57: Chapter 57 Showdown 2

"Commander Meng, hello!"

Chu Ge saluted the commander, whom he had met once before.

"Haha, little Chu, hello, hello! It's been more than a few months since we last met. This time, those old fellows finally aren't here to fight me for you!"

"Ah? Haha. You're quite the joker, sir."

"By the way, little Chu, this is the Commander of the Northern Naval Base, Wan Jianhua—Commander Wan."

Chu Ge had already noticed the major general standing beside him but hadn't had the chance to greet him yet.

"Commander Wan, Chu Ge salutes you!"

"Chu Ge, Colonel Chu, your name precedes you. I've finally met you today! Haha, if it weren't for the Prism Tower being about to go operational, someone of my rank probably wouldn't even get to see you."

"Isn't that right, Commander Meng? Haha."

"You really are something!"

Commander Meng pointed at Wan Jianhua. After the introductions, the two commanders led the way, taking Chu Ge toward the conference room.

"Commander Meng, little Chu, there's a situation I need to brief you on before we head to the Prism Tower. Our fleet in the eastern offshore just reported to Base Command that a US fleet has been spotted heading toward us at full speed."

"The specific details aren't clear yet, but besides this small fleet, there's also unusual activity in the air. Currently, two reconnaissance planes are operating in this sea area, and we believe their destination is right here."

Commander Wan finished speaking with a serious expression and then looked at Commander Meng.

"Hmm? Their noses are quite sharp. How are you responding?"

"Offshore warships are monitoring them closely. Meanwhile, the base has dispatched two additional destroyers to patrol the projected route. As for the aerial echelon, one KJ-2000 AWACS, two KH-500 electronic reconnaissance aircraft, and ten JP-16 fighter jets have taken off, forming a mixed air wing currently flying toward the relevant sea area."

"Ten fighter jets? Haha, Commander Wan, you're certainly giving them a lot of credit."

"Them? I don't give a damn about them. I'm looking out for our Prism Tower and Academician Chu! Haha!"

Commander Wan couldn't help but swear, then looked at Chu Ge with a gentle gaze.

"What do you think, little Chu?"

Commander Meng turned his head to look at Chu Ge.

"We're definitely receiving special attention from them. This is a naval base, after all, and with us constructing so many Prism Tower Bases simultaneously along with the security forces, it's only natural their satellites would pick something up. There's a high probability they just want to see what we're building."

"Since their satellites can't capture enough useful information, they'll certainly try other methods. As for what exactly, we'll have to wait and see, but I'd say there's a strong chance they're coming to 'unveil the bride' today."

Chu Ge finished and looked at Commander Meng.

"See that, Commander Wan? Our Colonel Chu has the potential to be a staff officer. Do you think I should fly to the Weapon Experimental Base one of these days to snatch him away? Haha, but it's too late for them now. Come on, let's go unveil the bride!"

The three walked out of the conference room. Yan Tianhao and several base officers were waiting outside. Everyone got into a jeep and drove toward the Prism Tower Base.

After passing a checkpoint, the convoy truly entered the Prism Tower Base.

"Little Chu, look. Even though this Prism Tower Base is within the naval base, even our naval personnel can't enter directly; they need permission from superiors. This shows how much importance the country places on this strategic weapon."

"Exactly. The base officers have tried to reach you several times. Not being allowed to visit a site on their own base has them frustrated. These hot-blooded young men come to this perimeter zone to watch whenever they can; it's quite a sight."

Commander Wan added from the front seat.

"Looking for me? It wouldn't do any good, because even I have to request permission to enter."

Chu Ge wasn't aware of these matters.

"Commander Wan, it's no use looking at me either. You know I'm just in R&D; I have even less of a say, haha."

The convoy passed through two more security checks within the Prism Tower Base before arriving at the foot of the tower. A journey that should have taken five minutes ended up taking fifteen, showing how strict the inspections were. Furthermore, Chu Ge observed that the sentries didn't care about faces, only credentials.

Everyone got out of the vehicles. When the Prism Tower was just blueprints in Chu Ge's hands, he hadn't felt much.

But now, with this gargantuan structure—50 meters in diameter and 200 meters tall—towering before him, Chu Ge truly felt its lethal aura.

The main body of the Prism Tower was a high-strength steel structure, with a base made of a 10-meter-thick circular pour of high-strength reinforced concrete. Above the 10-meter mark, it featured open-air gaps, primarily to reduce wind load.

The connecting sections consisted of 36 columns and diagonal bracing members arranged in a circular pattern with equal spacing.

At the very top was the offensive core of the Prism Tower: the energy shroud. Five meters below the shroud hung a massive red flag and military emblem, the golden border of the red five-pointed star on the emblem gleaming in the high altitude.

Everyone looked up in awe; for a moment, no one spoke.

"Colonel Chu, what was going through your mind when you designed this?"

Commander Meng asked out of the blue.

"Nothing much. I was just thinking that China's territory should never again be baptized by gunfire, and that the people of China should forever remain far from war, living and working in peace."

Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look at Chu Ge, but he remained gazing up at that red five-pointed star.

...

East China Sea, approximately 160 nautical miles from Q City.

"Mustin, this is E-2C 'Flamingo' coming from Guam Base in Country R. You have six fighters providing cover behind you. Be advised: radar shows a large Chinese formation consisting of one AWACS, two reconnaissance planes, and ten fighter jets is about to arrive in your sector. Stay alert! Over!"

"Mustin copies, over!"

"Ten? Brown, have the Chinese gone mad?"

"The more intense their reaction, the more it proves the necessity of this reconnaissance. Washington must know something, or they wouldn't let us run wild like this!"

"Fine, I hope you're right. That would mean they definitely have something else up their sleeve."

"Captain, that's for sure. Otherwise, they wouldn't have diverted fighters from the base in Country R to support us."

"Mm. Helmsman, maintain course. Continue at full speed."

George made up his mind. In the past, this distance was the unspoken limit for both sides. US warships would reach about 160 nautical miles from China and sail along the outer edge of the route, while Chinese warships stayed on the inner side. After sailing "amicably" for a while, both would turn away at full rudder.

George Wells quickly picked up his binoculars. He had to keep a close eye on the movements of the Chinese warships. Sure enough, as they pushed deeper, the Chinese ships began to close the distance.

500 meters, 400 meters, 300 meters, 200 meters, 100 meters, 50 meters.

The process was slow, but for George, time seemed to fly. His heart rate was climbing rapidly. Finally, at this distance, he could see everything clearly without binoculars.

George was about to walk to the side deck to give his old friend a "greeting"...

...when the lookout rushed in.

"Report, Captain! The Chinese reinforcement vessel that was cruising in the lane ahead of us has suddenly stopped and hoisted the Z flag!"

"What? Shit! Brown, quick, decelerate immediately!"