Deep Space Wandering Fleet-Chapter 171 - 172 Subatomic Solid State

Chapter 171: Chapter 172 Subatomic Solid State

Chapter 171: Chapter 172 Subatomic Solid State

In the Central Control Room, the atmosphere was very oppressive.

Captain Zhao and his team were tensely monitoring the movements of the high-dimensional fragment. Ever since it had appeared, it felt like a huge stone was pressing on their hearts, and they hadn’t had a good night’s sleep since.

Various instruments tirelessly performed remote scans, fearing that, at any moment, they might accidentally trigger its activation mechanism.

Yet everyone was somewhat hoping for it to be triggered.

In just half a day, a temporary high explosive bomb had been set up near the high-dimensional fragment. For so many scientists, making a high explosive bomb with the available materials was simply too easy.

However, Captain Zhao Qingfeng still felt waves of headaches, experiencing no sense of security whatsoever.

The main reason was the inadequacy of human military strength.

After scouring the entire cabin, all they managed to put together was this remote-controlled bomb and a few mechanical rifles, and that was all.

A nuclear bomb? Impossible…

The firepower of a single high explosive bomb simply couldn’t bring any sense of security,

It wasn’t that Zhao Qingfeng was timid, but—if they really encountered aliens or some strange life form, humans would stand no chance of fighting back.

But there was nothing they could do. When Earth Era had embarked on this journey, they hadn’t carried many weapons; one reason was the difficulty in maintaining such delicate arms, and another was the lack of tonnage to carry them. A nuclear bomb, after thousands of years, had a 99.99% probability of failing, or even posing safety risks, so they simply didn’t bring any.

Now, they were paying the price.

Zhao Qingfeng shook his head, calming his spirit.

According to the scientists’ speculation, the high-dimensional fragment might be used for several purposes.

First, as an experimental apparatus; it might not actually be a high-dimensional space, but rather an experimental product used to simulate various properties of high-dimensional space.

In this scenario, humans were safest, since the experimental product had already been damaged by the supernova, and aliens would likely not come knocking, demanding things from humans. So they could boldly explore.

Second, as a container for certain materials!

In theory, a high-dimensional space could carry almost unlimited three-dimensional materials, such as energy and resources.

In this scenario, humans would strike it big, potentially extracting even more valuable items from it!

The third conjecture was the most outrageous, yet it was what people feared most—an interstellar portal!

“Think about it, a high-level civilization. Wouldn’t they know that this supernova is about to explode? Even we know this fact!”

A middle-aged scientist argued heatedly, his face red and neck bulging, “Would they be foolish enough to let the supernova destroy their device?”

“No, they wouldn’t!”

“So… they did it on purpose!”

“Because this is an interstellar portal. The shattered high-dimensional fragment could spread throughout the Milky Way during this supernova explosion. With these fragments, a super-civilization could easily travel across the galaxy.”

“We must prevent this scenario…”

Captain Zhao couldn’t help but pat his aching head; weren’t these people’s imaginations a bit too wild?

But then again, it kind of made sense.

One scenario led to soaring success, the other to humans being utterly defeated and wiped out by aliens.

Even though this issue had already been discussed and voted on in the meeting, the debates continued incessantly.

As a leader, Captain Zhao instinctively wanted to throw out the fragment, but he couldn’t bear to part with it, with a bunch of scientists fiercely opposing it. So after a long hassle, he could only attach a bomb to it—if anything really happened, they would just detonate it…

“Alright, alright, no more arguing!”

“Since the meeting has voted to keep it for experimentation, let’s just keep it for now!”

“Can the results of a vote be changed arbitrarily?”

Captain Zhao slammed his hand on the table heavily; time had etched authority onto his face, he was no longer that young man from before.

The noisy scientists finally left reluctantly.

After a while, a new report appeared on the computer screen. Zhao Qingfeng hastily read it; preliminary research results were in—the high-dimensional fragment was composed of a type of unstable subatomic particles! Its surface temperature had already gone below absolute zero!

Reading the text carefully, veins on Zhao Qingfeng’s forehead throbbed as he took several deep breaths.

As a highly educated intellectual, he certainly understood what this meant.

It was simply… unimaginable!

Below absolute zero indicated that a massive amount of vacuum zero-point energy was extracted from that area!

Thump, thump, thump, the door to the office sounded a few times, and in walked a very familiar person.

Zhao Qingfeng’s tone eased slightly, feeling a sense of security, “Zhang Yuan, how’s your leg?”

“Yes, thanks to those biologists. How’s the research on the high-dimensional fragment going?”

“Take a look at this report first.”

Upon examining it, Zhang Yuan also frowned, remaining silent.

This peculiar subatomic particle had an extremely small mass. The gravitational field it produced could affect electromagnetic waves, altering the trajectory of these waves, essentially qualifying as a form of dark matter. This electromagnetic effect was far weaker than that of normal matter.

Second, the multidimensional momentum of the subatomic particles was less than that of known atoms, existing at temperatures below absolute zero, therefore appearing to be fixed in place, forming something like a shard of broken glass.

“Theoretically, subatomic particles can’t stably exist in space and would decompose in an instant. But now, as the space temperature is below absolute zero, it appears to be solidified… Though it’s not exactly solidification, but rather a very bizarre state…”

Zhang Yuan, frowning, said, “So, providing a large amount of energy to shift it from this state, these subatomic particles would decompose and expose the twisted points behind?”

Senior Brother Zhao said, “Yes, theoretically, it’s highly likely!”

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“After some time, this weird material would automatically reset and seal off this high-dimensional space. The reason behind this, we don’t know… but this method of sealing off high-dimensional space is indeed very ingenious.”

Zhang Yuan said, “I’m now rather interested in this subatomic solidification technology… Its hardness is higher than diamond, and the material strength has completely surpassed the scope of intermolecular forces… Could it be strong interaction?”

“It shouldn’t be. We don’t even have a theoretical basis.”

The room fell silent for a while.

What’s the point of discussing “subatomic particles” here? Isn’t it like missing the forest for the trees?

Since the high-dimensional fragment, under the action of a massive amount of energy, had been reactivated, the second exploration could be prepared.

But, a problem lay ahead—who should be sent in? One misstep, and a person might die.

Sending in a robot would result in no return and no transmission of any valid information.

After pondering for a long time, Zhang Yuan took the initiative to say, “If it really comes down to it, let me go take a look. As long as we are well-prepared, escaping back shouldn’t be too hard. It’s easier the second time around…”

Senior Brother Zhao uneasily said, “Should we add one more person?”

“No need, one person is enough. The mass distribution for two people is different, making calculations even more troublesome.”