Chapter 345: The Perfect Circle

At the same time, the Detonation System team was sweating in another laboratory. Lao Liu led the team in designing a precision electronic trigger system unlike any before.

"The precision of the master timer is still not enough," Lao Liu said, frowning. "We need to control the error within 5 microseconds; the current design still has a drift of 15 microseconds."

The team members buried themselves in their work, constantly optimizing the circuit design and testing various new components. An expert specializing in crystal oscillators proposed an innovative solution:

"If we use multiple crystal oscillators to calibrate each other, theoretically we can reduce the clock drift to within 3 microseconds."

Lao Liu's eyes lit up: "Good idea! Experiment immediately."

Another engineer was solving the signal transmission problem:

"I have designed a new type of distributed trigger network that can ensure consistent signal delay for all detonators, with a maximum difference of no more than 50 nanoseconds."

Lao Liu patted his shoulder: "Excellent! This is exactly what we need. Now the key is to ensure the system's stability under extreme conditions; after all, this thing isn't for use in a laboratory."

The work of the safety interlock team was equally critical. Professor Zhang led the team in designing multiple safety mechanisms to ensure the nuclear device could only be activated under specific conditions.

"This is the triple mechanical interlock I designed," a mechanical engineer said, demonstrating a precise device model. "Only by operating in a specific sequence can the internal components align. Any incorrect operation will cause the mechanism to lock."

"Very good," Professor Zhang nodded. "We also need to add an environmental sensing system, such as altimeters, accelerometers, etc., to ensure the device can only be unlocked on a predetermined trajectory."

Another electronic engineer proposed a password lock scheme: "I have designed a six-digit password system; entering the wrong code more than three times will permanently lock the trigger mechanism."

"These are all very good," Professor Zhang mused, "but we need to ensure these safety measures themselves do not become a bottleneck for reliability. After all, when we truly need to use it, these locks must be reliably disengaged."

Every night at eight o'clock, the three teams would report their progress in the main conference room.

Li Mingyuan was always the last to leave, often staying up late alone in the laboratory to solve various technical difficulties.

Late one night, Lao Liu found Li Mingyuan still debugging equipment in the Detonation System laboratory.

"Chief Engineer Li, you should rest," Lao Liu said with concern. "If you keep going like this, your health will collapse."

Li Mingyuan rubbed his bloodshot eyes and gave a bitter smile: "I can't sleep. Whenever I think of the biochemical weapons the Di Guo is preparing, and think of the lives of millions of compatriots hanging by a thread, I cannot rest easy."

Lao Liu sighed: "I understand, but you must take care of your health. Without you, this project will be difficult to continue."

Li Mingyuan nodded and put down the tools in his hand: "You are right, I will go rest for a while. However, we must speed up our progress tomorrow; I always feel that time is running out."

One month later, all three teams had made major breakthroughs.

The Detonation Lens team successfully designed a new lens configuration; high-speed photography tests showed that the spherical symmetry of the detonation wave reached an astonishing 99.8%, exceeding the design goal.

"Look at this!" Dean He excitedly showed Li Mingyuan the latest test results. "The wavefront is almost a perfect sphere, and the deviation at all measurement points is less than 0.2%!"

The Detonation System team also completed the prototype design of the trigger circuit. They used a specialized high-speed Oscilloscope to prove that the trigger time difference of all detonators was less than 0.05 milliseconds, far exceeding the expected goal.

"Theoretically, this system can detonate 128 detonators simultaneously with a time precision better than 50 microseconds," Lao Liu reported proudly. "Moreover, we have already conducted high-temperature, low-temperature, vibration, and electromagnetic interference tests, and the system remains stable under various extreme conditions."

The safety interlock team also handed in a perfect answer. They designed a five-fold safety system, including mechanical locks, electronic locks, environmental sensing locks, timing locks, and password locks. The device can only be activated when all conditions are met.

"The reliability of this system has reached 99.9999%," Professor Zhang said confidently. "The probability of accidental detonation is almost zero, but the success rate during normal operation is still over 99.5%."

The breakthroughs in the three major difficulties boosted the morale of the entire team.

The three-month deadline had not yet arrived, and they had basically completed the technical research tasks.

Just then, Minister Zhang hurried into the conference room with a grave expression: "Chief Engineer Li, there is urgent intelligence. The Di Guo's biochemical weapon program has entered the final stage; they have already begun mass-producing the virus."

The conference room fell silent instantly; everyone felt the imminent crisis.

"How much time is left?" Li Mingyuan asked, his voice low.

"Two weeks at most," Minister Zhang replied. "They have already begun transporting the biochemical weapons to the front-line bases."

Li Mingyuan took a deep breath and turned to the team: "Everyone, time is tight; we must speed up our progress. Over the next week, we must complete the assembly and testing of the prototype device. Prepare your designs and material lists; we start full-scale production tomorrow."

Everyone nodded in agreement, their eyes flashing with a firm light.

Inside an underground facility surrounded by heavy cordon lines at the core military base of the Di Guo, a special meeting was underway.

"Production of the BW-7 biological weapon has reached 85% of the plan," Doctor Langley said, standing in front of the projector with a sickly excitement on his face. "The first batch of 1,000 units has been packaged and is ready to be loaded into the delivery system at any time."

A dozen high-ranking military officials and scientists sat at the conference table, with General Havier sitting in the center, his expression gloomy.

"Production progress needs to be accelerated," he said coldly. "Intelligence shows that the Long Country front-line troops have begun abnormal movements; we must launch a strike before they are prepared."

"General, we are already producing 24 hours a day without interruption," Langley shrugged helplessly. "The laboratory's safety protocols do not allow us to accelerate further, otherwise it could lead to a contamination accident."

"Then increase the production lines," Havier insisted. "The President has already approved additional emergency funding; at all costs, all production must be completed within a week."

Langley nodded: "I will arrange it. However, this may require using some... unconventional channels to obtain additional equipment and personnel."

"Do what you need to do," Havier waved his hand. "National security is above all else."

Next, the meeting turned to the military deployment segment.

"According to the latest reconnaissance, the Li Yunlong troops of the Long Country have advanced about 30 kilometers forward," a military staff officer said, pointing at the map. "They seem to be taking advantage of the relative calm during the negotiations to redeploy their forces."