Chapter 117: Relocation

Did the Solar System actually experience an ancient interstellar war? If so, what was the true scale of the conflict? Furthermore, were the Precursors and the civilization that built this alien vessel enemies?

These were the unsolved mysteries haunting Jason and the scientific team. Millions of years ago, humanity’s ancestors were still monkeys; there was absolutely no way any historical records of such an event could exist.

Jason felt that the team was being overly pessimistic. Trying to comprehend the motives of a highly advanced civilization using the limited mindset of a primitive one was like trying to peer through a dense fog.

Who could truly unravel the events of millions of years ago, unless they could reverse time or find definitive proof? For instance, if humanity could unearth another alien vessel, it would conclusively prove that an ancient interstellar war had indeed taken place.

What humanity needed right now was rapid technological advancement. Only by truly ascending to the level of an interstellar civilization and forging themselves into a formidable power could they hope to survive the vast, unforgiving universe.

Jason gazed silently out the window, wondering what would drive extraterrestrial civilizations to wage such wars. Was the universe truly a dark, predatory forest?

The boundless cosmos was certainly not a benevolent place. If the civilization that built this alien craft had encountered the Ark at its peak, they could have crushed humanity like insects. There would be no grand space battles, no tactical scheming, just a single volley of cannon fire to blow the Ark out of the sky.

Or worse, they could have simply enslaved the entire human race using telepathic domination!

Yet, even a civilization of that caliber had been defeated, perhaps entirely wiped out by another! How much stronger did their conquerors have to be? A thousand times? Ten thousand times? What was humanity compared to gods of that magnitude? Less than insects… mere bacteria?

The thought sent a genuine wave of fear through Jason. The New Human civilization had to grow stronger… much, much stronger!

…

Three days later, right on schedule, all exterior excavation equipment was retrieved. The Noah slowly lifted off the surface to relocate to their new coordinates on Mars: Mount Sharp.

Mount Sharp, located in the Martian Southern Hemisphere, was a region rich in resources. Old Earth’s Curiosity rover had previously confirmed substantial mineral deposits in the area.

The location was chosen for a very specific reason: it was half a planet away from the alien wreck. If anything unexpected happened, they would have ample time to react.

Furthermore, geologists hypothesized that subterranean liquid water or ice might exist beneath Mount Sharp, making it ideal for large-scale extraction! Water was the lifeblood of their survival.

Due to the Noah’s unique design and relatively low overall density, it could float in the thin upper atmosphere of Mars like a massive dirigible once its heavy anchors were disengaged. This made the relocation process remarkably smooth.

Four massive thrusters extended from the rear, slowly propelling the colossal vessel forward. The journey would take approximately twenty-four hours.

The move barely disrupted the daily lives of the citizens aboard. For them, it was just a change of scenery outside the viewports. Since all essential infrastructure was contained within the hull, the Ark remained their true and secure home.

As long as they were safe inside, moving across the planet was no big deal.

The administration had been completely transparent about the relocation, and the public overwhelmingly supported the decision. Everyone agreed: staying far away from that eerie alien wreck was the smart move.

Meanwhile, a grand celebration was underway to honor the safe return of the vanguard team! The science division was particularly enthusiastic, as the alien data and artifacts the team had recovered were absolutely priceless.

Over three thousand people had gathered in the Central Plaza, many of them Jason’s most fervent supporters.

Because of the relocation, a temporary holiday had been declared, giving the crew plenty of free time to join the festivities. More citizens were still streaming into the plaza.

People carried banners and colorful flags. Though they weren’t fully unfurled yet, they were clearly meant for the celebration.

Inside, Austin was briefing Jason on the events of the past few days. “…Let me give you a rundown of what you missed while you were out.”

“For the first few days after your team returned, everything aboard the Noah was normal. But once rumors leaked that you were in a coma and might end up brain-dead, things got a bit chaotic.”

“First, general morale and productivity plummeted. A massive wave of people requested personal leave, claiming they couldn’t focus and needed time to pray for your recovery. The error rate in critical sectors spiked dangerously, almost causing several severe accidents.”

“Public order also deteriorated. We even had a mob try to breach the medical bay just to verify your condition. Security had to step in, and we ended up arresting quite a few people.”

“…What happened to them afterward?” Jason asked, scratching his head. He had severely underestimated his influence over the populace. In reality, he operated as a de facto dictator, but it was a rule born entirely out of the people’s love and unwavering support.

He was irreplaceable to them. If anyone else had tried to wield this level of absolute authority, the public would have never accepted it.

Austin sighed in irritation. “We only held them in holding cells for twelve hours, gave them a stern lecture, and let them go. What else could we do?”

Jason remained silent. It seemed the cult of personality surrounding him aboard the Noah was rapidly escalating.

He had previously discussed this issue with Professor Sean. However, Sean believed that given humanity’s precarious situation, a strong-man autocratic system was far superior to a fractured democracy. It guaranteed maximum cohesion and rapid mobilization. Therefore, the professor hadn’t offered any solutions to curb the hero-worship.

Still, Jason couldn’t shake the feeling that if left unchecked, their society would eventually morph into a ’New Human Empire’ rather than a ’New Human Republic.’

Well, he reasoned, it was an acceptable temporary measure. They could address the political structure later. For now, this extreme loyalty didn’t hinder their survival; in fact, it actively boosted morale and efficiency, so it wasn’t an immediate crisis.

Jason then asked, “Were there any malicious rumors or active disturbances?”

“Of course,” Austin replied. “With morale plummeting and everyone feeling like they’d lost their central pillar, a few opportunists crawled out of the woodwork. They started spreading the rumor that you were permanently brain-dead and would never wake up.”

“They tried to use the panic to rally for ’democracy’ and ’human rights’ again. But… the angry crowd ended up beating them to a pulp. The agitators actually had the nerve to call security for protection afterward.” Austin wore a disdainful, mocking smirk as he recounted the event.

Jason remained silent. Opportunists and overly ambitious politicians would always exist. It was one thing to be capable, but for incompetent fools to try and seize power during a crisis… they couldn’t blame him for being ruthless in return.

“Handle them your way,” Jason instructed. “Those who haven’t explicitly broken the law can be monitored, but anyone who crossed the line should be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent.”

Austin nodded. “The rumor-mongers are already in custody. But Jason, you can’t take risks like this anymore. The people rely on you. Without you… the Federation wouldn’t survive.”

Jason patted Austin’s shoulder reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Austin. I won’t die that easily. I’m practically a superhuman with a thousand-year lifespan, remember?”

He turned and walked out of the administration building. It was time to make a public appearance. He needed to calm the masses; after all, they had gathered here entirely out of concern for his well-being.

Stepping up to the podium, he addressed the crowd.

“Please rest assured, everyone! I am in perfect health.”

“Thank you all for your unwavering support. Our vanguard mission was a monumental success. We secured invaluable extraterrestrial technology from the wreck, discoveries that will undoubtedly propel humanity into a glorious new era!”

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