16: Fortress at Sea! The Concept of a Mobile Base!

The lights of Shenlan Port burned all night.

The foundation pits for the shore-based anti-submarine sonar array quickly took shape amidst the roar of large engineering machinery (system exchange), and thick cables were buried underground like blood vessels.

In the dry dock, Deep Blue 01's massive left propeller was hoisted out whole, its twisted blades shocking under the searchlights, and replacement blades were being urgently processed.

On the other side of the dry dock, the hull of the first "lightly armed patrol boat" had already begun to take shape, the silver-gray special steel gleaming with a cold, hard luster in the welding arc.

Lin Feng stood on the temporary command platform at the top of the dry dock, overlooking the bustling scene.

The torrent of resources brought by the huge amount of points was being transformed into Shenlan Port's defense and power at an unprecedented speed.

Once the shore-based anti-submarine array was completed, combined with Deep Blue 01's mobile sonar, it would greatly alleviate threats from the deep sea.

The launch of the patrol boat meant that the Deep Blue forces truly possessed the Claw to contend for control of coastal waters and launch proactive attacks.

Ding!

"Primary Anti-Submarine Sonar Array (Shore-Based)" Construction Progress: 45%

"Lightly Armed Patrol Boat 01 (Panshi)" Construction Progress: 65%

Deep Blue 01 Left Propeller Replacement Progress: 30%

Bio-pheromone Research (Leviathan) Progress: 12%

Abyssal Obelisk Acoustic Signal Analysis Progress: 8%

On the system interface, various key progress bars advanced steadily.

Professor Wang Hai's team had already ground the "sea god's tears" ore into powder, and preliminary experiments showed that using it as an additive in the fuel purification process not only completely killed iron-eating bacteria but also significantly improved the combustion efficiency and stability of the finished oil!

This was simply a revolutionary breakthrough in the energy field!

Research on metal plating was also underway, with exciting prospects.

However, the peaceful construction period was once again broken.

This time not from the sky or the deep sea, but from the sea.

"Report, Captain! 'Eagle Eye' drone routine patrol, 70 nautical miles northwest of the port, found signs of Black Tide Fleet activity!" The monitoring officer's voice was urgent, "Number... at least eight speedboats! Mixed types! One modified fishing boat is larger, suspected to be the flagship 'nu sha'! They... they seem to be hunting a large merchant ship wreck!"

Radar screens and drone footage were transmitted simultaneously.

Seven or eight pirate speedboats, painted with ferocious shark markings, circled like hyenas around the rusty, half-submerged wreck of a ten-thousand-ton bulk carrier.

Pirates on the speedboats tried to climb the wreck with grappling hooks, and sporadic gunfire and screams erupted on the deck, indicating that there were still survivors resisting on the wreck.

"It's yuan yang feng shou! It used to run Southeast Asian routes before the disaster!" an officer familiar with shipping recognized it, "Look at the draft... it might have been carrying a lot of cargo before it sank!"

"One-Eyed Jack..." Lin Feng's eyes were cold.

This greedy pirate leader, as expected, was stirring up trouble again after licking his wounds.

Moreover, the target he chose was so close to Shenlan Port, it was a blatant provocation!

"Captain, our patrol boat hasn't been launched yet..." Gao Qiang reminded him.

Deep Blue 01's power had not yet recovered, making it unable to conduct long-range combat.

"The patrol boat hasn't been launched, but our fist can already reach out a little!" Lin Feng's eyes flashed with a cold light, "Order! Panshi patrol boat, launch early for outfitting! Weapon systems to be installed first! Isn't Chen Hai in Manila? Let Zhao Tiezhu of the Shore Defense Team select the most elite Marines and gunners to temporarily form the 'Panshi' crew! Zhang Defu, I give you three hours! In three hours, I want 'Panshi' to have basic navigation and combat capabilities! The goal is: expel the pirates! Rescue survivors! Seize control of that wreck! If possible... bring back a tongue!"

"Three hours?!" Zhang Defu's voice came through the communicator, with astonishment, then turned into iron-like determination: "...Mission accomplished!"

With the order given, the entire dry dock was like a fast-forward button had been pressed!

All resources were tilted towards "Panshi"!

Internal cabin bulkheads that were not yet fully installed were temporarily put aside, heavy machine guns and small-caliber rapid-fire cannons (blueprint basic configuration) were prioritized for hoisting into place, and ammunition was quickly replenished.

