Chapter 214: The Decisive Battle, No. 7's Strategy_1
No. 7: "Every technology has its limitations.
"Take radar wave detection as an example, the Waterdrop is completely invisible under radar detection due to its surface characteristics.
"You have a bad habit, which is also the most critical flaw, you usually don't aim telescopes at the sun, not even if it doesn't damage the instruments, which actually makes it safest for the Waterdrop to hide amid the solar rays.
"This is what you call 'darkness under the lamp,' even when it's very close to you.
"But you can still observe the Waterdrop from other directions, especially from a few observation stations on Mercury's orbit.
"We, too, have countermeasures, just add some mirrors.
"There are similar applications in human life, by placing a mirror at 45 degrees to the front and rear of an object, and correspondingly placing two mirrors at 45 degrees on the sides.
"From in front of the object, we can directly see the things behind it, as if the object had 'become invisible'.
"The principle is very simple, just like a periscope in the shape of the character '几', which uses four reflections of light. This is also the trick that magicians like the most.
"However, the mirrors used by the Waterdrop are not so simple, they are relatively complex, but the principle is the same.
"The Waterdrop has the ability to manufacture simply; its tail is like a probe, releasing high temperatures to melt asteroid material into molten glass, and then, using the Waterdrop's tail probe, it carves the mirrors. With our control precision, this isn't difficult for us.
"Based on this principle, it can only become invisible from a single direction. We also change the orientation of the mirrors based on the location of human visible light detectors to hide the Waterdrop behind them.
"If humans use radar wave detectors, the mirrors can also turn and hide behind the Waterdrop.
"Although the Waterdrop manipulates the mirrors with extreme precision, if you were to increase the resolution of your detectors, you could detect the anomaly.
"And there are many ways to crack this, such as multiple detectors exploring a single point from different directions, or simultaneous detection using radar waves and visible light, which would leave us nowhere to hide.
"But you have never done so, and the Waterdrop has already reached and hidden for nearly four months. During these months, your attention has always been elsewhere, but you neglected what was behind you.
"You had many opportunities to discover the Waterdrop, but you missed them.
"Luck is part of war, and since you missed it, you must accept the judgment of fate.
"You strategized us into suppression for two hundred years.
"Today... we have also come face to face with humanity on the level of stratagem!"
Clearly, No. 7 seemed to be venting the pent-up emotions of two hundred years, having been looked down upon by the opponent for two hundred years, and now finally having the chance to counterattack.
The silence of these two hundred years seemed like an accumulation of strength for this moment of eruption. No. 7 seemed to want to release all the humiliation and repression of these two hundred years through this action.
Lin Sen sat on the ground, his eyes emitting a hint of powerlessness and self-mockery.
It seemed like he was tired, not just physically exhausted, but also mentally drained.
"Heh heh..." Lin Sen laughed bitterly again, "It seems mankind has utterly failed.
"I always felt there was something I hadn't considered, but I never figured it out. And now I've failed because of a trick used by a mere magician.
"The Global Broadcast Station has been destroyed by you, and you've blocked out the sun.
"The Human Fleet against the Waterdrop is like a mantis trying to stop a chariot—everything went beyond my expectations.
"I always thought I could control everything, but I didn't expect that in the end, I would be defeated by my own arrogance and conceit.
"The only thing humans surpass you in is cunning, and yet, we have been outmaneuvered by you, too.
"He who is good at water dies by water; he who is good at scheming dies by schemes.
"I spent my life playing tricks, but in the end, I was defeated by them. What a great irony."
Lin Sen took a deep breath, trying to calm his agitated emotions. "On Earth, life has evolved for 4 billion years, and it is going to end today.
"Human civilization was just preparing to step into the universe, only to face an impending disaster."
"I so wish I could go outside and see, even if it's the Dark Forest—I want to know how far we can make it in this forest."
"Will you do me one favor?"
"Record the complete history of humanity, carry the scroll of our civilization, and let it flow through the universe alongside yours."
"Our history, our culture, our art—they are all unique treasures."
"They deserve to be remembered and deserve to be passed on by you."
No. 7: "Your history and culture indeed deserve to be remembered and passed on.
"We promise to record your history in full and to let the treasures of your civilization flow through the universe with ours.
"Moreover, we will spend a great deal of time uncovering your history; we cherish your culture greatly, as it is also our most precious wealth.
"But do you really resign yourself to such a failure?"
"Have you really given up just like that?"
"Are you truly willing to accept such an ending?"
Lin Sen still maintained a deflated posture: "No need to probe anymore.
"The only hope for humanity now is that a few battleships can escape your pursuit, even if just one—that is our hope.
"I hope our name can remain in some corner of the universe."
No. 7 always felt something was amiss, probing again: "You still have a Global Broadcast Station; if you could broadcast, the Deep Space Fleet could escape, and the spark of human civilization could be preserved.
"You could at least preserve the spark of human civilization."
Lin Sen weakly responded: "Is the last one really still useful?
"I understand you; you wouldn't leave such a huge loophole. I'm afraid it would be destroyed by you as soon as it appears!"
No. 7: "Indeed, The Waterdrop will reach the foggy region in five minutes, and the Global Broadcast Station will be destroyed as soon as it appears outside the fog.
"You are too late. Every step of our actions is extremely precise.
"We simulated the overall plan for the war tens of thousands of times, incorporating the study of every individual's behavior into it. All your actions have been predicted.
"You think you're leading us by the nose, while we also have you tethered."
Lin Sen seemed to muster the last bit of his strength to say: "Hines, I have failed, and humanity has failed.
"Let Rey Diaz lead all the battleships to break out!
"The fate of humanity is about to end, may our will and civilization be forever recorded in history.
"I too will end my life!
"Trisolaran... may... you fare well on your journey!"
PS: Rey Diaz: Tsk, tsk... you really aren't afraid of playing No. 7 to death.
Lin Sen: Can you blame me? Isn't it just to improve our odds of winning? He said I was too arrogant, didn't he? If he wasn't arrogant, how would we have had a chance? Besides, being a good actor isn't my fault.
Hines: Let it go, with your over-the-top acting, you could only fool the Trisolarans. In the original story, look at my performance when I was breached—that totally outdid you. Don't believe me? Ask the readers, how many of them thought it was all an act.
No. 7: I feel somewhat offended.
Tyler: As a dead man, I wouldn't usually comment. But we feel that when negotiating peace with the Trisolarans, their first demand was to give Lin Sen a good beating.
Lin Sen: If you haven't learned Chinese well, don't speak.
No. 7: Even though I'm the biggest victim, I think Tyler's suggestion is excellent.