Age of Cosmic Exploration

While the Hope’s high officials were in a mess trying to come to an agreed solution to deal with the provocation from the gathered alien civilizations, time was ticking and the amount of alien races outside of the Hope had reached 130 plus. The words they used were increasingly incendiary and impolite; there were even requests to hand over a certain amount of soul as compensation. In other words, they demanded the Hope surrendered their livestock or... members of the human race!

How was that possible? Even Yao Yuan could not submit to that demand, much less these representatives and officials who wanted to yield. If they did surrender, peace could be maintained temporarily with brute force, but the cracks would have happened. At most, in the next ten years, the human race would implode upon itself.

Then what should they do?

Before Yao Yuan appeared to make the decision, an increasing number of high officials agreed to leave the Shelter. After all, since the Shelter had nothing but hostility towards them, under these circumstances, they might as well. The opponent wanted them to leave the Shelter, and that might not be that bad of an idea.

Only those who knew about the actual information, such as the presence of space merchants, were worried. Leaving the Shelter? If the level 3 space civilizations knew about the actual truth of the human situation, then leaving the Shelter equalled to signing their death warrants, because then the level 3 space civilizations could openly attack and raid the Hope.

Therefore, the Hope was truly in the grasp of chaos in these two days. As the number of people who knew about the truth increased, the number of civilians that were clued in to the situation also increased. The entire ship was in deep discussion, and the majority wished to leave this hostile Shelter as soon as possible.

In the human society, only a small number of people wished for resistance and war...

Two days later, Guang Zhen’s group, who had received the emergency call, finally reached the Hope. When they arrived at the harbor, the place already had more than a thousand aliens, each in their unique get-ups. At the far corners, they could spot many level 2 space civilizations’ siege engines. At first glance, it looked like these people and weapons were surrounding the Hope, like they were preparing for war!

Even though Guang Zhen’s group knew something serious had happened, this was ultimately inside a Shelter, so their communication with the Hope when they were outside would be monitored at all times. Plenty of information was not communicated, they were only called to get back to the ship as soon as possible. They were not given any actual information.

Therefore, when they saw the situation outside of the Hope, everyone’s jaws were on the floor. This was especially true for Blue 6. His mouth was gaping. This was a Shelter! Could it be that those level 3 space civilizations no longer wanted to keep this Shelter? How could they openly threaten to raid inside a Shelter? This was something even those at the peak of level 3 space civilizations would not attempt to do.

However, upon closer observation, Blue 6 realized that there were no signs of combat and that those present in the rally were all wearing level 2 space civilization armor and spacesuits, and most were on the lower end of level 2 space civilizations. As someone from a senior space race, the Blue Race, this level of observation still could not escape Blue 6’s eyes.

Then what was really going on? Did these lower level 2 space civilizations not want to live anymore? Even though the Hope was not a level 3 space civilization yet, it was definitely a high end level 2 space civilization. They might only have one spaceship, but in the context of a real war, they could definitely grind these people into dust.

Think about it this way: the Hope belonged to a civilization that had the Genesis, and they had enough cosmic adapters to pilot Space Combat Jet Prototype 011s. These civilizations with electromagnetic shields were completely no match for that. Furthermore, Blue 6 was certain that these gathered civilizations were on their decline and that most of their population were retards. If they could truly pose a threat to the human race, which was full of elites, then truly the world had gone insane.

So these weak races were there to seek death? Even though technically speaking, the Hope would not be able to launch any attack inside the Shelter.

Blue 6, unlike the human race, who had been facing a series of traumatic encounters ever since they left Earth, came from the Blue Race, the kingly existence that practically ruled over the cosmos. He had never felt so insulted in his race’s thousand year reign. The thing that angered him the most was that the humiliation was directed towards the human race that he was currently serving, the race he had high hopes for, and the race he sincerely wished would rise to the top!

This was such a face slap!

Guang Zhen had a drawn face, Blue 6 was furious beyond belief, and the others either were in shock, fear, anger, or confusion as they entered the Hope under the scrutiny of these thousand plus aliens. The thought of rest was tossed out of their minds as they rushed to the Hope’s central command. When they arrived, they noticed that Yao Yuan was already in discussion with about ten people.

Guang Zhen knew that this was not the time for decency. He directly interrupted the discussion by asking Yao Yuan, "Ol’ Yao, what is the situation now? Our confidential methods have been in effect ever since we entered this Shelter, so why are there so many aliens surrounding us? What happened?"

Yao Yuan nodded silently. After he concluded the discussion with the group of people, he pulled Guang Zhen aside. "Things are a bit complicated... internally and externally. Don’t rush. Sit down and I will explain everything to you."

Guang Zhen and the rest of his group, including Blue 6, ran to central command. They were still panting for breath. Guang Zhen took a few deep breaths and found a chair nearby to sit on. After a few seconds, he said, "Ol’ Yao, just cut to the chase, what has happened and how bad is it?"

Yao Yuan sighed. "Do you still remember the space merchants? The dying civilization that fought with us? We discovered their people among the collection of aliens gathered outside..."

Then Yao Yuan continued to relay all the information to Guang Zhen and gave him the extrapolation constructed by the two Thinkers.

"...After our analysis, we agreed that the space merchants did not announce our actual situation to the whole universe yet, or else we would not be dealing with only these level 2 space civilizations but also some level 3 space civilizations...

