Scholar's Advanced Technological System

Moon Palace.

Inside the experiment cabin.

Ian Crawford, a British professor of planetary science and astrobiology at Birkbeck, University of London, sat in a chair and looked outside the porthole. He suddenly smiled and spoke.

“About six years ago, I wrote an evaluation report regarding the economic viability of lunar mining.”

Stephen Parubi sat across from him. Stephen snorted and replied, “Then?”

“Then I published that paper in Natural Geography and sent a copy to UKSA.” Ian Crawford shrugged and continued, “But the UKSA people thought it was a waste.”

Professor Stephen: “Is that not true?”

“Of course not.” Professor Ian looked down the porthole and smiled as he said, “The Chinese are making my thesis a reality.”

“One day, sooner or later, they will find that instead of creating a production line on the Moon, it is cheaper to produce it on Earth, then send it to space,” Professor Stephen muttered. He then said, “I mean, the Chinese aren’t doing anything special, we have similar plans ourselves.”

Professor Stephen was from Stanford University, and as an American, he didn’t like to hear news about China winning the space race. Especially since the Ares program had now become a mess.

Stephen didn’t feel so good. He reached into his pocket and subconsciously tried to grab a cigarette. However, he realized his spacesuit didn’t have cigarettes in his pocket.

“Damn it, can’t a man just smoke a cigarette out here?”

Professor Stephen was about to get up from his chair when he heard someone speak.

“Smoking on the space station will insert at least two million smoke particles into the ventilation system. Smoke when you get back to Earth.”

Professor Zhao Shuxuan said as he floated into the cabin. He grabbed the handrails on the wall while holding the latest experimental report. He said, “Okay, everyone, the break is over. Time is running out, and there are three poor colonists waiting for us to rescue them.”

Professor Stephen didn’t like to hear the Chinese talk about the Ares program’s misfortune, but he didn’t say anything.

The Ares program was indeed a mistake. Ever since the beginning of the sandstorm, the Ares program had brought nothing but trouble. Top astrobiology, microbiology, and clinical biology experts were now in the Moon Palace. They were here to do one thing—clean up the mess from the Ares program.

Zhao Shuxuan distributed the copies of the test results and gave a brief explanation of the situation to other researchers.

“The latest test results have come out. The level of antibodies and hypnotic pheromones in colonists No. 1 and No. 2 have decreased. Looking at their heart rates, we can see that their metabolism is gradually returning to normal levels, and they should soon wake up… Do you need some time to look over the test results?”

“No need, I’ve finished reading them.” Professor Stephen put down the test results and adjusted his glasses. He said, “Right now, the problem is not the antibodies or the X-0172 bacteria.”

Professor Ian: “Spores.”

“That’s right, spores.” Professor Stephen nodded and looked around at the other scholars. He said, “We have to get rid of the spores first.”

Professor Leslie asked, “Do you have a good idea then?”

“We have two options.

“First is to find a way to prevent the X-0172 bacteria from forming spores. The second is to find a way to kill all of the spores directly.”

Professor Leslie thought for a second and said, “The second method will be difficult.”

“That’s right. So, for the time being, the most realistic solution is option 1.” Professor Stephen looked around the experiment cabin and said, “In my opinion, the research facility here is simply too poor. I don’t know if our experiments will work in a gravity-free environment. If we want to prevent the X-0172 bacteria from forming spores as soon as possible, we should send the samples to Earth.”

Professor Stephen looked at Professor Zhao Shuxuan when he spoke.

Zhao Shuxuan was the leader of the Chinese researchers. He was also the person in charge of the entire X-0172 bacteria project, and he was the only one who had the right to send the inactivated bacterial samples to Earth.

Of course, Stephen wanted to send more than just inactivated samples. He wanted to find a way to convince the Lunar Orbit Committee to send live X-0172 bacterial spores to his laboratory at Stanford University.

He was certain that this would increase their chances of eliminating the bacteria once and for all.

However, the Chinese researcher didn’t grant him his wish.

Zhao Shuxuan shook his head and rejected his proposal.

“That is too risky, we shouldn’t even send inactivated samples.”

“Nothing is perfectly safe, but we can try our best,” Professor Stephen said. “We have live smallpox samples as well, how is this different?”

Zhao Shuxuan paused for a second. He then shook his head.

“I have to think about this.”

Professor Stephen sighed.

“We’ve already thought about this.”

…

The research team meeting was over, and they didn’t arrive at any constructive conclusions.

It was starting to get late. The experts from various countries finished their dinner and went into their cabin rooms.

Professor Stephen lay in his bed and connected his laptop to the Moon Palace data interface. This way, he could communicate with Earth.

Even though the speed was slow and the delay was high, the bandwidth was enough for him to exchange opinions with expert researchers on Earth.

Professor Stephen logged into the instant messaging software. He was about to contact his assistant, but his assistant happened to call him.

“I’m sorry to disturb you, Professor Stephen, but I have to report something to you.”

Stephen frowned and asked, “Yeah what?”

“Per your request, we searched the database for research on parasitic bacteria spores. We found a paper on arXiv.”

The assistant paused for a second before continuing, “The author claims that… he found a way to inhibit X-0172 bacteria from producing spores.”

“That’s impossible, there are only seven people in the world that can write a thesis like that, and I’m one of them.” Professor Stephen smiled and shook his head. “Send it to my email.”

His assistant nodded.

“Okay, Professor.”

Stephen had no hope for the thesis on arXiv at all.

The only X-0172 samples were on the Moon Palace. If other scholars wanted to do research on the bacteria, they would first have to get their hands on the bacterial sample.

Even though there were twelve inactivated X-0172 samples that were sent to Earth, these were all in the hands of large research institutes. There was no way a large research institute would anonymously publish a paper on arXiv.

Of course, even though he knew the value of the arXiv thesis was zero, he still wanted to see what the author wrote.

After all, it might give him inspiration.

Professor Stephen opened the thesis and began reading it. After a couple of pages, he gasped.

His expression became more and more serious, and he went back to the front page of the thesis and began reading it more carefully.

“What is this… Who wrote this?”

The more he read, the more astonished he was.

His eyes were filled with suspicion, surprise, and disbelief.

Professor Stephen only wanted to know one thing; who wrote this thesis?!

However, when he saw the author’s name, he was stunned.

“Z…?”

Who the hell is Z?