101: Chapter 101 Phase Cannon

Chu Ge counted them up. Between the main and secondary cannons, there were twenty-one in total, and most were multi-barreled naval guns. It didn't feel like the firepower was too weak.

However, according to System Big Brother, this was just a configuration used to make up the numbers, not even worthy of self-defense. Chu Ge began to look forward to the armament of a heavy cruiser; wouldn't that be heavenly?

"System Big Brother, according to our way of saying it, do you guys also have firepower phobia over there?"

[What do you mean?]

"I mean, I feel like the aerospace carrier's armament and firepower are actually okay, except for the lack of things like missiles."

[Missiles? The Military-Industrial System does not equip missiles.]

"What do you mean? Not even on the heavy cruiser?"

[No. The word 'missile' does not exist in the database; it is an invention of your planet.]

"So you're saying your side is still in the era of big guns and giant ships?"

Chu Ge was a bit dazed. If after all this effort, the military power wasn't even as high as Earth's, that would be embarrassing.

[No. Based on your missile data, what speed do you think it needs to hit anyone?]

Chu Ge understood instantly. Although the aerospace carrier's engines hadn't reached full capacity yet, with the current Nuclear Fusion Engines, the units of speed were in the realm of the speed of light. Er, he blushed slightly; how embarrassing.

Chu Ge thought for a while and felt something was still off. He looked at the armament configuration list of the aerospace carrier before him, his brain thinking rapidly.

"No, I'm not talking about the speed issue of missiles. I'm talking about their mechanism. Besides the speed being insufficient, I feel our missiles have their own characteristics, like automatic tracking. Look, these things of yours can't even turn."

Chu Ge finally remembered.

[In my database, I can find a weapon system similar to what you described: the Nuclear Fusion Torpedo. However, it is not a tracking-type attack weapon but a finishing-type weapon. Only after the opponent's propulsion and armor systems are paralyzed do nuclear fusion torpedoes have a use.]

"Torpedoes, huh? It seems you guys treat space like the ocean. Well, starting with nuclear fusion torpedoes is indeed suitable for finishing blows."

[Before the host develops an armament system, please set your opponent to a level of combat power equal to your own. Otherwise, the armaments of your planet have no reference value!]

Chu Ge was choked up. This wasn't blatant contempt anymore; it had become sophisticated—sophisticated contempt. However, it hit the nail on the head. Chu Ge had been stuck in a misconception, constantly and unconsciously wanting to compare things with Earth's weapon systems. The reality was that there was no basis for comparison.

Because the combat environments, mechanisms, and even the parameter units of the two were completely different.

[Furthermore, the level you are currently researching is the lowest grade. Your planet's materials...]

"Alright, you can get lost now."

Chu Ge felt that System Big Brother was dealing him a finishing blow, so he refused without hesitation. Since he was the host, shouldn't there be some respect for his position? Don't treat me like I'm not the master. Chu Ge exploited a loophole in the profound Huaxia culture.

Clearly, the Military-Industrial System's host didn't mean it that way. In its eyes, you might just be a tool.

Thinking of being a tool, Chu Ge's previous surge of spirit immediately lost its momentum.

"If I'm a tool, then I'm a tool. I'll develop Huaxia first, and as for later, who knows what it will look like."

Chu Ge shook his head, no longer thinking about those messy things.

After Chu Ge finished reading the section on Electromagnetic Railguns in the armament system, he turned to look at its strategic weapon: the Array Phase Cannon.

After looking around, Chu Ge felt like seeking more abuse.

"System Big Brother, looking at this Phase Cannon, isn't it just an armor-piercing bow? It breaks the opponent's armor to pave the way for other main weapon attacks?"

[If the opponent is something like a heavy cruiser, the armor system will be extremely formidable. Taking the aerospace carrier's 500mm railgun as an example, even if you run out of shells, it would remain largely unharmed. The role of the Phase Cannon is to paralyze the armor and propulsion systems of the enemy's capital ship. Once these two systems fail, its destruction is only a matter of time.]

[Furthermore, if it is a small or medium-sized vessel, the power of the Phase Cannon is sufficient to destroy the target directly. That is why it is defined by the system as a strategic weapon, with a system rating of SS.]

[Also, the host's understanding is not incorrect. It is rare for the host to be clever for once.]

"Yeah, I thank you for that. It's also rare for you to be so talkative."

Having received the answer he wanted, Chu Ge ignored System Big Brother and continued to study the Array Phase Cannon.

It was actually an energy-based weapon system, but its structure was very complex. Chu Ge flipped through it; the basic technical data alone spanned dozens of pages. This was clearly much more troublesome than the Pulsed Magnetic Railguns.

The system data first covered the functions of the Array Phase Cannon on the aerospace carrier. Armor piercing was only the second function; another very important function was obstacle clearing.

It was similar to the cowcatcher on the front of a locomotive, except it was used to clear space obstacles such as radioactive dust, micrometeoroids, and asteroid belts along the aerospace carrier's flight path. Through the high-energy output of the Phase Cannon, space matter hit could be directly shattered, evaporated, or ionized, thereby eliminating hazards to the safety of the flight path.

Next was the layout of the Array Phase Cannons on the aerospace carrier. There were six such systems on the entire ship, but the six systems were not identical; there were primary and secondary ones.

The layout consisted of two on the back of the aerospace carrier, two on the belly, and one on each side. The ones on the sides were clearly meant to fill in the gaps and cover the aerospace carrier's blind spots.

Among them, the two on the back were the longest and largest, being Array Phase Cannon systems with 300 emitter units. The emitters were arranged linearly. The two weapon systems were placed at the front and rear ends of the aerospace carrier, slightly protruding from the surface, while the rest of the core components were hidden within the frame structure under the dorsal armor.

The two on the belly and the ones on the sides had 150 emitter units.

Further down were the specific data and manufacturing blueprints for the Phase Cannon. Chu Ge browsed through them generally; it was mainly composed of several individual subsystems.

First was its generation mechanism, which was the plasma generator, followed by the complex energy delivery components behind it. This set of components involved fire control, heat dissipation management, sensor interconnection, as well as radiation protection and anti-corrosion coating for the parts in contact with the ship's hull.

Second was its energy rectification mechanism, programmed by the system as an SPS-grade Plasma Rectification Regulator. Its main role was to adjust the power of the Array Phase Cannon. Each emitter unit corresponded to an individual plasma distribution manifold. Allocation was carried out through output commands from the central control unit. Redundant fluid would return through the diversion grooves at the end of the manifolds to the honeycomb plasma collection tank of the original mechanism.

Third was its firing mechanism. The rectified plasma entered the pre-firing chamber through supply pipelines. Each emitter unit corresponded to one supply pipeline. After the plasma was combusted in the firing chamber, it awaited the final fire control command before being shot out through the Firing Crystal. The process from the firing chamber to the pumping out of the emitter unit was controlled by a two-stage program, mainly to control its speed and direction.

The system data only introduced the working mechanism of one emitter. Chu Ge remembered that the largest one had 300 such emitters, and there were 1,200 across the entire ship.

Chu Ge felt a second of pity for the future construction engineers.