cannot make tbe universe turn back on its course; cannot(/unable to) save the (desperate) situation ? 將軍們～，一籌莫展。The generals could not save the desperate s/tuat/on and were at their wits’ end.
回天乏術(shù)hui tian fa shu
know no way to save the situation
回天乏術(shù)huí tiān fá shù
回天：比喻挽回極難挽回的局勢(shì)；乏：缺少；術(shù)：方法。比喻無(wú)法挽回嚴(yán)重的局勢(shì)。have no plan to make improvements, unable to save the situation, powerless to save the desperate situation