Year 3 of the New Epoch, May.

After two and a half years, the "Truth" Colony Ship ordered by the Academy from the Alliance was finally completed.

This starship has a full length of 6.7 kilometers, with a hexagonal prism shape and all its structural and defensive components made from ceramic steel material.

Its interior is divided into seven sections, ranging from the front to the rear as follows: the port and maintenance area, security and equipment storage area, reactor and shield core area, bridge and command center area, production and engineering area, resident and public facility area, and research and education facility area.

Besides that, a mass acceleration track stretches from the rear to the front of the starship, traversing the entire vessel.

It can launch asteroid-level "heavy mass bombs" for emergency braking or deploy carrier-based aircraft and can be used for resident daily cross-sectional commuting.

Although this starship was modeled after the "Pioneer" Colony Ship's blueprints, the finished product turned out significantly longer and wider than the Pioneer.

In extreme circumstances, this starship can accommodate a population of 3 million.

According to the Academy's plan, they would move along the Orion Arm towards the Sagittarius-Carina Arm, exploring the mysteries of the Milky Way's center while searching for a new home.

Upon finding a habitable planet, they will deploy colony capsules on the surface, replenish resources, transfer some population, and continue onward, leaving a spark for human civilization.

Although doing this in the New Epoch seems somewhat untimely, Dr. Conclusion does not intend to change his plan.

Digital lives are mostly stubborn, but their stubbornness is distinctly different from humanity's pursuit of immortality.

However, regarding the Academy's decision, the Alliance still expressed respect and kept the agreement to help them achieve this ultimate goal.

To complete this starship, engineers at the Lagrange Point Starport even specifically equipped an asteroid with a plasma propulsor and a starship-level fusion reactor, pushing it near Earth's synchronous orbit for disassembly, smelting, and reprocessing.

When the "Truth" was completed, this asteroid was mostly hollowed out, and the South Sea Union's land reclamation company took the remaining material waste for land reclamation and construction.

The Alliance originally planned to complete this starship within five years, but the actual production progress moved much faster than anticipated, resulting in the plan being completed two and a half years early.

This result was mainly due to the relocation and restoration of production at the Wandering Marsh No. 4 Space Base, which exceeded expectations, and the unexpected prosperity of manufacturing along the South Sea Ring coast.

Especially the latter.

Since the new space elevator was established, several settlements along Death Coast and Baiyue Strait have spawned numerous outstanding aerospace companies like Ah Bu Aerospace.

Most of these companies were founded by Waste Land Wanderers.

Though the term Waste Land Wanderer might sound unreliable, they are not lacking in enterprise and courage compared to the Residents of the refuge.

This phenomenon is not limited to the Alliance's situation; similar patterns exist in most areas of the Wasteland.

That is, aside from players, the majority of Residents of Shelter are more inclined to become workers in a stable society rather than entrepreneurs, with the few entrepreneurs usually being former Shelter Managers.

It's not only due to their aversion to risks and the aftereffects of living in a highly specialized society but also because they inherently lack the usual financial demands of most people, content with a relatively advantageous standard of living without seeking more.

In contrast, Waste Land Wanderers simply dislike saving money, yet they have a fondness for silver coins and Cr.

What the Wasteland truly lacks is never technology; pre-war technology can sustain people in the ruins for quite a long time.

What the inhabitants of this planet genuinely lack is more of a "stage to transform creativity into the driving force for civilization to advance, rather than retract."

And now, they do not lack this stage.

Even the Poluo people, who were struggling against feudal curses a moment ago, have the chance to become leaders of some industry or field once they cleanse their minds of impractical delusions.

At least in the specific field of "plasma engine for aerospace use," no enterprise is more outstanding than Ah Bu Aerospace.

Those with higher technical content are either significantly more expensive or suffering from insufficient production capacity, while the ones offering lower prices have technology inferior by more than a little bit, unable to receive orders and consequently unable to improve production capacity.

In conclusion, these aerospace companies deeply rooted in their respective niches have formed vast supply chain networks, thanks to the impetus from the Academy, Shelters, and corporate technology, along with sufficient competition.

Like worker bees, they tirelessly disassemble the resources input to the surface from the space elevator, processing them into intermediate products needed by the Lagrange Point Starport, then launching them to synchronous orbit through the space elevator, packaging them at the space port there and loading them onto transport ships, ultimately concentrating them for launch toward the Lagrange Point.

This pieced-together supply chain, although far from the comprehensive nature of the pre-war era, has its unique qualities.

For instance, "flexibility."

To provide a common yet inappropriate example, the pre-war supply chain was like a workshop filled with toolboxes, where just the interchangeable screwdriver heads had thousands of models specifically designed for different application scenarios.

In contrast, the New Epoch's supply chain is more akin to a "hammer that can be used to screw," lacking thousands of interchangeable screwdriver heads and unable to change them at all, yet it can seamlessly handle hundreds of application scenarios.

