Captured stars can be placed into a civilization's microcosm and utilized by a stellar energy extraction device.
These are the original words of the fortress's mastermind, [Ten].
This statement reveals that the Level 7 civilization, the Tenth Empire, possesses at least one small universe of its own.
At first, when he heard the news, Lü Yongchang found it hard to imagine such a scene.
What kind of technology should a civilization master in order to "create" a microcosm?
Yes, "creation".
Lu Yongchang, who was still at the fifth level of civilization and had only a rudimentary understanding of spacetime theory, once believed that this so-called "microcosm" was created out of thin air using technologies such as the Big Bang.
This greatly shocked Lü Yongchang at the time.
Of course, this only applied to that time.
As human civilization's understanding of space and time gradually deepens, Lü Yongchang has a vague conjecture about the "microcosm".
Due to the lack of observational and experimental data, it can only remain at the level of conjecture.
To this day.
He gazed at the dim space in the holographic projection, devoid of any starlight, and inspiration surged forth from his quantum brain.
Through the various data transmitted back by the probe ship and the probe, he continuously confirmed his original conjecture about the "microcosm".
False assumptions were eliminated, and correct conclusions were retained...
Before he knew it, a deep blue holographic projection had unfolded in front of him.
The projection was filled with formulas and models derived from spacetime theory.
At this moment, besides the holographic projection filled with formulas in front of him, all that remained in Lü Yongchang's eyes were the rapidly flashing detection data.
Fang Xu has temporarily taken over the command duties.
Under Fang Xu's command, Zero began to control a large number of probe ships and detectors to conduct a comprehensive exploration of this suspected microcosm.
First, humanity needs to understand its boundaries.
In other words, how big is it exactly?
Time passed slowly.
The holographic projections in front of Lü Yongchang were layered upon each other, and the continuous calculations made Lü Yongchang's face show a slight fatigue.
But his eyes grew brighter and brighter.
The initial doubts and gloom are slowly disappearing bit by bit.
Meanwhile, Zero's exploration of the microcosm is gradually coming to an end.
The simple model of the microcosm was gradually perfected and projected onto the holographic projection.
This is a standard spherical space.
Its diameter is approximately one light-year.
Not very big.
It is even smaller than the solar system—with the Oort cloud as the boundary of the solar system, its radius is about one light-year.
Even so, this tiny universe still brought smiles of joy and excitement to the faces of the academicians present.
...
The biggest challenge in cross-river expeditions is actually the issue of supplies.
Antimatter fuel is nothing special.
The biggest expense is actually biological supplies and replacement parts for Starships.
After a long journey of 5,000 years, various parts inside the starship would inevitably be damaged.
Although engineering ships can perform comprehensive repairs on damaged starships in real time, that still requires resources!
Within a river system, these resources wouldn't be a big deal.
For a Type VI civilization, the necessary resources can be obtained by using a warp drive to travel to the nearest star system.
But if it's between river systems...
That's completely different!
It was a region where matter was extremely scarce.
That is a near-perfect vacuum, where the density of matter is even measured in terms of the number of atoms per unit space.
Even the so-called galactic bridge is nothing more than a narrow path with a slightly higher density of matter, and it is incomparable to the density of matter within the galaxy!
For a Type 7 civilization that has mastered the technology of matter-energy interconversion, the neutral hydrogen bridge is a perfect route—they can spend a considerable amount of time collecting these hydrogen atoms, converting them into pure energy, and then converting the energy into the matter they need.
But for human civilization, which is still at level six...
The neutral hydrogen bridge is merely an added bonus for refueling.
It can't provide anything other than hydrogen.
Therefore, the greatest challenge facing human civilization has emerged.
In addition to fuel, the fleet also needs to carry a sufficient amount of various supplies, but the more supplies it carries, the more fuel it consumes, and the larger the fleet needs to be.
The larger the fleet, the more spare supplies and parts it needs to carry, and the greater its fuel consumption...
A "positive cycle" is one of them.
Relying on Zero's enormous computing power, the Chinese Academy of Sciences once conducted a comprehensive simulation of the entire route and found a relatively suitable flight plan.
According to that plan, when the human fleet left the Milky Way, it would be a massive fleet with more than 20,000 starships.
Upon arriving in the Andromeda Galaxy, the fleet will be reduced to just over three thousand ships.
This is a truly terrifying drop.
What? Where did all those starships go?
Once the supplies inside are exhausted, these starships will be dismantled and reused.
They have never disappeared; they have simply changed their form of companionship with human civilization.
...
That's why, upon learning the diameter of this microcosm, a single thought crossed the minds of all the academicians.
How much material can be stored in a small universe with a diameter of one light-year?
If we can take this miniature universe with us on our expeditions, then why would human civilization need to worry about insufficient supplies during expeditions?
What? Low on fuel?
Learn directly from the homeworld fortress left by the Tenth Empire and stuff two stars inside!
Shortage of supplies?
If we already have stars, it's perfectly normal to add a few planets, right?
As for the fleet...
Simply keep the fleet in the microcosm and release it when it reaches its destination.
True zero loss.
Or, to put it another way, now that I have stars and planets, it's perfectly normal for me to build some starship factories, right?
We already have factories, so building a few more research institutes is a reasonable request, right?
During the long journey through the galaxy, humanity can even develop silently for five thousand years in a microcosm!
Starting with a small universe, surviving until reaching level nine civilization before emerging again.
Of course, the above are all imagined scenarios in the minds of the academicians.
Ideals are beautiful, but reality is cruel.
Human civilization today has virtually no understanding of this microcosm.
The cause of its occurrence, its stability, and how it moves...
It's fair to say they know absolutely nothing about it.
Let alone taking a miniature universe on an expedition, it doesn't even have the ability to transport stars into its miniature universe.
Of course, the harsh reality did not dampen the spirits of these academicians. On the contrary, their enthusiasm for scientific research soared instantly upon learning the size of the microcosm!
Who could resist the temptation to carry a miniature universe with them and diligently develop technology?
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