85: Chapter 5 The Rama Project 85: Chapter 5 The Rama Project A visa is an annotation or stamp from the sovereign authority of one country on the passport or other travel documents of its own or foreign citizens, indicating permission for them to enter, exit or pass through the borders of that country, or can be considered a type of endorsed proof issued to them.

Only the entry and exit management authority of a country can stamp a visa onto the passport of a citizen from another nation.

Such entry and exit management authorities include, but are not limited to, foreign consulates, border checks, and immigration offices.

Given that Xiang Shan’s passport was obtained in Beiping, it can be basically assumed that the Republic had already notified the embassies of those countries when producing these passports.

In other words, the Federation was aware of and acknowledged their arrival here.

Jing Hongtu glanced at Xiang Shan with approval, nodded slightly, then continued to walk forward to Professor Zhou, grabbing him and whispering something.

Jing Hongtu belonged to the group of academics, the eldest among them, and being a member of the academic division, he held a respectable status.

Even though he was not from the same field, Professor Zhou was somewhat willing to heed his advice.

Liu looked at Xiang Shan with a mix of surprise and skepticism before laughing and saying, “I hadn’t realized it, but you’ve got quite the demeanor of a general, calm in the face of danger.”

“Far from it”, Xiang Shan shook his head.

He knew it wasn’t because he had a particularly good psychological quality; it was because he had been sleeping just now and hadn’t seen with his own eyes the standoff between the aircraft carrier fleets.

While those frightened scholars had let “fear” plunge their thoughts into the Abyss, he hadn’t quite woken up yet.

Therefore, he lacked the direct sensation associated with the incident and hadn’t been under the influence of that panic-stricken atmosphere, which allowed him to look at the facts more objectively.

“But no matter what, we cannot be too optimistic”, Liu sighed.

“I don’t think those two fleets looked like they were on a friendly joint mission.

They might still end up fighting.

I remember before we left, they said that if we thought the project lacked practical significance, we could exit at any time as long as we obeyed the confidentiality agreement…”

The current situation was tense, and it wasn’t just talk.

The two fleets converted something from the news into a sort of tangible force, heavily pressing down on everyone’s chests.

“Since we’ve come all this way…” Xiang Shan smiled and said, “It hasn’t been easy…”

“And now you still have the mood for making strange comments…” Liu shook his head.

At this time, the oldest cadre among the group stood up.

He raised his hand, waved towards the scholars, and said, “Esteemed Professors…

Comrades!

Please hear me out for a moment.”

This cadre seemed to possess a unique ability, his voice might not be “brimming” with vigor, but it was loud enough to quell the scholars’ discussion.

The cadre spoke, “I know, comrades, that all of you have doubts in your hearts after seeing the spectacle just now.

However, when we gathered you to participate in this project, it was by no means to deceive you into facing death.

This point, please do not question—after all, every one of you present is a mainstay in their respective field in the Republic.

We would never risk your lives recklessly.”

“The specifics of this project, at the current time, we still do not have the authority to reveal any information.

I, too, do not understand why this is, or perhaps this decision is not entirely reasonable.

But it is the result of multiple countries’ consultations.”

“Of course, I’m not denying that the project has its dangers.

A conflict certainly could arise.

However, I also ask everyone to rest assured—no matter what happens, the warriors of the Republic will make their utmost effort to ensure your safe return!”

The words of the old cadre had somewhat of an effect.

Everybody quieted down.

Professor Zhou, Commissioner Jing, and the other scholars returned to their seats.

The plane continued forward.

But soon, a great commotion once again shattered their calm.

On both sides, fighter jets closed in.

Xiang Shan could see through the aircraft windows that an F-35C was decelerating to fly parallel and abreast with them.

Judging by the sound, there might be another fighter jet on the other side.

A fighter jet with good aerodynamic design, when it appears in a picture, is a piece of art forged from industrial aesthetics.

But when it hovers beside you, potentially ready to open fire at any moment, your brain has no time to appreciate any kind of industrial beauty.

“Please stay calm, professors”, Secretary Hu once again stood up.

“They are just here to escort us!

They are merely escorting us!”

Despite these words, Officer Hu’s forehead was slightly sweaty.

In such moments, if someone on the front lines failed to restrain themselves and fired the first shot, then what would happen next would be anyone’s guess.

This sort of incident has not been without precedent in history.

Fortunately, the plane quickly entered the circling phase and then began to descend at a leisurely pace.

When details of the airport were visible, the fighter jets quickly increased altitude.

The aircraft then landed smoothly.

Everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Officer Hu stood up and addressed everyone, “We have now arrived in Indonesia.

There’s quite a difference in climate here compared to Beiping, with the highest temperature already above thirty degrees.

