Billions of years ago, in the vast outer solar system …
181 years after the Earth's fugitive fleet set off, on the flagship 'New Hope' …
The strikes, protests, and riots had lasted for ten days.
The lights, which had been particularly dim because of the energy control, were now flashing in weird red under the influence of the damage of the wiring, making the crowd gathered in the narrow cabin even more furious and confused.
"Protest, protest! Why are the authorities cutting our food and clean water rations again and again? Are they really going to starve us to death?"
"The environment on the ship is getting worse and worse. We have to work in the high temperature of seventy to eighty degrees every day. This is not an escape, and it is not marching toward New Hope. This is torture that is worse than death. This is an indefinite death sentence!"
"In yesterday's explosion accident, another three workers were killed. What are our wise leaders and omniscient scientists doing? Are they using our lives to fill the hole in the maintenance plan that they came up with?"
"Do they want as many of us to die as possible? The more we die, the more resources they can save for their enjoyment! "
"Where is Wanzanghai? We want to talk to Wanzanghai. Where is the hope that he promised? Where is the paradise? Where is the new home that he promised? "
"Wanzanghai, come out! Wanzanghai, come out! "
The crowd on strike was restless and gradually gathered into a chaotic tide, breaking everything in its way and surging toward the bridge.
It was not until they ran into the military police, who were Wanzanghai's trusted subordinates, that they were slightly stopped.
However, faced with the military police who were as cold and expressionless as black statues, the protesters did not show the slightest sign of fear or retreat.
A hundred years of hard labor had worn away all their patience and their fear of the rules. This was a vast, unknown universe. The road ahead was dark, and the way back had long been cut off. The glory, majesty, and rules of the past were not worth mentioning here. If they summoned their courage, they could totally tear apart the iron coffins around them and die together with the military police and the 'leaders' or even 'gods' such as Wanzanghai in the past.
"Citizens, citizens of the 'New Earth United Fleet', calm down. Please stay calm."
Among the military police, a brawny man in a black power suit with a scar on his face stood out. He was indeed the commander of the military police. His name was' Tie Xiong ', and he was also Wanzanghai's trusted subordinate. When Wanzanghai was in the state of hibernation for a long time and extended his life to the maximum extent, Tie Xiong had always been Wanzanghai's spokesperson to give orders and maintain the basic operation of the fugitive fleet.
Tie Xiong's appearance calmed the protestors down slightly, allowing him to finish the second half of his sentence. "As we all know, we have just passed through an interstellar dust belt that is as thick as a swamp. Three immigrant starships have been broken, and most of the other starships have suffered considerable losses, consuming a lot of resources and energy. In this unusual period, we need all citizens to work together to overcome the difficulties. I assure you that the reduction in food rations and energy supply is only temporary. As long as we repair the synthetic food cycle production line, we will be able to restore the supply of the past!"
Normally, such a guarantee would have been enough to calm most people's restless hearts.
At the very least, when they encountered the aftermath of the gamma-ray storm last time and the weird gravity trap last time, the crew was still willing to share the difficulties with the bridge team.
But this time, after a hundred years of suffering, many people no longer believed in the promise of the bridge team or the slim hope.
"When will such days come to an end?"
In the restless crowd, somebody shouted miserably.
"When Wanzanghai brought us out of Earth, he clearly said that we would find a new home very soon. Even if it was not a real habitable planet, we would still be able to find a place like 'Mars' and establish a small settlement. After all, we only have tens of millions of people left right now. Any random planet is more than enough to accommodate us!"
Somebody raised the old scores again.
"Liars. You are all a bunch of liars. Wanzanghai is a liar. Tie Xiong, you are a liar, too. We trusted you so much in the past. Where are you going to take us and the few remaining human beings to?"
There were also people waving their angry fists at the gendarmerie.
Tie Xiong and his gendarmerie simply remained silent. They were indifferent even when the protesters stuffed their fists under the tip of their noses.
Although the gendarmerie was the most powerful force in the current "New Earth Coalition Fleet", which was also the hundred immigrant ships, and they were equipped with advanced power suits that were enhanced by doomsday technology, they were even better than the "magnetic storm infantry" and "rocket soldiers" of the past.
Even without the enhancement of cutting-edge weapons, those who were qualified to enter the gendarmerie were all "ability users" and "modified people" who were one in a thousand. They were able to compete with the main battle tanks of the past with their bare hands.
However …
Not only the flagship, but almost all the immigrant starships had similar protests and riots. The public opinion was like a surging tide that could set off stormy waves at any time, swallowing the fleeing fleet that was barely pieced together, riddled with holes, and with no hope in sight. Even a ruthless and iron-blooded strongman like "Tie Xiong" did not dare to throw sparks on a dried barrel of gunpowder.
