174: Chapter 174 Returning to the Research Institute

Commander Wang knew that Chu Ge carried many burdens, so when he heard that he planned to return to Yanjing tomorrow, he did not try to persuade him to stay for too long.

On the contrary, Commander Wang even gathered several heads of the aerospace carrier project that evening to hold a small farewell dinner.

"Academician Chu, I know you might have some things to hand over. It just so happens that I've gathered everyone together tonight. We can eat and work at the same time, so you can leave with peace of mind tomorrow."

Commander Wang led Chu Ge toward the base cafeteria that evening, and it was only on the way there that he mentioned the dinner to Chu Ge.

"Good, Commander Wang has arranged this very thoughtfully. I originally planned to leave tomorrow afternoon and take the whole morning to arrange the recent work, but now I can move it up to tonight."

Commander Wang nodded with a smile, and the group arrived at a quiet little dining room. It seemed that arrangements had been made in advance, as there were no others to disturb them.

After everyone exchanged greetings, they sat down. There were 5 tables in total, with over 50 people—all the main heads of the various subsystems and work sections of the aerospace carrier.

"Everyone, I may have to leave for a period of time tomorrow. The kunpeng carrier-based aircraft system needs testing arrangements, and there is subsequent work that can only be handled at the Research Institute, so I am leaving the matters of the Dockyard Base to you all."

After Commander Wang led everyone in a few rounds of toasts, Chu Ge stood up and addressed the crowd.

"Rest assured, Chief Engineer Chu, we will hold ourselves to the highest standards and guarantee that we complete the task with quality and quantity."

Chu Ge nodded.

"In a week, someone will be sent over with the subsequent engineering blueprints. Just distribute them according to the numbering as you are doing now. If there are any problems you cannot solve, the deputy chief engineers of the main systems have my phone number and can contact me directly."

"There is also a very important point: the entire process must strictly follow the operating procedures. This involves the lifting of some subsequent core modules of the sections; if the order is wrong, it may cause the entire process to require rework."

The rest was basically Chu Ge's solo performance. He turned a farewell party into a high-level work meeting. Commander Wang sat there smiling as he watched Chu Ge arrange the work with great enthusiasm.

It seemed he had known all along that Chu Ge would do this, so he had made arrangements in advance. Once the dining tables were cleared, it turned directly into an on-site office.

This "farewell party" lasted until late at night before it broke up. Chu Ge felt like he had refreshed the data in his brain all over again.

He dragged his exhausted body back to the dormitory and, without even washing up, collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep.

The next day, after a journey of over an hour, the "fat girl" landed steadily at the military airport in Yanjing. Chu Ge walked off the plane, and Captain Gong and his men had been waiting for a long time.

"Salute!" Captain Gong shouted, and the more than 20 security soldiers behind him saluted in unison. Academician Chu got off the plane, straightened himself up, and returned the salute solemnly.

Captain Gong escorted Chu Ge into the military jeep.

"Captain Gong, long time no see! You seem to have gotten darker!"

"Academician Chu, you are even darker!"

"Uh, alright, I know. The sun in coastal cities is quite harsh."

The two looked at each other and both laughed.

"Academician Chu, everything is normal at the Research Institute. Academician Chen asked us to come and pick you up first; he is waiting at the Research Institute."

"Mm, got it. I'll go report to him as soon as I get back. Captain Gong, I went to sleep too late yesterday and I'm exhausted. I'm going to take a nap."

After saying this, Chu Ge leaned back in his seat and quickly fell asleep. With Captain Gong and his men there, Chu Ge practically treated this jeep like the big bed in his dormitory.

When Chu Ge woke up, the convoy had already arrived at the Research Institute. Captain Gong had been guarding him in the car and hadn't woken him up.

"Captain Gong, how long have we been here?"

"Not long, just about 10 minutes."

"Good, please help me take my things to my office. I'm going to Academician Chen's place."

Captain Gong nodded in agreement. After getting out of the car, Chu Ge headed straight for Academician Chen's office; he was a bit impatient.

When Chu Ge arrived, Academician Chen was pacing back and forth in his office.

"Academician Chen? Are you counting your steps in the office?"

Chu Ge walked in with a smile.

"Haha, Little Chu, you're finally back. Without you here at the Research Institute, I always feel like something is missing."

"Haha, the Research Institute is still the most welcoming. Coming in feels just like coming home."

Academician Chen pulled Chu Ge to sit down, and the two chatted like old friends who hadn't seen each other for a long time. They talked for several hours, as if they had endless topics to discuss.

"Little Chu, according to your previous requirements, the flight simulator for the kunpeng carrier-based aircraft has been developed, and the best pilots from the Naval Air Force have also arrived."

"Done. Academician Chen, they can train for at most half a month, mainly to get familiar with some operating procedures. Actually, that time is enough because the intelligence level of this carrier-based aircraft is very high, and it is very different from current fighter jets."

Academician Chen was full of questions after hearing this. Chu Ge thought for a moment.

"It's like current smart cars—aren't they all capable of autonomous driving? Automatically avoiding obstacles and pedestrians? The carrier-based aircraft is more or less the same thing."

"Academician Chen, just replace those obstacles and pedestrians with missiles, naval guns, and the like, and that's it," Chu Ge said nonchalantly.

Chu Ge was not deceiving Academician Chen. The unmanned carrier-based aircraft of the aerospace carrier was like a terminal of an unmanned intelligent system network.

Thanks to the powerful computing capabilities of the super Quantum Computer system, it could instantly execute the operator's voice commands and automatically avoid danger based on the dynamic changes of the battlefield.

The manned carrier-based aircraft possessed most of the capabilities of the unmanned carrier-based aircraft's intelligent system, but the pilot could choose between manual operation or intelligent operation as needed. Therefore, the positioning of the manned carrier-based aircraft within the Military-Industrial System was that of a reconnaissance aircraft, jammer, and the like.

Offensive tasks did not require human operation, nor did avoiding danger. It was just that reconnaissance often required the human's on-site judgment, as well as the flexible handling ability during unexpected situations.

Finally, there was the deployment of strategic weapons; having a human pilot was equivalent to adding an extra safety procedure.

The intelligent system of the carrier-based aircraft had not yet reached the level of advancement where it could actively think.

The two chatted for a while longer, and then Chu Ge left with his intermediate Gene Medicine.

Returning to his office, Chu Ge couldn't wait to open the silver case in his hand. When he saw the reagent inside, he felt like crying.

There was one thing he had forgotten to tell Academician Chen: change the needle!

This syringe was exactly the same as the last one—a bright silver metal syringe barrel and that huge needle. Chu Ge picked up the needle and stared at it for a long time; goosebumps instantly broke out all over his body.

"Damn it, how could I forget such an important thing? This is screwed. Is it a bit unmanly to go out and buy one now?"

Chu Ge steeled his heart, prepared to grit his teeth and finish the injection.