Originally, Min intended to listen attentively. If such an act didn't provoke annoyance in their society, then he can't really blame Xi P for anything. The issue is, Xi P's language skills are still too rudimentary, and Min has to piece together his words through guesswork and context. On top of that, the topic itself is technically complex, so listening to it is a real test of cognitive endurance. After patiently enduring for a while, Min had to ask Xi P to stop to give his brain a moment's rest.
From Xi P's words and the experience playing with his tablet/VR headset these past few days, Min is able to sketch out a mental image of alien cities. They are undeniably sci-fi. In that earlier incident where Xi P deliberately scared him with an alien invasion movie, the city that Min saw would actually count as vintage. While many high-tech structures had been newly built, certain older, difficult-to-demolish sections remained.
Take, for example, the 'traditional' skyscrapers. The skyscrapers in that film were quite boxy in design, many visibly constructed from concrete. However, with the current trend of de-urbanisation in Lierus, newer buildings are increasingly adopting open designs, and the remaining skyscrapers are being built with more suitable new materials — plastic.
The concept of constructing building exteriors almost entirely from plastic isn't new. However, due to strength, pollution, and fire resistance concerns, few such structures exist on Earth. In Lierus, though, some new skyscrapers have already abandoned concrete. The strength, flexibility, reduced costs, and significantly lighter weight have allowed plastic to rapidly erode the market share of traditional building materials.
And as Min observed, this plastic is also quite pretty. Its vibrant, glossy hues make the city appear like a colourful toy from aerial views, with hardly any need for tilt-shift effects. Beyond this, some of the most densely populated megacities boast spectacular infrastructure — volumetric superhighways, multi-level elevated roads and tunnels. Light rail trains weave through every available space, while many vehicles on the roads operate without drivers. Nuclear power plants and facilities resembling solar thermal stations dotted industrial zones. Diverse architectural forms featured smooth, open lines. Save for the absence of flying cars, they perfectly matches Min's vision of ideal futuristic metropolis.
Moving beyond the city, their space programme is equally impressive. By human standards, their space station is colossal. The photos Xi P showed appeared to have taken by his ship's camera before departure, with the exhaust plume still visible at the bottom of the frame. The station resembled stacked rectangular prisms, topped and bottomed by smooth square pyramids, with the base facing the planet. Although there was no clear reference object, judging by the stairs and handrails visible through the still-closing hatch, the entire structure likely exceeded 150 metres in height and 60 metres in width — potentially larger still when accounting for radiator panels. Its footprint dwarfed that of the International Space Station by more than tenfold.
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And this is a relatively solid structure. Its actual volume could be thirty times greater than the frame-like ISS.
'Now this is what a real alien artefact should look like.' Min thought instantly upon seeing the station.
Beyond its vastly larger scale and mature design, it also bore something never seen on human spacecraft: weapons! (Note 1)
Note 1: Soviet Union's Polyus spacecraft was planned to mount a laser weapon but it never launched.
Min is certain these are weapons. One level featured a ring of turrets encircling the structure, each extending a series of relatively small-calibre barrels. While these cannons may not match the firepower of naval destroyer guns, who can say for sure? After all, this is alien technology — and who knows what would come out of those barrels? Xi P explained that a group of unknown terrorists — or possibly a nation's special forces — had attacked the space station using space-air fighters. Ultimately, the surviving garrison fought back fiercely and eliminated the invading militants, defending the station. To this day, the mastermind behind the attack remains unknown. However, following this incident, a weapons system was rapidly deployed. Considering the space station's strategic position and superior range, no space-aircraft could pose a threat anymore.
It must be said that the description of this battle has a distinctly sci-fi vibe to it. The only thing that might ruin the picture is the physical appearance of the crew.
Xi P also proudly showcased their military vessels — not watercrafts, but interstellar warships! Measuring over 40 metres in length, they were equipped with three cannons/lasers similar to those on the space station, but scaled down. Surprisingly, their design closely resembled classic sci-fi warships: a massive cylinder studded with equipment and radiators. Xi P claims that their original intention was to counter space-air fighters. Comparing these spaceships with the few aircraft capable of direct space entry that humanity possesses (Note 2) reveals just how thoroughly the aliens had prepared for interstellar warfare. Now, as the weaponry on the space station gradually matures, these vessels have been assigned new missions: installing faster-than-light engines to assist in reconnaissance of neighbouring star systems.
Note 2: Or none, depends on how you define it. Here I use the definition of crossing the Kármán line.
Though these warships are no match in size to waterborne ships, their mere existence reveals the pinnacle of technological advancement — or perhaps, immense financial resources. An alien nation possessing genuine space warships resides not too far (?) from Earth...
Min can't tell if this counts as good news or bad. He can only take solace in the fact that this alien society has not yet discovered Earth — and that they seem reasonably civilised.
