Chapter 182 Zhang Beihai Awakens_1

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Crisis Era, year 190.

Zhang Beihai awoke from hibernation and, as the commander of Future Task Force One reinforcements, was received by Ye Chen, the supreme commander of the Earth Camp.

The reception took place at the Fleet Starport Command in Jupiter Orbit, which was constantly rotating to generate artificial gravity.

Unlike in the original narrative, the Human Space Force had not established three great nations; the current human space power was mainly divided between sub-fleets belonging to the Earth Camp and the Moon Camp.

The interior lighting here was relatively dim, but the windows were very large, seemingly making an effort to merge the interior environment with the outer space.

"Future Task Force One reinforcement commander Zhang Beihai, reporting for duty," Zhang Beihai saluted.

"Senior, hello," Ye Chen returned the salute.

"I dare not claim that title, Commander. We are all new soldiers who still have much to learn."

"Don't speak like that. Everything here can be learned, and some of the qualities you possess are exactly what we need to learn from."

"Commander Chang Weisi asked me to convey his regards to you."

"He is a distinguished general, one of the founders of the Space Force. The current space strategy still operates within the framework he established two centuries ago. I truly wish he could see today."

"Today's achievements have far exceeded his dreams."

"But it all started in his time... in your time. This era needs you just as much. Welcome here."

"Yes, this is our dream and our mission!"

In the original timeline, the Future Task Force reinforcements came to nothing.

In the Era of the Great Ravine, the space armed forces were on the brink of danger, almost on the verge of collapse. At that time, a large number of Future Task Forces were awakened for stabilization purposes, playing a crucial role.

After Zhang Beihai, the human government sent out several batches of Future Task Forces. The later ones were awakened first as their knowledge was somewhat closer to that of the contemporary era.

By the time only Zhang Beihai's team remained in hibernation, the Era of the Great Ravine had long passed, the world entered a period of rapid development, and defeatism had nearly vanished. They were fortunate to go directly to the final battle.

In the current timeline, however, the elite humans from the Future Task Force reinforcement plan have all arrived in this era. The Earth Alliance, despite extremely challenging circumstances, never activated them.

In fact, the main reason was that awakening them was not very impactful. During the Underground City Era, their knowledge system couldn't play a key role in the society of the Underground Cities.

Furthermore, they were continuously blockaded by the Moon, and upon breaking through the blockade to enter space, their knowledge was even less applicable. The authorities decided to let them all go toward the eve of the final battle.

Additionally, during more stable times, a large number of elites chose short-term hibernation, allowing human elites to face Trisolaris at their prime.

Gathering two centuries' worth of human elites for a final, do-or-die battle against Trisolaris.

In this era, the awakened Future Task Force reinforcements is not because the Steel Mark Clan has been exposed, and absolutely reliable soldiers need to be selected to serve as Executive Captains, but because this is their mission.

Ye Chen said, "I believe before you came here, you must have gained some understanding of this era. Therefore, you should have heard of the Battle Escape Plan and the Deep Space Fleet, right?"

Zhang Beihai replied, "Yes, in fact, I was one of the witnesses when this plan was proposed.

"The main objective proposed by Lin Sen at the time was to rescue the increasingly severe sense of defeat among people.

"Defeatism, at its core, is not about having no confidence in defeating the Trisolarans but about not seeing the value and meaning of the war.

"Because if the war is lost, there will be no one left in the universe, and everything about the war, the determination to defend, the honor of the soldiers, and even the war itself will lose meaning.

"The most terrifying form of defeatism is not knowing what we are fighting for.

"The very essence of the Battle Escape Plan is to rescue this kind of defeatism, to make our war meaningful. Even if humanity ultimately fails after a do-or-die battle, human civilization might still survive."

Zhang Beihai understood that Ye Chen mentioning the Deep Space Fleet was likely considering whether to let him join it, so he must seize this opportunity.

Ye Chen continued, "You've put it very well. It's a great plan, logically impeccable.

"We oppose defeatism and escapism because fleeing faces fundamental moral issues and would greatly disperse human resources. In fact, humanity is incapable of truly escaping.

"The Battle Escape Plan not only avoids internal conflicts within humanity and focuses all human resources for a decisive battle with Trisolaris, but it also saves us spiritually, whether it was during the past era of despair or today's era of hope.

"During the era of despair, it was our motivation to survive, giving our battle meaning."

