Chapter 266: The Formation of the Human Unity Front

Moon, Guanghan Palace Base.

It was originally only Longguo's lunar research outpost, but over the past three months it has swelled like a balloon into a comprehensive base covering five square kilometers.

And today, it will become the headquarters of the first interstellar defense organization in human history.

10 a. m., central dome hall of the base.

In the circular venue three hundred meters in diameter, 106 holographic seats float, representing the 106 member nations of the Human Deep‑Space Defense Council.

At the very center, the Longguo seat hovers on the chairman's platform; Feng Yan sits there, wearing a streamlined spacesuit, with the Human Survival Covenant badge pinned to his chest.

"All representatives, please be seated."

The voice travels via quantum communication network, relayed in real time to Blue Star, and simultaneously translated into each nation's language.

Seats light up one after another, with holographic projections of each nation's head of state or envoy appearing on the seats.

Old friends are present: President Mao Xiong Pu Jingnuofu and Saudi Crown Prince Sa Le Man.

New faces include: Acting Governor Zhongcun of Sakura Province (former Governor of Tokyo), Xin Ge, representative of White Elephant Province, and Wei Er Sen, representative of Washington Province (formerly Eagle Country).

There are also representatives of some small nations—some with total populations under one million—but today, their seats are as large as those of other countries.

That is the new rule: before an interstellar crisis, every civilization has an equal vote—at least in theory.

"First, I announce," Feng Yan brings up a holographic document, "the Human Deep‑Space Defense Council is officially established."

"According to the charter, Longguo will serve as the permanent chair nation; this is not a privilege, but a responsibility."

"We commit to devote 60% of our GDP, 80% of our research capacity, and the entire Heaven's Punishment Defense System to safeguarding the Solar System."

No applause from the audience, but every seat glows green to indicate approval.

"The council's first resolution: initiate Phase‑I of the Solar System Defense Net project."

Behind Feng Yan, the dome suddenly becomes a starfield projection, with a three‑dimensional model of the Solar System slowly rotating.

"The project is built in three layers; the inner layer, in Blue Star–Moon orbit, will deploy 1,008 Heaven's Punishment Laser Platforms to form an absolute defense ring."

On the model, low Earth orbit lights up with countless specks of light.

"The middle layer, in Mars orbit, will deploy twelve Sea‑Stabilizing Needles—gravitational perturbators—to slow the possible jump speed of alien vessels."

Twelve ring‑shaped space stations appear in Mars orbit.

"In the outermost layer, at Jupiter orbit, three Houyi experimental strategic weapon platforms will be deployed—our ultimate deterrent."

Beside Jupiter, three massive cross‑shaped structures slowly unfold.

"The total budget is nearly 50 trillion Long Coins," Feng Yan pauses, "to be shared by each nation proportionally to its GDP. Payment may be in currency, resources, or industrial capacity equivalents."

As soon as he finishes, a few small‑nation seats begin to flicker.

"Please speak."

The holographic projection of a president from a certain African small nation rises, speaking halting Chinese:

"Mr. Chairman, our national GDP is only 5 billion Long Coins… after the proportional share, we would need to contribute 50 million. Yet our annual national budget is just 200 million…"

Feng Yan nods, "Understood. Therefore the council has established a contribution conversion system; if monetary payment is impossible, resources, labor, or industrial capacity may be used instead."

He pulls up a table: "For example, your country's abundant manganese ore can be valued at 70% of market price. Or, if you have one hundred thousand young workers willing to help build the Moon Base, we can calculate at an interstellar construction allowance of 5,000 Long Coins per person per month."

The small‑nation president's eyes light up: "That works! We'll provide labor! Young people are desperate for jobs!"

"Very well," Feng Yan records in the system, "next."

"Mr. Chairman, regarding the technology‑sharing clause… will Longguo truly disclose all non‑core technologies?"

Feng Yan brings up a list: "Phase‑I public technologies include the full civilian mech design schematics, Xuanming‑2 fusion battery mass‑production process, and basic quantum computing algorithms."

"At zero hour tomorrow, these materials will be open‑sourced on the council's internal network."

A murmur ripples through the hall.

Zhongcun, seated for Sakura Province, suddenly speaks: "On behalf of Longguo's Sakura Province, we are willing to redirect 85% of our industrial capacity to the defense‑net construction. Additionally, one million youths have signed up for the deep‑space construction volunteer corps."

Xin Ge, envoy of White Elephant Province, quickly follows: "White Elephant Province can also provide five million laborers! We also have vast rare‑earth reserves!"

Mao Xiong President Pu Jingnuofu says calmly, "We can fully supply Siberian titanium ore and Arctic helium‑3. Moreover, our space launch site can be retrofitted to undertake assembly of Heaven's Punishment Platforms."

One after another, the nations begin to state their positions.

Because everyone understands this is a survival competition.

The more one contributes, the greater their voice in future human civilization.

Those who lag behind… may not even have a "future."

At 11 a. m., the charter and budget bill pass unanimously.

Feng Yan pulls up the final document: "Now, please all representatives sign the Human Survival Covenant."

A holographic signing panel rises before each seat.

The covenant is simple, containing only three articles:

Article One: Until the Harvesters' threat is neutralized, all internal human disputes shall be suspended. Violators may be met with any necessary measures by all council members.

Article Two: All member nations' industrial capacity, research strength, and resource reserves must give priority to the defense‑net construction needs.

Article Three: Any civilizational achievement—technology, culture, knowledge—shall be shared by all humanity in the face of crisis.

Pu Jingnuofu signs first, followed by Sa Le Man, then the other 103 representatives.

