Chapter 534: The Terrified Star-Spangled Country

Li Mingyuan smiled slightly: "More importantly, we have collected a large amount of first-hand data regarding the Star-Spangled Country fleet's reaction patterns, radar parameters, and communication protocols. This intelligence is crucial for our future development."

"Lao Li is right," a Military Representative interjected within the command center, his voice filled with respect, "Today's performance of 'Kunpeng' proves that it is not just a weapons platform, but a strategic deterrent tool. It can deploy silently in any sea area across the globe, pose a lethal threat to the enemy, and then withdraw safely after completing its mission, leaving not a trace behind. This capability... will completely change the global strategic balance."

"Maintain course and speed," Minister Zhang regained some composure and began to consider practical issues, "We will ensure your return route is safe. According to intelligence, the Star-Spangled Country has already begun mobilizing other forces of the Taiyang Fleet, attempting to intercept you. But with 'Kunpeng's' speed and stealth capabilities, they have no chance at all."

"Understood," Li Mingyuan responded briefly, "Maintaining radio silence, contacting only when necessary. 'Kunpeng' out."

After the communication ended, Li Mingyuan leaned back in his seat and let out a long breath. This ocean-going test and "special subject drill" were even more successful than he had anticipated. Every performance metric of "Kunpeng" reached or even exceeded the design requirements, especially its speed, stealth, and electronic warfare capabilities, proving that it is indeed a revolutionary weapons platform capable of changing the rules of naval warfare.

More importantly, this operation sent a clear message to the whole world, especially to the Star-Spangled Country: Long Country is no longer that weak nation waiting to be slaughtered; it possesses the technological strength and military capability to challenge and even surpass world powers.

"Pangu, set automatic course, maintain current speed and stealth status," Li Mingyuan ordered, preparing to rest for a moment, "Report immediately if any approaching ships or aircraft are detected."

"Understood, automatic course set. Current speed 320 knots, altitude 4.5 meters, full-spectrum silence and stealth status maintained. Estimated arrival at Penglai Base in 16 hours and 42 minutes."

Li Mingyuan nodded with satisfaction, closed his eyes, and prepared to take a short nap. As a soul who had transmigrated from 2023, he deeply understood the historical significance of this "Kunpeng" ocean-going test. In the original timeline, Long Country would not possess naval power capable of challenging world powers until decades later. But now, this process had been greatly accelerated.

"History has changed," he whispered in his heart, a mysterious smile hanging on the corners of his mouth as he fell into a deep sleep.

On the Taiyang, "Kunpeng" was like a silver Ghost, speeding over the waves at an astonishing speed of over 320 knots, leaving behind an almost invisible "wave-less corridor." Its existence was so unique that even the sharpest eyes would find it difficult to detect the fleeting anomaly on the sea surface.

And hundreds of nautical miles behind it, the Star-Spangled Country fleet was still conducting a futile search, unaware that the mysterious visitor who had once caused them such panic had already traveled far away, leaving behind only chaos and countless questions.

At the same moment, in the Pentagon of the Star-Spangled Country, an emergency meeting was being held in the top-secret conference room. Members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff gathered here, their faces grave as they listened to the report from the Taiyang Fleet command.

"According to the report from the 'Haowei' carrier strike group," Admiral Green, the Chief of Naval Operations, said sternly, "they encountered an unprecedented unknown platform in the central Taiyang sea area. The performance characteristics displayed by this platform completely exceed the scope of our existing technological knowledge."

He pressed the remote control, and the screen on the wall displayed a detailed report and several blurry photos—these were taken by carrier-based aircraft pilots when the target briefly "appeared." The photo quality was not high, but one could vaguely make out a huge, streamlined object hovering about ten meters above the sea surface.

"According to radar data and eyewitness reports, this platform is about 80-90 meters long, 30-35 meters wide, and only 10-12 meters high. It can navigate stably on the sea surface at speeds exceeding 300 knots, with extreme maneuverability, capable of making almost impossible turning maneuvers at high speeds."

The conference room fell into Silence; everyone was struggling to digest this information. A speed of 300 knots? This was nearly six times the speed of the fastest warships in the world at the time, and even exceeded the cruising speed of many fighter jets. And at such a low altitude near the sea surface? This completely defied known principles of aerodynamics.

"Most disturbing of all," Admiral Green continued, his voice low, "this platform seems to possess some kind of advanced stealth technology. It can come and go freely in front of our most advanced Radar and sonar systems, sometimes even disappearing into thin air. All detection systems of the 'Haowei' carrier strike group were unable to maintain a lock on it."

Secretary of Defense Weiersen's face was grim: "Possible source?"

Admiral Green hesitated for a moment: "According to preliminary analysis, the most likely source is Beijixiong Guo. They have been developing unconventional propulsion systems and stealth technology. But..."

"But what?" Weiersen pressed.

"But the level of Beijixiong Guo's technological development, as far as we know, is still far from reaching this degree," Admiral Green admitted, "In fact, among our own R&D projects, there is no prototype approaching this performance. This technological leap... is almost irrational."

"Are there any other possibilities?" asked General Bradley, the Air Force Chief of Staff.

Intelligence Director Smith cleared his throat: "We have considered several possibilities. One of them is that this could be some kind of new weapons platform from Long Country."

"Long Country?" Weiersen repeated in disbelief, "That country that just went through a civil war? They don't even have a modernized navy; how could they possibly possess such advanced technology?"

Smith's expression was grave: "Recent intelligence indicates that Long Country has made some disturbing breakthroughs in the field of science and technology. Especially in the areas of Computer and electronic technology. Our intelligence network reports that they have developed an advanced computing system known as 'Pangu,' with performance far exceeding our expectations."

"A Computer system is one thing," Army Chief of Staff General Hart interjected, "but this... whatever it is... requires revolutionary propulsion technology, materials science, and aerodynamic design. Where did Long Country acquire such capability?"

Smith shook his head: "That is exactly what we are most worried about. If Long Country is truly the source of this platform, then they either obtained some kind of external help, or..."

He did not finish his sentence, but everyone understood his implication—either Long Country had already far surpassed the Star-Spangled Country in certain key technological fields, a possibility so terrifying that no one was willing to say it out loud.

The conference room fell into silence, with everyone contemplating the meaning of this mysterious platform and the threat it might pose. If there truly existed a weapons platform capable of traveling on the sea surface at speeds exceeding 300 knots while being almost undetectable, it would completely change the rules of naval warfare, making the Star-Spangled Country's pride—the carrier strike group—abnormally vulnerable.