Cat and Rose - Cat & Rose - Chapter 32 - The Second Law of Thermodynamics (1)

Chapter 32 – The Second Law of Thermodynamics (1)

“Then… what kind of environment will allow us to develop?”

“Earth,” said Madam Chen. “Now, we finally know that Earth isn’t the best answer. It’s our only answer. If we establish our home on a specific planet, it needs to be extremely similar to Earth.”

“I don’t understand,” Lin Si said flatly. “This planet is certainly barren, but the Voyagers have excellent navigation ability. We can use TKM-IV as our centrepoint and radiate outwards, until we can find a planet that can provide us enough production resources as our supply point, then we can periodically send out ships to extract resources in order to develop facilities on the ground.”

“This was already a method we thought of before we landed. However, this begs us to return to the original question—Lin Si, what do you think ‘civilization’ is?”

“According to the previous assumptions, are we not a civilization?” Lin Si frowned.

“That, at most, is a type of mechanical lifestyle,” Madam Chen said. “What I feel is that our current environment does not have the qualities for advancement. Our ideal society is beautiful, with endless resources, as well as passionate and ambitious researchers who throw their entire being into their work to change the environment, making it more suitable for human survival. But, in the simulation, three major problems emerged.”

Lin Si listened patiently for Madam Chen to continue.

“Firstly, the cost for building a city on this planet is too high. The ‘Dome’ had already exhausted over half of the storage capacity on the ship, yet it can only protect a ten-kilometre diameter of land. Now, if we count the military we have around five-hundred active people on the ground, so according to Marshal, to liven up the city we will have to defrost even more people—at least several thousand. He believes that once there are people, a new social order will be established and it will become vibrant and robust.” Madam Chen took out a form; it was Area 2’s report on resource extraction and consumption, which appeared to be almost equal. “Even if the Voyagers endlessly forage resources from other planets, it can still only support a few hundred people’s lives and necessities for research. You know well that we are highly strict in population control. That’s why, only relying on the Voyager to produce resources from external sources would never, ever be able to match the consumption of a large city. The Voyager is just a single spaceship, it is not all-powerful.”

Lin Si nodded.

Madam Chen went on. “The second problem, we have the technique of controlled nuclear fusion, so we can utilise it to create elements, but nuclear fusion can only create elements before iron on the periodic table. Whereas the majority of this planet, as an early-stage planet, is also made up of these elements, so we have already reached the limits of scientific innovation these elements will ever allow. For example, silicon chips, which are easy to produce and its materials are easy to extract. But will your microchips use silicon?”

“They fall behind,” said Lin Si.

“You used some strange, rare metal. I’m not too familiar with that area, but I know only relying on iron and the elements before it won’t work out.” Madam Chen looked into Lin Si’s eyes, her tone gradually becoming more serious. “What does that mean? It means if we keep relying on this planet, our technology will be locked in! We will never discover new chemical elements and physical properties. We will only stop at our current technology without moving forward. Lin, do you agree with this point?”

Lin Si went silent for a moment. “I agree.”

Madam Chen’s expression relaxed a little, her tone also mellowing. “These two are external matters, while the third is a psychological issue. This society of ours, its primary activity is scientific research and planet exploration. It relies on our passion and ethics, and our hope to see human civilization continue. This generation has no problem, but what about the next? They don’t have any feelings towards Earth, and the quality of our life will remain just like this. No matter how hard they work, or how good they are, the final result will still be a standardised room on the Voyager or the ground city, as well as nutrient fluids that are distributed at designated times. If we all have the same lifestyle, and the future won’t change, then how do we encourage everyone to go on? What will our motivation to improve this society be?”

The Madam finished her speech, then spoke again. “This is not a result of the machine’s calculations, it is my personal concern. I don’t know if my concerns have any basis, but they are certainly frightening.”

Her views were not completely unfounded. When putting it that way, the ship’s future was certainly extremely pessimistic.

But Lin Si was not someone who was easily agitated. He was calm and unbiased, and this was probably the reason why Madam Chen invited him to discuss this issue. After all, what Madam Chen wanted was not a confidant, but someone who could aid her in decision-making.

“I can’t refute your views.” Lin Si narrowed his eyes slightly. “But to solve this issue, we’ll have to leave this planet and continue to sail. Apologies for my bluntness, but the risk of voyage is much bigger than staying here.”

“Yes, you’re not wrong,” the madam sighed. “I’m someone who leans on the conservative side, who thinks survival should be prioritised above all. But the current situation is so bad that I can no longer be unconcerned about dangers that may appear in the future, to the point where I feel that landing has been a complete mistake. That’s why I want to hear your thoughts.”

