As Jupiter's energy torrent penetrates Saturn's rings through the Rainbridge device, thirty-six anti-gravity platforms are tearing open the thick orange-yellow fog on the methane ocean of Titan.
The engineers of the Red Dragon Association stood on the floating command ship, watching the outline of the base gradually formed in the holographic sand table - a huge super-sea city composed of a dodeca-shaped honeycomb structure, each unit flashed with the unique blue light of quantum corals, an absolute wonder.
"Start the anchoring protocol!"
As Wang Tong issued an order on the communication channel, a liquid metal ball with a diameter of kilometer fell straight from the bottom of the anti-gravity platform.
These nanomechanical groups containing blue star genes boiled at the moment when they contacted the methane ocean, stretched their tentacles like silver jellyfish, and built a permanent foundation in the blink of an eye among liquid alkanes at more than 100 degrees Celsius below zero.
Its speed was so fast that everyone who saw it was amazed.
"Do you know why you choose Titan?"
Zhou Chenshen's holographic image rose from the crystallization foundation, and the data flow behind him showed real-time conversion rate. "The methane reserves here are millions of times that proven by the earth in the 21st century - of course, we don't burn fuel now, this is just a metaphor."
The suspension ship suddenly lowered its sampling arm and scooped up a scoop of silver mucus. These nanomechanicals transformed by quantum corals are frantically swallowing methane. Wang Tong's detector shows that the mucus composition has become a complex of graphene and carbon nanotubes.
"Each cubic meter of liquid methane can convert three tons of building materials."
He knocked on the sampling spoon that suddenly solidified into metal plates, "In seven hours, the first carbon spire will grow here."
Zhou Chenshen nodded: "This technology is really good, at least it has achieved the integration of use."
"How long will the whole process last?"
"It can be done before I return to Earth."
"That is to say, less than half a month?"
"Yes."
Wang Tong nodded, threw the sampling spoon into the recycling trough in front, and said deeply to Zhou Chen in the holographic projection state: "I will report the suggestion with all my strength after I go back. At that time, I must replace all of our people with intelligent equipment... It's so painful. I heard a few days ago that the observation prospector at one of the survey stations was crazy, and I don't know if it's true."
"It's not crazy, it's just a psychological problem."
Zhou Chenshen spoke to Wang Tong, "You and I are old classmates. You are aware of the situation when you graduated from the training class together. Now you don't use smart equipment because the first batch of problems are because there are many problems with smart machinery that cannot accurately figure out what the situation is."
"But I can tell you clearly that the association is indeed concerned about this matter. Vice President Chen mentioned this matter when he held a meeting of representatives of all developers before. The news he gave was that there was a special research team responsible for the transformation of relevant intelligent machinery. Jupiter's exclusive intelligent machinery equipment is expected to be released in just a few months."
"Then the relationship is good."
Wang Tong nodded, "I hope I can really install it before I leave."
"Prepare to start our grand journey!"
He spoke to Zhou Chen deeply, "The spire has begun to form."
While Earth scientists were still arguing about the "ethics of interstellar development", twelve minars as high as kilometers had risen from the methane sea.
The tower is covered with structures similar to fish gill fissures, which are converting the dense atmosphere of Titan into a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen gas - this is the ecological imprint of the Red Dragon Association, a steel forest that breathes with mechanical gills.
"Warning!"
"Be careful of shock waves!"
Amid the alarm of the Yanhuang system, the group of suspended ships quickly ascended into the stratosphere.
In the center of the forming base below, the hexagonal anti-gravity device ejects a force field in the twisted space, forcibly increasing the Titan's gravity from 14% of the earth to standard gravity in a short period of time.
Wang Tong held the railing that suddenly recovered gravity and looked at the data jumping on the hologram screen: "Do you know how many interstellar warships we have dismantled?"
He pointed to the unfolding dome structure, "These anti-gravity engines were originally prepared for the large fleet of Dyson's balls next - but now they are going to create the first alien sky of mankind here."
When the dome was closed, a miracle happened - the thick orange fog was decomposed by the quantum filter membrane, and the Titan's starry sky was clearly visible for the first time.
