12: Chapter 12 Super Telescope

Although the Chinese diplomats had prepared contingency plans well in advance, they were still overwhelmed by the non-stop phone calls.

"Report! The first batch of missiles will enter the 1,000-kilometer node in 2 minutes."

"Good, proceed according to the experimental steps. Activate the simulated destruction program at the 1,000-kilometer mark!"

"Yes, sir!"

"10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, attack!"

The monitor tracking the weapon core of the Prism Tower was switched to the main screen. On the energy shield, six massive energy weapon panels flickered with segments of laser-like light beams.

The Prism Tower was similar to a laser system but also very different; while lasers generally fire continuously, the Prism Tower fired in pulses.

It was more like firing a cannonball, then jumping to the next segment where another laser would shoot out, except the target had already changed between the two!

In the control hall, the scene was one of lasers firing with a "pew-pew-pew" sound, both intermittent and continuous.

"Report! The main system shows that all incoming missiles have been destroyed!"

"Hiss, that fast? It's only been a few dozen seconds!"

"Over 100 missiles were just scrapped like that?"

"This is a great deal!"

"..."

This was the reason Chu Ge had been so stubborn about developing the Prism Tower first.

Its defense efficiency was N times more terrifying than a missile defense system, and it had zero consumption. As long as the power was constant, it could handle any number of threats in minutes!

One could only wonder how those rogue nations that loved using missiles to clear the way would feel after learning about this.

A few minutes later.

"200-kilometer node reached, attack!"

The main screen switched to the sky. At various 200-kilometer nodes, experimental base ground monitoring teams had been stationed in advance to ensure first-hand video footage was transmitted to the control room.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

The screen showed missiles being intercepted and destroyed mid-air, blooming like fireworks in the blue sky.

"Success! We succeeded!"

In the main control room, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and burst into applause to celebrate!

"Little Chu! I can't even express how I feel!" Academician Chen said, tears streaming down his old face...

He had waited for this moment for a long, long time!

God bless China!

"Our country conducted a national anti-missile system test at a base in the Northwest yesterday. The experiment was a complete success!"

The next day, major official media outlets released a brief announcement! The content was short, but those in the know understood!

Several Western rogue nations were also relieved—so it was just a test, why did you have to make such a big scene!

What they didn't know was that after the experiment, construction crews were simultaneously deployed to several directions—North, South, East, and West—of China. Even more mysterious was that these construction crews were accompanied by fully equipped heavy armored divisions!

But that's a story for later.

At every Prism Tower Base, they were guarded by a full armored division, which showed the importance the Chinese military placed on this defense system!

"Wait, over 100 missiles were all successfully intercepted?"

In a meeting room at the Pentagon in the United States.

"The specific details are still unclear. Our radar did not detect them launching any interceptor missiles. Perhaps they are just putting on a show!"

"William, arrange for the East Asia intelligence system immediately. I want to know the specific details of this Chinese test!"

"Secretary! This... it's a bit difficult. You know China, uh, China is very hard to penetrate! I'm afraid it won't be very effective!"

"That's your problem! I only care about the results!"

"..."

The experts see the mechanics, while the laymen just see the show. John Wilson, who was in charge of the intelligence system, was currently frowning deeply. He keenly sensed the severity of this matter!

If China's anti-missile system was already this mature, he had to remind those old fogeys that the military and political environment in Asia needed to be reassessed!

While the construction of the Prism Towers was in full swing, Chu Ge wasn't idle either. He was studying the Prism Tower's super telescope—the Sensing System.

The other core system of the Prism Tower was the Sensing System. The reason it wasn't launched immediately wasn't that it was unimportant; on the contrary, it was larger, more complex, and more important than the weapons department.

Ordinary radar systems emit electromagnetic or ultrasonic waves and rely on echoes to detect an object's position, altitude, and other information.

However, the Sensing System provided by the Military-Industrial System relied on particle detection—specifically, Neutrino Detection Technology.

Neutrino detection can ignore the mass of an object and can easily penetrate even the Earth. Therefore, there was no need to worry about the shielding effect of obstacles like high mountains or city skyscrapers on the signal.

It basically ignored the existence of physical volume.

Curiosity is the source of progress in human society.

Since the basic prototype of the Prism Tower had been formed, Chu Ge felt that the Sensing System should also be developed. He had researched it and found that this thing's application fields weren't limited to the Prism Tower.

Besides, damn it, the money had already been spent. 100 billion! Although products from the Military-Industrial System were high-quality, they certainly weren't cheap.

A few months passed in a flash. It was the peak of winter, and the New Year was approaching.

Chu Ge's research and experiments on the new system were nearing their end. This new system, which was completely different from radar systems, integrated exploration, navigation, and early warning functions.

What Chu Ge valued more were its prospects for exploration and navigation, treating it as a technical accumulation for the future Interstellar Fleet.

Chu Ge had mostly sorted out the principles, theoretical data, and construction processes for the High-Energy Accelerator, the core device of the neutrino detector. All that remained was some basic refinement.

In the meantime, he had met with Academician Chen and several other veterans. The Research Institute was now giving his project an unconditional green light.

Through his previous achievements, Chu Ge had seemingly become a monster-level existence. There was no longer any need for redundant, long-winded processes like project approval, research, and verification.

Although Academician Chen's liver twinged a bit when he saw the staggering numbers for specific experimental material approvals, in the end, he just tearfully signed off with a grand stroke of his pen.

Under this special treatment, Chu Ge's project achieved twice the result with half the effort.

For example, when building the High-Energy Accelerator, the materials needed for the device were basically high-end or even restricted-level consumables.

But as long as Chu Ge signed for them, there were basically no restrictions. He could have as much as he wanted, which made other project departments in the Ordnance Research Institute green with envy for a long time.

Finally, with one week left before the New Year, Chu Ge produced the sample of the "High-Energy Accelerator," the core of the Sensing System.

Progress on other supporting systems was also very fast. For the telescope project, Chu Ge adopted a division of labor: he was responsible for the core, while brother units collaborated on the supporting sub-systems.

The first part of Chu Ge's application of neutrinos was the early warning system for the Prism Tower—the "telescope project."

The core part of the "Telescope" system was about the size of 10 standard football fields. It was built underground and came with a main control hall, living quarters, and a leisure and entertainment area, just like a doomsday bunker.

In the future, this would serve as the super telescope for the Prism Towers. No missile coming from anywhere in the world would escape its eyes.

Its detection range covered the entire Blue Planet and would then run networked with the Prism Towers, forming China's seamless shield.

Chu Ge looked at the calendar.

There was no way to start construction on the bunker before the New Year, so Chu Ge simply took some leave and prepared to go back to his hometown for the holidays.

Chu Ge had been as tired as a dog this year and needed a break. Moreover, he had received a call from his mom a few days ago, and her meaning was very direct: he must come home for the New Year this year!

Before heading to his hometown, Chu Ge planned to make a trip to Shanghai. That girl Dilireba Nazha had already issued an ultimatum: if he didn't go, she would block him and end their friendship.

Chu Ge thought about it and realized Shanghai wasn't far from home anyway—only a 2-hour drive—so he pretended to reluctantly agree.