Chapter 339 Prelude to the Great Battle on All Sides

Crisis Era, Year 445.

Trisolaran world, Council of Regents.

The conference hall was quite empty now, with the advisory teams behind each Governor greatly reduced. This was a reflection of the Trisolarans taking frugality to the extreme in the face of severe resource scarcity.

No. 7 addressed the few people in the vast conference hall, "The situation has become even more complex. What are your views on the unknown civilization? Can we analyze the civilization rank of the other party?"

The Science Governor pondered for a moment, "It is still difficult to make an accurate analysis for the time being. This unknown civilization gives us a very peculiar impression, as their technological development seems to suffer from serious imbalances.

"Based on our current observations, their technological level is roughly 1.2, but it could also reach 1.3. However, it is puzzling that many of their creations exhibit characteristics of level 1.1 or even 1.0.

"This may be due to the limitations of their civilization, but the rank of a civilization is generally determined by the level of its highest technology, because wars between civilizations often depend on the ability to deliver a fatal blow, not on the barrel principle.

"If the disparity in the technological creations of the unknown civilization is not a disguise, we believe it would be difficult for their civilization to advance any further, because ascension in civilization rank does concern the barrel principle."

No. 7 asked, "Then, how do you view Humanity's response to the message from the unknown civilization? What exactly is the intention behind Humanity's reply to this message?"

The Military Governor said, "We suspect that the unknown civilization has captured human warships or long-distance spaceships fleeing the Solar System and thereby learned of the existence of Human Civilization and even ours.

"Therefore, it is highly likely that the civilization rank of the unknown party is higher than ours, and we believe that their civilization's technological level should be at 1.3.

"But this is also the most baffling part for us. Why would an unknown civilization send a Messenger Spaceship to interact with Solar System humans in advance, as if they were seeking to communicate and negotiate resource trade with humans ahead of time?

"This is extremely abnormal; it is impossible in our understanding. They would not have come if they didn't want to destroy us unless there was some compelling reason that necessitated their coming.

"I've even considered whether the humans on the fleeing spaceship might have deceived the unknown civilization, luring them here.

"But that also doesn't make sense. Even if they managed to deceive the other party, it's highly unlikely that the unknown civilization would send a Messenger Spaceship in advance.

"That would be akin to letting the civilizations in the Solar System know and giving them 30 years to prepare. The unknown civilization wouldn't be so foolish. Such a mistake, like the one we made letting Humanity prepare for 400 years, is unlikely to happen a second time in the universe.

"As for the resource scarcity mentioned by the unknown civilization, that should be true. Otherwise, they wouldn't risk venturing into a Stellar System with other civilizations. But to what degree they are lacking resources, we can't ascertain.

"They must have a backup plan; otherwise, they wouldn't have easily exposed their vulnerability to Solar System humans.

"What's more strange is that Solar System humans haven't shown any special behavior either. They haven't demonstrated any special defensive or counterattack measures. This suggests that Humanity also has contingency plans.

"Both sides seem to feel that their respective contigency plans could subdue the other, but this feeling is so strange that it eludes our comprehension.

"However, I personally feel that Humanity has deceived the unknown civilization in some way. When the unknown civilization's planet-level spaceship enters the Solar System, they will surely be subdued by Humanity in some way.

"I even have a premonition that they will be quickly subdued in a very short span of time, without even having a chance to send out a Dark Forest distress signal."

The Science Governor objected, "That's hardly likely, considering that Humanity has only recently entered Civilization Rank 1.3, while the unknown civilization is likely a seasoned 1.3-level civilization.

"In warfare between equal-level civilizations, overwhelming victory is indeed possible, but the scope of interstellar battlefields is so vast, it's not possible to subdue a civilization in an instant.

"Now it seems that the unknown civilization is rather foolish in some respects, but their strength should not be so easily overcome by Humanity."

The Military Governor shook his head, "I also think it's unlikely, but that's my gut feeling, a strong premonition."

After thinking for a moment, the Strategy Governor suggested, "Should we attempt to contact this unknown civilization? Even if they don't trust us, they should increase their vigilance against Humanity.

"If they get locked into a deterrence balance with Humanity, it could also be an opportunity for us."

The Military Governor immediately dismissed the idea, "We must not do that.

