Chapter 29 Section VII

The video shows Nicole sitting in a plain brown chair with an empty wall behind her.Wearing an ISA flight suit she used to wear as an astronaut on the Newton, she was holding an electronic notepad, reading the message: "My dear fellow Earthlings, I am Nicole de Jardin, astronaut of the Newton spaceship, speaking to you billions of kilometers away. I am aboard a Rama spacecraft, It is very similar to the two huge cylindrical spaceships that visited our solar system two hundred years ago. This third Rama spaceship I am on is heading towards a part of our galaxy. For the first time you are receiving this Four years after the video, Rama 3 will enter Mars orbit.

"I have known since leaving Earth that these Rama spacecraft are the creation of a highly developed super-intelligence in space. It has an information receiving system with a wide radiation area, and its ultimate goal is to obtain life in the universe, and will obtain Classification of data. Rama 3 returns to the area around our planet Earth for this purpose. "Ramane has designed an earth-like residential area that can accommodate 2,000 people. This residential area can also accommodate a considerable number of animals and plants from our earth. The relevant details are introduced in Appendix 1 of the video. However, it is necessary to It is emphasized that these plants, especially those that require interconversion of carbon dioxide and oxygen, are important features of the basic design of the earth's habitat on Rama. Without these plants, human life in Rama will face difficulties.

"The result to be achieved by sending this message is: Earth sends a group of human representatives to meet with Rama 3 in the orbit of Mars. The specific conditions are introduced in Appendix 2. Human representatives from Earth will be transported to Rama, where Living in the environmental habitat and subject to detailed observation. "Because humans took hostile actions against Rama 2, the spacecraft suffered minor damage. According to past experience, the Rama spacecraft will not be very close to the earth this time, but will choose the orbit of Mars. We assume that the human Those in power will heed this message and do what they are asked to do. If no humans are sent to Mars orbit to meet with Rama 3, I have no comment on how this spacecraft will behave. As far as I know, these superintelligent Individuals are fully capable of easily obtaining the research materials they need through other less benign technological means.

"As for the human beings to be transported to Mars, we require a wide range of selection, both men and women, people of all ages and cultural backgrounds. Appendix III has a huge database of Earth information, and also provides relevant observation data. "I don't know how long humans will stay in Rama and where they will go. I don't know why these superintelligent creatures can build Rama spaceships to collect life data in the universe, but I can tell you— — I have witnessed many wonders since leaving the solar system, which has given a whole new meaning to understanding our own place in the universe.”

The entire video is played for ten minutes without any scene changes, and half of the content is a detailed appendix.Nicole appears deliberate and cautious, looking away from the camera from time to time to look at the notebook in her hand. Her tone of voice changes slightly, but the sincerity on her face never changes, except for a hint of worry in her eyes when she reads "other less benign technological means to obtain information easily." Kenji Watanabe watched the first part of the video carefully.As he watched the appendix, his mind began to come alive. He has too many questions:

Who are those superintelligent creatures in space? from where? Why study us? Why did they choose Nicole de Jardin as their spokesperson? " Kenji felt that he was ridiculous, and he could keep asking such questions.He decided to turn his attention to some manageable issues. Kenji thought: "If Nicole was alive today, she would be 81 years old. On TV, she already has silver hair and more wrinkles than when she left the earth and entered the 'Newton', but she is not 80 years old at all, maybe Up to 50 years old." "So she made this video 30 years ago?" Kenji was puzzled, "Maybe her aging process was delayed?" He never doubted that the person in that video was not Nicole himself, because Kenji Having carefully studied the archives of the "Newton", I immediately recognized Nicole's expression and language habits.Kenji thought: "This should be the video she took 40 years ago, but if..."

Nicole's video finished, and Koch, director of the International Space Agency, appeared on the screen. Dr Koch told viewers that all channels would rebroadcast the footage so that crew members and passengers could watch it at their leisure. As Nicole's face reappears on screen, Max asks Kenji, "What the hell is going on here?" Kenji looked at the screen and said: "I think we were scammed by ISA and they used us to complete this meeting. Apparently this message was received four years ago when 'Lowell' was established The plan for the habitation station has not yet been finalized. After careful analysis, the International Space Agency has proven that the video is not a hoax before formulating the 'Lowell' plan, and the meeting with Rama is the secret purpose of our mission."

"It sucks!" Max shook his head vigorously, "Why are they hiding the truth from us?" Judge Mishkin was silent for a while and said: "These super-intelligent creatures use this superb technology just to collect our data. Now I understand some of their special practices when recruiting personnel. Eight months ago, when a group of I was surprised when the homeless American teenager was co-opted, and now I know it was all to satisfy what Mrs de Jardin called 'a wide range of options'. A well-populated, technically well-equipped place of residence has never been their primary purpose."

