Chapter 160: The Horn of a New Stage

Wang Hao slumped in his chair, his eyes half-open and half-closed, his fingers tapping on the tabletop in an irregular rhythm.

He barely slept last night, having spent four hours in the sea breeze at the launch position in the middle of the night, and then was too excited to sleep after returning.

He dragged Li Yang to discuss the orbital optimization plan for 'Kuafu-2' until dawn.

"So sleepy..." he let out an exaggerated yawn. "I see double of you all right now."

Chen Guang, sitting opposite, adjusted his glasses, his expression as calm as ever.

He also only slept for three hours, but he looked quite energetic.

Or rather, he was always like this, making it hard to tell his state.

"This is the summary of last night's test data," Chen Guang projected the report on his tablet onto the big screen.

"Divided into two parts: missile strike and mech demonstration."

Two charts popped up on the screen.

On the left was the complete flight data of the 'Kuafu-1' EMP missile:

7 minutes and 48 seconds from launch to hit, terminal speed Mach 15.2, orbital change accuracy error 0.03%.

EMP detonation altitude error ±2.1 meters, electromagnetic pulse coverage range 98.7% consistent with design value.

On the right was the endurance test data of the three 'Bi'an-2' mechs:

Marched continuously for 12 hours, shields kept on the whole time, 24 simulated shots, energy remaining 94.3%.

Heat dissipation system maximum temperature 67 degrees Celsius (design limit 120 degrees), wear on all mechanical joints within safe range.

"Simply put," Chen Guang summarized, "we proved three points: can hit, can hit accurately, can last."

Zhao Kaiyuan took over: "The performance of the 'Xuanming' power trucks during the test also exceeded expectations."

"Three trucks took turns powering the Zhoushan laser array, 72 hours of full-power simulated operation, output stability fluctuation less than five in ten thousand."

"Two orders of magnitude higher stability than traditional power grid supply."

He pulled up the monitoring screen of the power trucks: "And the energy consumption of the vehicles themselves is very low; the fusion reactor ran for 12 hours, and the deuterium-tritium fuel consumption was only 37 grams."

Wang Hao suddenly woke up when he heard this number: "How much? 37 grams? The weight of a spoonful of sugar?"

"To be precise, 36.8 grams," Zhao Kaiyuan said.

"The energy density of fusion is at the million-fold level of chemical energy."

"Theoretically, one kilogram of deuterium-tritium fuel is enough for a power truck to run continuously for more than ten years."

A low murmur of discussion broke out in the conference room.

This number was too shocking.

Li Yang spoke up at this time, bringing the topic back to the mech: "The actual combat conversion plan for 'Bi'an-2' has been drafted."

"The first batch of thirty units will be retrofitted with 'Xuanming' cores, expected to be completed within two months."

"After the retrofit, the standard mission endurance of a single unit is 480 hours, and 120 hours after activating the shield, enough to fight the entire course of a battle."

"What about training?" a military observer asked. "Can the pilots adapt to such long endurance?"

"That's why a new shift system was designed," Li Yang pulled up the plan.

"Three people in a group take turns driving, the mech fights uninterrupted."

"Diet, rest, and living needs can all be solved inside the mech; we added a simple living module to the cockpit."

Wang Hao interrupted: "Can also add a mini coffee machine! Essential for long-distance driving!"

No one paid attention to him.

Chen Guang continued to report on the air defense system: "Fixed array of 'Torch Dragon Eye,' the first batch of three 'Xuanming' power trucks have rolled off the line and are being transported to Zhoushan."

"Design goal: single vehicle independent combat for 30 days, interception radius 15 kilometers, mainly targeting low-altitude low-speed targets like drones and cruise missiles."

"What about the fixed array?"

"The three power trucks at the Zhoushan base are already stationed there," Chen Guang said.

"The next plan is to select three more points in the southeast coastal area to deploy the same 'laser position + power truck' combination to form a coverage chain."

He paused: "In addition, the 'pulse blinding auxiliary system' proposed by Wang Hao has passed laboratory testing."

"Expected to be integrated into the laser air defense vehicle next month as a supplement to the main laser."

Wang Hao sat up straight when he heard his name: "Yes, yes, yes! That thing is very easy to use!"

"The power is only one-thousandth of the main laser, but it's very effective against optical sensors!"

"I gave it a name, called 'Flashbang ProMaxPlus'!"

Feng Yan had been listening quietly, and only then spoke: "So to summarize, our current situation is—"

He stood up and walked to the whiteboard, starting to write keywords.

"Attack side: 'Kuafu-1' proved precision strike capability; 'Kuafu-2' is under development, aiming for space acceleration, infinite endurance, and impossibility to intercept."

"Defense side: 'Torch Dragon Eye' laser array combined with 'Xuanming' power supply, achieved long-term full-power combat readiness; mobile air defense vehicles supplement blank areas."

"Mech side: 'Bi'an-2' retrofitted with fusion core, endurance increased by more than five times, possessing the ability to fight a protracted war."

"Energy side: 'Xuanming' reactor verification successful, miniaturized engineering prototype to roll off the line in four months, will completely solve the energy consumption bottleneck of all equipment."

He put down the pen and turned to face the crowd.

"What does this mean?"

The conference room was silent.

Wang Hao raised his hand first: "Means Brother Hao can set off fireworks whenever he wants, no need to feel bad about the electricity bill!"

Li Yang took over: "Means mech troops can perform tasks like long-distance raids, infiltration behind enemy lines, and long-term occupation that we didn't dare to think about before."

