it is necessary.
Because of caution and attitude. "
"We were able to take clear pictures of scenes 1,400 light years away in the 22nd century.
Who could guarantee that these two detectors would not be acquired by the alien civilization in ways beyond human imagination?
Since there's a possibility of being exposed, no matter how small the possibility is, it's still better than having zero chance of being exposed. "
"Although there are civilizations that have built such a large Galaxy Internet on Tabby's Star, proving that the extraterrestrial lifeforms have the desire to communicate in a friendly manner.
However, the existence of a highly aggressive and hostile civilization is inevitable. "
"It hasn't been easy for humans to struggle for survival until now. From now on, maintaining a cautious attitude toward the universe is a responsibility to our ancestors and descendants."