52: Technological leaps and the shadows of deep space

Like a resilient seed, Hope Fortress took deep root in the red soil of Mars through the baptism of war, accelerating its growth. The ruins of the Scrin hive became a precious source of technology for the base.

The Combat Laboratory entered an unprecedented period of business. Vast quantities of Scrin technological wreckage were transported here for analysis and reverse engineering by top scientists and Engineers.

The first breakthrough came from the study of the fragments of the overseer's crystal energy core. The laboratory successfully isolated a highly compressed, special energy crystal with spatial affinity.

[Technology Unlocked: phase crystal (Basic Application).]

[Effect:]

· Serves as a core for new energy weapons, slightly increasing the range and penetration of existing Prism weapons.

· Attempted for use in strengthening the stability of the Chronosphere, reducing energy dissipation.

· The inherent spatial properties provide a theoretical basis for the development of new spatial equipment.]

Though only a preliminary application, the discovery of the phase crystal opened new doors for the base's energy weapons and spatial technology. Several newly built prism towers were the first to be refitted with experimental phase crystal cores; the beams they fired were more focused, with a faint purple hue.

Following this, research into Scrin phase weapons also made progress. Although they could not directly replicate the spatial distortion attack method, the laboratory successfully simulated its high-frequency energy pulse characteristics.

[Technology Unlocked: Pulse Phase Technology (Defensive).]

[Effect: Can be applied to the base's shield system, generating a deflection force field with extra resistance against energy attacks, especially phase-type weapons.]

[Construction Requirement: Requires Combat Laboratory and Air Command Post upgrades.]

Hope Fortress's energy barrier generators began to be equipped with pulse phase modules. Although energy consumption increased, survivability against potential future Scrin Fleet bombardments would be significantly improved.

However, what Sun Zheng focused on most was the analysis of that massive structure suspected to be a "Summoning Beacon." Progress was extremely slow, as the complexity of the internal structure and energy circuits far exceeded imagination, using completely unfamiliar mathematical logic and material encoding.

"Commander, the technological level of this beacon may have already reached the 'Interstellar Civilization' standard as we understand it," the Chief Researcher reported with a heavy tone. "It's not just a signal transmitter; it's more like an interstellar 'signpost' or 'Anchor Point.' We suspect it has been sending specific coordinate information deep into the universe."

"Can you determine the destination or the content of the message?" Sun Zheng pressed.

"We cannot decipher it. The information encryption method is beyond our cognitive scope. However, based on residual energy analysis, the signal was sent roughly toward the outer reaches of the Solar System, to a region beyond the Kuiper Belt."

Beyond the Kuiper Belt? The Oort Cloud? Or even more distant interstellar space? Sun Zheng's heart sank. This almost confirmed his worst suspicion—the Scrin activity on Mars was to lead the way for a more powerful existence!

"What is the status of the beacon now?"

"It was severely damaged in the explosion and has stopped working. However, most of the basic structure is intact. If there is enough time and resources, it might be possible to repair it, or even reverse-trace the target it once pointed to," the researcher proposed a bold and dangerous idea.

Repairing the enemy's Summoning Beacon? That was playing with fire! But thinking of it the other way, if they could control this beacon, could they master the movements of the scrin capital ship? Or even send false information?

This was a choice where risk and opportunity coexisted. Sun Zheng did not issue a repair order for the time being, instead requiring the laboratory to continue in-depth research to find a safer way to utilize it.

In addition to technological upgrades, Sun Zheng did not relax his monitoring of Martian orbit and deep space. Hope Fortress's newly built Deep Space Detection Array was at full power, scanning the starry sky around Mars day and night like a vigilant eye.

A few days later, the detection array captured an extremely weak but persistent abnormal spatial fluctuation signal. The signal source was very distant, located at the edge of the Asteroid Belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, and the signal characteristics bore similarities to Scrin energy fluctuations, but were more obscure and ancient.

"Is there another Scrin base hidden in the Asteroid Belt? Or some unknown cosmic phenomenon?" Sun Zheng frowned, staring at the distant signal point on the star map.

The Martian threat was temporarily resolved, but the shadows of deep space grew heavier. The Scrin threat had not disappeared; it had merely shifted to a broader stage. And there seemed to be other unknown secrets hidden within the Solar System.

Sun Zheng felt that he and his base were being drawn into an increasingly deep vortex. He had to become stronger as quickly as possible to find his way through this deep space navigation.