Cannon fodder in the Interstellar

Ruo Manni made a trip to the XX Base, appearing before everyone and offering valuable guidance.

Only the top experts were allowed to approach and listen to her insights. With Lin Kexin, a young woman, already serving as an example, no one underestimated Ruo Manni simply because of her youthful appearance.

After hearing her analysis for just a short while, everyone quickly realized that this enigmatic young woman possessed unfathomable knowledge.

One of Lin Kexin’s assistants, who was also one of the top aerospace experts in Country X, boldly asked a technical question about navigation and positioning once a spacecraft left the solar system. Ruo Manni responded by demonstrating a solution using a universal Earth-based data analysis method.

When the experts calculated based on the formula Ruo Manni provided, they found the answers to be entirely correct. Moreover, the formula proved applicable to numerous other scenarios.

The experts were astounded and eagerly scrambled to present their own questions related to this field.

To help Earth’s technological civilization make this giant leap forward, Ruo Manni generously spent her time answering every question she could.

It was fortunate that Ruo Manni and Lin Kexin had previously extracted a wealth of knowledge from the technology of the Gus Empire, adapting much of it to Earth’s current stage of development. Without it, Ruo Manni wouldn’t have been able to answer so many complex questions.

Lin Kexin, though aware of this advanced knowledge, couldn’t reveal it outright due to her identity and status within Earth’s scientific community. Additionally, she was mainly interested in mechanical engineering and energy systems, leaving other fields to experts like Ruo Manni.

Ruo Manni’s explanations left a profound impression on scientists worldwide and significantly accelerated the advancement of aerospace technology.

With Ruo Manni’s help, a large spacecraft capable of carrying 3,000 people was successfully built in just over a month.

This marked the beginning of a flurry of preparations for subsequent missions.

However, the scientific community noticed that Professor Lin Kexin did not personally participate in the follow-up work related to the spacecraft’s construction. Rumors circulated that she had gone into seclusion again. Many speculated that she was working on another groundbreaking invention, eagerly anticipating the results.

One month later, Lin Kexin indeed delivered an astonishing surprise to everyone.

Professor Lin developed mechas capable of seamlessly operating in both planetary environments and outer space.

Mechas—a dream come true for anyone who has ever fantasized about exploring the universe.

This invention rivaled the success of the spacecraft in significance.

Superpowered individuals were ecstatic since only they could pilot the mechas.

Unfortunately, aside from the special forces members of Country X, no one else had seen the mechas in person, only through images.

To prevent Lin Kexin from overworking herself, two months later, Ruo Manni quietly visited the XX Base to assist Lin Kexin in using Earth-based materials to manufacture 20 Level 5 interstellar mechas. These mechas allowed Earth’s forces to assemble a 50-person mecha team.

While these mechas were fragile compared to those of the Gus Empire, they were formidable enough to serve as a deterrent against Level 3 civilizations, equipping Earth with powerful space weaponry.

A team with 50 Level 5 mechas was comparable in strength to a mid-sized mercenary group in a Level 3 civilization.

The mechas were armed with laser cannons, the most commonly used weapons. The mechas captured from the alien spacecraft were also equipped with such laser cannons.

Once preparations were complete, Ruo Manni’s team announced a specific departure date but left the rest of the arrangements to others.

Since Ruo Manni’s group had no fixed return date after leaving, the people who had settled in Antarctica with them could not remain there alone. They needed to be relocated.

What Ruo Manni didn’t expect was that these people unanimously wanted to join the journey.

“I never thought I’d live to see my dream of traveling to an alien planet come true,” Lin father said, brimming with excitement. In his youth, he had harbored aspirations of space exploration.

“If you three siblings, my wife, and grandson are all leaving, what’s the point of us staying on Earth?” Lin mother added.

Both Lin father and mother had practiced body-strengthening techniques and had been forcefully elevated to Level 3 warriors by Ruo Manni’s use of advanced potions. While their combat abilities were modest, they looked much younger—like they were in their early 40s.

As Level 3 warriors, their lifespans had been extended by at least 50 or 60 years, so the couple had become enthusiastic about cultivation.

Ruo Manni replied, “I never planned to ask your opinion. We’re definitely taking you with us.”

Wang Miaomiao and Liu Yang, who had attached themselves to these powerful benefactors, had also seen significant growth in their abilities. Both were now Level 5 warriors. Hearing this news, their eyes sparkled, and they declared in unison, “We’ll follow the team wherever it goes!”

Liu Yang’s parents were no exception. Wherever their son and daughter-in-law went, they would follow. They saw their son’s rise as their own opportunity to ascend. Even though their cultivation potential was mediocre, they had still managed to reach the level of a First-Grade Warrior. With their improved health, they could easily live another 40 to 50 years.

As for Li Ziyan, it was a given. Lin Ruihai was the chief commander of this mission, leading humanity’s first journey beyond the solar system—a monumental historical event. Anyone with the capability would jump at the chance to participate. She, along with her son and parents, was determined to go. Since they weren’t taking up slots meant for Earth’s citizens, all they needed was Ruo Manni’s permission. When asked, she immediately agreed without hesitation.

Then there was Su Luoxue, who had given birth to a son with Dean Atchison. Surprisingly, this child’s potential for warrior cultivation was rated at 3D, and his psychic aptitude even surpassed that of Dean Atchison. Dean was ecstatic about this.

Su Luoxue herself had outstanding cultivation potential, exceptional even in the interstellar era, and now her son shared the same promise. When Dean eventually returned to the interstellar era with Su Luoxue and their son, the Atchison family would have no reason not to accept them.

As for Dean Atchison’s violation of the reproductive restrictions, it wouldn’t be a significant issue as long as Hebrew Adam testified that the failure of his contraceptive chip was caused by the unique effects of a spatial anomaly during a mission. This explanation would exempt him from military disciplinary action. Evidence confirmed that his chip had been tampered with, rendering it ineffective. In this case, the situation warranted a special exception, and with the Crown Prince’s testimony in his favor, there would be no major consequences.

At Ruo Manni’s insistence, Dean Atchison and Su Luoxue held a traditional Earth wedding at the B City Base.

As the first Earthling to marry an alien—and quickly give birth to a child—Su Luoxue made a lasting impression on the upper echelons of Earth’s society.

This development eased the anxieties of those who had been wary of the visitors from this advanced civilization. Their unease stemmed from not knowing where these people came from. However, this situation led many to conclude that these visitors were of the same species as Earthlings. After all, interbreeding across species is biologically impossible.

This led to speculation that Earthlings were themselves advanced beings, potentially sharing a common origin with these visitors.

Ruo Manni noticed the murmurs among Earthlings. The fact that Su Luoxue and Dean Atchison could have a child together lent some credence to their theories. She herself began to wonder if the current humans of the Gumera Star were, in fact, descendants of Earth’s emigrants from another time. Otherwise, how could they resemble Earthlings so closely? Even some of their habits and cultural norms seemed to originate from Earth.

This sparked another hypothesis: these people might not be aliens at all but instead travelers from Earth’s distant future.