As the camera zoomed in, the full view of this solitary probe gradually became clear.
Unlike the orderly manufacturing style of human civilization,
It's hard to find any sharp edges on this detector; even the internal circuitry is presented in graceful, rounded curves.
The surface of the ellipsoidal detector was covered with a thick layer of dust, and even the outer shell had a lot of damage.
Those are interstellar dust adhering to its surface; clearly, it has undergone a long interstellar journey.
However, on the dusty detector, the oval lenses were incredibly shiny and clear, showing no signs of being corroded by dust.
Swish...swish...
A few wiper-like objects swept gently across, carrying away the dust that had just settled on the lens.
The detector seemed to have received some instruction, and one of the lenses slowly adjusted its direction.
Its target is none other than the Kepler-452 star system, 4 light-years away.
As it is observed, the quantum signal continues to travel to distant places.
...
Ten light-years away.
At the edge of a small star system, a fleet of modest size was docked.
The ellipsoidal shape of the starship reveals that the lone probe operating alone in the vast universe was launched by this fleet.
At the center of the fleet was an exceptionally large starship.
It was obvious that it was the flagship of the fleet.
On the ellipsoidal flagship, arcs full of wonderful charm are outlined, as if in this civilization, the arc is a synonym for beauty.
The individual curves, when combined, could have formed a large and rhythmic pattern.
But the marks left by the artillery fire ruined this beauty.
Melted armor, exposed wiring, components emitting wisps of black smoke...
All of this indicated one thing—this poor fleet seemed to have just experienced an extremely brutal war.
The Talodan civilization.
This is what this pathetic civilization calls itself.
Inside the flagship store.
One by one, round-bodied creatures covered in fine hairs operated power-assisted devices, gliding rapidly in a weightless environment.
With its black and white fur and round body, it's hard not to think of a certain creature.
panda.
Perhaps by coincidence, these Talodan people bear a resemblance of over 80% to pandas.
The only difference is that their facial features are softer.
A pair of bright eyes are set like jewels on their heads, and their tiny feeding organs are hidden under black and white fur.
Putting aside the perspectives of other races, from the perspective of human civilization alone, these round creatures are all about cuteness.
...
Talodan Fleet, flagship.
A spacious and bright room is equipped with all kinds of high-precision instruments.
In keeping with civilized aesthetics, almost everything in the room is without sharp edges.
Even the corners of the room itself were rounded, even though this would waste some valuable usable space.
This is the shipboard laboratory of the Talodan fleet.
Its main task is to receive data transmitted back from various detectors and perform corresponding calculations based on this data.
Since the start of their escape, the laboratory has been engaged in an important task—searching for habitable star systems.
“Damn invaders!” a Talodan complained in a high-pitched voice. “If it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t have to live in such cramped conditions!”
"Yes, Mullen, you're right. Zero gravity is no place for humans. I still haven't learned how to use this assist device!"
In the distance, another Talodan echoed, "I wonder how long these invaders will keep chasing us."
"When?" The Talodan man named Malen scoffed, shaking off his black and white fur, and said irritably, "Who knows?"
"Milo, we've lost 80% of our fleet trying to escape their pursuit!" Maren cried out in despair, clutching his head with his tiny paws. "Those starships have all been destroyed!!"
Milo sighed, put down his work, and murmured, "Yes, our technological level isn't that much different from theirs, it's just that our weaponry is far inferior..."
Hearing this, Mullen became even more emotionally distraught: "I said it! I said back then that we should research some necessary weapons and equipment! But..."
"But nobody agrees with my suggestion, nobody supports my plan!!"
Milo fell silent.
After a long while, it slowly opened its mouth and replied in a high-pitched voice: "Maren, you know, our civilization has not seen a war for a long time."
"Moreover, we have never made contact with extraterrestrial civilizations."
"No one could have imagined that the first contact with an extraterrestrial civilization would end like this..."
Before they could finish speaking, a low alarm sounded, interrupting their argument.
"The detector has transmitted abnormal data!"
Maren was the first to react, and it quickly manipulated the assist device to slide towards the computer not far away.
"Wait, wait for me!" Milo exclaimed, frantically trying to control his power-up device. "I... I'm not very good at using this thing..."
Despite its stumbling and falling, it eventually managed to reach Maren's side.
"What data?" it exclaimed excitedly. "Has a habitable star system been discovered?!"
Find a habitable star system, and then continue to live a peaceful life.
This is the belief that sustained all the people of Talodan after the Talodan civilization began its exodus.
Maren didn't speak, he just stared blankly at the screen.
"Hey, I'm talking to you!"
Milo gently bumped into Maren beside him with his round body, making room for him, and then quickly looked up at the screen.
"this……"
Like Malen, Milo also fell silent.
"Is this...is this real?"
After a long while, Maren's voice came from beside him.
His voice trembled slightly, filled with confusion, and even a hint of despair and terror.
"No, it can't be! How could this possibly happen..."
Milo shook its head repeatedly, unable to believe the data it was seeing.
"How could a planet suddenly be missing?!" It pounced on the computer in front of it in a frenzy, rapidly adjusting the calculation program with its little paws.
“There must be a calculation error!” Milo said confidently. “Or, there’s a problem with the detector!”
"Wait a moment, I'll check the calculation program right away."
It glanced at Maren, who was standing there dumbfounded, and shouted urgently, "Don't just stand there!"
"Quickly retrieve the observation data from the other detectors!"
"Oh, oh... okay!" Milo's reminder brought Malen back to his senses, and he quickly controlled the assist device to pounce on another computer.
This series of abnormal data plunged the once quiet and peaceful laboratory into chaos!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
