July 8, Year 20169 of the Federation Era.
A massive spacecraft slowly rotated in orbit above the dark planet of Nyx. The rhythmic blinking of lights across its surface indicated that the ship was undergoing routine system inspections.
From a distance, the vessel resembled a colossal rocket. This cylindrical design was chosen to maximize internal volume while minimizing overall mass. Unlike a standard rocket, however, the center of the spacecraft featured a massive ellipsoidal structure. This was the Noah Base, the very core of the Deep Space mothership.
Inside this central ellipsoid housed several massive nuclear reactors. To save on raw materials, reduce engineering labor, and increase the structural reliability of the reactors, the engineers simply used a section of the Noah’s virtually indestructible outer hull as the containment walls. After all, the hull was more than capable of withstanding the force of multiple nuclear detonations.
This brilliant design was undoubtedly the masterpiece of the chief engineer, Professor Hao Yu. Keeping the reactors so close to the core also made it much easier to transport nuclear fuel.
As for whether the Noah Base could be destroyed by a nuclear meltdown? Please. The base had survived a supernova; a megaton-class nuclear blast wouldn’t even scratch it!
Nevertheless, for absolute safety, engineers had added secondary protective shielding inside the core. In the highly unlikely event that the hull was compromised, this inner layer would absorb the blast and trigger automated alarms to prevent a catastrophic failure.
The propulsion system featured four massive primary combustion chambers and eight smaller backup reactors. These were directly connected to the four primary ion engines at the rear of the Deep Space. By harnessing and accelerating the high-speed plasma generated by controlled nuclear explosions, the ion engines could produce unimaginable thrust.
Additionally, the spacecraft was equipped with sixteen auxiliary thrusters spaced evenly around its perimeter. These allowed the massive ship to decelerate and perform precise directional adjustments.
Theoretically, because the fuel reserves stored within the Noah Base far exceeded the mass of the entire spaceship, the Deep Space could continuously accelerate using these kinetic engines. However, due to structural limitations, the spacecraft’s maximum safe velocity was capped at 0.12 times the speed of light.
This sub-light speed was already more than sufficient for interstellar travel.
But the reality of the ship’s capabilities wasn’t quite so simple. Wrapped around the main engines were several strange, ring-shaped structures—additions made over the last thirty years.
Humanity had deliberately delayed their launch for decades specifically to install this groundbreaking new technology.
They were Curvature Engines!
The Deep Space Project had taken a staggering 159 years to complete. Now, this colossal Federation mothership was finally ready to set sail in triumph!
Of course, this was only the Federation’s very first mothership, and much of its technology still bore the rugged, utilitarian hallmarks of designs drafted over a century ago. The spacecraft featured a relatively crude hull structure.
Because of its massive, rocket-like cylindrical frame, the ship could never land directly on a solid, medium-mass planet; its own gravitational weight would cause it to collapse in on itself.
"If we wanted to fly this ship directly into the gravitational well of a standard planet, the hull would require an impossibly high structural integrity and manufacturing process. The material requirements for every single component would skyrocket. We don’t need to do that right now. If we find a habitable planet, the Deep Space carries a massive fleet of space shuttles designed specifically for atmospheric entry and planetary landings."
In a classroom aboard the ship, a teacher was explaining the basics of cosmological engineering to a dozen children.
Whether they fully grasped the complex physics or not, the elementary school students listened with wide-eyed curiosity. It was undeniable that massive space engineering projects served as the ultimate catalyst for technological education.
Compared to the era 160 years ago, the Federation’s science and technology had undergone an earth-shattering, qualitative transformation!
Several of the children gazed quietly out the viewport at the dark surface of Nyx below. Suddenly, one of the young boys spoke up. "Teacher Leona, are we really leaving? Are we leaving Nyx forever?"
"Ah... yes!" The blonde teacher snapped out of her own reverie and offered a gentle smile. "So, let’s take this opportunity to look at it a little longer, because we might never get the chance to see it again... We need to travel into the stars to find... our own world. A world with blue skies and white clouds!"
As she spoke, she felt a sudden wave of melancholy. To her, the pitch-black, frozen world of Nyx felt like home. She had been born inside the Noah Base and had never actually seen a real blue sky or white clouds, she only knew of them through old educational videos of Earth, a beautiful, vast expanse of blue.
The children seemed to sense their teacher’s bittersweet emotions, and they all looked down at Nyx with a touch of sadness.
Are we really leaving...?
"Ladies and gentlemen, each of our primary nuclear reactors has been operating with perfect stability for thirty years. This proves that with regular, scheduled maintenance, they can sustain us for an incredibly long time!"
"With the exception of a few extremely rare elements, all of our cargo bays and material warehouses are currently at maximum capacity."
"The seventh and final comprehensive inspection of the spacecraft’s systems is currently underway. We expect it to be officially completed within three days!"
"...If all systems check out, we will launch in exactly one week! We will embark on our maiden voyage into deep space!"
During a high-level government assembly, Jason solemnly and earnestly announced the final resolution.
The colossal Deep Space vessel was finally complete. The Federation had successfully survived the "Great Filter." This moment marked their official ascension to becoming a true Interstellar Civilization!
Humanity had finally earned the right to venture into a broader, boundless future!
Yet, when the final goal was actually reached, the people weren’t quite as euphoric as they had imagined they would be.
Perhaps, after more than 160 years of relentless, grinding effort, their raw passion had slowly been worn down into a steady, disciplined habit. For generations, the sole meaning of human existence had been achieving controlled nuclear fusion and overcoming the Great Filter.
Now that it was finally finished, a strange, collective sense of emptiness washed over the population.
Perhaps spending over a century on the dark world of Nyx had inevitably fostered a deep emotional attachment.
Looking around the assembly room, Jason saw many familiar faces, as well as a new generation of brilliant minds who had joined the leadership. Thanks to the rapid advancement of medical science, human lifespans had drastically increased. Furthermore, the widespread adoption of Neural Implants had finally made successful bonding with the "Perfect Element" a reality rather than a pipe dream.
"Alright, everyone! Do you really want to stay on this godforsaken rock forever? I’ve had absolutely enough of this place! Even if we have to live on a ship for a long time, we at least need to find a planet with real sunlight, a tolerable temperature, and a breathable atmosphere!" Dr. Arthur Lambert complained loudly, his voice full of dramatic frustration.
"Now that we are a legitimate Interstellar Civilization with the ability to travel between the stars, shouldn’t we go find a pretty planet to actually settle down on?"
His blunt complaints immediately broke the heavy tension in the room, alleviating the lingering sense of melancholy.
He was right. The dark, frozen wasteland of Nyx simply did not meet humanity’s long-term needs!
Jason smiled, finalizing the assembly’s decision. "Everyone, you have one week to wrap up all of your current projects. Initiate the recall order for all surface personnel. In seven days, we begin the true... interstellar era!"
Hearing the words "interstellar era," a renewed thrill finally sparked through the crowd.
The room erupted into loud cheers and applause as the officials shook off their lingering sadness.
Things in this world always seemed to happen in ways that surprised people. Initially, everyone had despised the dark, oppressive environment of Nyx. But over the decades, they had actually developed a deep emotional bond with it. Especially for the younger generations born there, Nyx had become humanity’s second motherland.
Even Jason felt the weight of it in his chest. exactly like a traveler bidding a final farewell to his childhood home.