"The operation is too complex, almost no margin for error is allowed, or we are likely to get burned.

"Moreover, the relationship between the unknown civilization and Humanity is too strange. There must be many key pieces of information that we are unaware of, and rash contact could backfire."

What the Military Governor did not mention was that the Mountain Civilization's fleet had already set sail. At this critical moment, it was not a good choice to involve the Trisolarans in a war between Humanity and the unknown civilization.

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Moreover, this operation is not something the Trisolarans can master, given the limited information known and its complexity, and there is no need for the Trisolarans to take such a risk.

Strategy Governor: "Then what should we do? We can't just do nothing, can we?" He looked forward to the Military Governor providing a clear plan of action.

Military Governor: "What we should do now is to detect the relationship between the unknown civilization and humanity.

"The behavior of the unknown civilization is so strange that we can't fathom their true intentions.

"Without clear key information, I can do nothing and dare not do anything.

"All we need to do is to send several Sophons to the planet-level spaceships of the unknown civilization. The unknown civilization should have the means to track and eliminate Sophons. So we must ensure that the Sophons maintain a sufficient distance from the spaceships to avoid detection. This is merely to make further assessments of them and to provide more basis for our subsequent actions."

"As for other deeper actions, I think it is best we don't act rashly for the time being."

No. 7 agreed: "Sending Sophons for reconnaissance is certain, as this is an important means for us to understand the unknown civilization.

"As for the war between humanity and the unknown civilization, we indeed should not intervene lightly.

"Although we know nothing about the unknown civilization, we do understand humanity. If we are willing to surrender, humanity may possibly leave us room to survive, but we would have to be eternally dependent on human civilization then.

"Even in captivity camps within the human world, the living conditions of the Trisolarans are much better than those in the Trisolaran Star System.

"They were all released after 420 years of the Crisis Era. Even before then, many Trisolarans were released early for good behavior, and it seems humanity does not hold much prejudice against them.

"They even accepted their status as Earth-accredited Trisolarans, allowing them to begin assimilating into human society.

"We don't know if what Lin Sen said about the plan for civilization integration is true or false, but he has taken the first step.

"I also want to see how human civilization tames another civilization of the same rank.

"If our intervention leads to the unknown civilization defeating humanity, it could be an even greater disaster for us.

"There's also the possibility that the unknown civilization, considering the risk of war with humanity too great, turns towards the Trisolaran Star System; that would be disastrous for us.

"The planet-level spaceships from Proxima Centauri would only need to slightly alter their course, skimming past the Solar System, and their next target could be our Trisolaran Star System."

"In the Dark Forest, any contact action is akin to a strike of ignition.

"If the fire ignited can be controlled, indeed it might be the hope that illuminates the path of our civilization.

"But if it cannot be controlled, it could be a disaster for both civilizations."

No. 7 is increasingly unable to comprehend the current situation. The Trisolaran Civilization probably has to become a vassal of the Mountain Civilization, at least they wouldn't be as cunning and fickle as humans.

However, the unknown civilization gives off a feeling similar to humanity, and it's very likely they will be assimilated by humans as well.

In the end, the situation might become a coalition of the Mountain Civilization and Trisolaran Civilization against a coalition of Human Civilization and the unknown civilization.

The original war between two civilizations has now evolved into a four-way battle among four civilizations. Alas, when will the war with humanity ever end?

After the meeting concluded, No. 7 had a thorough conversation with the Military Governor. They believed that information about the unknown civilization should also be promptly conveyed to the Mountain Civilization, to alert them to be wary of the newly emerged civilization.

When the Mountain Civilization learned that such a small expanse of space had gathered four civilizations, they were also astonished and shocked. The vastness of the universe always creates miracles of life, but there were too many miracles this time.

The Mountain Civilization was not particularly concerned about the new unknown civilization. In their eyes, there were only the mysteries of the universe and the unending quest for exploration.

The appearance of a new, unknown civilization meant just one more conquest for them, and to them, it merely meant that their exploration teams would be larger.

As a Silicon-based Civilization, their rank is 1.4, and they are nearly unrivaled at that level. Besides, the unknown civilization is only a potential rank 1.3, and they are confident enough to deal with any challenge.

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