Age of Cosmic Exploration

"Wait, stop here!"

Simon Peter yelled. His voice didn’t sound like that of a 90-year-old man. In fact, his appearance didn’t look like he was 90, at most 40, even though his actual age was indeed approaching a century already.

Simon Peter was once a famous director on Earth. His directed films had won several Oscars, and he was a freelance director. His documentaries on underdeveloped countries and charity advertisements won him the lifetime achievement award from the film academy. In conclusion, he was the shot caller in terms of everything video-related; he was the most influential director on the Hope.

Ever since humanity escaped into space, he too had suffered through the tragedies and progress humanity had experienced along the way. In fact, the many videos that documented the history of these 23 years were all directed by him or his disciples. However, the constant wandering in space didn’t give him the opportunity to really showcase his talent.

Now, the Hope had landed on the New Solar System. The great progress brought with it an expansion of job vacancies, increase in overall salary, the lowering of product prices, and grand scale moving. All these signified the arrival of humanity’s golden years in space.

Under these circumstances, Simon Peter’s work fever ignited like never before. Ever since the video showing the planet at the New Year party two years ago, his productions came out one after another. Other than charity advertisements and various short films, he also directed a full-length feature. It was a space war between the Black Star Troopers and a spaceship fleet. The film mirrored humanity’s war with the space merchants. The sci-fi flick was a great success, and if it was revealed back on Earth, it would make people’s jaws drop. The technology used was far too advanced.

Similarly, the film had great reception among the human government. Before the arrival of this film, the Hope’s entertainment only consisted of news and old movies taken from Earth. The arrival of this film brought about the advent of a movie fever... Even though the Hope only had eight or nine directors, it didn’t dampen the public’s desire to become movie stars. Many people registered to join the movie crews, and during this period, many new films appeared on the Hope like mushrooms after a spring rain. Simon Peter’s contribution to this change couldn’t be underestimated.

The 23rd new year was coming soon. Simon Peter was invited by the government to shot another video about life on the City of Light Moon. After naming his own conditions and having them accepted, Simon Peter started working immediately.

Simon Peter’s conditions weren’t hard, he just needed a large hovercraft and a group of technicians to pilot it. After all, this was going to be shot on the City of Light Moon, so protection wouldn’t be necessary. Of course, his own film crew had to tag along as well. Not to be missed was also the necessary equipment, so a large hovercraft was not an out-of-place demand.

Just like that, Simon Peter’s film crew departed. Their destination was a spot about 10,000 meters above the City of Light Moon. Using the hovercraft’s floatation ability, they were taking a scene of the city below.

"It’s beautiful, Teacher."

In his crew, a young girl looked down at the city with a pair of glowing eyes. The silvery base glowed with the unique charm of a bustling city. In the darkness of space, the city was as beautiful as a glittering pearl.

"It is beautiful," Simon Peter concurred. "It is because of this that we have to record everything. When our future generations see this, they will understand the history and the hardships that came before them, then they will hopefully learn to appreciate it even more."

The City of Light Moon was a manifestation of the technology from a space civilization at the peak of level 2. It was constructed by the hands of 10,000 people over the span of two years. It was built on a plateau and not underground using superelectromagnetic filming technology. It was an open city like most cities back on Earth. To mirror the day and night cycle, the superelectromagnetic converging light technology was used. Looked from the inside, the sky wasn’t a piece of inky space, but a blue sky. Combined with the 3D imaging technology, they could even create birds and clouds. Life in the City of Light Moon was indeed several thousand times better than the cramped life on the Hope.

Looking from the outside, the city glittered, but it was not a light that was harsh to the eyes; one could even see the outline of the city clearly. Viewed from afar, this city on the surface of the moon truly had the charm of a pearl, and this was humanity’s biggest pride, the most miraculous industrial miracle, the City of Light Moon that was built in the span of two years!

"Okay, we’re done here. Let’s keep moving."

With Simon Peter’s order, the hovercraft started to descend towards the City of Light Moon...

At the same time, along the Light Moon’s orbit, two large, rectangular battleships surrounded by 10 guardian spaceships were patrolling the area around the Light Moon. Guang Zheng, who was seated in the captain’s seat, was looking at the large hovercraft through the battleship’s surveillance video.

"Checking of internal code completed. It is Mr. Simon Peter’s camera crew, their destination is the City of Light Moon."

Beside Guang Zhen, a young adjutant reported as he read from the data shown on screen.

Guang Zhen nodded and said, "This is not easy. The City of Light Moon has finished being built and the moving is done. Humanity’s first space base is already a done thing, but our New Solar System’s first fleet is still only so large..."

The adjutant smiled and said, "Commander, actually, you needn’t be so worried. It has only been two years, hasn’t it? Furthermore, even though this fleet is still small, it is more than enough to destroy the old Earth in its entirety. According to a rumor, hasn’t Professor Bo Li been working on the actual application of level 3 space civilizations’ plasma reactor? Who knows, maybe very soon, we’ll all be piloting level 3 space civilization battleships and this fleet will be considered outdated."

Guang Zhen laughed, straightened his cap, and said, "The first fleet is returning to base. After restocking supplies, our target will be the fourth meteorite cluster. The objective of the mission is to conduct surveillance before the New Year!"

"Yes. Captain’s order..."