Moreover, in the place of escape, they had abandoned most of the ordinary people on Earth, and in the "massacre in the outer solar system", they had slaughtered most of the nobles and magnates. The remaining crew members were mostly Wanzanghai's base, which was "ability users", "modified people", and "genetic mutants". Almost all of them had all kinds of superpowers, just to different degrees.
Enough ants could bite an elephant to death. If the crew members were forced into a corner, it would be impossible for the so-called "elites" of the gendarmerie to suppress all the crew members.
Therefore, Tie Xiong could only hold back the killing intent in his heart and grit his teeth. "Citizens, please don't forget the sacred mission on your shoulders. Don't forget that you are the only hope to continue the civilization of mankind. Believe in the authorities, believe in your leader, Wanzanghai. Continue the 'march of suffering' for three to five years, or at most seven to eight years. Everything will be fine. Everything!"
"We don't believe it!"
"Put away your big lies. We've had enough!"
"There's no hope to continue forward. We can only turn back and return to our home — Earth!"
"Hundreds of years have passed. No matter how strong the solar storm is, its influence should've disappeared. Besides, there's also the amazing power of meteorites. Earth should be full of vitality again now, right?"
"It doesn't matter even if it hasn't fully recovered. We only have tens of millions of people left, and we have such advanced technology. As long as we return to Earth and find a small place to live, it will be enough to establish a settlement. Then, we will slowly expand outward and rebuild Earth. One day, we will see the light of our beautiful home again!"
"That's right. Return to Earth. Return to Earth. We want to return to Earth!"
In the depths of the crowd, a few gloomy and fanatical voices suddenly came.
Tie Xiong's pupils suddenly contracted.
Damn it, it's the Regression Sect.
He was wondering why the riot this time was so big and lasted for so long. It turned out that the Regression Sect was fanning the flames and even personally controlling it!
The ordinary protesters could be ignored, but the Regression Sect was a virus that eroded the future of mankind. Once discovered, they must be killed immediately!
Tie Xiong gestured behind him, and the military police's power armor immediately buzzed.
The crowd was in an uproar. The Regression Sect hidden at the back shouted, "Not good, they're going to attack. Everyone, run!"
The crowd surged, rolling up stormy waves. Flash bombs, smoke bombs, and self-made incendiary bombs made by the protesters or the Regression Sect instantly made the scene out of control.
…
An hour later, in the secret room behind the bridge of the "New Hope".
This place had a full set of the most advanced hibernation facilities, as well as a super computer that controlled the entire fleet.
It was the small palace of the "New Earth Coalition Fleet" in name, the former chairman of the "Earth Council", and the spiritual leader of all the fleeing humans — Wanzanghai.
Wanzanghai was already very old.
The twists and turns and difficulties of unifying Earth, the endless catastrophes in the face of natural disasters, as well as the hypocrisy and intrigue with the rich and powerful, including the bloody storm of the "outer solar system massacre", and the several soul-stirring interstellar adventures that followed — these things that easily concerned the lives of hundreds of millions of people seriously consumed his vitality and mental power. Even though, like his mentor "Yuri", he had cultivated "Heart Power" to the extreme, had the dual maintenance of doomsday technology and hibernation technology, and was soaked in high-energy nutrient fluids for 90% of the time, he still inevitably showed an extremely old appearance. Wrinkles intersected on his face, and age spots were everywhere on his body. Every breath took a long time to prepare, as if this was his last breath.
The clear and deep eyes of the past were gradually replaced by turbid suspicion. The aftereffects of excessive "Heart Power" had fully erupted in recent years. He had serious hallucinations and auditory hallucinations. Many times, not only was he unable to deal with the complicated affairs of the fleet, he could not even control his temper. Just like the countless young, promising, and heroic leaders from ancient times, they gradually turned into muddle-headed and cruel tyrants at the end of their lives.
When Tie Xiong bowed respectfully to Wanzanghai, he could even faintly smell the old man's aura.
It was a very strong smell that symbolized death and decay.
It was as if the seemingly weak old man in front of him was only alive with his shell, and his internal organs and spirit had long since died and were slowly rotting and deteriorating.
Even the strong fragrance of the high-energy nutrient fluids and hibernation potions in the hibernation cabin could not cover up this disgusting smell.
"He's old."
Tie Xiong thought to himself.
Then, he was shocked by his own thoughts. No matter what, Wanzanghai was the only spiritual symbol of the remaining human civilization. He was a living god. How could a god be old?
But after being shocked, and looking at Wanzanghai's slightly neurotic expression, he felt that it was no big deal.
After all, he was not a god. He was just a human.
As long as one was human, one would grow old and die.
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