"I hate gossip and liars!" Max said, standing up and pacing the room. "All politicians and government officials are the same. These bastards have no conscience, damn it!" "But what can they do, Max?" Judge Mishkin said. "They don't want the video to be true either, at least until Rama appears in orbit around Mars. If they start To announce the truth to the public will surely cause panic all over the world." "Look, Judge," Max said angrily, "I thought I was hired to be a farmer on Mars. To be honest, I don't know anything about aliens, and I don't want to know what it is. Chickens, pigs, and people are enough. I can take it."

"Especially people," Judge Mishkin added quickly, smiling at his friend.Max couldn't help laughing too. Max and Judge Mishkin said goodbye to Kenji and Nai and left their room.As soon as the guests left, the phone in Watanabe's room rang. "Watanabe." They heard E. McMillan's voice. "Yes, sir." Kenji replied. "Sorry to disturb you, Watanabe." The commander said, "You are the first to accept the mission, and you are ordered to report the situation of all the crew on the 'Pinta', the Rama spacecraft and the astronaut De Jardin at 19 o'clock tonight. A brief report. I think it's time for you to get ready."

"...in 2200, all sources reported that Rama 2 had been destroyed by a nuclear bomb. The missing astronauts De Jardin, O'Toole, Takashi, and Walkerfield were rightfully presumed dead. According to' The Newton's official sources and TV series report that Nicole de Jardin is believed to have died somewhere in New York a few weeks before the 'Newton' left Rama to return to Earth. New York is in the Sea of ​​Ramari an island city." Having said that, Kenji pauses to look at his audience.While the video of Commander McMillan explaining Kenji to the Pinta's passengers and crew will be played repeatedly, there are plenty of listeners taking notes. Sitting in the spotlight, Kenji glanced at Nye, smiled and went on: "Astronaut Frances Satigny, the famous survivor of the ill-fated expedition ship Newton, recalled the situation and said that Dr. Jardin was attacked by a malevolent robot creature and fell into a black hole in New York. Together they searched for Dr. Takagishi, a Japanese scientist who mysteriously disappeared the night before. Ms. Satini in her book Wrote: I am well aware of how much water and food de Jardin has brought. Although she knows the human body inside out, Nicole will not survive a week at most on that food and water. If she is insane, she may drink cylinders The poisonous snow water in the sea will die faster that way. "After encountering Rama 2, none of the six astronauts of 'Newton' returned to Earth, and she was the most striking one among them. According to relevant European genetic data, King Henry XI of England was The father of Nicole's daughter Geno Viève. This makes the life of Nicole de Jardin even more legendary. Recently, a large number of people, especially young women, have flocked to visit her former residence in Beauvais, France. People Flocks flock here not just to see photos and videos of her illustrious life, but also to see two bronze statues of Nicole by Greek sculptor Theo Pappas, one in a sports vest, A young Nicole in track shorts with an Olympic gold medal dangling from his chest; another Nicole in an ISA flight suit, the same grown-up Nicole you see in the video." Kenji made a gesture, and all the lights in the camera room were turned off.A slideshow appeared on the screen behind him. "These are photographs of Nicole de Jardin stored in our archives on the Pinta. It is evident from these photographs that the speaker on the tape we watched this afternoon, if not Nicole de Jardin If de Jardin himself, it can only be a perfect copy of her." "Nicole de Jardin was born on January 6, 2164. The video we are watching this afternoon was made four years ago, when she would have been 77 years old. Now we only know Nicole de Jardin Dr. Dan is in good health and can move freely. If Nicole in the video is really 77 years old, then the aliens who made Rama must have mastered the secret of immortality." It was late at night, and Kenji still couldn't sleep.Everything that happened during the day made him very excited.His wife, Nai, was also lying on the small double bed, and she knew her husband was still asleep. "Are you sure we can really see Nicole de Jardin in person, dear?" Nei asked Kenji softly. "Yes," Kenji replied, "but McMillan didn't believe it. He ordered me to tell everyone that it was just a perfect replica, and he thought everything in the video was fake." After a short pause, Nye added: "I am reminded this afternoon of an article I wrote seven years ago in a People magazine about Nicole and King Henry. Some details are lost on me. Henry is hot How did you come to this conclusion, Navieve's father? Isn't the king dead? Also, don't the English royal family still keep their genetic data in secret?" "Dr. Lopez has developed a technique involving genes. Using this technique, he has shown that during the 2184 Los Angeles Olympics, Henry, then Prince of Wales, was more likely to be the father of Nicole's baby girl than any other. Any attendee is great. Darren Higgins admitted on his deathbed that Henry and Nicole had spent the night together during the Olympics, after which the royal family allowed a geneticist to look into their royal gene pool. The expert declares: there is no doubt that Henri is the father of Genevieve." “What a legendary woman this is!” Nye said. "Indeed!" Kenji replied, "Why are you here to make a comment at this time?" Nye said: "As a woman, I admire her for keeping her secrets and raising her princess alone. This is the greatest of all her achievements!"