101: Hunter and Prey

New York, Earth Council Headquarters building, top-floor special strategic meeting room.

This was the absolute center of power for the entire Earth. Outside the windows, Lower Manhattan remained bustling and noisy, with flying cars weaving through the skyscrapers like countless flowing fireflies.

However, a heavy atmosphere, colder than outer space, enveloped this meeting room.

There were no main lights on in the room; the only light source came from the holographic projection suspended above the massive, circular obsidian conference table in the center.

In the projection, a planet emitting an eerie purple-green light was slowly rotating; that was the Kali Star, 5.4 light-years away from Earth.

Seated around the circular table were the highest special representatives of the five permanent member states of the Earth Council, as well as the newly appointed Director of the Interstellar Affairs Bureau, Lei Wen.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Lei Wen broke the long silence. His voice was calm, yet it cast a giant stone into everyone's hearts. "This is the Kali Star, our second neighbor."

Beside him, the virtual avatar of the AI "white flower" was methodically displaying the top-secret intelligence brought back by Grey Wind to the bigwigs present.

The screen flashed images of the Kari People's slightly short, gray-green bodies, their cityscapes reminiscent of Earth in the 1980s, the celebratory rallies they held for landing on their satellite, and that greeting message full of innocence and friendliness broadcast to the entire universe.

"A civilization on the eve of a technological explosion." Lei Wen tapped his fingers lightly on the table, making a crisp sound. "They possess a unified planetary government, high social cohesion, and have just mastered the ability to shout into the universe. Most importantly, what lies beneath their feet is a habitable planet and... rich biological resources."

"The intelligence briefing is complete." Lei Wen leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping across the face of everyone present. "Now, the Interstellar Affairs General Bureau needs the Council to make a decision. How should we handle this neighbor?"

The meeting room fell into a brief silence once again.

This was not just a discussion of foreign policy; it was the first time in human history that humanity stood from the perspective of a "higher civilization" to examine a civilization weaker than itself.

This shift in roles came too fast, too suddenly, leaving these politicians, who were accustomed to maneuvering on Earth, somewhat unaccustomed for a moment.

"What a naive race."

The first to speak was the French representative, an elderly gentleman with graying hair.

He looked at the large, clear eyes of the Kari People on the screen, his tone carrying a hint of complex emotion. "They actually dare to shout their location to the universe without any defensive capabilities. Just as naive as we once were."

"Precisely because they are naive, they are dangerous."

The one who replied was the Russian representative, a general with eyes as sharp as a hawk's. He snorted coldly, pointing his finger at the Kali Star in the holographic projection.

"5.4 light-years, gentlemen. On the scale of the universe, this is a distance right under our noses! If they broadcast their coordinates to the universe, they not only expose themselves but also indirectly expose us! Any advanced hunter attracted by this signal, after eating this little white rabbit, only needs to turn its head slightly to discover the Earth hiding right next door!"

"Therefore," a hint of ruthlessness flashed in the Russian representative's eyes, "for the sake of Earth's safety, we must make them shut up—shut up in the physical sense."

"You mean genocide?" The French representative frowned. "Is this... too barbaric? We just survived an anti-invasion war; are we now going to become the invaders we once hated the most?"

"This is not called barbaric; this is called survival. Besides, the Kari People are precious biological resources and labor; we cannot exterminate them." The American Union representative was a sharp and capable woman personally appointed by Elon, currently displaying a strong sense of pragmatism. "We must consider not only security but also development. Look at our current situation: Earth's population is still expanding, Mars' terraforming is nowhere in sight, and the Moon is just a mine. We need a new home! A habitable planet that truly has an atmosphere and liquid water."

She pulled up the detailed data of the Kali Star, her eyes flashing with greed: "Although this planet's gravity is a bit low and the vegetation color is a bit strange, it is perfect. It has a ready-made ecosystem and suitable temperatures. With just a little modification, it can become humanity's second Earth."

"Are we going to leave such a piece of fat uneaten, watch it be occupied by another civilization, or wait for these natives to develop and compete with us for living space?"

"I agree with the American side's viewpoint." The British representative adjusted his glasses, his tone gentle but the content equally cold. "History has proven countless times that there is never true equality in the contact between two civilizations. Just as the fate of the Indians was sealed after Columbus discovered the New World, the current Kari Civilization is at an absolute disadvantage. This is God... no, this is an opportunity given to humanity by the universe."

Everyone's gaze finally converged on the Chinese Representative.

As the representative of the most influential member state of the Earth Council, his attitude would be crucial.

This calm middle-aged man pondered for a long time. His gaze lingered on that purple planet for a long time, as if weighing the pros and cons, and also examining his own conscience.

"Director Lei," the Chinese Representative did not state his position directly but looked at Lei Wen. "From a technical perspective, if we decide to take action against the Kari Civilization, what are our chances of winning? What price will we have to pay?"

Lei Wen smiled slightly; he had anticipated this question.

"In terms of conventional warfare, the chance of winning is one hundred percent."

Lei Wen stood up and signaled "white flower" to switch the projection screen.

The screen showed a comparison between humanity's most advanced flagship, the pacific, and the primitive rockets still using chemical fuel propulsion used by the Kari People.

