Solar Top Secret Files: Final Dawn

Chapter 3: The Solar Crisis Coordination Center

"Our human civilization is facing the most severe challenge in its history," the elderly man stood up, surveying the people in the meeting room, his voice tinged with sorrow.

"Our human civilization is far from fully developed... we can't even land on Mars. I understand how insignificant our civilization is, and how laughable and difficult it is to rely on the power of human civilization to change the Sun. But we have no choice. We must face this difficulty head-on. If we overcome this crisis, our civilization continues; if we fail, we perish, it's that simple," the elderly man said, "Fortunately... fortunately, our technology has developed somewhat, the situation, though difficult, is not entirely hopeless."

"I command... from this moment, the Human Alliance enters a wartime emergency phase. We will mobilize all available resources to face this crisis. All scientists, engineers, politicians, workers, businessmen, every stratum of society must come together. Only then do we have a chance to win."

"The meeting is adjourned... Ethan, Marcus, you two stay," said the elderly man.

People left in a stream, leaving only Ethan Harper and Marcus in the large meeting room.

"I've seen your records," the elderly man glanced at Ethan Harper, "From elementary school to your entry into the Stellar Physics Research Institute, you have always shown exceptional talent; you are intelligent and diligent."

Ethan Harper felt okay with the crowd earlier, but now facing the elderly man alone, he felt immense pressure. This elderly man was the supreme leader of the Human Alliance, a figure Ethan Harper would never have had the chance to meet.

Facing the elderly man's praise, Ethan Harper didn't know what to say.

"You don't have to belittle yourself, because you are indeed intelligent and diligent," the elderly man said slowly, "But... within the scope of the entire human civilization, your intelligence and diligence are still within the range of normal people. You have not shown any ability that could be called defying the heavens. Even within the scientific community, let alone within the Stellar Physics Research Institute, your qualifications are not the most top-notch, at best upper level."

"There are many people smarter than you, many more diligent than you. So, Ethan, I'm curious, why did Director Parker choose you at the last moment to take on this most arduous task? Can you tell me why?"

"I... I don't know." Ethan Harper pondered for a while, ultimately having to admit the truth reluctantly. Because the reality was indeed so, the elderly man's words, though harsh and not sparing his self-esteem, were all true.

"Ah," the elderly man sighed, stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the bustling city below through the floor-to-ceiling window, leaving Ethan Harper and Marcus with a slightly hunched but still broad back.

"Ethan, to tell you the truth, I don't have confidence in overcoming this crisis," the elderly man said, "The Sun's mass is more than a million times that of Earth; we are already so powerless in the face of a tiny Earth, let alone facing the Sun. But you also know, these words can't be said in public. All I can do is try my best to allocate resources to this area, letting scientists and engineers represent our entire humanity in pursuit of that slim hope."

"To be honest, when I first received this news, I almost despaired. But fortunately, I immediately received the next piece of news, I knew that Director Parker had long been aware of these things, knew that Director Parker had left his only legacy to you, and said you could answer all our questions... I have had contact with Director Parker and know what kind of person he is. Since Director Parker said you could answer all our doubts, then you must be able to do so. In this incident, if I have one percent confidence in our human civilization's technology, then my confidence in Director Parker... is at least twenty percent."

"So... Ethan, now, I'm putting this twenty percent hope on you." The elderly man turned around, his solemn gaze resting on Ethan Harper, "I know you are also confused now, and you don't understand what's going on, but since Director Parker did so, there must be a reason for it. Director Parker believes in you, and I also believe in you."

"Ethan, I will provide you with all the resources you need, as long as you think it's necessary, as long as you think it helps you understand Director Parker's intentions, even if you want to go to the moon, I can satisfy you." The elderly man walked over, patted Ethan Harper's shoulder, and said warmly, "You can tell Marcus anything you need, Marcus will take care of everything for you. That's it then, Ethan, remember, you hold the fate of humanity in your hands."