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"The Era of Hope serves as a warning to us that arrogance is our greatest enemy at any time,"

Lin Sen's eyes blazed with an intense passion; this was truly the era he had dreamed of. Two centuries later, humanity had genuinely grown into giants that even they needed to look up to.

"I hope you can grant us one request: let us join the Deep Space Fleet as ordinary soldiers from the lowest ranks, doing whatever work we can manage."

Ye Chen said, "I'm sure you also understand the Deep Space Fleet, and even more what it will face.

"Every space battleship in the Deep Space Fleet is equipped with an escape monitoring system and an Executive Captain, and the crew members will also get the Thoughtcontrol imprinting on a voluntary basis.

"We believe more in an unyielding faith as the soul of this fleet, not in ideological imprinting gained through technical means.

"And you are the Executive Captains that I consider most suitable.

"From the day of revival, the military service of all Task Force members will continue, and ranks will be raised by one to two levels on the existing basis."

Zhang Beihai said, "Commander, this is not necessary.

"Our abilities might not be enough to fulfill this responsibility."

In this era, there is no Steel Mark Clan embracing escape doctrine hiding within the fleet, making it completely unnecessary to make the Task Force members Executive Captains.

If you talk about steadfast faith, perhaps people of this era possess it even more.

Ye Chen continued, "Firstly refusing a mission is not our tradition.

"Making you Executive Captains is the collective decision of the government, and I also believe you are capable of fulfilling the role.

"Actually, there is a connection between us: my grandfather was also a member of the School of Future History. I can hardly see into the future too, which is why you'll need to witness it firsthand."

The words "we" and "tradition" made Zhang Beihai realize that the lineage of the army from 200 years previous had continued to this era.

And the last sentence essentially revealed everything—the implication was like having two small suns burning in Zhang Beihai's eyes, yet his complexion didn't change in the slightest.

It turned out he was not alone, not just because the bloodline of that army was still burning, but also because the legacy of the School of Future History was still alight.

Zhang Beihai was confident that no one, except for his father, could see through him, but now he was certain—Ye Chen had seen right through him, even further than he could himself.

Ye Chen went on, "I am from that era, and I understand deeply how precious such beliefs like yours were in those days. Only you all are the most suitable Executive Captains.

"In this era, while they all say on the surface that the unknown is the most dangerous and we must not let down our guard, in their hearts they may already have a sense of contempt for Trisolaris.

"The biggest obstacle to executing the escape in a decisive battle is actually their determination to fight against Trisolaris. They lack respect for the dark depths of space, making it difficult for them to truly lead the Deep Space Fleet in this great plan.

"They need Thoughtcontrol to perform their duties as ordinary crew members of the Deep Space Fleet, and I do not wish for the Executive Captains to be imprinted with Thoughtcontrol as well.

"Regarding ability, currently, the command work of space battleship captains does not involve technical details. They only issue macro orders; the battleship is a black box to you.

"Your task is to convey the orders of the original captain to the control system and to judge beforehand whether these orders are normal. This should be achievable through learning."

Zhang Beihai saluted solemnly and accepted the appointment.

Both parties knew that nothing more could be said; any more might alert the Trisolarans.

Everything was left unspoken. The mere mention of the School of Future History by Ye Chen had already explained everything to Zhang Beihai.

In this era, humanity is unprecedentedly strong, and even Zhang Beihai sometimes asks himself in private whether escape is really necessary.

Those born in this era are even less likely to believe in the necessity of escape. Yet, if the higher-ups decide to execute the decisive escape, the soldiers will carry out the order.

However, mental preparation among soldiers is difficult, to the point where it's necessary to resort to Thoughtcontrol imprinting. Such a fleet's chances of survival in the universe could be very low, unless they are led by sufficiently excellent Executive Captains with equally strong convictions.

This is also why Ye Chen awakened a large number of reinforcements from the future. After all, compared with others, people from that era understood reverence for the universe more profoundly.

Zhang Beihai, having accepted the mission, boarded a Versatile Boat with his personal robot and headed toward the massive starport in Jupiter Orbit.

Spanning tens of kilometers, the enormous starport housed hundreds of huge battleships, integrating military and industrial capabilities.

Flying among them felt like soaring over the peaks and valleys of an iron mountain range, each dark and foreboding ridge a docked space battleship, lying in ambush like colossal predators, baring their fangs.