"Our technology is at least two eras ahead of them. We have mastered controllable nuclear fusion, possess anti-gravity warships, and have particle cannons and plasma cannons, while they cannot even guarantee air superiority within their atmosphere. Their weapons can be easily deflected by our warships' magnetic shields."

"But this does not mean there are no difficulties." Lei Wen changed the subject. "The biggest difficulty lies in the distance. 5.4 light-years requires our current warships to travel for three to four hundred years to reach it. However, fortunately, our antimatter technology has made breakthroughs. Future first-generation antimatter engines can shorten the travel time to under eighty years."

"Furthermore," Lei Wen's gaze was burning, "conquering a planet with a population of billions is far more difficult than destroying it."

"If we just want to destroy them, we only need to drop nuclear bombs or a few antimatter bombs from orbit."

"But we want to occupy that planet, to enslave or assimilate that civilization. We must conduct ground warfare, and once we fall into the quagmire of ground warfare, facing billions of natives fighting to defend their homes, even if we have a technological advantage, we might pay some price."

The meeting room fell into silence again.

Destruction is easy, but conquest is hard.

"Then what about peaceful evolution?" The French representative asked tentatively. "We can descend with the posture of a higher civilization, transform their culture, grant them some technology, guide them to join the Earth Council's system, and become our vassal state?"

"Naive." The Russian representative sneered. "You give a monkey a gun, and the first thing the monkey learns is to shoot you. Once we give them technology and narrow the gap between both sides, who can guarantee that in a few decades, that docile vassal won't become a white-eyed wolf that stabs us in the back? Don't forget, this is a unified civilization with extremely strong cohesion. Their potential is great."

"Moreover," the American representative added, "if we make peaceful contact, we have no reason to occupy their land and plunder their resources. What we need is living space, not a group of alien friends who need our poverty alleviation."

The debate lasted an entire afternoon.

Some proposed "limited force deterrence," some proposed "space blockade," and some even proposed reducing the other side's population through biological weapons first...

Various schemes that would be considered crimes against humanity on Earth were discussed without changing expression by a group of well-dressed civilizational elites at this round table.

This is the cruel truth of interstellar politics.

In the face of the vast universe, compassion is a luxury; survival and interests are the only truths.

Finally, as the sky outside the window grew dark, the atmosphere of the meeting also gradually reached freezing point.

Lei Wen had been watching all of this coldly.

He watched these human leaders go from initial hesitation, to debate in the middle, to the gradually unified cold gaze at the end.

This was actually a metamorphosis.

They were gradually transforming from victims who were always worried about being invaded into cold hunters who would spare no cost for their own survival.

This might be cruel, but this is the price of growth.

"I think everyone has reached a conclusion." The Chinese Representative finally tapped the table. His voice was no longer hesitant but full of determination to carry the sin forward.

"For the long-term safety of human civilization, to eliminate the potential risk of coordinate exposure, and also to expand humanity's future living space..."

"We cannot tolerate others sleeping soundly beside our bed."

"I propose," the Chinese Representative slowly raised his hand, "launching a military operation plan against the D-21 Kari Star System, completely eliminating the potential threat of the Kari Civilization, and incorporating its home planet into the territory of the Human Federation."

"Seconded." The Russian representative raised his hand second.

"Seconded." The American representative followed closely.

"Seconded." The British representative sighed and raised his hand.

The French representative asked with a worried expression: "Will our attack on the Kari Civilization cause dissatisfaction from the Faleim Civilization?"

"I have already asked the Faleim embassy about it. Their attitude toward this matter is 'no comment'." Lei Wen replied immediately.

"...Seconded." The French representative hesitated for a long time, but eventually, driven by civilizational interests, slowly raised his hand.

"Seconded." The last one to raise his hand was Lei Wen.

Passed unanimously with six votes.

At this moment, the fate of the Kari Civilization, 5.4 light-years away, which was looking forward to a reply from alien friends, was completely sealed.

Lei Wen watched this scene, feeling no great waves in his heart.

He had seen such scenes too many times in the game "stellar universe," and had even personally executed countless more thorough extermination orders.

But he still felt a trace of heaviness, because this time it was no longer a game.

"Since the resolution is decided," Lei Wen stood up, his figure appearing exceptionally tall in the purple light of the holographic projection, "the Interstellar Affairs General Bureau will be responsible for formulating the specific implementation plan."

"This will be a long preparation." Lei Wen deployed clearly, "Given that our current navigation technology has not yet broken through, we need to wait."

"This will be the first interstellar expedition in human history. We will cross light-years of distance to conquer another world."

The meeting ended.

The representatives left the meeting room one after another with heavy and complex moods.

Lei Wen stayed behind alone.

He walked to the window, watching the bustling New York night view, watching the thousands of lights.

"white flower." He called out softly.

"Present, Father."

"Do you think I am a demon?"

"According to human moral standards, launching an aggressive war against an innocent civilization does indeed fit the definition of a villain." "white flower" analyzed rationally, "But from the perspective of civilization survival game theory, you have only made the optimal choice."

"Survival has never been a clean business."

Lei Wen smiled, but the smile did not reach his eyes.

"Yes, in order for these lights to continue burning, in order for humanity to survive in this universe..."

"What does it matter even if I become a demon?"

He looked up, his gaze seeming to penetrate the atmosphere, looking at that distant star region.

There was a civilization there called kari, dreaming sweet dreams about the stars and the sea.

And the nightmare was about to hit the road.