What is even more shocking is the ecological ball floating in the center of the dome. It is a three-dimensional farm constructed of blue starfish corals that is cultivating genetically modified crops. The root system directly penetrates the carbon soil transformed from methane. In the future, it will grow on this soil while transforming everything at the moment.
"This is not an ordinary offshore platform."
Zhou Chenshen's holographic image suddenly appeared at the top of a spire, and a streamlined metal hill was bulging under his feet.
When the outer armor plate flips like scales, the dense array of plasma cannons below exposed, "Each unit of the Titan base can be reorganized into a star warship within 24 hours."
As if to prove this sentence, the suspended ship in front of Wang Tong suddenly disintegrated into countless hexagonal modules. These metal sheets shining with the blue light of quantum coral were re-stitched on the methane sea, and instantly turned into a three-kilometer-long spindle warship.
The ring structure of the ship's first opened was siphoning liquid methane, and the dark blue flames ejected from the tail made strange trails in the thick atmosphere.
"Do you still remember that gas station of Jupiter?"
Zhou Chenshen's voice came from inside the warship, "The Titan base can replenish 100,000 such warships every hour - but we need it more now to prove that humans can plant roses in the harshest environment of the Milky Way."
...
When Wang Tong was riding the "Guiyan" through the orbit of Mars, he saw the blue and white outline of the earth through the porthole - there were twelve space gardens made of quantum corals floating there, like emerald necklaces dotted around the parent star.
The six-month Jupiter survey career made the 37-year-old engineer's sideburns stained with stardust silvery white.
In the headquarters of the Red Dragon Association, in the auditorium of Shangdu, Chen Lin stood in front of the holographic star map, and there was a real-time image of the Titan Base floating behind him.
When Wang Tong and other twenty-four rotation engineers walked into the venue, a light golden rain suddenly dropped from the dome, and a coat of honor appeared on each of his uniforms in the form of Jupiter's red spots.
"You have planted an oxygen forest in methane sea at minus 179 degrees Celsius."
Chen Lin's voice was filled with a rare warmth. He pointed his finger and a medal with liquid metal floated in front of everyone. "This is the special medal of the 'Star Pioneer'. Its material is the same as the Jupiter spire you built - the same record of the entropy reduction process of human civilization every minute and every second. It is awarded to you today to prove your courage and honor."
The moment Wang Tong touched the medal, he suddenly saw his six-month work log flashing in it - the first time he activated the quantum coral anchor, repaired the dome torn by hurricane methane, and even the diary written by the collapsed late at night at the survey station.
The voice of the Yanhuang system came from the medal: "Thank you for every courage you reserved for mankind." The twenty-four on-duty personnel, including Wang Tong, suddenly raised their hands to salute Chen Lin, and then they saluted to everyone under the auditorium, and roaring applause sounded.
The star map behind Chen Lin broke into thousands of hexagonal modules under his wave, forming a holographic model of the Jupiter ice survey station.
"In thirty hours, the first batch of Canglong-level intelligent equipment will arrive in Europa."
He waved his hand to call out the parameter interface, showing highly anthropomorphic mechanical bodies - those bodies with quantum coral veins that could simulate human intuitive reactions in extreme environments.
"They don't need to breathe, but they pretend to breathe to understand your work pressure; they don't need to eat, but they can taste methane smoothies to optimize resource conversion rates."
Chen Lin's humor made everyone chuckled, but made Wang Tong's eyes heat up - only those who really survived day and night under the ice layer could understand the weight of these design details.
Now the association really listens to their needs, which means that at least he doesn't need to continue to suffer under the Jupiter ice radius in the next six months.
After the award ceremony, Chen Lin left Wang Tong alone.
The two passed through the transparent bridge on the top of the headquarters. Chen Lin waved his hand, and the holographic projection immediately changed the entire office to the interstellar style. At this time, directly below them was the expanded lunar dock, and tens of thousands of mining ships equipped with Dyson Cloud technology swam into the deep space like silver fish.
Wang Tong was slightly stunned when he saw this scene. He didn't know what Chen Lin's meaning was.
"Look at this."
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Chen Lin took something out from the table beside him and handed it to Wang Tong. He noticed that it was a sealed test tube, which was full of dark red roses cultivated in Titans. Each texture of the petals was woven by carbon nanotubes, and a micronuclear fusion light source was jumping at the stamens.
