Chapter 267

Lunar orbit, Heaven's Punishment-01 platform.

This ring-shaped structure with a diameter of two hundred meters is undergoing its final full-power test.

Its 100,000 laser emitter units are not emitting energy for the time being, but are acting as "Deep Space Eyes" with ultra-high sensitivity, using the sun as a background light source to scan every inch of darkness beyond the Kuiper Belt.

"Scanning range: Ecliptic plane ±30 degrees, distance 100-150 astronomical units." In front of the console, engineer Xiao Zhang stares at the spectrum map.

"No abnormal celestial bodies found, no gravity disturbances found, no—"

Suddenly, a red dot jumps out in the bottom right corner of the screen.

Very small, almost drowned in the noise of the cosmic background radiation.

But Torch Dragon-3's automatic identification system marked it with the highest priority, 99.7% confidence of being a "non-natural object."

"What is this?" Xiao Zhang zooms in on the image.

An irregular polyhedron, about three hundred meters in diameter, with extremely low surface reflectivity, almost invisible in optical telescopes.

It was discovered because it caused a 0.0001% microlensing effect on starlight when passing by a distant background star.

This subtle change could only be captured by the precision of the Heaven's Punishment platform.

"Speed..." Xiao Zhang calculates quickly, then freezes, "0.2 times the speed of light?!"

He immediately presses the red communication button: "Guanghan Palace Control Center! This is Heaven's Punishment-01! Abnormal target discovered!"

"Coordinates outside the Kuiper Belt, ecliptic longitude 153 degrees, ecliptic latitude -7 degrees, distance... 125 astronomical units, speed 0.2c!"

Three seconds later, an all-channel alarm resounded through the lunar base, Longyin Control Center, and the deep space monitoring stations of all member states.

2:00 AM, Longyin Emergency Conference Room.

The core six are all present: Feng Yan, Li Yang, Chen Guang, Wang Hao, Zhao Kaiyuan (holographic projection), and Zhao Gong (lunar connection).

The big screen shows the enlarged image of the irregular polyhedron.

"This is not a natural celestial body." Chen Guang marks the spectral analysis, "No hydrogen-helium characteristic lines, no silicate absorption peaks, the surface temperature is close to absolute zero, but there is weak energy radiation inside."

"What about the energy characteristics?" Li Yang asks.

"Matches the abnormal fluctuations of Proxima Centauri... 97% match." Chen Guang pulls up the comparison spectrum, "Basically, it can be determined that this is the Harvester's advance probe."

Wang Hao gasps: "When did it get in? How come there was no warning at all?"

"Because it flies too fast, and... it traveled in the gravity shadow zone." Chen Guang pulls up the solar system gravitational field model.

"Just like a submarine navigating with the help of seabed terrain, it used the gravity shadows of planets to avoid most of our deep space telescopes."

"Then why is it exposed now?"

"Because it's turning." Chen Guang marks the orbital prediction, "Originally it was gliding along the outside of the ecliptic plane, but an hour ago... it suddenly turned and headed straight for Jupiter's orbit."

"What is it going to Jupiter for?"

Chen Guang zooms in on the icy satellite: "Analysis shows that the probe's energy radiation pattern... is switching to 'collection mode'. It may need to replenish energy."

Feng Yan stares at the red dot moving on the screen: "How much further?"

"Currently distance to Jupiter's orbit... 15 astronomical units. At a speed of 0.2c, it will take about..." Chen Guang calculates quickly, "62 days."

"62 days..." Li Yang murmurs, "That is to say, in two months, it will enter the inner solar system?"

"Yes. And—" Chen Guang pauses, "According to its current acceleration, the arrival time of the main fleet behind it... needs to be revised."

He pulls up the timeline.

Original countdown: 【3 years and 8 months】

New predicted number jumps out:

【3 years and 1 month】

Shortened by another seven months.

There was dead silence in the conference room.

"So," Wang Hao swallowed his saliva, "we worked hard to compress the defense network construction period to two and a half years, and as a result, they... advanced it to three years and one month?"

"And this is just the main fleet." Zhao Kaiyuan's holographic projection speaks, "This probe has already arrived first. If it discovers that there is a civilization in the solar system, it might... call for reinforcements in advance."

"Calling takes time." Chen Guang says, "According to the communication theory deciphered from deep space signals, interstellar communication takes at least months to years. But the probe itself..."

He pulls up the structural simulation of the probe: "If it has a self-destruct early warning mechanism, automatically sending an alarm when attacked..."

"Then we can't touch it?" Wang Hao stares, "Just watch it come to Jupiter to charge?"

"No." Feng Yan suddenly speaks, "We must touch it. And quickly."

Everyone looks at him.

"If it really is here to scout, then letting it fly into the solar system intact and see all our defense layouts is the greatest danger." Feng Yan stands up, "We must intercept it, capture it, or... destroy it before it enters Jupiter's orbit."

"But that is very likely to trigger an alarm in advance—"

"Trigger it if it triggers." Feng Yan's voice turned cold, "The main fleet is already on its way anyway. What we need now is time, and intelligence. And on that probe, there must be something we need."

Li Yang nods: "I agree. Penglai can be dispatched, carrying twelve Jingshi-3S deep space mechs. If we are fast enough, we can catch up before it reaches Jupiter."

"How long to prepare?" Feng Yan asks.

"Twenty-four hours." Li Yang pulls up the equipment list, "The mechs need to be retrofitted with vacuum combat modules, and the propellant needs to be changed to high-specific-impulse working fluid for deep space. Also... I need a volunteer squad."

"I'm in!" Wang Hao raises his hand, "My missiles are just missing a live target!"

"Missiles will be less efficient in a vacuum environment." Chen Guang reminds, "And at 0.2c, conventional kinetic weapons are hard to hit."

"Then use lasers." Zhao Kaiyuan says, "The laser array of the Heaven's Punishment platform can provide remote support. Although the power will attenuate over long distances, at least it can interfere with its sensors."

"There is another plan." Zhao Gong, who had been silent, speaks.

"Our lunar base recently discovered a special isotope in the lunar soil, temporarily numbered 'Lunar Soil-7'. It has an abnormal absorption effect on high-energy particles, maybe... it can be used to make a defensive coating."

"How long until it's practical?"

"If we go all out... three months." Zhao Gong puffs on his pipe, "But if it's just to make a few test armor plates and install them on Li Yang's mechs, it can be done in seven days."

"Then do it." Feng Yan makes the decision, "Li Yang, your mech squad will depart in seven days. In these seven days, Chen Guang will continue to monitor the probe's movements, Wang Hao will be responsible for designing targeted weapon plans, Zhao Kaiyuan will optimize the energy system, I want the mechs to be able to fight continuously in deep space for at least thirty days."

"Understood!"

"Also..." Feng Yan looks at Chen Guang, "Notify all members of the Council. Raise the alert level to the highest."

"How to say it?"

Feng Yan pauses and says slowly:

"Just say, the guests have arrived early."

After the order was issued, the global defense network entered the highest state of alert.

But the lives of ordinary people...

Seems to have no changes.

8:00 AM, Sakura Province, Shinjuku District, Tokyo.

Sato Kenichi just received his new ID card and is using the 1,000 Long coin "Welcome Allowance" to buy a computer at the electronics store.