17 Prison Birds

The year on the screen silently changes to 2100, and the 22nd century, which was once thought to be far away, has finally arrived. Although people understand that the calendar is just a bunch of number conversions to meet the needs of life, the people on the space station still have some expectations and imaginations for the new century.

The Minerva space station has had a few uneventful weeks since the Toda leaks, mainly because everyone is busy with their own work and responsibilities: Commander Miller is methodically coordinating everything on the station, communicating with the Earth side on time, and there is no good or bad news or things at this stage, but his son's situation hangs over his mind like a haze. Having the same psychological pressure as Miller is Gao Jie, who has been in her personal cabin for weeks, neither going out nor guest, and living in isolation without attracting the attention of others, because in space, enduring loneliness is often seen as an exercise. Researchers, astronomers, and engineers have been working tirelessly on the extraterrestrial science and technology "contributed" by the consciousness of the N-star people, and they have been exhausted by weeks of intense interpretation work, but if they have to say anything, they may not even be able to talk about it. The correspondent constantly supervises the transmission of various information, the essence of which is to watch the percentage slowly increase in cycles. Silka led two members who could successfully manipulate the N-particles to work overtime to test and find various instructions, but unfortunately, as before, every day was like a bamboo basket to draw water, and there was no gain. Ryan's cabin occasionally sounds like a guitar, and the soothing and upbeat tune of "Hard times come again no more" continues to inspire people and bring a little comfort to the oppressive atmosphere on the space station. As for Mei Toda, she has been kept in her room, with three "medics" who work part-time as security guards taking turns to watch over it, and the others rarely approach that room.

On January 5, 2100, the Minerva received its first supplies. It takes an average of a year and a half for the launch vehicle responsible for delivering supplies to successfully reach the space station from Earth, which is very risky. When supplies arrive, the ship's hull and parts will be dismantled and placed in storage as space station materials, or spliced directly on the outside of the station for later use.

Long before the spacecraft docked with the space station, Miller turned off Minerva's centrifugal gravity system, and the space station no longer rotated, and the interior was in a state of weightlessness. After the successful docking, the transportation of supplies is all handed over to the AI and robotic arms, which is a very smooth process, far faster than manpower. At the same time, Wang Chen took the initiative to undertake the work of disassembling the spacecraft, and like the last time he went out of the capsule, he came to the space station in a heavy spacesuit, and the dismantling work would take him twenty hours. The people in a state of weightlessness inside the space station had to temporarily stop their work and were forced to enjoy this rare leisure time.

Silka left the lab and floated to the noble cabin, where she finally met her friend again after a month. "Long time no see!" "Are you alright?" The two exchanged pleasantries, and Silka looked at Gao Jie—she was in good spirits, as if something good had just happened. Silka turned her gaze back to the cabin furnishings, as before, but on the small table were a lot of books and materials, all held in place to prevent weightlessness.

"What are you up to?" Silka asked.

"Make a plan," Gao Jie said, gesturing to the table, "I hope it can help my family...... Thankfully, the commander said they were all safe for now. ”

"Pluck up your courage!" Silka encouraged, then glanced at a stack of handwritten materials, "These are ......"

"This is a record of all the PDC research projects that my husband and I have done from elementary school to secondary school to university, and he had to give it to me before I left, saying that it would help me."

"Can I ......?" Silka wanted to take a look, and Gao Jie nodded in agreement.

Gao Jie floated outside the cabin while Silka was looking through the information, only to see a space station member floating in the corridor at a rapid pace, so frightened that she hurriedly made evasive actions, and the two passed by. Although it was only a momentary face-to-face, Gao Jie still recognized the other party as a Brazilian who had escorted her, and seeing her rushing away in such a hurry, it must have been extremely urgent.

The frightened Gao Jie hurriedly returned to the cabin, and saw that Silka was concentrating on reading the information, and she had time to calm down.

"So you love studying aliens so much," Silka said with a smile on her face, "Look, you also simulated the human ranch project, I can't believe it's your elementary school work." ”

"It's mainly my husband's, and I'm only responsible for helping the handles, doing the record-keeping and stuff." Gao Jie modestly responded.

"So, that 'plan' of yours is similar to a 'human ranch'?" Silka asked mysteriously.

"Well, but it's going to be complicated to implement, and the feasibility needs to be evaluated by the earth."

"You're okay! I believe! ”

"Thank you."