"This is the first rose blooming in the Titan Dome."
Chen Lin's fingers stroked the surface of the test tube, and the nuclear fusion light source reflected his pupils into amber. "It uses Jupiter's thunder to power, and uses methane as nutrients - but most importantly, the gene encoding of twenty-four engineers flows in its rhizomes."
Wang Tong suddenly found that the inside of the petal was engraved with micro-carved words. Under the illumination of the fusion light source, he saw his name and Zhou Chenshen in the center of the stamen.
"Your creativity that you burst out in extreme environments is more precious than any quantum coral."
Chen Lin's voice was low and powerful, "The Red Dragon Association needs a fire like you. At that time, I hope you will be the chief engineer of the dome plan of the Mercury Lava Base."
"Ah me?"
Wang Tong was stunned for a moment. He didn't expect that Chen Lin was called here alone for this matter.
Chen Lin waved his hand to bring up a holographic projection. On the hot Mercury surface, quantum corals were building a honeycomb city in magma.
"Next, your salary will be upgraded to S-level, permanent residence at the Mars base, and a three-month deep space recuperation holiday every year..."
With Chen Lin's words, Wang Tong's medal continued to refresh the welfare list, "But compared to these, I believe you care more about this--"
The projection suddenly switched to the intelligent armed fleet cruising on the Kuiper belt, and the shells of each warship were printed with Jupiter's red mark.
"I have read the smart machine protocol you proposed before. It is well written. It has now been written into the core code of Yanhuang. All 'Canglong'-level smart machine will abide by the human emotional simulation guidelines."
Chen Lin pointed to the silver giant ship in the center of the fleet, "This 'Wang Tong' named after you will take the Titan's gene bank to Centauri."
Wang Tong's fingertips were trembling slightly. He heard that the vice president of the association was continuing to speak at this time - "Do you have any difficulties when you set off for Mercury in three months?"
"No...no!"
"Finish the task resolutely!"
Chen Lin pressed his shoulder and warmth came from his palm: "During this period, we went to the Antarctic Gene Bank to check out - we extracted the epidermal cells that you had fallen off at the survey station in the past six months, and helped you freeze twenty groups of healthy embryos."
"If something happens when the time comes, there is a saying, right?"
"I understand..."
...
That night, Wang Tong stood on the observatory of the starship dock in Shangdu, watching the blue light of thirty intelligent transport ships passing through the starry sky.
The medal on his chest suddenly projected Zhou Chenshen's figure: "Old classmate, the quantum corals you left in Titan have just completed mutations. They can now compose the gravitational wave score corresponding to human emotional fluctuations - do you want to listen to the 'Starry Symphony' of the night you collapsed?"
"Take it down..."
Wang Tong didn't know what to say for a moment. He was silent for a few seconds before asking Zhou Chenshen: "I want to ask you some things."
When the East was white, Wang Tong signed an electronic signature on the welfare list.
The last line of flashing golden terms came to your eyes: "Activate after signing the franchise qualification and can be activated freely."
This "franchise qualification" is relatively unfamiliar to Wang Tong. Zhou Chenshen did not mention any relevant content to himself last night. Wang Tong was a little troubled at this time.
"What does this authority qualification refer to?"
The staff in charge of connecting with him also smiled and said, "Mr. Wang, you need to inquire about the specific authority, but I can give you some information - generally such authority qualifications refer to the content on the fleet."
"So that's it..."
Wang Tong instantly understood what was going on. Love is a licensing qualification, which refers to something he can only use on the Mercury Fleet in three months. In this way, it is not enough to use it for the time being.
"Please trouble you."
He nodded slightly to the staff in front of him, who waved his hand at him with a smile, turned around and left with the contract.
"I don't seem to have anything to do next..."
Wang Tong said to himself, and Yanhuang artificial intelligence turned into a holographic projection and appeared beside him. After introducing himself, Wang Tong was still quite surprised by the priority of this artificial intelligence - this thing can be seen almost everywhere and can be projected holographically anytime and anywhere, which is almost unlikely for the previous Fuxi AI.
The times are really improving...(This chapter ends)