Chapter 497: Vector Thrust, Is This Real?

"It is true, Captain Henderson," the co-pilot said firmly, "we all saw it. That aircraft... completely defies all principles of aeronautical physics we know."

Captain Henderson's expression became even more serious: "Are you implying that you discovered some kind of... supernatural phenomenon?"

"Not supernatural, it's advanced technology!" Smith said excitedly, "It's the Long Country's new type of fighter jet! It has some kind of special propulsion system that can change the direction of the jet, achieving near-vertical takeoff and landing and mid-air hovering!"

Hearing this, Captain Henderson's expression shifted from skepticism to concern; he began to wonder if these experienced pilots had encountered some kind of psychological problem.

"Major," he said, trying to use a calm voice, "vector thrust technology is still in the theoretical stage; no country is able to—"

"I know what the theory says!" Smith interrupted him, his voice almost distorted, "But I saw it with my own eyes! That silver-gray devil was hovering right in front of me, just like a damn hummingbird! Then it flew right against the sea surface, at an altitude so low it was outrageous, and at a speed you couldn't imagine!"

Captain Henderson sighed and picked up the phone: "I think I need to call the medical officer to take a look at you all. Perhaps it's high-altitude hypoxia—"

Smith suddenly rushed forward and snatched the phone, smashing it on the ground: "You bureaucratic idiot! We don't have time to waste! If the Long Country really has mastered this technology, the balance of power in the entire Taipingyang is about to change completely!"

Captain Henderson's face turned livid: "Major! This is a serious violation of military discipline! If you don't calm down, I will be forced to—"

"To hell with military discipline!" Smith had completely lost his reason; he turned and rushed toward the darkroom, "I'm going to develop these photos myself! You nerds won't be so self-righteous after seeing the evidence!"

"Stop him!" Captain Henderson ordered, but the other crew members not only did not stop him, they followed Smith into the darkroom, clearly all convinced of the importance of what they had seen.

Captain Henderson angrily picked up another phone, preparing to report this serious disciplinary incident to the captain. But just then, Fleet Intelligence Chief Colonel Cohen pushed the door and entered.

"What happened?" Colonel Cohen asked sternly, "I heard shouting from the hallway."

Captain Henderson stood at attention and saluted: "Colonel, I am very sorry. The crew of the 'Neptune' just returned, and they are behaving very abnormally, especially Major Smith, who seems to have encountered some kind of... hallucination. They have forcibly occupied the darkroom, claiming to have photographed some kind of revolutionary Long Country fighter jet."

"What kind of fighter jet?" Colonel Cohen asked, his tone carrying a trace of imperceptible tension.

"According to their description, it is a jet fighter capable of... hovering in mid-air, sir. It is clearly absurd."

Colonel Cohen's expression became serious: "Henderson, you know that Major Smith is one of our best reconnaissance pilots, with nearly twenty years of flight experience."

"Yes, sir, but even the best pilots can—"

"Can missee things, but it is rare for an entire crew to have the same hallucination at the same time." Colonel Cohen interrupted him, "I will look into the situation myself."

Just then, the door to the darkroom was pushed open violently, and Major Smith rushed out, holding several wet photos, a strange expression of victory on his face.

"Colonel Cohen!" He practically lunged at the intelligence chief, "Thank God you are here! Look at this, look at this revolutionary discovery!"

He spread several photos on the table. Although they were developed in a hurry and were somewhat blurry, the incredible scene in the photos was still clearly identifiable—a silver-gray fighter jet, its fuselage in a peculiar hovering posture, the nozzles at the tail clearly deflected downward, the jet flames pointing almost vertically toward the sea surface!

Another photo showed the same aircraft flying almost against the sea surface, at an unbelievably low altitude, with spray even splashing onto the belly of the plane. The third photo captured it making a sharp turn at an impossible angle, the fuselage's attitude completely defying conventional aerodynamic principles.

Colonel Cohen's expression became increasingly grave as he flipped through each photo. As a veteran intelligence officer, he immediately realized the astonishing implications these photos represented.

"Where did you take these?" he asked in a low voice.

"Near Penglai Base, sir," Smith replied quickly, "When we were conducting a routine close-in reconnaissance, the Radar suddenly picked up an abnormal target, and then... then we saw this."

Colonel Cohen took a deep breath: "Everyone, seal this intelligence room immediately. Without my order, no one is to enter or leave, and no information is to be passed on. Smith, you and the crew prepare a detailed report immediately, describing every detail you saw. Henderson, assist them in developing all the film; I want to see every single photo."

"Yes, sir!" everyone replied in unison, and a look of obvious shock appeared on Captain Henderson's face—clearly, Colonel Cohen completely believed Smith's account.

Before Colonel Cohen turned to leave, he looked back at the photos and whispered: "If this is true... God help us."

Captain's office.

Admiral Bremer, captain of the aircraft carrier "Freedom", was processing daily paperwork when Colonel Cohen rushed in with a stack of photos and an urgent report; he immediately realized that something extraordinary had happened.

"Cohen, what is so urgent?"

"Sir, we need to send a top-secret telegram to the Pentagon immediately," Colonel Cohen's voice was unusually serious, "Our P2V Reconnaissance Aircraft discovered an unprecedented new type of fighter jet near the Long Country's Penglai Base, possessing... vector thrust capability."

Admiral Bremer frowned: "Vector thrust? Isn't that technology still in the theoretical stage?"

"Theoretically yes, sir. But these photos... they clearly show that the Long Country has already put this technology into practical use."

Colonel Cohen placed the photos on the captain's desk. Admiral Bremer picked up the first one, his expression shifting rapidly from skepticism to shock.

"My God... is this true?"

"Major Smith and the entire crew witnessed the performance of this aircraft, sir. It can hover above the sea surface and perform extreme maneuvers that conventional fighter jets cannot complete."

Admiral Bremer immediately realized the strategic significance of this discovery: "If the Long Country has truly mastered practical vector thrust technology, then our air superiority in the Taipingyang will no longer be a certainty."

He picked up the phone: "Connect me to encrypted communications; I want to report this discovery to the Pentagon personally. At the same time, prepare to dispatch a fast liaison aircraft to deliver these photos and the full report directly to Washington."

"Yes, sir."