256: Chapter 256 Peeking Closer to Take Photos! Lu Chen Prepares to Withstand Concentrated Fire

7:12 AM, Day 74.

Cockpit.

Lu Chen was woken up by the vibration of his communicator. After the first half of the Degradation was completed at 4:51 AM, he had dozed for another two hours, and this time he had actually fallen sound asleep.

After the gas turbines came online, the low-frequency hum inside the Polaris changed pitch, becoming deeper and steadier than before; the sound was actually quite hypnotic.

“City Lord,” Zhou Yuan spoke.

Lu Chen opened his eyes and pushed himself up by the armrests to sit straight, his neck unbearably sore.

“What's the situation?”

“The Probes have moved forward.”

All sleepiness vanished as Lu Chen stood up abruptly from his chair and strode to the control panel in two steps.

The radar sweep completed a rotation.

To the north, that faint blip that had been pinned to the eight-kilometer boundary since the afternoon of Day 71 had moved; it was no longer at eight kilometers.

“6.7 kilometers,” Zhou Yuan reported the specific figure. “It started moving at 7:03 AM, advancing from eight kilometers to 6.7 kilometers within nine minutes. Its movement speed is approximately 8.7 kilometers per hour.”

“Direction?”

“Directly toward the Polaris.”

Lu Chen stared at the blip.

6.7 kilometers, and it was still pushing forward.

“6.5,” Zhou Yuan updated in real-time. “Still moving.”

“It's approaching.” Lu Chen's mind raced. “What does the Probe's advancement mean?”

“The main force is following behind it,” Zhou Yuan repeated his previous analysis.

“Not necessarily,” Lu Chen shook his head. “It could also be Iron Hoof testing us. After last night's test fire, Iron Hoof needs closer observation data to evaluate the Polaris's fire configuration. By moving the Probe to six kilometers, the optical resolution can more than double.”

“A test or a precursor to an attack?”

“Depends on if it stops,” Lu Chen watched the blip. “If the Probe stops around five kilometers, it's a test to gather intelligence. If it keeps advancing without stopping and more signals emerge behind it, then it's a precursor to an attack.”

“6.3,” Zhou Yuan continued to report.

“6.1.”

“5.9.”

The blip crossed the six-kilometer line.

“Cheng Kui,” Lu Chen pressed the communicator and switched to the Reconnaissance Platoon's receiving frequency.

There was no response. Receiving only, no transmitting—that was discipline. But Cheng Kui's twelve men were stationed between six and seven kilometers; the Probe was approaching their position.

“City Lord,” Zhao Tiezhu turned from the Fire Control Console. “If the Probe keeps pushing forward, will it run into Cheng Kui and the others?”

“No,” Lu Chen looked at the blip's azimuth. “The Probe is at five degrees west of due north, while Cheng Kui's preset position is three degrees east of due north. An eight-degree difference at a distance of six kilometers equates to a lateral separation of over eight hundred meters. The Probe won't see them.”

“What if the Probe changes direction?”

“Then I'll have Cheng Kui retreat,” Lu Chen stated clearly. “His communicator is on; he can receive my commands.”

“5.7,” Zhou Yuan reported.

“5.5.”

“5.3.”

The blip's speed slowed down noticeably at the five-kilometer mark.

“5.2.”

“5.1.”

“5.0.”

It stopped.

The blip hovered at five kilometers, no longer moving forward. Everyone in the Cockpit stared at it.

Ten seconds.

Twenty seconds.

Thirty seconds.

It didn't move.

“It stopped at five kilometers,” Zhou Yuan confirmed.

“A test,” Lu Chen exhaled. “Iron Hoof pushed the Probe to five kilometers to get high-definition optical images of the Polaris. Now that The City-State is gone, the Polaris is completely exposed, and the Probe needs to rescan it.”

“What can it see?” Lin Wan asked.

“It can see the Polaris in its entirety,” Lu Chen listed them off. “The 206-meter-long hull, the Railway Gun turret at the rear of the roof, the Phalanx CIWS turrets at the four corners, the fragmentation grenade launch tubes on the sides, and the Ray Cannon turret at the front—all are exposed to the optical sensors.”

“We're just letting it look?”

“Let it look,” Lu Chen said. “So what if it sees? Even if it sees, it still can't win.”

“City Lord,” Cheng Zheng's communication cut in.

“Go ahead.”

“With the Probe moved to five kilometers, my Passive listening array captured it performing high-frequency scans. The scanning mode changed from once every thirty seconds to once every five seconds. It's taking photos.”

“Will it transmit them back once it's done?”

“Yes,” Cheng Zheng confirmed. “High-frequency scans usually last ten to fifteen minutes, then it bundles and transmits a large data packet.”

“So in fifteen minutes, Iron Hoof will have the Polaris's complete external data.”

“Correct. Including the number of turrets, caliber estimates, armor type assessment, and specific measurements of the hull dimensions.”

Lu Chen set the communicator back on the desk.

“Let it take the photos.” He walked back and sat in his iron chair. “After it's finished, Iron Hoof will make a judgment.”

“What judgment?” Zhou Yuan asked.

“Whether the Polaris is worth concentrating all their firepower to take out,” Lu Chen picked up the milk cup from the corner of the desk. “If Iron Hoof determines that the Polaris's threat level is higher than expected, they will accelerate their Base Building and act early. If they determine the threat is manageable, they will proceed according to the original plan.”

“How do you think Iron Hoof will judge it?”

“High threat.” Lu Chen took a sip of milk. “An Electromagnetic acceleration gun that can shatter a steel frame with one shot from fourteen kilometers away, plus Level 3 armor configuration—Iron Crown isn't stupid. He will list the Polaris as the primary target.”

“Primary target.” Zhao Tiezhu's hand returned to the Fire Control Console.

“Yes,” Lu Chen put down the cup. “From now on, the Polaris is Iron Hoof's number one thorn in the side. The first round of artillery fire after Iron Hoof completes their Base Building will all come crashing down on us.”

“We can take it,” Zhao Tiezhu said.

“We can,” Lu Chen nodded. “With Reactive Explosive Armor and Angled shot deflection, we are completely immune to Level 3 and below armor-piercing shells. The penetration depth of Level 4 180mm shells is reduced by over sixty percent—they can't punch through. The only thing that can threaten us is the crusher's 300mm main gun. But for a crusher to enter its 25km firing range, it first has to pass through my 38km strike zone.”

“If it comes in, we hit it.”

“If it comes in, we hit it,” Lu Chen repeated. “One shot every fifty-two seconds, 1,200mm penetration. For every step the crusher moves forward, it takes another hit.”

On the panel, the Probe's blip at five kilometers remained lit.

The high-frequency scanning continued.

In fifteen minutes, a complete high-definition photo of the Polaris would appear in the Iron Hoof Legion's headquarters.

In the photo, there would be a 155mm electromagnetic acceleration Railway Gun pointing due north.

Let them see it clearly.