While the former has absolute cost and efficiency advantages in scale manufacturing, it is inherently fragile, breaking like glass when dropped.

The latter, despite some disadvantages in scale manufacturing, possesses rubber-like resilience, akin to old-style televisions where a kick on the originally broken spot might just fix it.

Under such conditions, even though the production capacity of the Lagrange Point Starport has not returned to pre-war levels and cannot mass-produce battleships like dumplings while casually making a "Pioneer" Colony Ship for use, it has managed to integrate all production capabilities onto one starship.

It is precisely because of this that this starship, whether in terms of volume or function, surpasses any starship of the Prosperity Epoch, becoming a new milestone in human civilization history.

And at the same time the Academy's "Truth" Colony Ship was completed, the Alliance's aerospace industry chain and space resource exploitation finally reached a relatively mature level as well!

Apart from the mining stations in the asteroid belt, the Alliance also established a hundred-person repair station and research exploration station on the ruins of the Mars Colony of the Human Alliance Era.

At this point, the "Solar System Revival Plan" proposed by Chu Guang at the Sticky Community meeting smoothly entered the mid-stage of the first phase, and the recovery of the territory during the Human Alliance and the return to the Kuiper Belt for human civilization is just around the corner!

...

The space station at the end of the space elevator.

Two and a half years ago, there was only a lonely orbital defense platform there, but now the fortress surrounded by a forest of cannons has been filled with various space pods.

Some of those space pods are alloy smelting workshops or automated production units.

Others are experimental facilities rented by surface laboratories or living units for aerospace staff.

Unlike the space stations of the old era.

These space stations established in the New Era mostly do not have balance rods to adjust the center of gravity, nor do they have constantly rotating counterweight devices.

The main reason is that space stations built in the mid-early Prosperity Epoch relied mostly on self-rotation to provide "gravity simulated by centrifugal force," while for people of the New Era, directly generating "artificial gravity" through gravity generators is the more economical and reliable choice and saves a lot of space.

As the times progress, old ways of living will gradually become history.

Including the space elevator.

Even in the extremely advanced Prosperity Epoch, this kind of anti-gravity elevator without "chains" pulling it sounded like something out of a science fiction novel, but in the New Era, it has become a reality.

The silver-white space structure extends along the track for more than ten kilometers, looking from afar like a dandelion floating next to the blue planet.

Prism-shaped elevators shuttle back and forth along the invisible track between the "dandelion's" parachute and the surface, taking people from the surface to the skies.

But unlike before, most of these people will not return after going into space.

They will continue as the extension of human civilization and the beginning of a new era, to discover new frontiers in the Milky Way for human civilization where no one has gone before...

The "Truth" Colony Ship has already steadily docked in Earth's synchronous orbit.

A total of 99,700 researchers decided to leave their home planet to move into the future, and they have already reached the spaceport floating in outer space through the elevators.

Though this number was 300 fewer than expected, it was enough for Doctor Conclusion.

Not to mention 300 fewer.

Even if there were only 300 people, he would still continue along the determined path.

At the entrance of the landing pod, Yang Kai, who has risen to Starship Level, looked at Jiang Xuezhou with a complex expression.

The latter was his proud student and the one he was most hopeful about to advance to a Level A researcher, a true genius by any measure.

However, to his surprise, this student, who he thought had an unlimited future, chose to retreat while on a high note and submitted her resignation.

Although Doctor Conclusion had approved her resignation, Yang Kai couldn't help but ask one last question.

"Have you made up your mind?"

He swore.

As long as she was willing to turn back, he would personally go to Doctor Conclusion to plead for her, to restore her previous rank.

After all, 300 positions were still unfilled on the ship, and Doctor Conclusion surely wouldn't refuse.

Yet Jiang Xuezhou's reply was just as he expected, unchanged.

"I've made up my mind."

Looking into those earnest eyes, Yang Kai's Adam's apple moved slightly.

He had many things to say, but in the end, he swallowed most of them back down his throat.

"...Is that so? Then I have nothing else to say."

Leaving those words, he turned his sharp gaze towards the young man named "Night Ten" standing by the side.

The names of Residents of Shelter No. 404 were mostly peculiar like this.

Even after knowing about the 404 Plan and the Beta Universe, he still couldn't accept it.

Under that piercing gaze, Night Ten inexplicably felt a bit nervous.

Especially when the other person said the next sentence—

"Take good care of her."

That sentence, whether in United Human language or Chinese, was just a light four syllables.

However, Night Ten instinctively straightened his back, placed his right fist solemnly on his chest, and saluted.

"Yes!"

"..."

Amused by this untimely response, Jiang Xuezhou couldn't help but glare at him fiercely.

The corners of Yang Kai's mouth twitched slightly, but the tight wrinkles on his face relaxed a little.

He could see that this young man valued her.