“What does the marshal think?” asked Lin Si.

“He totally objected, to the point where he feels I have psychological problems, and even used a Chinese expression—‘a man of Qi who fears the sky will fall’.”11 Madam Chen laughed helplessly. “Compared to us, the marshal is less stubborn towards technological development. He thinks we only have to survive, multiply, and no matter how bad the environment is, it’ll still get better in the end.”

“If you insist, I can accept some trial ventures to the outside.” Lin Si pondered for a moment, then said, “but we absolutely cannot abandon the base here. At the very least, the majority of us will need to stay here to continue our development, and backup the database in Area 8 to the base. That way, even if we encounter disasters on the voyage, we won’t be totally annihilated.”

“You’re correct. We should do this.” Madam Chen nodded.

Voyage was a gamble. Once they left the subspace, the ever-changing environment of outer space could destroy the spaceship at any time. Compared to the ground, it was far from safe.

“And regarding the marshal’s stance,” said Lin Si, “if he insists on objecting, we can only maintain the status quo.”

“That’s why I hope you can stand on my side, since there aren’t many people who can persuade Marshal. Although he seems to have it in for you because of some misunderstandings, he will still consider your opinion,” said Madam Chen.

“Actually, I don’t exactly agree we should spend most of our energy on the voyage, since we could also put our efforts into changing the living environment of this planet,” Lin Si pondered, then said, “therefore I can only accept using our base planet as the origin, and dispatch small fractions of our manpower to explore.”

“That’s already enough,” Madam Chen smiled. “I will prepare a detailed plan, then hold a business meeting again with Marshal.”

Lin Si nodded.

Madam Chen’s concerns were not unfounded. However, their current power was too weak, unable to shoulder even higher risks.

Since landing, the pessimistic, dreary atmosphere had spread for far too long. Perhaps some new experiments could bring about life.

***

Ling Yi arrived outside the room next to him and Lin Si’s, raised his hand and knocked on the door.

“Please enter.” Adelaide’s voice rang out from the inside.

The young psychiatrist sat on the opposite of Su Ting, with long platinum blonde hair that draped past his shoulders. When he turned and saw it was Ling Yi who came in, he smiled cheerfully, “Hey darling.”

“Lingling!” Su Ting’s face was still stained with tear tracks, but when she saw Ling Yi, she still smiled and waved to him. However, immediately after that smile, her eyes welled up with tears once again.

These were the blood vessels Ye Selin had connected when she left this mortal world.

“Let me look at you…” She made her tone sound as warm as possible, but it still sounded sorrowful.

Ling Yi walked up to her. “Su Ting-jiejie.”

Su Ting looked at him, wiping a tear. “I didn’t think you’d be on the ship, thank god you’re still here…”

“I was selected by the system as Lin Si’s experiment sample.” Ling Yi blinked. “So I woke up, but I couldn’t remember anything from before. It was Lin Si who raised me.”

His appearance was always delicate and beautiful, the timbre of his voice soft and cute, so it was easy for him to create a good impression on other people.

“You’ve grown big. Ye Selin would be happy.” Su Ting reached out her hand as if she wanted to caress his face, but retracted it slightly awkwardly.

After all, he was almost of age, and was no longer a child. It was not appropriate for these kinds of overly doting gestures.

Ling Yi noticed her movements, then with thoughtfulness and good manners, grabbed her falling hand, and lowered his head to kiss the back.

Su Ting laughed.

“If we were back on Earth, all the girls would have crushes on you,” she said.

“Honestly, it’s not too different now.” Adelaide shrugged. “He’s the ship’s darling.”

“Ye Selin too…Everyone by her side was attracted by her. I…”

Ling Yi looked at Su Ting.

Su Ting truly held extremely deep affection for Ye Selin. From the moment he entered, she already mentioned her many times.

In the eyes of many who were close to Ye Selin, she had a perfect and flawless image just like that.

In the eyes of that woman from Area 9 too—if the Berlin virus really broke out on the ship because Ye Selin went to the Wilkins Laboratory, then it would be considered Ye Selin’s fault, but she could not accept it, so she chose to push everything onto Lin Si. This was Ling Yi’s speculation of her attitude.

Even if Lin Si did not mind, he wanted to break the truth to that woman especially—Lin Si did not care about boarding the spaceship, it was you all who needed him!

He really, super hated anyone who was mean to Lin Si, to the point where he wanted to give them a scratch with his claws.

*

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