The elderly man turned and left, leaving only Ethan Harper and Marcus in the meeting room.

Ethan Harper leaned back in his seat, covering his face with his hands, his mind in turmoil.

"Why me... Why me? Maxwell, why did you choose me in the end?"

"From now on, for the sake of our understanding and communication, I will refer to you as Number One," Marcus said coldly, "You can refer to me as Number Two."

Ethan Harper managed a weak smile: "No need to make it so complicated, I'll just call you by your name."

"Okay," Marcus remained cold, "Number One, please instruct our next move."

"Let's go home for now, home... Let me rest a bit," Ethan Harper said weakly, standing up and walking towards the door of the meeting room.

Marcus drove the car, with Ethan Harper sitting in the passenger seat, his thoughts flying elsewhere. Even the world Ethan Harper saw seemed unreal; the flowing crowds, the long lines of cars, the towering buildings, and even the slightly dim sun hanging in the sky all seemed to carry a hint of falsehood.

"How could this be, how could this be?" This question continuously circled in Ethan Harper's mind.

Since the Sun was born from primordial interstellar gas, it has been burning steadily for over four billion years. Compared to this timescale, the five thousand years of recorded human civilization can almost be said to be a blink of an eye. But in this blink of an eye, the Sun underwent drastic changes. And coincidentally, in this blink of an eye, human civilization developed and acquired some basic interstellar exploration capabilities.

Within six hours after the solar crisis occurred, a comprehensive institution that integrated the crisis management department, the scientific research department, the psychological intervention department, and others was established. This institution was named the Solar Crisis Coordination Center, with the supreme leader of the Human Alliance personally serving as the director of the center and being given the power to coordinate and control any other department during the crisis period.

The Solar Crisis Coordination Center had two responsibilities: the first was to explore the inner physical mechanisms behind the Sun's drastic changes and find solutions, and the second was to find ways to pass on human civilization if the crisis could not be resolved. The matter between Maxwell Parker and Ethan Harper was not made public. Only those top scientists who attended the morning meeting and a few high-ranking officials of the Human Alliance knew about these matters. As the elderly man said, "I place the greatest hope in you and give you the greatest authority and resource allocation, but these matters cannot be discussed in public."

Ethan Harper could understand this.

The first day of the weekend passed in this eerie situation. Ethan Harper stayed at home all day, not eating, not answering calls, just sitting quietly in his seat, motionless.

Marcus stood by Ethan Harper's side like a statue.

Just one day had passed, and Ethan Harper had already become deeply haggard. It wasn't until the evening that Ethan Harper sighed and said with a voice so hoarse he could hardly believe it was his own, "Marcus, go sleep in the guest room."

After settling Marcus, Ethan Harper also fell into a deep sleep. But even in his dreams, Ethan Harper's thoughts were not at peace. He dreamed of countless people crying, buildings collapsing, the earth covered in ice and snow, countless people dying... Sometimes he even dreamed of Maxwell Parker, dreaming of the last words Maxwell Parker said to him before going home: "Goodbye..."

Ethan Harper knew that from today onwards, his fate had undergone a drastic change. This change began the moment Maxwell Parker invited him for a drink, the moment Maxwell Parker left his only legacy to him.

The day gradually brightened. Despite being extremely tired, Ethan Harper still woke up early in the morning.

Today was the second day after the solar crisis. As Ethan Harper expected, today's temperature dropped further than yesterday's, and the Sun became even dimmer. This forced Ethan Harper to dig out long-sleeved shirts and pants that had been stored away, wearing spring and autumn clothes in the peak of summer.

The temperature will continue to drop, unstoppable. Although water has a high specific heat capacity, although more than seventy percent of the Earth's surface is ocean, although the Earth has a thick atmosphere to retain heat, it is still not enough. When the root cause of an event changes, all the branches, no matter how numerous, can only slow down the pace of the event's development. In this solar crisis, the reduction in solar radiation level is the root cause of the event.