Zhao Tiezhu personally selected twelve of the most courageous and skilled Marines and four experienced gunners, who, under the guidance of engineers dispatched by Zhang Defu, raced against time to familiarize themselves with this brand new, scent of paint and oil, sea leopard.

Three hours flew by in a tense countdown.

As the setting sun once again dyed the sea red, the "Panshi" light armed patrol boat—sleek lines, about 150 tons displacement, a 30mm rapid-fire cannon installed at the bow, and a 12.7mm heavy machine gun on each side of the bridge—shot into the sea from the dry dock's slipway like an arrow released from a bow!

The engine roared powerfully, leaving a white wake behind it!

Zhao Tiezhu stood on the open bridge, holding binoculars, his face painted with camouflage, his eyes sharp as an eagle's.

"Target bearing: 315! Distance: 65 nautical miles! Full speed ahead!" Zhao Tiezhu's voice came through the inter-boat communicator, filled with the excitement and fighting spirit of taking command of a warship for the first time!

"Panshi understands! Course 315! Full speed ahead!" the helmsman responded.

The patrol boat, at a high speed of over 35 knots, cut through the waves and sped towards the battlefield!

At the Deep Blue Port Outpost command center, Lin Feng and Gao Qiang stared intently at the radar screen and the real-time footage transmitted from "Panshi"'s onboard camera.

This was Deep Blue's first actual combat with a self-built ship! It was of great significance!

An hour later, "Panshi" reached the edge of the target sea area.

The drone footage was even clearer: the pirate speedboats had already stormed the deck of yuan yang feng shou, and the survivors' resistance was growing weaker.

The modified fishing boat "nu sha" was anchored a little further away, and on its deck, One-Eyed Jack's iconic eye patch was faintly visible behind his binoculars.

"Panshi! Form up for battle! Heavy machine gun warning shots! Drive away the pirate speedboats! Rapid-fire cannon lock onto 'nu sha'! Deterrent fire! Prioritize rescue!" Lin Feng's voice cut directly into "Panshi"'s command channel.

"Understood!" Zhao Tiezhu roared, "Port heavy machine gun! Target: the sea area in front of the pirate speedboat cluster! Long bursts! Warning!"

"Starboard heavy machine gun! Same! Warning shots!"

"Bow rapid-fire cannon! Aim 100 meters in front of 'nu sha's bow! One round! Fire!"

Da da da da—!

Bang bang bang—!

Boom!

The deafening sound of gunfire instantly shattered the clamor of the sea!

Dense bullets splashed high columns of water in front of the speedboat cluster!

A 30mm high-explosive shell exploded in a huge splash not far from "nu sha"'s bow!

The sudden attack instantly stunned the pirates!

They looked in horror at this silver speedboat, painted with an unfamiliar Deep Blue emblem and possessing fierce firepower!

"It's... it's the soldiers' boat!"

"They built warships?!"

"Boss! What do we do?!"

On "nu sha", One-Eyed Jack was also startled, his binoculars almost slipping from his grasp.

"Damn it! They have new ships so quickly?!" he fumed, but looking at the opponent's gleaming rapid-fire cannon, and then thinking of Deep Blue 01's world-destroying main gun, a chill ran down his spine.

"Retreat! Retreat quickly! Take what you can! Go!" he roared into the communicator, and he was the first to shrink back into the pilothouse.

The pirate speedboats, like a frightened school of fish, frantically abandoned their siege of the merchant ship wreck, hastily grabbing some nearby looted supplies, engines at full throttle, and fled madly towards the open sea!

"nu sha" also turned its bow and accelerated away.

"Panshi! Cease fire! Prioritize boarding to rescue people! Check the wreck's status! Maintain vigilance!" Lin Feng ordered at the opportune moment.

"Panshi" quickly pulled alongside yuan yang feng shou's massive hull.

Zhao Tiezhu personally led his men to nimbly climb aboard.

On the deck, it was a mess, with several bodies of pirates and survivors lying on the ground.

The remaining five survivors (three crew members, two accompanying merchants) huddled in a corner, and upon seeing Zhao Tiezhu and his fully armed men with Deep Blue armbands, they were as if they had seen saviors, too excited to speak coherently.

"You're safe! We're from Shenlan Port! Come with us!" Zhao Tiezhu said concisely.

While covering the evacuation of survivors, the Marines quickly secured the bridge and key compartments.

Although the ship was severely listing and some compartments were flooded, its main structure was still relatively intact, especially several large cargo holds, which were well-sealed!

