Stellaris Tech Tree HSR

Snow blanketed the vast land, stretching into an endless white expanse.

This was Jarilo-VI, the planet Chen Lin had identified as a treasure trove of minerals and energy.

Half an hour earlier, Chen Lin had learned the cause of the planet's anomalies from Himeko and Welt. With their mission clarified, the four members of the Trailblazer team descended onto the icy, snow-covered surface of the planet via drop pods.

The biting cold wind howled across the frozen landscape. Rubbing her hands together, March let out a gasp, "It really is a winter wonderland!"

"It really is a winter wonderland!" Stelle echoed her.

"Are you a parrot or something?" March shot back, exasperated.

Stelle pouted at the sharp rebuke and quickly hid behind Chen Lin, the haughty attitude from before vanishing instantly.

Chen Lin couldn't help but smile at the duo's antics. They had an uncanny ability to lighten the mood effortlessly. He glanced at Dan Heng, who gave him a faint nod of agreement.

"Alright, alright. Based on the coordinates, our target should be in that direction, right?" Chen Lin pointed toward the icy plains to their left. "By the way, when you've dealt with Stellaron incidents before, were there any particular precautions you had to take? I could use some advice since I'm new to this."

Before they landed, Himeko had pulled Chen Lin aside, emphasizing the importance of taking charge during their exploration. She wanted him to lead the team carefully to minimize risks to the Astral Express crew.

Why Himeko had chosen him—a complete novice at "Trailblazing"—to lead was beyond Chen Lin. But he had a few guesses.

Dan Heng, for instance, was straightforward and taciturn. He preferred action over words, which could be problematic if they encountered the planet's inhabitants. Dan Heng might inadvertently reveal too much and make the locals wary of them.

Stelle, on the other hand, rarely spoke seriously. She had boundless energy and a tendency to wander aimlessly. On the train, she was like a child exploring every nook and cranny.

As for March… Well, there was no point expecting too much from her. Letting her eat, drink, and enjoy life seemed like the best strategy.

With this in mind, Chen Lin realized he might be the most "normal" person in the group. Himeko probably knew about his intellectual exchanges with Herta through their communications, which might explain her decision to trust him with this responsibility.

Carrying the weight of leadership is exhausting…

Dan Heng squinted at March, his tone dry. "Should I tell the story about you putting a hole in the dome, or would you prefer to?"

"Aha, no need to bring that up!" March laughed nervously, scratching her head and dodging the subject.

Chen Lin raised an eyebrow but decided not to press. From what Dan Heng hinted, it seemed their landing choices were critical, particularly avoiding any damage to the locals' structures.

"What about communication etiquette? Any universal rules we should follow when talking to the natives?" Chen Lin asked.

Dan Heng pondered for a moment before shaking his head. "There aren't any fixed rules."

"Then how do you usually handle Stellaron incidents?" Chen Lin pressed further.

"State our purpose, then deal with the Stellaron," Dan Heng replied matter-of-factly. "It's the simplest and most direct approach. Stellaron phenomena create spatial rifts and spawn dangerous lifeforms. Sealing the Stellaron is in everyone's best interest. Do you have a different idea?"

"Not really," Chen Lin admitted, "but doesn't barging in and declaring your intentions make you seem suspicious? Doesn't it risk getting into trouble with the locals?"

Chen Lin imagined a scenario: a group of oddly dressed, armed strangers walking into a country's capital, announcing they were there to deal with a dangerous item threatening everyone. Surely, they'd be mistaken for terrorists and arrested on the spot.

These two are lucky they haven't run into trouble yet. How have they managed this long?

March beamed confidently. "You just don't know enough, Chen Lin! The Interastral Peace Corporation has linked up many planets for communication. Most aren't isolationist, so they wouldn't see us as threats!"

March's explanation revealed that during the Amber Age, the Interastral Peace Corporation had forcibly opened the doors to many life-supporting planets. Under the guise of "cooperation and harmony," they connected these once-isolated worlds into a larger network.

As a result, most planets were aware of extraterrestrial life. After all, to other planets, they themselves were the aliens.

This was the age of interstellar connectivity, where interplanetary trade formed the backbone of many economies.

"Still," Chen Lin said, frowning as he rubbed his chin, "something feels off about this."

Himeko had mentioned that Jarilo-VI was once a lush, green planet brimming with life. Now, it was an icy wasteland. Such drastic changes in just a few thousand years were hard to comprehend.

"Still, something feels off about this," Stelle echoed, mimicking his words.

Chen Lin lightly tapped her head. "Are you stuck on repeat or what?"

"Humph!" Stelle placed her hands on her hips, looking smug.

Ignoring her antics, Chen Lin gestured toward a nearby dilapidated house. "Look over there."

The group turned to see what he was pointing at. It was an abandoned house, so deeply buried in snow that it was barely recognizable.

Dan Heng was the first to understand Chen Lin's point. "Snow this deep doesn't accumulate overnight. This planet must have faced extreme cold for years, if not decades, causing massive loss of life. Worse yet, they might have been cut off from the rest of the galaxy."

"Exactly," Chen Lin agreed.

Centuries of environmental collapse could lead to widespread death and the loss of scientific knowledge. Without researchers, engineers, or infrastructure, a society's technology would regress significantly.

These were logical deductions based on Chen Lin's understanding of history and disasters. Even if he wasn't entirely accurate, he was confident he wasn't far off.

Stelle tilted her head. "So, are you worried we'll be causing trouble here?"

"That's part of it," Chen Lin admitted. "But…" He sighed and patted her shoulder. "Could you at least stop with the bizarre behavior and act normal for once? And what's with that smug look? Forget it. As long as you and March are happy, I'll let it slide."

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