Chapter 222: Arrival
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Human Calendar Ninth year...
Three years had passed since mankind populated the new planet. In other words, one year after the neutron star fragnt was discovered. At the sa ti, it had been five months since the Observer departed.
The Observer first circled around the new planet for acceleration and then used the gravitational energy of the planet to reach a speed of almost 500,000 ters per second. This alone took a month to prepare. Therefore, the actual ti the Observer had spent in space was only four months. Four months of travelling at a constant speed of 500,000 ters per second ant that it had covered five thousand million ters, or thirty plus astronomic units!
Then the Observer started to decelerate. Three high-power particle propulsion systems fired up from the front for almost a week. Finally, the Observer had reached its destination, about ten million kiloters away from the neutron star fragnt’s forward trajectory.
"So how is it, Professor? Can the Observer survive being so close to the fragnt?" Ying addressed the group of scientists who hovered around a bunch of equipnt.
The leading scientist was Alan. With his status at the most influential astrophysicist on the Hope, he could very well bow out of this dangerous mission, but his scientific curiosity couldn’t be stopped. After all, this was an once-in-a-lifeti chance to observe the impossibility of neutron star up close. Therefore, he forced his way into the Observer.
At that mont, confusion colored his face. After studying the figures on screen, he turned to speak with Ying. "This is weird, simply too weird. Logically speaking, since the fragnt is about one-thousandth of the sun’s mass density, with our current location, such close proximity to the fragnt, the Observer should have felt its gravitational pull, but why..."
"Why what?" Ying and the soldiers behind him asked.
Alan shook his head. "The Observer is not under the influence of any gravitational pull. Simply put, we are like idling in the wide cosmos, not near any celestial entity. However, both the latest electromagnetic radar and the traditional telescopic surveillance system show the presence of the fragnt. This is too weird..."
A flash of excitent temporarily entered Ying’s expression, but he quickly reverted to his usual serious self. He thought about it and said, "Professor, then do you think what the Chancellor said was the truth? The neutron star fragnt is nothing but an illusion, a mind-trick played on us by a more powerful civilization?"
Alan hesitated. He discussed it with the group of scientists and Bo Li, who was given special permission to tag along, and replied, "Previously I thought the possibility of that was pretty low, but now I have my doubts. After all, gravity is a constant force. Since the Observer is not exposed to any gravitational influence, then perhaps there is truly nothing there..."
By then, the Observer was incredibly far away from their solar system’s sun. Previously, the Observer crossed a haphazard asteroid field. According to Alan, the field consisted of astronomical scraps that were pulled by the sun’s gravity when it was forming. However, they failed to form a planet, so now they floated around the solar system’s outer fringe.
Simultaneously, the Observer was ten million kiloters away from the fragnt. The distance made it extrely difficult to spot the neutron star fragnt via naked eye. Furthermore, the fragnt didn’t glow and was far enough away from the sun to not get ward by its rays. These made observation incredibly difficult.
Everyone turned their eyes towards Ying. He was the captain of the Observer and the commander of the Observer Operation. Even though the data had confird that there was no source of gravity and thus they could already return ho, technically speaking, the operation was still uncompleted.
Ying ruminated for a while before turning towards Zhang Heng. "Zhang Heng, what do you think? Do you sense any danger?"
Zhang Heng hesitated. He suddenly closed his eyes and focused. A long ti later, he said, "This is a weird feeling, one I have not experienced before."
The people’s interest was piqued. Zhang Heng was mankind’s most powerful Diviner. His power hadn’t let them down before, but what did he an by a weird feeling? ‘Is there any danger’ was a yes or no question, so why ‘there is a weird feeling?’
Zhang Heng explained after formulating his thought, "What I an is that while I’m on the Observer, I feel safe, no signs of danger at all, but there..." Zhang Heng pointed at the direction of the supposed neutron star fragnt and continued, "There is a huge danger warning down from that way, an inexplicable danger, like a ticking atomic bomb, one that could engulf us whole at any minute."
The room was silent. They had a hard ti understanding the actual situation. First there was no gravitational pull when they neared the neutron star fragnt, and now there was Zhang Heng’s danger warning. Could it be that the fragnt was actually an alien warship troop in hiding?
Ying suddenly said, "We’ll take the Observer close to the fragnt. The mont we picked up any trace of gravitational force, we’ll stop or reverse. Zhang Heng, be on the ready; tell us if you sense any changes."
Since it was the captain’s order, everyone moved to oblige. Furthermore, the crew themselves were curious. There were many questions that needed to be answered. Was there really a neutron star fragnt? Under what kind of circumstances did it exist? How co there was no gravitational reading? What was this mysterious source of danger?
The Observer inched closer to the fragnt cautiously at 50 kiloters per second. It covered only 180,000 kiloters per hour, and for a total distance of ten million kiloters, it was nothing.
Just like that, everyone stayed on high alert as the distance slowly closed...
Twenty four hours later, the Observer was only six million kiloters away from the fragnt, almost half of the initial distance. However, from the Observer’s surveillance devices, there were still no traces of a gravitational pull. It was like there was truly nothing before them.
It was a mixture of emotions for the scientists. They simultaneously wished for the neutron star fragnt to be there and to not be there. It was, of course, a cause for celebration for the military n and won. The threat to the new planet seed more and more likely to be a hoax.
Ying gave his order for the Observer to stop at six million kiloters from the fragnt for everyone to rest and sleep. Surveillance was done in rotation. As Ying put it, a fresh body and mind is most important for one to stay alert.
The crew was instead tired after a twenty-four-hour-long state of heightened ntal exhaustion. Three days of rest later, the crew was ready to resu the operation. Ying had the speed accelerated and they went ever closer to the neutron star fragnt.
Five million kiloters, four million kiloters, three million kiloters...
There was still no gravitational reading on the devices, so more and more started to believe the neutron star fragnt was just a deception. When the Observer was only 100,000 ters away, a shot of high-power energy beam was fired at the neutron star fragnt’s supposed location. A magnificent and unbelievable sight appeared before everyone’s eyes.
When it hit the neutron star fragnt, the energy beam spot curved and billowed out in the shape of a floweret. A 5,000 kiloter oval light orb appeared out of thin air, refracting and reflecting the light.
The photosphere was spinning and transforming at incredibly high speeds, causing a kaleidoscope-esque mirage. Every single transformation had its own unique, artistic appeal; it was like the Observer was given a postmodern light show. The Observer’s energy beam was twisted into this surprising and eerie art.
"The light has refracted and it’s escaping the neutron star fragnt’s gravitational scope in a parabolic state. God, the neutron star fragnt is real... This is unbelievable, its gravitational force is constrained within its 5,000 kiloter radius. What kind of trendous force could possibly do sothing like this? To so accurately inhibit the fragnt’s enormous gravitational force within a 5,000 kiloter radius?" Alan exclaid in surprise. The shock was evident in all the other scientists’ faces.
The neutron star fragnt was real!
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