Jiang Ye: "Not necessarily, there's a high probability it can be done."
High Priest: "Whether it succeeds or not, we are very grateful."
Jiang Ye: "You are too kind."
For the next few days, Jiang Ye stayed at the Har Star Divine Palace, observing the situation on Har Star, attending meetings convened by the High Priest, meeting with leaders and representatives from other planets, and remotely handling affairs on Jiang Ye Star and Bi Rong Star. He was incredibly busy.
In every room of the Divine Palace, and even in the restrooms, countdown timers were displayed on the walls. These timers would predict earthquakes an hour in advance. Sometimes the tremors were very slight, passing unnoticed. At other times, wine glasses on tables would tilt, chairs would rattle loudly, trees outside windows would break, and leaves would scatter across the floor.
Soon, Che Zhen had prepared a transport force of 100,000 people, comprising both human soldiers and mechanical soldiers.
These 100,000 individuals were equipped with exoskeletons and life detectors. Each squad of ten had a military spacecraft, roughly the size of a bus, fully stocked with various equipment and supplies, and including space for casualties.
To transport these military spacecraft to Har Star, Jiang Ye spared no expense, purchasing two "Nest" type space carriers.
The "Nest" type space carriers were clumsily oval in shape, entirely brown-yellow, and covered in small openings like a honeycomb. Each small opening could accommodate multiple military spacecraft. The entire "Nest" could carry a total of 4,500 small spacecraft. Their size was terrifying, equivalent to a small city, and they were capable of warp jumps as well as slow movement in orbit above a planet.
When a "Nest" flew over a city, its shadow would cover more than half of the city, creating an effect similar to science fiction films about alien invasions from ancient times. It was bound to be quite a spectacle.
Each "Nest" cost 295 billion. Jiang Ye bought two. As a new customer, he received a discount of fifty billion on each.
The spacecraft company was efficient. After Jiang Ye placed his order, within 24 hours, the two "Nests" had arrived at the receiving star stations of Jiang Ye Star and Bi Rong Star, respectively.
The soldiers immediately began spacecraft maintenance and pilot training. The various squads also started learning about earthquake rescue procedures and undergoing intensive training.
Meanwhile, Jiang Ye had already received the list of the first batch of Har Star immigrants.
A total of 3 million people lived in areas prone to imminent earthquakes. Evacuation would be too troublesome, so the High Priest decided to move them directly.
These three million people had all completed their pre-immigration preparations.
Every household had packed their belongings. Adults resigned from their jobs, children withdrew from school, and they visited relatives and friends to bid farewell. Many might never see each other again after immigrating, as they would be separated by the vastness of the universe.
Local shops first held massive sales and then began closing down in droves. Ninety percent of the shops on the streets were empty. There were no "For Rent" signs posted. The entire region was to be abandoned. Earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods would soon level it. Even real estate agents had fled. Who would buy or rent property at a time like this?
Jiang Ye reviewed the immigration forms filled out by the three million people online. Most of them were over thirty years old, with thirty percent over sixty, indicating a rather severe aging population. However, their per capita assets were high. After deducting properties, vehicles, and large furniture that could not be transported, each family still had over eight million in assets. Despite the large number of elderly people, most of them were still working and intended to start new ventures on Jiang Ye Star.
Regarding religion, the elderly were generally unwilling to abandon their faith in Har Star, but the younger generation expressed willingness to convert on the new planet.
The estimated time for the major earthquake in this region was one to two weeks away.
Time was of the essence, so Jiang Ye ordered the troops to set off to Har Star to pick up the people.
The force of 30,000 soldiers, traveling in one "Nest," first ascended from the Jiang Ye Star station. After leaving planetary orbit, they traveled for another day before making a warp jump, arriving near Har Star's orbit and beginning their descent.
History is sometimes full of coincidences.
As the colossal "Nest" arrived above the destination, an earthquake suddenly struck.
It occurred a week earlier than predicted. At 8:30 AM local time, households were at home, watching television or eating. It felt somewhat like preparing for a long trip. Many people had not even considered that they might never return.
Suddenly, all televisions and electronic devices displayed a notification:
[An earthquake of approximately magnitude 7.5 will occur in your area in 10 minutes. Please seek a safe location immediately.]
Earthquake sirens wailed across the city. Online games were paused, songs playing were abruptly cut off, and electronic billboards on streets and buildings first went black before displaying earthquake safety tips. Even the toilets in public restrooms began emitting electronic warnings about the impending earthquake. The constipated occupants immediately clutched their toilet paper anxiously, and a chorus of curses erupted from the restrooms, complaining about the earthquake choosing such an inconvenient time. Churches began frantically ringing their bells. The bell towers, taller than most villa-style houses, sent the chimes soaring over rooftops of various colors, spreading majestically throughout the city.
A large number of residents began to hastily evacuate their homes. Fortunately, everyone had prepared in advance, managing to reach the streets with their belongings in a matter of seconds. Those who reached the center of the streets began busy making calls and sending messages, inquiring if their loved ones had seen the earthquake warning. More people looked up at the sky, astonished by the immense size of the "Nest" floating above.
The warning time was revised multiple times, with an advance of over twenty seconds.
Along the roadsides, in parks, and in the urban forests within the entire earthquake zone, a large patch of blackness suddenly took flight with a roar, soaring skyward like black snow. Magpies, sparrows, crows... all sorts of birds flew chaotically from the trees, rushing towards the sky in a frenzy. The scene stunned the crowds on the streets, many raising their phones to take pictures.
Several lightning-fast white flashes streaked by in the distance. Before anyone could react, a deafening roar echoed, and a shockwave swept across the entire area from bottom to top. Large panes of glass on residential buildings shattered. Sounds of debris falling came from all directions. Small items that people hadn't taken with them – ink bottles on desks, cosmetics on dressing tables, vases on dining tables, bowls and plates in kitchens – all tumbled and fell to the floor, shattering into pieces.
A fire hydrant on the street burst, spraying water several meters high and drenching people on the road. Some manhole covers flew up, hitting passersby on the head, causing many to bleed. Some old, dilapidated small houses began to collapse with sounds like hand grenade explosions, sending up clouds of dust that could be seen several intersections away.
The people on the street turned pale. This was merely vertical shaking, the "initial tremors," and it was already this terrifying. The main horizontal earthquake was about to follow; the real major quake was just beginning.