Chapter 912: Sanpimu Star (5)

After reporting back to the communications department, Rui En had time to go to the dining area to eat something.

The food here was standard military synthetic nutritional meals, with ingredients that could be adjusted according to race and personal needs.

Rui En chose a protein block that mimicked the taste of chicken, paired with vitamin-rich vegetable paste and a carbohydrate block.

He found an empty table to sit at and noticed that the dining area was more crowded than usual today.

Many faces were unfamiliar; it seemed another batch of new recruits had been transferred to Sanpimu Star.

"Is anyone sitting here?"

A young voice asked.

Rui En looked up and saw a very young Fengqi soldier standing opposite him, holding a food tray.

"Feel free to sit."

Rui En gestured.

The recruit put down the tray and sat down, looking slightly nervous.

"I'm Kelan, transferred directly from the training camp. I arrived just yesterday."

Rui En nodded and replied.

"Rui En. In the ground communications department. Welcome to Sanpimu Star."

Kelan's eyes widened, and he said in a somewhat excited tone.

"They told us this is the most important fortress planet in the Seventh Star Sector of the Southern Theater. The defensive fortifications are too numerous to count."

Rui En took a bite of his "chicken."

"That's because we need them. Do you know how close we are to the front lines? The Canaan Star Alliance's reconnaissance teams have tried to infiltrate this area more than once."

"Have you seen anyone from the Canaan Star Alliance?"

"Fortunately, no. Those who have actually engaged in fire... many didn't come back. We are only responsible for defense and early warning."

"But I heard that Sanpimu Star has a Psionic Amplifier Array that can... destroy an entire fleet in an instant."

Rui En looked around vigilantly and whispered to Kelan.

"Those aren't topics we should be discussing, rookie. Here, the less you know, the better you sleep."

Kelan also realized he had said something he shouldn't have and nodded hurriedly.

"Of course, sorry. It's just that there are a lot of rumors in the training camp."

"There are always a lot of rumors in the training camp."

A voice came from the side.

The person who arrived was Sha La Li, the bunker's Intelligence Officer, her black hair cut extremely short.

She sat down next to Rui En and took one of his carbohydrate blocks without being invited.

"Officer."

Sha La Li took a bite of the food and looked at Kelan.

"New here?"

"Kelan, Officer. Graduated from the Fengqi Third Training Camp."

Sha La Li looked him over and offered some advice.

"Remember, here, your eyes and ears are more useful than your mouth. Sanpimu Star isn't just a fortress; it's also a... sensitive area. Many things are not as they appear on the surface."

"Is there anything we should know, Officer?"

Rui En asked cautiously.

Sha La Li finished the carbohydrate block and wiped her hands.

"Nothing, just a routine reminder. Many new recruits have been transferred here recently, along with... special technical personnel. Command might be expecting something to happen."

"The Canaan Star Alliance?"

Kelan asked with some excitement.

Sha La Li shrugged.

"Maybe. Or maybe something else. Remember your duties, stay vigilant, but don't let your imagination run wild."

Sha La Li stood up and patted Rui En on the shoulder.

"By the way, Rui En, the Commander wants to see you, in 2 hours, at his office."

"Anything in particular, Officer?"

"He didn't share; maybe he likes your pretty eyes."

After she left, Kelan looked at Rui En.

"What's going on?"

"I don't know, it might have to do with some abnormal readings I reported recently."

After eating, Rui En stood outside the Commander's office.

The commander of Dibu 7-D was Major Leisi, an experienced Fengqi officer.

Rui En straightened his uniform and pressed the doorbell.

"Come in."

The office was more austere than Rui En had imagined.

Aside from a standard desk, a few chairs, and a Control Console, there were almost no personal items.

Major Leisi sat behind the desk, his purple skin darker than that of an average Fengqi person.

"Corporal Rui En reporting, Officer."

"Relax, soldier. Please sit."

Rui En sat down and heard Major Leisi begin to speak.

"I have read the report you submitted recently, regarding the anomalous energy readings."

"Yes, Commander. Over the past three weeks, I have recorded seven similar incidents. Faint but clear energy fluctuations that do not match the patterns of any known equipment or natural phenomena."

Leisi tapped his fingers lightly on the desktop and nodded in response.

"Describe the characteristics of these readings."

"The frequency is between 0.8 and 1.2 terahertz, the duration is very short, only a few microseconds, but the intensity is very high.

The source direction is roughly west-northwest; the distance is difficult to determine, but it could be very far.

It does not look like a weapon test; it is more like... some kind of energy transmission or scan."

"Why did you not report these readings earlier?"

Rui En did not expect Major Leisi to say this, so he opened his mouth to answer.

"I submitted the routine reports, Commander. In the weekly monitoring summaries."

"But you did not mark them as anomalous or important."

"Because I was not sure if they were important, Commander. They could have been sensor malfunctions or interference from distant equipment. There was no obvious threat pattern."

Leisi stared at him for a moment, his Third Eye opening slightly.

"From now on, if you detect similar readings again, report them directly to me immediately. There is no need to go through regular channels."

"Understood, Commander. Are these readings important?"

"They might not be important. They might also be very important. Your job is to monitor and report, not to interpret, Corporal."

"Of course, Commander."

Leisi's expression softened slightly as he said to Rui En.

"I know this sounds mysterious. There are some things... that cannot be shared at this stage. Just know that your work is important to the safety of the bunker."

"Understood, Commander."

"One more thing, you have been assigned to the special project team. Report to Qu 13 tomorrow. Someone will give you the details."

"Qu 13, Commander? But that is a restricted area."

"Your security clearance has been upgraded."

Leisi handed Rui En a data chip.

"This is your temporary pass and instructions. Do not discuss this Task, even with other officers and soldiers. Is that clear?"

"Clear, Commander."

After leaving the Commander's office, Rui En returned directly to his quarters.

In the early hours of the morning, a slight tremor woke Rui En.

The low-frequency vibration lasted for about ten minutes, then disappeared.

Rui En noticed a faint energy fluctuation reading on his portable detector, similar to those recorded before, but closer and stronger.

The next morning, Rui En arrived at the entrance of Qu 13 early.

This was a section isolated from other areas, requiring passage through two security doors and a biometric scan to enter.

Using the pass given by Leisi, Rui En passed the inspection smoothly.

The interior was completely different from the rest of the bunker.

The air was extra-filtered.

A young female Fengqi, wearing a white laboratory coat, stood at the entrance.

"Corporal Rui En?"

She asked, her Third Eye examining Rui En.

"Yes, Commander."

"I am Doctor Aisha, one of the project leads. Follow me."