"Report, Captain! Preliminary cargo hold inspection!" An excited voice came from a crew member, "Cargo Hold 1: full of sealed canned food! Cargo Hold 2: engineering machinery parts! Cargo Hold 3... My God! It's finished oil! Although there's some leakage, the reserves are huge!"

A merchant ship wreck full of supplies?! This was simply a huge pie falling from the sky!

Shenlan Port's most urgently needed food, industrial parts, and fuel were all here!

“Good!” Lin Feng was greatly invigorated. “Panshi! Immediately organize personnel to prioritize transferring survivors and some high-value, easily transportable materials (such as precision parts, medicines) back to Shenlan Port! Engineering team, prepare salvage equipment and tugboats! We are going to tow this ship back!”

“Understood!” Zhao Tiezhu immediately complied.

Just as the Panshi was busy transferring personnel and materials, a Marine responsible for vigilance made an astonishing discovery near where the nu sha had just been moored.

“Report! There are floating objects on the sea! Not trash… it looks like… giant scales from some kind of creature? And… viscous tissue fluid!”

The team member used a long pole to fish out several pieces. They were scales the size of a washbasin, dark, heavy, with jagged cracks along the edges, emitting a strong, fishy smell. There were also some dark green, semi-solid, viscous tissues, encasing some shattered metal fragments (suspected to be materials from the pirate ship’s hull).

The images were transmitted back to Shenlan Port, and Professor Wang Hai only took one look before exclaiming in shock: “Leviathan! These are scales from an adult Leviathan! Look at the tooth marks on the edges and the corrosive mucus attached! Absolutely no mistake! The pirate ship… was attacked by a Leviathan?!”

Lin Feng and Gao Qiang exchanged glances, both seeing the shock in each other’s eyes. The pirate ship was attacked by a deep-sea giant beast? How was this possible? Leviathan usually only operate in the deep sea, how could it attack a ship on the surface? Unless…

“Could it be… One-Eyed Jack also went near the ‘Abyssal Restricted Zone’? Or… he provoked the ‘monster’ in the naval base?” Gao Qiang’s voice was tight.

Considering the previously captured "sea god's tears" ore, and the "man-eating monster" in the naval base mentioned during interrogation, this hypothesis is highly probable! One-Eyed Jack, that madman, in order to find the "sea god's tears" or weapons in the base, most likely risked approaching or even entering the periphery of the naval base, which resulted in attracting a guardian-level deep-sea giant beast attack!

“Immediately collect all floating samples! Handle with care! Bring them back to the laboratory for analysis!” Lin Feng ordered, “Zhao Tiezhu, speed up! The pirates suffered a loss and were targeted by a giant beast, they might come back for revenge or… attract something even more terrifying!”

The Panshi’s actions became even swifter. Survivors and the first batch of materials were quickly transported away. Two modified workboats equipped with towing winches, dispatched by the engineering team, also arrived at the scene and began attempting to secure the yuan yang feng shou wreckage, preparing to tow it back to Shenlan Port. This was a challenging task, but the rewards were immense!

Standing on the deck of the Panshi, looking at the majestic silhouette of Deep Blue 01 and the busy lights of the port, Zhao Tiezhu’s heart was filled with pride. This was Deep Blue's first self-built warship's maiden battle! It successfully drove away the pirates, rescued compatriots, and seized valuable supplies! And the patrol boat under their feet, as well as the second and third ones currently under construction… made a bold idea sprout in Zhao Tiezhu's heart.

He connected to the dedicated communication line with Lin Feng, his voice carrying a hint of excitement and anticipation: “Captain! Look! Although the Panshi is small, it’s highly maneuverable, and its firepower isn’t weak! If we had more ships like this, or even… slightly larger ones! Coupled with Deep Blue 01’s fire support and command…”

Zhao Tiezhu paused, then spoke the thought that had been swirling in his mind for a long time: “…Can we transform Deep Blue 01 into a mobile sea fortress and command center? Make it the core, surrounded by an escort fleet composed of patrol boats and frigates (in the future)? This way, we would no longer be confined to the port! Wherever strength is needed, our fleet would go! Wherever resources are found, our fleet could quickly arrive! Deep Blue 01… would be our steel home and mobile base on the nu sha!”

A mobile sea fortress? A mobile base?

Zhao Tiezhu's words exploded in Lin Feng's mind like a thunderclap! This concept perfectly matched Deep Blue 01's powerful platform advantages as a ten-thousand-ton destroyer (space, firepower, command capability)! Instead of passively building fixed ports and enduring threats from land, air, and sea, it would be better to transform into a mobile, powerful core of sea power! It could advance to attack, retreat to defend, provide flexible support, and awe the nu sha!