The moment the signatures are completed, the dome hall's lights suddenly dim.

In their place, a projection of the Milky Way's starfield appears.

"Everyone," Feng Yan says softly, "as of today, we are no longer isolated nations."

"We are a human civilization."

"And our goal—"

He points toward the depths of the starfield:

"... is to survive."

The meeting ended, but the livestream continued.

The screen switched to Earth, a certain middle school in Cherry Blossom Province.

In the history classroom, the young teacher Xiao Lin pointed at the signing scene on the holographic projection and said to the students:

"Students, this is what we will talk about today—the beginning of the era of great human unity."

"Teacher, how should we write about our past wars with Longguo in the history books?" a student raised his hand.

The classroom fell silent.

Xiao Lin pushed up his glasses and said calmly:

"Those wars were started by right-wing elements of the old era. They have been tried and purged."

"We—" he looked at the whole class, "we are citizens of Cherry Blossom Province in the new era, part of Longguo, and members of human civilization."

"So, history books will objectively record the past, but what we should focus on learning is how to avoid repeating past mistakes and how to contribute to humanity's survival."

"Teacher, what can we do?" another student asked.

"Study Chinese well." Xiao Lin smiled.

"Then study physics, engineering, and aerospace. When you grow up, you can work at the Moon Base, stand duty at Mars outposts, and even… participate in building interstellar spacecraft."

The students' eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"Of course." Xiao Lin called up the real-time image of the Moon Base, where huge engineering mechs were assembling the Heaven's Punishment Platform.

"See? There are currently three hundred engineers from Cherry Blossom Province working there."

He paused, then added:

"Remember, you are the next generation tasked with safeguarding human civilization."

Applause broke out in the classroom.

This clip of the teaching video was edited and spread, becoming one of the day's hottest videos.

Title: "A History Lesson That Changed Historical Views"

At 2 p. m., in the Dragon Chant control room.

Chen Guang stared at the data screen: "Within three hours after the signing, global defense contractors' conversion applications surged 1200%. Among them, companies from Cherry Blossom Province were the most active, applying to convert 90% of their capacity to produce Heaven's Punishment Platform components."

"How's the efficiency?" Feng Yan asked.

"It's already exceeded expectations." Chen You pointed out the chart, "The original estimate was three years to complete Phase 1 of the defense net; at this rate…… it could be done in two and a half years."

"What's causing the acceleration?"

"Countries are all competing with each other." Li Yang's hologram transmitted from the Moon Base.

"I just got back from the Guanghan Palace workshop—guess what? Engineers from White Elephant Province and Cherry Blossom Province are competing to see who can assemble the laser launcher faster and better."

Wang Hao laughed: "Can this even be competed?"

"Just a meal as the stake." Li Yang also laughed.

"The White Elephant Province team won, because they had more workers and ran three shifts nonstop. The Cherry Blossom Province team refused to accept defeat, saying they'd improve their automation process and have a rematch tomorrow."

Feng Yan nodded: "Healthy competition is a good thing."

Just as they were speaking, the alarm sounded.

Chen Guang's face changed: "Director, Torch Dragon‑3 has detected a new abnormal signal outside the Kuiper Belt."

He pulled up the spectrum: "It shares the same source as the previous fluctuation, but…… its intensity has increased by 300%."

"Exact location?"

"Outside Neptune's orbit, it's moving inward." Chen You plotted the trajectory, "According to this acceleration……"

He paused:

"The estimated time to reach the solar system's edge has been revised to: 3 years and 8 months."

That's three months earlier than before.

The control room fell into dead silence.

After a long while, Wang Hao whispered: "These aliens…… are they rushing to be reborn?"

"Maybe our movements drew their attention." Chen Guang speculated.

"The energy fluctuations of the Heaven's Punishment Platform base, the spatial disturbances from large‑scale industrial conversion…… to an advanced civilization these are like lighthouses in the night."

"So we're speeding up, and they are too." Feng Yan stood up, "Notify all member states."

"Speed up the defense net construction."

"We don't have three years and eight months."

"Maybe only…… two years, or one year—no one can say for sure."

After the order was issued, factory lights around the globe stayed on all night.

At the Moon Base, engineering mechs operate twenty‑four hours a day.

In Mars orbit, the first batch of modules for the Divine Sea‑Needle gravity disturbance devices are being assembled.

And on Blue Star, the world of ordinary people's lives……

seems unchanged.

In the evening, in Yunchan City, Lao Wu's barbecue stall.

Several regulars ate skewers while watching the news.

"So does that mean all of humanity has united now?" the bespectacled young man asked.

"They have united." Lao Wu turned the meat skewers with his mechanical arm.

"But I saw in the news that after the national representatives signed, the first thing they did was scramble to report their contributions—like grabbing discounted vegetables at a market."

"Normal." The middle‑aged uncle took a sip of beer, "If you don't show your worth now, once the crisis passes your status could be gone."

What can we ordinary people do?

Eat when you should eat, drink when you should drink, go to work on time, spend more. Lao Wu put the grilled skewers on a plate, "When the economy is good, taxes increase; when taxes increase, the defense network is built faster. This is contribution."

He paused, pointing at the huge laser cannon being assembled in the news footage:

Besides, if the day really comes when aliens attack——

All we ordinary people can believe in are these things.

Everyone looked up at the sky.

In the night sky, beside the moon, a new "star" was slowly moving.

That was the Heaven's Punishment-01 Platform that had just been assembled, now undergoing orbital adjustment.

Its laser emission array was aimed toward deep space.