Time travel to become the guardian AI of a lost civilization

Chapter 268 Countdown to Disaster

"...Recently, the unmanned probe spacecraft 'Seeker 210' carrying the yearning for the starry sky has successfully reached a position [-] billion kilometers away from us."

"Although the nuclear power battery it carries can only work for another 42 years, it can still maintain contact with us during this time, continuously sending back the scenery in space!"

"I believe that although this is a small step for our country, it will be a giant leap for the world!"

"..."

"—beep!"

The TV that was still broadcasting the news was suddenly turned off, which also caused dissatisfaction among viewers.

"Dad, what are you doing! You put an end to one of your son's great advances, and that's something the whole world should celebrate!"

Although the spectators were clamoring, seeing his father's gradually gloomy expression, he immediately ran back to his room without looking back.

I just heard him yelling "I think I still have homework to do!" Then even if I heard the sound of the door being locked, I don't know if I was really doing my homework inside.

Seeing his son's mischievous appearance, the father could only sigh helplessly, then turned his gaze to the newspaper on the table, and looked at the various news about "space exploration" on it, showing a serious expression.

He sat down at the table and began to flip through the pages of the newspaper, frowning from time to time because of the various celebratory reports on it.

"It's very good at concealing information... Even after so long, haven't you revealed the slightest clue?"

This person seemed to know some inside information. After reading those newspapers, he got up directly, left a note of "make dinner by yourself", and then put on his coat and hurried out.

On the street, as always, there were people rushing off work and students returning home from school. Among the crowd of "going back", he seemed a bit out of place as a retrograde.

But I saw him make a phone call, as if he was asking someone to meet, and then walked for a long time, and finally came to a hidden tavern.

And not long after he sat down, another person who was also wearing a coat came here in a hurry, and then sat directly in front of him.

"...Phew, teacher, you should know that my work is strictly confidential, and your identity is... quite special. For the sake of your students' future, can you stop looking for me?"

As soon as this person sat down, he was full of complaints, but from the words, it could be heard that they were actually very familiar.

The man called "teacher" didn't care about his tone, but said seriously:

"You shouldn't come, but you still say it, which shows that I, as a 'teacher', still has some weight in your heart."

"Of course, after all, you are a famous 'extraterrestrial civilization scientist' - planet-hustling scholar. If you have something to ask, students must naturally come."

A look of recalling the past flashed across the face of the man who hadn't used his name for a long time when he was called out, but he quickly became firm again.

I saw him directly said: "Just chatting, I must have something important to discuss with you. Ever since the Institute of Astronomy dismissed me, I have been brooding over that discovery."

"But 20 years have passed, and I haven't seen any relevant reports, nor have I heard any information. I want to know, does the institute really pay attention to the discovery I mentioned?"

The star star scholar's eyes were very hot, as if he must get the answer to this question, he stared at his students a little uncomfortable, so he had no choice but to admit:

"...In fact, your discovery did attract the attention of the entire institute at the beginning, and this matter even alarmed some important figures, making the people in the institute work overtime for a long time..."

"But you also know that the transmission of information takes time, since the institute took the initiative to reply—"

"——What!?" The planet-distorting scholar who heard this paragraph stood up suddenly, and his voice was even a little distorted because of the huge inconceivable.

"Before I left, didn't I repeatedly tell you not to reply to any messages, just to be a quiet listener?! Why should I reply to those 'alien civilization' messages?!"

The other people in the tavern all looked over because of the star-hustling scholar's strangeness, which also made him realize that he was too excited and had to sit down again.

But before he continued to ask, his student replied helplessly:
"This is the only clue to communicate with alien civilizations. Of course, it is impossible to give up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. No matter how you say it, the first contact is necessary, and this will affect our strategy..."

"Confused! Really confused!" The planet-disgusting scholar was full of grief, "How dare you assume that the other party must have come with good intentions? Our strength, our country, and our civilization are far from enough to deal with a space attack. !"

"...Teacher, calm down first, I know that you think your 'dark forest' theory is correct, and I also agree with your research, but you see, if the Institute wants to get more funds, it is natural to have Big enough finds..."

The student once again persuaded the star-wielding scholar, but the star-wielding scholar was already stamping on the spot in a hurry, and asked directly, regardless of the strange eyes of the people around him:
"When was your earliest response?"

"About 15 years ago? That's when you left, Teacher..."

However, after listening to the time, the Huo Xing scholar rushed home directly, and didn't hear what the student said at all.

On the way, he was still thinking in his mind: "The string of alien signals from about five light-years away was discovered by me 20 years ago, but it took another five years for the Astronomical Institute to choose to respond..."

"If the information transmission time is also counted as five years, then the blow should have come five years ago. Why didn't it? Is my theory wrong?"

"...No, no, it takes time to prepare weapons, the strike has not yet appeared, maybe I still have time..."

The planet-disgusting scholar ran back home, but failed to notice that some of those who were supposed to be off work seemed to have received some urgent news, and hurried back. The target was the unique landmark in the distance—the astronomical observatory.

But at this time, the people in the astronomical institute were in a mess, countless people were nervously calculating something, sweating all over their heads.

A staff member who had just been recalled urgently from off-duty was a little confused when he saw the situation, so he quickly caught one person and asked what was going on.

After hearing the reason, the staff member was also shocked into a cold sweat and joined the intense work.

Because he heard an incredible answer:
"The latest information sent back by 'Seeker [-]' shows that there is a light beam full of huge energy approaching, and the target is... our star!"

Also at this time, the "Seeker 210", which was advancing [-] billion kilometers away, was unfortunately hit by a thick beam of light, and disappeared in the light in an instant.

Countdown to disaster: 19 hours.

(End of this chapter)