Chapter 212

Time flew by in the Federal's tense war preparations.

The sixth year of Qin Hao's closed-door cultivation.

Solar System, Pluto.

In the main laboratory of the Human Federal Civilization Research Branch, Academician Qian Bowen looked exhausted yet spirited.

"Rote Commissioner, the cold fusion catalyst has been fully mastered!"

His voice trembled with barely concealed excitement.

Hearing this, Luo Rui Xiang nodded.

This technology had already become widespread several years ago; now the fleet's voyage range and energy output efficiency have seen a qualitative leap.

This enabled the Federal's expeditionary fleet to reach farther star systems and made the warships' Energy Shields more robust.

"But this is only the first step," Qian Bowen said, shifting his tone and pointing to the projection screen beside him.

On the screen was a complex diagram of an energy reactor structure.

It is more refined than the previous fusion engine.

"Under the guidance of the core physical model provided by Comrade Qin Hao, we have overcome the difficulty of stably controlling matter-antimatter annihilation reactions."

Saying this, Qian Bowen pushed up his glasses, his eyes blazing:

"This is revolutionary, truly a…… matter-antimatter annihilation engine!"

Everyone in the laboratory held their breath.

The annihilation engine is something that only exists in science fiction novels.

It means that warships will no longer need other fuel; they need only store antimatter to generate unimaginable energy.

"We boldly used droplet material as the confinement wall inside the reactor, which can perfectly withstand the terrifying energy impact of the annihilation reaction."

Qian Bowen's tone carried pride:

"Theoretically, the annihilation of one gram of antimatter can produce energy equivalent to a small nuclear bomb!"

"And our annihilation engine can process several grams per second!"

"The efficiency of this engine is hundreds of times that of existing fusion engines!"

Wang Hongbin, who had been promoted to Federal Armaments Chief, could not hide his excitement now.

A look of joy appeared on his usually steady face.

As the person responsible for turning research results into actual combat power, he clearly understood what this meant.

This is no longer a mere few-percent increase in energy, but an exponential leap in warship performance.

He took up the conversation and reported to Luo Rui Xiang:

"We are refitting all main warships, installing this new engine first. It is expected that within two years, we will have completed the refit of one-third of the main fleet."

Luo Rui Xiang's face showed a smile.

This is indeed a milestone.

With this engine, the warship's speed, maneuverability, and firepower output will all be raised to a whole new level.

However, even more impressive developments lie ahead.

Qian Bowen switched the screen again, this time showing a simulation of spatial distortion.

"Regarding space technology, Qin Hao likewise provided data beyond our comprehension."

He pointed to a crack on the screen like a transparent blade:

"This is spatial cutting technology. We can already generate subspace shearing forces through energy disturbances to cut targets in spatial dimensions."

He then switched to another image, an invisible shield enveloping the warship.

"This is a spatial fold shield; it can divert most kinetic and energy weapon attacks into a micro-folded space, then transfer the attack elsewhere."

"Finally, there is spatial jump technology."

On the screen, a warship vanished into thin air and instantly reappeared at another location.

"We have already achieved short-range, low-power spatial jumps. However, these technologies currently suffer from serious flaws."

Qian Bowen's tone turned cautious.

"Spatial cutting consumes enormous energy, and its attack accuracy is severely affected by the environment."

"The spatial fold shield risks brief energy leakage and shield failure under high-intensity saturation attacks."

"Moreover, its stability is insufficient; prolonged use may cause irreversible damage to the engine."

"As for spatial jumps, we can currently only perform short jumps within a star system."

"The greater the jump distance, the larger the error, potentially even plunging the warship directly into a star or other hazardous zone."

"Additionally, the cooldown time is long, and the warship's own energy core must meet extremely high demands."

Zhang Xianzhong and Zhou Shaoqing listened attentively.

Although the flaws are obvious, this remains the ability they have long dreamed of.

This means that the warships of the Human Federal will no longer be simple linear charges; they will be able to execute dimensional strikes and defenses, possessing strategic mobility.

"The flaws can be compensated for."

At this moment, Wang Hongbin interjected.