Chen Guang said: "Means our defense system can be on standby 24 hours a day, no need to worry about power grid load, and not afraid of the other side using saturation attacks to exhaust our energy."

Zhao Kaiyuan summarized: "Means from today on, our military operations are no longer bound by 'fuel' and 'electricity'."

Feng Yan nodded and walked back to his seat.

"After last night's dual-line test, Eagle Country should have reacted," he pulled up the international news summary.

"CNN's morning news used the headline 'Disturbing Technological Breakthrough'."

"BBC analysts said 'This may change the balance of power in the Western Pacific.' Japan's NHK is calling for 'strengthening the construction of autonomous defense capabilities'."

"Are they afraid?" Wang Hao asked.

"Not afraid, but re-evaluating the strength of both sides," Feng Yan said.

"In the past, they thought that although our high-tech equipment was advanced, it was limited by energy and couldn't fight a protracted war."

"In a high-intensity conflict, we might not last 72 hours."

He paused: "But now, we have demonstrated the ability to last 12 hours, 120 hours, or even longer."

"This time will make all potential opponents rethink their plans."

A Navy Senior Colonel added: "Headquarters just finished the meeting. The meaning above is, since the technology is ready, it must be converted into real deterrence."

"Next month, we plan to organize a multi-service joint exercise in the South Sea, and the 'Bi'an' mech troops will make their public debut."

"Public?" Li Yang asked. "Aren't you afraid of leaks?"

"What we want is public," the Senior Colonel said.

"Deterrence is not something hidden, it's something put out for people to see."

"We want everyone to know what kind of equipment Longguo has, and what kind of things it can do."

The meeting turned to specific deployments.

Each project team received new tasks: mech troops must complete the retrofit and training of thirty 'Bi'an-2' within a month;

Laser air defense system must complete the site selection and infrastructure for three new positions in the southeast coastal area;

'Kuafu-2' missile project must accelerate progress, striving to complete the preliminary design review before the exercise...

The task list was packed.

After the meeting, Wang Hao was the first to rush out the door, muttering about going to the design room to change the blueprints.

Li Yang discussed the collaborative tactics of mechs and laser arrays with Chen Guang.

Zhao Kaiyuan pulled Engineer Zhao and Li Kui to discuss the material requirements for the next generation of 'Xuanming' reactors.

Feng Yan was the last to leave the conference room.

He walked to the observation platform on the top floor of the institute, from where he could see the entire park.

On the test field, the three 'Bi'an-2' that had completed the endurance test were undergoing final checks, the mech surface still covered in dew from the night march.

In the West District workshop, the production line for 'Xuanming' power trucks had started, and workers were assembling the second truck.

The windows of the materials lab were open, and the ventilation system was exhausting faint white mist; that was the high-pressure reactor in operation.

Everything was moving forward.

He took out the encrypted communicator and connected to a number.

"Commander Lei, the exercise plan for next month, we are ready here," he said.

"Mech troops will demonstrate long-distance maneuvering, complex terrain combat, and coordination with sea and air forces."

"Laser defense system will also participate, conducting live-fire interception demonstrations."

The steady voice of Lei Jindong came from the other side of the communication: "Good. Also, there is one thing, the above asked me to ask you."

"'Kuafu-2' project, if it really succeeds, how do you plan to use it?"

Feng Yan thought about it: "It's not how to use it, but whether to use it."

"With that kind of weapon, we may never need to actually launch it. Its existence itself is the rule."

"Rule?"

"Yes," Feng Yan looked at the mechs in the distance.

"Just like after the invention of nuclear weapons, there were no more total wars between major powers."

"Not because anyone was soft-hearted, but because everyone knew that the result of fighting was something no one could afford."

"You mean, 'Kuafu-2' will become a new 'nuclear balance'?"

"More precise than nuclear balance," Feng Yan said.

"Nuclear weapons are sledgehammers, smashing everything into ruins."

"'Kuafu-2' is a scalpel, capable of precisely removing threats without harming the innocent. It makes deterrence... controllable."

Lei Jindong was silent for a few seconds: "I understand. Hurry up and do it, if you need any support, just say it."

Communication ended.

Feng Yan put away the communicator and was about to go downstairs when he suddenly saw Wang Hao running out of the design room, waving a blueprint in his hand.

"Brother Feng! Brother Feng!" Wang Hao ran to the observation platform, panting.

"Brother Hao just calculated it! 'Kuafu-2' if using helium-3 fusion, combined with improved ion propulsion, accelerating to 20 km/s only takes... 5 hours! Two and a half laps around the Earth is enough!"

He spread the blueprint on the ground, which was densely packed with formulas and curves.

"And I have a new idea!" Wang Hao's eyes lit up.

"We can create a 'missile constellation'! Launch a dozen at once, form a formation in near-Earth space, patrol normally, and dive whenever needed!"

"Just like putting a group of hunting falcons in space, ready to pounce down at any time!"

Feng Yan looked at the blueprint full of wild imagination and smiled.

"Write it into the plan," he said.

"Project review next Monday, I want to see a complete feasibility analysis."

"Understood!" Wang Hao rolled up the blueprint and ran off again in a flurry.

The observation platform was quiet again.

The morning light had completely covered the earth, and the various sounds in the institute intertwined:

The engine sound of mechs, the mechanical sound of the workshop, the hum of laboratory equipment, and the occasional burst of argument or laughter.

Feng Yan took one last look at this scene and turned to go downstairs. ===== CHAPTER 161 =====