“Well said! Zhao Tiezhu!” Lin Feng’s eyes burst forth with unprecedented light, “Deep Blue 01 should not just be a warship! It should be the flagship of our Deep Blue forces! It is a mobile Command! It is a home on the sea! Your idea is worth a thousand pieces of gold!”

He immediately looked at the system interface. The technology tree's [Deep Sea Technology] branch had just been unlocked, filled with dazzling projects: [Carrier Hangar Expansion], [Modular Living Quarters], [Fleet Collaborative Command System], [Integrated Maritime Supply Technology]… Weren't these exactly what was needed to build a mobile sea base?!

“System!” Lin Feng shouted in his mind, “Using Deep Blue 01 as the platform, combine ‘Small Shipyard (Primary)’ and existing blueprints to generate a preliminary construction plan for a ‘Mobile Sea Base’!”

“Command confirmed… Scanning hull structure and available space… Integrating blueprint library… Plan generating…”

“Plan: Deep Blue Mobile Fortress (Primary Stage)”

“Core Platform: Deep Blue 01 Destroyer (requires completion of current repairs and subsequent targeted modifications).”

“Phase One Objectives:”

1. Utilize the stern helicopter deck and part of the upper space to construct [Modular Living/Working Quarters] (requires blueprint research or exchange), enhancing long-term maritime living support capabilities (accommodating an additional 150 people).

2. Modify redundant internal hull space to add an [Integrated Maritime Supply Warehouse] (requires blueprint), enhancing fuel, fresh water, food, and ammunition storage and transfer capabilities.

3. Unlock and build at least 4 “Lightly Armed Patrol Boats” to serve as close escorts and rapid response forces.

4. Research and install the [Primary Fleet Collaborative Command System] (technology tree project) to achieve multi-ship information sharing and fire coordination.

“Construction Requirements: Massive amounts of basic and special building materials, energy/points: Estimated over 15,000 points for Phase One.”

“Estimated Effects: Greatly enhance the fleet’s sustained combat capability, strategic mobility, and deterrence. Become the core of regional maritime power.”

15,000 points! An astronomical figure! But looking at the effects described in the plan, Lin Feng's heart raced. This, this was the true potential of Deep Blue 01! This, this was the foundation for future dominance of the nu sha!

“Target confirmed!” Lin Feng’s voice was decisive, echoing throughout the port via the communicator: “Deep Blue’s future is the ocean! Deep Blue 01 will become our mobile sea fortress! All construction, research and development, and resource collection will be directed towards this goal! The success of the Panshi is just the beginning!”

He looked at the radar screen, at the wreckage of the yuan yang feng shou being slowly towed towards the port, and then at the deep ocean to the south and the faint shadow of UNC to the north.

“Tow the yuan yang feng shou into the port! Its hull is the best material for modification! Its supplies are the cornerstone for building the fortress!”

“Engineering team! Zhang Defu! While repairing Deep Blue 01, start evaluating the modular cabin section construction plan! List what you need!”

“Professor Wang! Accelerate research! We need more efficient energy, stronger materials, and more advanced command systems!”

“Zhao Tiezhu! Well done! The Panshi is commissioned into active service! You will temporarily act as the boat captain! For the merits of this captured material, you are promoted to First Lieutenant! Deep Blue’s fleet needs more captains like you!”

In the night sky of Shenlan Port, the lights seemed even brighter. A magnificent blueprint, an idea named “Mobile Sea Fortress,” like the light of a lighthouse, illuminated Deep Blue’s path forward in the apocalyptic nu sha. And the massive silhouette of Deep Blue 01, illuminated by the lights, seemed to already possess theprototype of a future sea city.

"Ding!"

"Triggered long-term strategic mission: Ark of the nu sha"

"Mission Description: Gradually transform and construct Deep Blue 01 into a fully functional, self-sufficient mobile sea fortress, serving as the core hub of the Deep Blue forces."

"Phase One Objectives: As described above."

"Phase Reward: Unlock the "Deep Blue Mobile Fortress" exclusive technology tree, obtain the "Modular Refining Factory" blueprint."

"Hint: This mission is the core strategy for the development of the Deep Blue forces and requires continuous investment of massive resources and technological research and development."

A new journey, a new goal, has already been anchored upon these waves!