224: Chapter 224 Intercepting the Iron-Horse Shortwave! Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Heavenly Army Approaches the City

7:06 PM.

Cockpit.

The scout vehicle's signal has returned to four degrees west of due north, and the signal strength has dropped to medium-weak.

The distance has pulled back to around seven and a half kilometers.

They are returning by the original route, at a speed much faster than when they arrived.

When they came, they were moving in arcs, so they were slow.

After turning around, they are running in a straight line at sixty to seventy kilometers per hour, heading north rapidly.

"How much longer until the signal disappears?" Lu Chen asked.

"At the current speed," Zhou Yuan calculated while staring at the spectrum of the monitoring equipment, "they'll be out of the radar range in another seven or eight minutes."

Seven or eight minutes.

Lu Chen's fingers rested on the edge of the console, his knuckles tapping rhythmically.

What is the probability of the scout vehicle sending a shortwave report while still within radar range?

That depends on the Iron Hoof Legion's communication protocols.

The standard procedure for a scout vehicle is to return to a safe distance before transmitting communications.

But what is a safe distance?

If the scout vehicle determines the target is a stationary sitting duck, its safe distance could be shortened significantly.

Running out of The City-State's artillery range would be enough.

The City-State's 180mm main gun has an effective range of eight kilometers.

The scout vehicle is currently at seven and a half kilometers.

In one minute, it will reach eight kilometers.

In two minutes, it will reach nine kilometers.

Nine kilometers—out of The City-State's main gun range.

If the scout vehicle determines it is safe at nine kilometers, it might transmit on the spot.

Then again, it might not.

It all depends on the operator's habits.

7:09 PM.

The signal's bearing shifted back to five degrees west of due north.

The strength continued to decline.

The distance was around eight kilometers.

About to leave the range.

7:10 PM.

The signal strength dropped near the threshold, flickering.

Right on the eight-kilometer boundary.

7:11 PM.

The signal disappeared.

The direction west of due north on the panel returned to being clear.

"They're out," Zhou Yuan reported.

Lu Chen didn't move.

"The communication channel," he said.

"I'm on it." Zhou Yuan turned the sensitivity of the monitoring equipment to maximum; the green waveform of the spectrum analyzer swayed lazily on the screen, filled with background noise.

7:11 PM.

7:12 PM.

7:13 PM.

Nothing.

7:14 PM.

Background noise.

7:15 PM.

The green waveform on the spectrum analyzer jumped.

That was definitely not the fluctuation of background noise.

A sharp signal peak rose from the baseline, three orders of magnitude higher than the background noise.

"There it is," Zhou Yuan whispered.

Lu Chen leaned forward.

The signal peak lasted for about 0.9 seconds and vanished in an instant.

"Direction," Lu Chen blurted out.

"Eight degrees west of due north." Zhou Yuan stared intently at the spectrum analyzer's bearing indicator. "Eight degrees west of due north."

"Is it consistent with the scout vehicle's direction of travel?"

"No," Zhou Yuan calculated quickly. "The scout vehicle's direction when it left range was five degrees west of due north. The direction it's transmitting is eight degrees west of due north. It's off by three degrees."

"It's transmitting toward a direction three degrees further west."

"Correct."

"The main force is in that direction."

Lu Chen grabbed a pencil and drew a line on the diagram in his notebook from the scout vehicle's exit point, at a direction of eight degrees west of due north.

That line pointed toward the northwest.

"The main force isn't due north," he said.

"Right. The main force is in the northwest." Zhou Yuan absorbed this clue. "When the scout vehicle set off from the South Pass of the Roaring Ice Abyss, the direction was seven degrees west of due north, which matched the fifth signal. But the direction it's transmitting now is eight degrees west. This means during this time, the main force has shifted one degree west from the South Pass."

"What does shifting west mean?" Lin Xiao asked.

"Detouring," Lu Chen answered for Zhou Yuan. "The Ice Rift Zone. The main formation didn't force its way through the Ice Rift Zone; they're going around it. They're detouring west around the edge of the Ice Rift Zone before turning back."

"How long will the detour take?"

"It depends on how far west the Ice Rift Zone extends." Zhou Yuan pulled up the data Forge had previously provided. "The deepest part of the Ice Rift Zone is thirty-two meters, and it's about four hundred meters wide. Forge's data doesn't include the westward extension distance. But based on common sense, the Ice Rift Zone is a natural fissure; its extension shouldn't exceed twenty to thirty kilometers. If the main force goes around, they'll travel an extra thirty to forty kilometers. At a speed of twelve to sixteen kilometers per hour, it will take an extra two to three hours."

"In other words, the main force's arrival time will be two to three hours later than the calculation without the detour."

"Yes."

"The previous fastest estimate was the evening of the sixty-sixth day. Add those two or three hours," Lu Chen calculated in his notebook. "Plus, the scout vehicle just turned around; it will take time to report back. It will take time for the main force to receive the report and make a decision. The earliest decision can only be made after the scout vehicle returns."