The two chatted about something else, and Silka was very relieved to learn that Gao Jie was able to receive the current information in time, indicating that Gao Jie still cared about spiritual and social needs, and she didn't have to worry.

After Silka left, Gao Jie locked the hatch and kept the PDA silent, deciding not to receive guests or messages. "It will take about two days before my plan is completed." She thought to herself, opening the PDA and continuing to write about her "plan" - a "plan" that could save her husband and children.

"What's your name? Human Ranch Project? No, no, no, it's too cold......" Gao Jie stopped tapping his fingers on the screen, "The N-star consciousness said that there are a lot of stars over there (wormholes) that are suitable for survival...... That's — that's what it's called 'Project Stars.'" As if completing an important ritual, Gao Jie slowly typed in the name.

After completing the ceremony, Gao Jie stretched, "By the way, why was that Brazilian so anxious just now?" But soon, Gao Jie threw himself back on the PDA and continued his work.

……

Two days later, Gao Jie, who had completed the "Star Project", left the cabin, and she learned that Mei Toda had committed suicide.

Mei Toda was imprisoned in her own cabin, constantly under the surveillance of the AI monitoring equipment in the room, and if there was any suspicious behavior, she would immediately report it to the commander or security personnel (three "medics"), but because the centrifugal gravity system was shut down when the space station received supplies, the monitoring system temporarily stopped working, so it ...... Of course, these are all excuses, and if the buds cut themselves in a very short period of time, the monitoring is just a decoration.

On the same day (January 5), Budko's body was cremated on the space station (a specially designed high-temperature furnace chamber to process the remains), and security guards inspected and cleaned Budzi's chamber and recovered many of her personal belongings.

Miller did not blame anyone for the death of the beak, and he demanded that all members of the team not talk about the matter about Toda Meiko on the grounds that he had the highest authority on the space station - of course, he knew that some gossip was difficult to completely stop, but he could not easily let the haze of death envelop the entire space station.

Gao Jie overheard some fragmentary buzzing: "I heard that there was music playing in the cabin when she died...... "I searched out some books from her room, "1984", "A Clockwork Orange", "Prisoner Bird", ......" "She committed suicide after learning that all her relatives on Earth had been executed......" Gao Jie didn't care about these claims or rumors, and even the death of her former friend didn't cause her inner turmoil - because her heart was being occupied by another force: her family, and a plan to save her family. As for her other friend Wang Chen, it was not in her consideration.

Mei Toda's departure did not make too many waves in the Minerva space station, and everyone still carried out their work step by step.

……

Miller threw the PDA back into Gao Jie's hand, and there was no trace of mockery in his eyes: "If you hadn't handed it over to me personally, I would have almost thought it was written by the Yankees!" 'Project Stars'? Isn't it just a 'human pasture'? Watching too many sci-fi movies? Or did Silka recommend any French work to you? Then he made a gesture of raising his hands to the sky, "You think this thing can really change the minds of those idiots on Earth?" Now what they think about most is to escape, to escape! Who would want to spend so many resources on a ...... Conduct an experiment that doesn't even have the necessary results? No matter how stupid they are, they won't gamble their lives on this! ”

In the face of the commander's ridicule, Gao Jie seemed a little relaxed, she understood that her plan was not unfanciful or shoddy and criticized, and if that was the case, Miller's performance should be angry. Miller's sarcasm mostly shows that his plan was not grossly wrong, but rather that it was out of step with the current "mainstream thinking," and that Miller had made it clear what the "mainstream thinking" was. In this case, Gao Jie became more confident in her plan, and she said something that Miller didn't know how to refute: "Is there a more cost-effective solution?" ”

Miller let out a long breath, he also knew that Gao Jie came prepared, a simple and crude denial could not make her give up, and he was worried about his son in the same mood as Gao Jie, why didn't he think that he could also make some plan to protect his family? Miller hesitated, took the PDA back from Gao Jie's hand, and browsed again.

"It's still too unrealistic......," Miller complained, "but I can't analyze the feasibility and revenue forecast of this plan, I need to find a professional to come, first ......" He raised his head and shouted to the AI, "AI, notify the scientific and technical team, and the three astronomy students, two hours to meet in the public cabin." ”

"Your order received, about to be delivered."

Miller turned to Gao Jie and exchanged the PDA for her: "I hope your plan can save our family." ”

Gao Jie took the PDA, a sly smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and turned to leave. As he walked out of the commander's room, Miller said, "I forgot to tell you, 'Project Stars,' I think it's a good name. ”