65: Don't stop

After a moment of silence, the scientists swarmed forward, eager to observe the test data.

“Is this data real?!”

A white-haired old academician's eyes turned crimson as he took the tablet from the test operator's hand, his body trembling uncontrollably as he stared at the data on it.

“This... the data is correct, we really succeeded!”

Beside him, some rubbed their eyes vigorously, while others gaped, wide enough to fit a goose egg.

Even more people gathered around the flint Nuclear Energy Battery Module, too excited to speak coherently.

Commander Qin maintained his composure on the surface, but his back was already drenched in sweat.

His breathing became heavy, his face flushed, and his eyes were filled with excitement.

He suddenly realized, if Ghost could build the flint Nuclear Energy Battery, what about the Space-based Orbital High-Energy Laser System?

“Everyone disperse, we can study the data slowly later!”

Commander Qin looked at the main screen and asked with a booming voice, “Ghost, can you build the complete space-based system?”

jarvis, a super AI that only obeyed He Ming, received the instruction to assist Dragon Country in the research and development of the Space-based Orbital High-Energy Laser System, so it naturally wouldn't refuse.

“Yes.”

“Whatever you need, just ask!”

Commander Qin was overjoyed at his words.

“Based on the existing material list at the base, 20 complete Space-based Orbital High-Energy Laser Systems can be manufactured.”

“20 sets!”

Commander Qin was greatly alarmed!

Just that morning, he learned from the project manager that with the existing materials, the research and development progress of the Space-based Orbital High-Energy Laser System could at most be increased to 23%.

The gap was too huge!

This veteran general, who had seen much action, finally understood the true value of that saying at this moment—knowledge is power!

“That’s great!”

Commander Qin grabbed the shoulder of his adjutant beside him and shouted loudly!

“Quick, notify the higher-ups, immediately activate the national strategic resource reserves, and according to the list, spare no expense to transport the materials to me as quickly as possible!”

“Yes, Commander Qin!”

During the long wait, time was ticking away.

Three hours later.

Inside the workshop, the speed of the robotic arms slowed down, and with the closing of the last cover plate, the first prototype of the Space-based Orbital High-Energy Laser System was completed.

“It’s done!”

“Quick, prepare for testing!”

Just as the test operator was about to step forward to begin testing, a crimson highest-level warning sounded in the workshop.

“It is recommended not to conduct basic power tests inside the base.”

“Why?”

Commander Qin was puzzled.

“The instantaneous focused energy of this system is enough to vaporize and cut through a granite mountain over 1200 meters thick in 0.3 seconds.”

“Testing in an enclosed space, the residual energy aftershock is highly likely to damage the precision equipment inside the base, and even trigger a risk of structural collapse.”

As soon as the words fell, the entire venue once again fell into a deathly silence.

“It is recommended to conduct ground-to-air testing.”

“Good! We’ll do as you say!”

Commander Qin made a decisive decision and issued a series of orders.

“Quick, immediately dispatch an reinforced company to transport this system to the Northwest Comprehensive Proving Ground!”

Commander Qin, like a landlord, excitedly spoke to the main screen.

“Ghost, keep producing, don’t stop!”

Soon, a fully armed convoy, escorted by a formation of armed helicopters at low altitude, drove towards the Northwest Comprehensive Proving Ground.

In the clouds, a full squadron of fighter jets roared past.

When the news reached the capital, the highest echelons were alarmed, and a Special Commissioner with a special identity took a special plane to the Northwest Comprehensive Proving Ground.

The next day, early morning.

The Special Commissioner arrived at the scene and stood shoulder to shoulder with Commander Qin inside the command vehicle, both looking solemn as they peered through the observation window at the streamlined device erected on a special stand in the distance.

Technical personnel were conducting the final calibration.

In the observation area of the proving ground, a group of Dragon Country's pillars, bearing general stars on their shoulders, gathered, their expressions equally grave, as this experiment had escalated to a level concerning the fate of the nation.

“Target in position.”

The technician's report came through the communication channel.

“Peregrine One hypersonic aircraft has ascended and is accelerating.”

On the large screen in the observation area, the light spot representing Peregrine One moved rapidly along the simulated flight path at an astonishing speed, climbing frantically.

20.7 Mach, this was the limit of Peregrine One!

The Special Commissioner glanced at Commander Qin, a smile on his face.

“Begin.”

Commander Qin's eyes were sharp as he leaned into the microphone.

“Activate system, lock target!”

“System activated.”

“Target locking.”

Buzz... A low, deep sound of energy converging came from inside the Space-based Orbital High-Energy Laser System device.

Peregrine One was instantly captured on the radar screen.

At this moment, a prompt box popped up on the system interface, accompanied by a clear electronic tone.

“Warning: High-speed moving target detected, identification signal is friendly unit, continue with interception command?”

“Execute!”

The next second after the command was given, the technician clicked the confirm option.

The launch port at the top of the device adjusted its angle, and an extremely condensed red and white beam of light shot straight up at the pure speed of light!

Where the beam passed, water vapor was instantly evaporated, and the clouds in the high altitude seemed to be cut by a sharp sword, creating an incredibly neat, several-kilometer-long vacuum channel!

Peregrine One, which was traveling through the clouds at 20.7 Mach, had nowhere to hide in the face of the speed of light, and was cut in half in mid-air, then exploded in the sky.

From the launch of the laser beam to the destruction of the target, it seemed to happen in an instant.

Inside the command vehicle, the Special Commissioner's calm expression completely froze, and fine cold sweat physiologically seeped from his forehead.

He had thought this system might be very powerful, but he hadn't expected it to be so over-the-top.

The senior generals in the observation area were all stunned, everyone maintaining a look up posture, silently staring at the clouds cut in half for a long time.

Although there were too many things they wanted to say, they simply couldn't find the right words to describe the shocking scene before them.

Just then, a slightly trembling voice broke the silence.

“Reporting, Commander, Special Commissioner!”

“That last use was only the lowest power output!”

“On the power adjustment option... there are ten more gears!”

“What?”

“Lowest power!”

“How is this possible!!!”

Commander Qin excitedly rushed out of the command vehicle, jogging to the front of the Space-based Orbital High-Energy Laser System device, looking at the control panel with disbelief.

The Special Commissioner, a man of deep cunning, followed closely, and when he saw the parameters displayed on the control panel, he could no longer maintain his composure, his face revealing an unprecedented look of shock.

The lowest power could instantly intercept a 20 Mach target, so what about the highest power... Just tens of kilometers away from the proving ground on the national highway, Old Yang, a heavy truck driver loaded with goods, had been driving all night to save time, and his eyelids were now fiercely resisting his brain.

Suddenly, a red and white light flashed before his eyes!

The light was too fast; by the time Old Yang reacted, it had already disappeared.

Although the light disappeared, the clouds cut in half in the high sky couldn't run away.

At this moment, his brain instantly cleared, his eyes widened, and he hurriedly pulled the car over to the side of the road.

When a person's mental consciousness is close to collapse, it affects normal brain function, and Old Yang was in that state earlier.

A wave of drowsiness swept over him.

Old Yang's heart began to pound, and his back was drenched in cold sweat.

He recalled his journey earlier and suddenly felt a chill of fear.

How did he even manage to drive here?

He had no memory of it at all!

Although he didn't know why the clouds were cut in half, Old Yang still knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times, thanking Heaven for saving his life.

“I'll never dare to drive all night again.”