Before disembarking, professors may wish to change into the summer clothes prepared in advance.

We’ll disembark in an orderly fashion in ten minutes.”

Scholars were bustling to change their clothes, while the cadre members were already one step ahead, walking off the plane.

Under the plane, there were dozens of soldiers in military uniforms and wearing blue berets lined up to welcome them.

Standing at the front of the line was a number of officials, on the left side stood a military officer.

His right arm sported the United Nations flag, while his left arm carried the Federation flag.

Judging from the uniform, this officer originally belonged to the Federation Air Force.

He stepped forward and saluted the Republic representative, then extended his hand.

The senior cadre also reached out his hand.

The two hands thus clasped together.

“Welcome.

I am Commander Dan Evans of the United Nations ‘Rama Special Project’ defense forces,” the officer said with a smile that couldn’t quite be considered sincere, “Friends, on behalf of the United Nations Project Services, I welcome you all to the ‘Rama Special Project’.”

The senior cadre smiled in return and replied, “Hello, my name is Wang Yiren, former Deputy Director of the Foreign Security Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, now dispatched by the Republic to join the United Nations ‘Rama Special Project’.

From now on, we are colleagues.”

The two hands were clasped tightly together, shaking vigorously.

After going through a series of standard procedures, the troops lined up and withdrew.

Two buses slowly arrived, and the staff began to guide the scholars aboard.

The moment he set foot on the ground, Xiang Shan felt the air was scorching hot, as if his very hair was about to curl.

He glanced at the multicultural, seemingly hastily assembled unit nearby, and also sensed the inherent wariness within the troop’s ranks.

At his side, the academic commissioner Jing Hongtu sighed.

“We’ve come this far, yet still not considering what’s truly in front of us…”

Enlightened, Xiang Shan chased after him.

“Teacher Jing, you know something, don’t you?”

“I just inquired a bit.

After we get there, they seem willing to reveal a little more,” laughed Jing Hongtu.

“They call it the ‘Rama Project’ — if the place we’re heading to is not an Indian mythology-themed park or a relic of Indian mythological technology, then this ‘Rama’ most likely has another implication.

By the way, I asked earlier, among the scholars who came this time, there are no experts in Sanskrit.”

Rama, the protagonist of the ancient Indian epic ‘Ramayana’, was one of the triad of divinities in Brahmanism, the seventh incarnation of Vishnu, possessing more than half of Vishnu’s strength, and he is also the deity revered by the followers of Hinduism’s Ramaism.

But if this project was truly related to Indian mythology, there’s no way they wouldn’t bring several experts on Sanskrit to join us.

Xiang Shan secretly admired the old man’s method of gathering information but said, “If it’s not ‘that Rama’…

Could it be…?”

Jing Hongtu halted, his eyebrows lifting slightly.

“I suspect it’s ‘that Rama’ — Sir Clarke’s ‘that Rama’.”

Arthur C.

Clarke, an English author, was one of the greatest science fiction writers of the twentieth century and was knighted for his literary achievements.

His late work ‘Rendezvous with Rama’ is indeed one of the greatest novels of the entire twentieth century.

‘Rendezvous with Rama’ recounts the story of an asteroid named “Rama” that approaches the Solar System, with humanity discovering it’s an artificial object and subsequently exploring it.

Xiang Shan could not help but clench his fist, momentarily even forgetting the environment he was in.

This was almost a confirmation of his previous guess!

It really was…

it really was aliens!

For a moment, Xiang Shan felt a dizzying rush of exhilaration.

The sensation lasted only an instant, almost making one believe it was just an illusion.

But Xiang Shan had a feeling…

After that moment…

after his conjectures were confirmed, his way of perceiving the world had undergone some subtle changes.

“The creatures or creations of an alien world…

actually appearing right before humanity…”

“It’s difficult to imagine what kind of impact this will have on humanity,” said Jing Hongtu.

“But I believe that history has turned a new page — the way our next generation looks at the universe will be completely different from ours.”

Dan Evans happened to pass by Jing Hongtu and Xiang Shan.

Hearing their conversation, he laughed and gestured in a particular direction.

Xiang Shan looked where his focus pointed and saw a white…

sharp, and large structure.

Dan Evans brought his hands together in a salute towards that direction and said in broken Hindi, “Long live the God Rama.”

Jing Hongtu and Xiang Shan also boarded the bus.

After Secretary Hu checked off the names, the bus slowly started moving.

Then, a foreign staff member on the bus stood up.

“Welcome, friends from the Republic,” the young man with a big beard opened his arms energetically.

“I’m David Klein, a researcher at the ‘Rama Project’.

Before we reach the registration site, please allow me to introduce you to the basic situation of the ‘Rama Plan’.”