"After the scout vehicle left our radar, it would run back to the main force at sixty to seventy kilometers per hour. The distance depends on where the main force is now," Zhou Yuan continued to analyze. "Based on the communication direction of eight degrees west of due north and the signal strength, the main force is at least one hundred to two hundred kilometers away from the scout vehicle's current position."

"One hundred to two hundred kilometers." Lu Chen circled the number.

"It takes one and a half to three hours for the scout vehicle to run back. After the report, the main force will take at least half a day to make a decision. That means, counting from now, the earliest the main force will decide on their next move is noon tomorrow."

"Once they decide at noon tomorrow and advance toward the Rustwind Wasteland, covering one hundred to two hundred kilometers at twelve to sixteen kilometers per hour will take six to seventeen hours."

Lu Chen finished these calculations in one go.

"The earliest the main force could arrive is between early the day after tomorrow and that night. Which is the sixty-ninth day."

He wrote the number down heavily in his notebook.

The sixty-ninth day.

The previous estimate was the seventy-first day.

Two days earlier.

No.

It's at least one day earlier.

Because the main force is detouring, it might take even more time.

"Zhou Yuan," Lu Chen spoke up. "Organize the data from this intercepted communication. The direction, duration, and timestamp, along with the radar data and Forge's Beacon Station data—package all three and send them to Forge now."

"Send it now?"

"Send it now. Get it into Forge's hands before the Council meeting starts at nine tomorrow morning."

"The City Lord's meaning is...?"

"Three independent sets of data," Lu Chen explained thoroughly. "The crossing time from the Beacon Station, the entry time from the radar, plus the main force's bearing from the intercepted communication. Three sets of data cross-verified, directions matching, and a closed-loop timeline. Evening Bell won't be able to find any faults with this."

Zhou Yuan stood up and walked toward the telegraph station.

After a few steps, he stopped and looked back at Lu Chen.

"City Lord, the bearing data from the intercepted communication shows the main force is detouring. Should I attach this information?"

"Attach it." Lu Chen didn't hesitate. "Tell Forge the main force is detouring around the Ice Rift Zone and will arrive on the sixty-ninth day at the earliest. Let him calculate for himself how much time the Dawn Legion needs to complete strike preparations."

"The sixty-ninth day," Zhou Yuan repeated. "Earlier than the original estimate."

"It's earlier," Lu Chen said. "But it's more accurate than when we had no data. Being accurate to the day is more useful to Forge than anything. He can tell the Council they have two days to make a decision; in two days, the Iron Hoof Legion will arrive at the Rustwind Wasteland, and if they don't fight, they'll have to run."

He didn't say anything more, turning to walk to the telegraph station.

Encrypted editing, sent.

7:23 PM.

Data sent.

The Cockpit was quiet for a while.

Lu Chen leaned back in his chair, his palm resting on the edge of the console.

The radar scan line on the panel continued to rotate; everything within eight kilometers was clear.

The scout vehicle was gone.

He wrote a few words on the last line of the notebook.

scout vehicle communication interception complete. Main force bearing: eight degrees west of due north. Distance: approximately one hundred to two hundred kilometers. Estimated arrival: sixty-ninth day at the earliest.

Three sets of data sent to Forge.

The Council meeting at nine tomorrow morning will decide everything.

Setting the pen down, he closed the notebook.

"Lin Xiao."

"Here."

"The scout vehicle is gone. Maintain control of The City-State's outer deck until tomorrow morning. Lift it at 6:00 AM, and resume the relocation."

"Alright. I'll have the fourth batch prepared tonight to set off at 6:30 tomorrow morning."

"Number of people?"

"Aiming for a thousand," Lin Xiao gritted his teeth. "We'll pack in as many as we can."

"Fine."

Lu Chen turned to look at Lin Wan.

"Open the Greenhouse curtains tomorrow morning. Have Song Ya arrange for flour milling tonight; flour will be distributed as usual tomorrow."

"Okay." Lin Wan closed her notebook. "City Lord, are you still staying in the Cockpit tonight?"

"I am."

"Then I'll bring some milk for you."

"No need to make a special trip; let Chen Li bring it."

"No, Chen Li doesn't know you haven't had any today."

Lu Chen glanced at her and didn't refuse again.

"Alright."

Lin Wan stood up, pushed open the Cockpit door, and left.

Lin Xiao stood up as well, brushing off non-existent dust from his trousers.

"City Lord," he stopped at the door before leaving.

"Speak."

"That vote tomorrow—do you think it'll pass?"

Lu Chen stared at the empty radar scan line on the panel.

"With three sets of data slammed on the table, Evening Bell's path is blocked," he said. "But with voting, you never know until it's settled."

"Yeah." Lin Xiao responded and closed the door as he left.

Zhao Tiezhu was the last to leave; he turned back at the door.

"City Lord, the Reconnaissance Platoon is on standby tonight. Call me if anything happens."

"Okay."

The door closed.

Only Lu Chen was left in the Cockpit.

The radar scan line circled on the panel, and a buzzing electronic hum filled the space.

He opened his notebook and added a line at the end of the sixty-seventh day.

Wait for tomorrow.