"...Secondly, the space merchants’ plan is probably to chase us out of this Shelter just so they can ’legally’ attack us out of the confines of the Shelter. For this, they have collaborated with other level 2 space civilizations, but I doubt they have revealed to them that their main purpose was to go after our Homo Evolutis...

"...So we definitely cannot leave this Shelter."

Blue 6 was listening quietly when Yao Yuan was in conversation with Guang Zhen. Even though he was confused by some of the words, he did not interrupt, because one of them was the Hope’s Emperor and the other the Hope’s royal prince. His position did not allow him to comment... at least that was what his education under the feudal system taught him.

Therefore, when their conversation reached a lull, before they continued to discuss the method to overcome this, he excused himself and left. He did not say anything as he returned to his residence with his adjutant in tow. He found two Black Star Troopers on duty and two other Ambassadors of Peace assigned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and started to enquire after the incident that happened between humanity and the space merchants.

"...Once raided by space merchants? That kind of retarded civilization? Okay, so the Hope was just becoming a level 2 space civilization?"

"...What? They have killed your people?!"

"...What? Even killed cosmic adapters?!!!"

"...What? Even the Black Star Unit, the royal committee that would be next to take the throne had lost one member?!!! Lost many cosmic adapters as well?!!"

"...What... Did not wipe them out... and let them go..."

Blue 6 was first shocked, then angered, then furious, like the anger was going to explode from his head. The more he learned, the colder his tone become. Eventually, his words were simply laced with iciness.

"Get all the Ambassadors of Peace and Defense Unit soldiers to gather! It is time for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to do some work! Let us go to the House of Representatives first! I need a final confirmation on whether we should be doing this or not!"

When Blue 6 said so, the few adjutants seemed to realize something. One of them quickly fussed around Blue 6, helping him smooth down the creases on his shirt. The rest of them started to make calls. The Ambassadors of Peace and Defense Unit soldiers were officially under the rules of the Barracks, so they managed to gather in the shortest period of time. Then they followed Blue 6 to the House of Representatives.

At the House of Representatives, Blue 6 did not enter to give any speech but stood at the entrance listening to the various representatives’ arguments. Most of them were discussing the options of leaving the Hope, or bribing them with gold, or appealing to the level 3 space civilizations. They were focusing on various forms of compromise...

Blue 6’s expression was even colder when he heard this. Even those Black Star Troopers and Defense Unit soldiers were incensed. Of course, there was worry mixed in as well.

"Let us go."

Blue 6 suddenly turned and whispered this order. Then he moved to a secluded corner to put on his space armor... Yes, as a Homo Evolutis, or the Blue Race’s cosmic adapter, even though Yao Yuan would not return the Blue Race’s combat spacesuit to him, he had still assigned him his personal Black Star Space Armor.

Then Blue 6’s group arrived at one of the Hope’s entrances that led down to the harbor. Using his internal communicator, he gave a speech to all the communicators with the same frequency. This included all the Black Star Troopers and the Hope’s central command.

"This is Blue 6, the Hope’s government and human civilization’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. Here, I will commit to my responsibility and duty as the Minister of Foreign Affairs... and represent humanity to declare war on the space merchants!

"This is not only because they have killed humanity’s most precious cosmic adapters, not only because they are currently provoking us, not only because they have in their grasp humanity’s biggest secret, not only because of all this...

"But because the space merchants are currently trampling on our human souls! They are trampling on our spirits and hope!

"As the sixth heir to the Blue Race’s throne, ever since I was young, I was given the education of one universal truth... In space, being weak is not a sin, but the real sin is being contentment with weakness, thinking one belongs in the realm of the weak, resistant to improvements. This kind of lifeform, this kind of race, we call them enslaved races! We are allowed to kill their people, humiliate them, and trample on them because the enslaved are the most disgusting and degrading existence in space!

"Now the space merchants and these dying level 2 space civilizations are treating us like an enslaved race, and I did not see the agitation, the anger, and the fury for combat that I should be seeing. Honestly, I am greatly disappointed. Humanity, the race that I swore my fealty to, why... why are you acting like this? Isn’t this humiliation enough for you to take up arms and fight? Or... is your desire for life so strong that it has overshadowed your will to fight for your dignity? In that case, why not surrender yourself to be reared as livestock by these aliens?

"Now... I will take this step with the Ambassadors of Peace, all the Defense Unit soldiers, and the Black Star Troopers. Of course, I know about the Barracks’ ban that prevents any Black Star Troopers from leaving the Hope. And I have no idea how many will take this step with me, but regardless, this is a step that has to be made. I have prepared to lay down my life not for the Blue Race, not for my name, but for you humans, on whom I have set store a great amount of hope. Humans, listen to me... The glory of a civilizations comes not from economy, science, or population, but from blood and soul, life and combat!

"I may die, but I will never regret this decision that I have made, because... to be able to save a civilization, one that I approve of and predict will have a glorious future, to save it from the shackles of an enslaved race, I am nothing but proud!

"And... today... at this moment!

"I will represent you to declare this war!"

Unbeknownst to him, Blue 6’s voice was tweaked at central command to be broadcasted throughout the Hope. Everyone, be it the higher officers or the civilians, they had heard everything he had to say. And as he said so, Blue 6 stepped out into the harbor with his head held high and his chest out. Behind him, the few Blue Race adjutants followed him with their heads held equally high...