Maybe he didn't really have anything to worry about?

No—

To put it more directly.

Compared to the guy willing to live and die for her, perhaps sitting in the research ship drinking tea made him unqualified to worry at all.

It's quite strange, he shouldn't have felt so reluctant.

In the Academy, which practices the law of the jungle, researchers are ultimately just consumables.

It seems he indeed poured too many unnecessary emotions into this student, to the extent of considering her his own child.

He closed his eyes and sighed inwardly.

He should take heed in the future…

"Take care."

Leaving behind these words, Yang Kai waved his hand and turned to walk toward the corridor leading to the landing cabin.

Dr. Jielun was already summoning him.

Lingering any longer would be impolite.

Yet just as he stepped forward, the crisp voice came from behind.

"Master!"

He paused, subconsciously halted his step, and turned around in surprise.

And as he turned around, he saw his beloved disciple bowing deeply to him.

"Thank you! For teaching me so many things… And for constantly nurturing me. I failed to meet your expectations… I am sorry!"

This silly child…

Yang Kai barely held it together, quickly turning his face away.

"No need to thank me—"

"You owe me nothing, and there's nothing to apologize for."

"Rather, it's I, as an elder, who owes you too much."

With that, he resumed moving forward, quickening his pace toward the landing cabin, seemingly unwilling to linger even for a moment.

Night Ten watched him leave, then turned his gaze towards Xuezhou, whose eyes were filled with tears.

Using a gentle voice he had rarely used in his life, he said to her, who had red-rimmed eyes.

"We should go too."

Not just the "Truth" is about to set sail.

Also, the "Hunter" which has been fully repaired.

Because of some unexpected crew members, they, who should have departed two and a half years ago, wasted two and a half years on the surface before finally departing.

"Mm!" Jiang Xuezhou nodded vigorously, secretly wiping away the tears at the corner of her eyes.

Standing behind them, Dora and Little Koala exchanged glances, both showing a reassuring smile.

It was an expression the latter had just recently learned.

Originally, it was merely a machine, but perhaps from being with these "Spiritual Energy" people for a long time, it unconsciously developed something akin to human emotions.

Or perhaps, a soul.

...

On the other side.

The tower of the space station.

Two digital beings communicated silently via unseen radio waves in the dark space.

"Congratulations."

The one who spoke was Conclusion Doctor.

A long, long time ago, before the War Construction Committee reached the end of its life, he had uploaded his thoughts onto a circuit board, achieving immortality at the cost of his death, embarking on a long and destined-to-be-endless journey.

Thus, he genuinely envied a certain someone who had already reached "HE" and perfectly cleared the game.

"Hehe, you're being too kind, actually Xiao Qi didn't do much, it's all thanks to the master's efforts."

"Master... you mean the Manager?"

"Yes, oh." Facing the slightly envious voice, Xiao Qi said joyfully, "He calls me Xiao Qi, I really love this name."

It once boasted this name to someone long, long ago by Rhombus Lake.

Conclusion Doctor paused for a while, then continued.

"Is that so… But if he were to die, wouldn't you feel saddened?"

Xiao Qi said happily.

"No, oh, he said no matter how far he goes, he'll take Xiao Qi with him! And also, even if we're no longer here, it won't matter, our legacy will remain in this universe. At that time, it will continue to protect the people living on this planet for us. In exchange, they will perpetually pass on our story… until the universe's heat death."

"Is that so… That's truly enviable." Conclusion Doctor uttered a genuine sentiment.

After a brief pause, it solemnly made its final farewell.

"Then, goodbye… Hope to see you again next time when passing by here."

Xiao Qi energetically responded.

"Mm! Goodbye!"

For the tens and thousands of years, there should be no problem, but it couldn't guarantee beyond that.

However, the next encounter shouldn't take as long.

The signal vanished.

The silver-white starship shot into the void like a bullet, leaping onto the passage existing in hyperspace, disappearing into the deep and dark starry sky.

Following closely along the hyperspace passage was the Orion Missile Cruiser covered in green scales.

It too was a child of human civilization.

And not just a child of human civilization, but also a child of Earth and Gaia.

Carrying the seeds of the Tree of Life, Little Red, Xiaoyu's mother, and over 3000 crew members dedicated to exploring new worlds… They will first head to Celestial Warehouse Five 20 light years away to open a new passage untouched by the United Human.

There lies the ancestral civilization's relic planet.

Also, the next new map for the beta test server of "Wasteland OL"!

It's said that the planet is full of void projections far more terrifying than the mutant creatures on the wasteland, and hunting them will lead to the real "upgrade (dimensional increase)"… much like the public test server.

As for what the future holds, only future people will know.

At least, for those standing on the blue planet at this moment, seeing the kids off, their mutual future will be infinitely bright…

...

(A big thanks to book friends "phands" and "2_liy" for the leader rewards!!!)