APTnovel Chapter 200 Space Program
Chapter 200 Space Program
This trip to S City was much smoother than their trip to Beijing; they didn't encounter any crazy bird attacks along the way.
However, the rather embarrassing thing is that no matter how Lu Yuan makes the system search, it cannot find the specific location of the East China Space Research Institute.
“We’ve already circled around S City,” Yang Xiao said, peering down at the city below.
Unlike Beijing, which is mostly covered in snow, S City is located on the coast and at a relatively low altitude. Although the outside temperature is still below zero and much colder than the South China base, the snow layer is not actually very thick.
“The ground below is all ice, and the buildings are severely damaged. Without coordinates, we have no way of finding the East China Space Research Institute.” Zhong Qiang, like Yang Xiao, observed the situation on the ground. In some of the frozen buildings, frozen people and zombies could still be seen.
"I've already had the starship retrieve all the data in its database." Lu Yuan's starship database is from 2135 onwards; he just doesn't know if the original Earth data will still be stored in the interstellar database established at that time.
"Then we can only continue to circle around." Yang Xiao knew that there was no use in being anxious now, so he could only continue to wait.
"Did you see that? There are so many zombies frozen in this building." Zhong Qiang pointed to a dilapidated high-rise building in the area where they were currently hovering. If he remembered correctly, this should be the famous tallest building in S City, which was only completed at the beginning of this year.
"If they're thawed, will the zombies be alive or dead?" Zhong Qiang continued to ask.
"Little Zhong, are there any living zombies?" Yang Xiao originally wanted to join in the discussion, but after hearing Zhong Qiang's comments about whether the zombies were alive or dead, his words turned into a sarcastic remark.
"Oh dear, that was just a slip of the tongue." Zhong Qiang chuckled sheepishly, then turned to Lu Yuan, "How about we find a place to land? Then get something to eat and rest?"
"I'd like to, but these tall buildings were probably submerged by seawater before they froze, so they're probably filled with frozen seawater." Lu Yuan looked at the ice below. He was genuinely worried that even if he found the location of the East China Space Research Institute, he wouldn't be able to get in and obtain the relevant data.
"Lu Xiaoyuan..." Yang Xiao realized what was happening when he saw Lu Yuan's expression. "What should we do if everything down here freezes?"
"I'd also like to ask you that question," Lu Yuan suddenly said, sounding somewhat deflated.
"I have a question, but I'm not sure if I should ask it," Zhong Qiang suddenly said, approaching the two dejected men.
"Speak your mind, or shut up." Yang Xiao glanced at Zhong Qiang, then huddled up with Lu Yuan.
“In many of the zombie novels, movies, and TV series I’ve read, it turns out that the source of the zombie virus was created by humans. Some were created to persecute powerful countries, like China; some were created to extend human lifespan; and some were created to improve the physical fitness of combat personnel.” Zhong Qiang suddenly looked at Lu Yuan and Yang Xiao seriously. “Look, aren’t we now combat personnel whose physical fitness has been improved, since we’ve awakened our superpowers?”
"Little Zhong!" Yang Xiao suddenly looked up and then grabbed Zhong Qiang's shoulders with both hands. "I really want to give you a thumbs up right now!"
“That’s right, how come we didn’t think of that!” Lu Yuan suddenly seemed to have a breakthrough. “The Star Project is a space program. Is it possible that one of its projects is a research project about improving human physique and combat effectiveness?”
"So, the zombie virus is actually the result of this project's failure," Yang Xiao stated his judgment.
“Very likely!” Zhong Qiang nodded heavily, then continued to express his thoughts: “Moreover, according to what you two have said, based on the script I’ve read, China definitely won’t participate in such a plan. Even if we did participate at the beginning, we would definitely withdraw later when we discovered problems.”
"So, why didn't our country withdraw, and instead launched the 'Starry Sea Project'?" Lu Yuan also agreed with their current idea, which originated from artistic creation.
“Then we’ll have to bring together all of them.” Yang Xiao patted Zhong Qiang and Lu Yuan on the shoulder and continued, “Now let’s review the post-apocalyptic literature we’ve each read.”
“The American savior genre, the earliest apocalyptic literature.” Zhong Qiang spoke first. “When I was a kid, my dad loved watching this kind of movie. Back then, they called it American blockbusters, popcorn movies. It was the movie that was shown the most in theaters when he was a kid.”
“My dad loves watching this kind of thing too!” Lu Yuan thought of his father, who was still frozen in G City, and wondered how he was doing. But now was not the time to be sentimental. He thought for a moment and then continued, “What I remember most vividly is that in this type of work, the virus is either created by R country or some small, peripheral country as revenge against society, or it is brought by extraterrestrial visitors.”
"Visitors from outer space!" Yang Xiao grasped the key point again.
"So the 'Star Project' might not be a human-driven project, but rather a plan to defend against extraterrestrial visitors?" Lu Yuan was somewhat puzzled. "So even though our country discovered problems with some projects, we still decided to continue the project and formulated the 'Star Sea Project' as a contingency plan?"
"This is too mind-boggling." Zhong Qiang felt his head was about to explode when he heard them say that. "If we find the East China Space Research Institute but can't get in, do we have to go back to Beijing and go in through that desert gate?"
"Holy crap! I feel like I've been underestimating you." Zhong Qiang had grasped the key points very accurately several times today, which suddenly made Yang Xiao admire him a bit, and even suspect that he might have secretly acquired some special skills.
"That was the only option we had," Lu Yuan nodded.
"Regardless, the zombie virus is definitely a product of these two projects." Yang Xiao summarized all their previous speculations simply. "If the 'Star Project' was the initial joint human space program, and this program went wrong, leading to the emergence of the zombie virus, and our country proposed the 'Star Sea Project' as a remedy, then why do other countries not recognize our 'Star Sea Project' and still insist on pursuing the 'Star Project'?"
“Exactly, that damn ‘Project Star’ has already created a zombie virus, why not give up and keep going?” Zhong Qiang asked as well.
“Because of the failure of the ‘Star Project,’ other countries, or rather some of the leading countries, have accepted it. After all, if it’s about resisting extraterrestrial visitors, or if humanity needs to leave Earth, how can we take hundreds of billions of people with us?” Lu Yuan’s mention of hundreds of billions of people is not an exaggeration. Around 2059, a sudden surge in global population growth occurred, with birth rates in various countries suddenly rising, causing the global population to exceed 10 billion. It continued to grow year by year, and the latest data shows that the global population has reached 26.5 billion.
"They couldn't take everyone with them, so they secretly released the virus, intending to let the fittest survive!" Zhong Qiang could hardly believe what he had just said.
“So it turns out it wasn’t natural selection, but the choice of a few individuals.” Yang Xiao suddenly laughed. “Then, could the people in the national base be those who were ultimately chosen?”