"Modify the virus's genes, or cultivate it iteratively to develop resistance," Jiang Ye said. "After the new Broad-Invasive Plant Yellow Paper Virus is cultivated, preserve some samples and store them secretly and properly."
"You mean... biological weapons?" Sawada Marian's face turned pale with horror.
Jiang Ye smiled without speaking.
"But... preparing biological weapons requires special approval from the Galactic Empire's military, otherwise, you'll face a military court..." Sawada Marian's face was ashen.
"Who told you this is a biological weapon?" Jiang Ye said leisurely. "It's just scientific research. Since we encountered the Mir people's biological weapons on Birong Star, why shouldn't we study them thoroughly? During the research, there were some mishaps, resulting in several new Broad-Invasive Plant Yellow Paper Viruses. The laboratory decisively sealed these variants, preventing any leakage. Isn't that in accordance with regulations?"
"Besides, who says the Mir people only left behind one type of Broad-Invasive Plant Yellow Paper Virus? Couldn't there be new species?" Jiang Ye paused. "New species could have been developed by the Mir people back then, or they could have mutated coincidentally in the vast natural world. Birong Star has many radioactive zones; any mutation is not surprising, right?"
Sawada Marian swallowed. "It seems reasonable... indeed, in-depth research is necessary."
"Is it difficult?" Jiang Ye asked.
"Not very. It can even be done directionally. First, remove the Jansen ring, and then add any genes you want to the rest..."
"What is the Jansen ring?"
"It's an artificial circular genome found in viruses and cells, created and popularized by scientist Jansen two centuries ago," Sawada Marian's lips moved quickly. When it came to professional knowledge, her emotions visibly relaxed. "This genome has only two functions: memory and destruction. It first memorizes the genetic material within bacteria or viruses, and when it detects incorrect genetic material, it activates the self-destruct program of the bacteria or virus."
"This technology was originally used to prevent cancer and radiation sickness, and later for artificial bacteria and viruses," Sawada Marian continued to explain. "Its function is to ensure that the genetic material of the parent and offspring is exactly the same, preventing mutations. Even after many generations of reproduction, it remains unchanged."
"I understand," Jiang Ye nodded approvingly. "I have already ordered the construction of the first P5 laboratory on Jiang Ye Star. It will be completed in a few days. Then, you can select reliable people to carry out this task. Do not send me messages when you make progress; tell me face-to-face."
"P5 laboratory?" Sawada Marian was shocked.
The P4 laboratory she currently worked in was already a luxurious setup, with ten doors leading from the corridor to the operating table, equipped with various sky-high priced equipment and safety measures for researching dangerous and unknown pathogens. Many small planets did not have laboratories of this high a level, at most P3.
Now, Jiang Ye was ordering the construction of a P5 level, an upgraded version of the P4 laboratory. Although only a difference of one number, the cost was twenty times higher.
Sawada Marian smelled danger. She had a premonition that this was just the beginning, and they might create many other things in the future.
Doing this was risky. If the Galactic Empire discovered it, she would face a military court.
But... that day should never come.
With Jiang Ye's support and protection, there was nothing to fear.
Sawada Marian forced a smile. "Please rest assured, I will handle this as quickly as possible. Speaking of mutated viruses, do you have any specific requirements?" DaFeng Novel Network
"No targeting humans, and no targeting poultry or livestock. For now, only target plants," Jiang Ye said. "The variety can be slightly larger, and different types should ideally not be killed by the same disinfectant."
"Do we need to add the Jansen ring gene?"
"What's the difference whether we add it or not?"
"If added, it will be very stable, but it also means it can be wiped out by a special disinfectant. If not added, it will produce multiple mutations, with stronger power and longer duration, but it will be uncontrollable."
"Add it. Uncontrollable things are not weapons, they are disasters," Jiang Ye said.
...
Birong Star Camp.
The ground rumbled.
Thousands of hailstones fell from the sky, ranging from the size of peanuts to eggs, like a white stone downpour.
Human soldiers and mechanical soldiers, all soldiers stood under the eaves watching the hail. White hailstones bounced on the hard ground of the star station, shattering upon impact, and spinning towards the soldiers' feet.
The human soldiers started a hail-kicking competition, using all their strength to kick each hailstone away, clearing the area in front of their feet.
The mechanical soldiers quickly followed suit. They had greater strength, kicking the hailstones like bullets, whistling as they flew.
The hail lasted for a full hour. On the barren land near the star station, the hail piled up to nearly half a meter thick, a truly spectacular sight.
The world was covered in ice.
The sky cleared.
Sunlight poured down, making the ground shine, like a hoard of crystal diamonds in a dragon's cave. But the hail did not melt, and the temperature remained extremely cold, tens of degrees below zero. The sun itself seemed frozen.
The soldiers began their work, clearing the star station.
The spaceship's roof was covered in a layer of hail. First, specialized sweeping robots cleared it, then it was shoveled into sacks, loaded onto trucks, and hauled away. Tiny ice fragments in the gaps of the portholes were swept out, and even a few ice chips from the engine nozzles were removed.
The planting greenhouses were hit hard. The greenhouse covers were covered with hail, bending the greenhouses. Soldiers entered with long poles, poking upwards with all their might. Dozens of pounds of hail fell with a crash. They had evacuated too hastily during the hail, and the greenhouse doors were not properly closed. At least over a hundred pounds of hail had forced its way in. The soldiers manually cleared it, pushing the ice blocks out of the greenhouse doors.
The newly planted batch of tomatoes had all frozen and burst, not yet ripe, appearing greenish-yellow. The soldiers cleaning the rotten tomatoes with large buckets sighed repeatedly, lamenting the waste of so much food.
For a full four hours, with both human and mechanical efforts, and even using flamethrowers and incendiary bombs, the hail in the star station was finally cleared.
The soldiers returned to the spaceship, took a brief rest and ate, and then lined up fully armed.
Today's task was crucial: expanding the star station!
The two spaceship berths were far too few. It was said that the star stations in other parts of Birong Star had already been expanded several times, and Jiang Ye naturally did not want to fall behind. He sent a message ordering the Birong Star station to add eight new spaceship berths!
This was an undertaking of no small magnitude.
Over a thousand construction equipment units had been transported in the past few days, along with a thousand new mechanical soldiers and construction materials filling the warehouses.
Che Zhen personally led the team. He held a tablet computer, tapping continuously on the screen.
A buzzing sound, like an exploded beehive, emerged as hundreds of drones flew out from the top of the spaceship and headed towards the vast white wilderness.
"Alright, let's get started! Dig down where the drones are circling. Notify you when you reach the depth!" Che Zhen waved his hand.