"We have already mobilized all top engineers and materials experts, collaborating with the Academy of Sciences for optimization. The production lines are also being adjusted to strive for simultaneous integration of the new technology."

After listening, Luo Rui Xiang smiled and said:

"You've worked hard these past few years; technical matters need to be taken slowly, not rushed. I believe in your ability to resolve these flaws."

Having said that, Luo Rui Xiang left, as he still had many matters to attend to.

……

Time, like a rushing river, never pauses for anyone.

Year after year passed, the war preparation process had almost reached the limit a civilization could bear.

All resources of the Federal were extracted to the utmost.

The mining fleets went full throttle, continuously transporting rare minerals from every planet and asteroid belt.

Energy conversion stations roared day and night, converting stellar energy into usable power.

After their initial protests proved ineffective, the protected civilizations gradually became numb and obedient.

They were like bolts in a massive machine, contributing everything to the war under the Federal's drive.

Many civilizations, even growing accustomed to this high-pressure life, regarded production quotas as their sole value.

They could not understand why human civilization would be so obstinate, refusing to become vassals and instead choosing such a perilous path.

In the warship factories, robots and workers labored side by side, at astonishing speed, casting the hulls, installing engines, and debugging weapon systems.

The Yanhuang Star System and the Solar System, the two core star systems of human civilization, saw sparks flying from every shipyard, while every space harbor berthed colossal beasts ready to unleash.

Luo Lao, Zhang Xianzhong, Wang Hongbin, and others devoted nearly all their time to this unprecedented war preparation.

They slept only two or three hours each day, spending the rest reviewing documents, listening to reports, coordinating resources, and solving problems.

Fortunately, Federal personnel had been injected with the third-generation super-nimbus gene, granting them formidable physical and mental strength.

Otherwise, nobody could endure such high-intensity work hours.

Time had arrived at the ninth year.

Blue Star, the military strategic Command Center.

The holographic projection showed two vast star fleets, like a pair of giant dragons coiled in the universe.

Wang Hongbin's voice bore undisguised fatigue, yet held an ineffable pride: "Envoy, generals, this is our achievement after nine years."

He pointed toward the fleet in the direction of the Solar System:

"As for the Solar System, the number of main warships has reached 6.3 million."

"Adding the nearly 3.8 million from the Yanhuang Star System, our Federal now possesses over 10 million main warships!"

That number caused the air in the conference room to freeze.

Ten million main warships! Nine years ago, one couldn't even dare imagine it.

The Human Federal expanded its fleet size by more than double in less than ten years!

This is the most terrifying efficiency a civilization can exhibit.

"Meanwhile, the annihilation drive is 60% retrofitted. All main warships will possess speed and firepower far surpassing before."

Wang Hongbin continued his report.

"Then, how about space technology?"

Zhou Shaoqing asked bluntly.

That was what he truly cared about.

"Thanks to the efforts of all scientists, most flaws in space technology have been resolved."

Qian Bowen took over the conversation, his face finally showing relief.

"We used the highest-priority resources to retrofit five hundred of those warships."

He paused, his tone turning solemn:

"These warships are all equipped with preliminary space-cutting weapons, space-folding shields, and short-range intra-system space-jump capability."

"They are currently our strongest warships—the Giant Spirit, the crystallization of human technology."

"But… their numbers are simply too few."

Luo Lao's gaze fell on the holographic star map, where those five hundred points appeared insignificant among the ten million warships.

Only these five hundred warships are the Human Federal's true blade daring to confront a Third-level Civilization.

"Time is running out."

Zhang Xianzhong's low voice sounded, his expression grave.

The ten-year deadline is approaching.

Inside the conference room, a brief silence fell once more.

All achievements, all sacrifices, were made to avoid enslavement.

"By the way, any news from Xiao Qin?"

Suddenly, Lao Luo inquired about Qin Hao's information.

"Qin Hao has already messaged me; he'll be back to the Yanhuang Star System in a few days."

Zhang Xianzhong chimed in from the side.

"That's wonderful; everything is ready, so let's see how strong the Silicon-based Union, this Third-level Civilization, really is."

Luo Lao's eyes narrowed slightly.