Chapter 251 System

February 15, 2039.

11:00 PM, Chief Engineers Office, Hainan Base.

Lin Mo sat alone in the office, his desk covered with documents—corrosion inspection reports, environmental parameters, materials science literature, and Li Xiao's draft repair plan. The halo of the desk lamp enveloped this small area, while outside the window was the pitch-black night sky.

He had been sitting there for three hours, motionless.

The repair robot plan was feasible, and Li Xiao had already started the preliminary design with her team. But Lin Mo knew in his heart that it was only a temporary fix. Robots could apply coatings in a vacuum to repair damaged cable sections. But what about the cables that hadn't been laid yet? They would encounter the same red tides, salt spray, and microbial erosion in the future.

Unless...

He closed his eyes, and his consciousness sank into that familiar void.

【civilization climber system】

On the screen, his research points balance showed: 8,550 points.

From the successful ignition of Nuclear Fusion until now, he had hardly used any research points. Carbon Nanotubes were tackled through his own efforts, the space elevator blueprints were exchanged, and the Plasma Engine was also exchanged. He had kept these remaining points to deal with emergencies.

Now, this was that "emergency."

"System," he thought to himself, "I need an anti-corrosion coating that can prevent marine microbial attachment and salt spray erosion, suitable for Carbon Nanotubes cables."

The system was silent for a few seconds, and then the text on the screen began to change:

【Requirement detected: Anti-corrosion coating formula】

【This technology belongs to the "Materials Science - Surface Engineering" branch】

【Current research points balance: 8,550 points】

【Required research points: 5,000 points】

【Exchange?】

5,000 points.

Lin Mo stared at the number, silent for a few seconds.

This was his largest exchange ever. He had used 15,000 points for the space elevator blueprints before, but that was after a surge in research points. Now, these 5,000 points were more than half of his total balance.

But he didn't hesitate.

"Exchange."

The light on the screen flickered, and then a wealth of information flooded into his consciousness—

【Anti-corrosion Nanocomposite Coating Formula】

Basic Principle: Bionic lotus leaf effect + antibacterial ion slow release. The coating consists of a three-layer structure—the bottom layer is a titania nanotube array, providing firm adhesion; the middle layer is a silver-copper ion-doped layer, continuously releasing antibacterial ions; the top layer is Fluorinated siloxane, forming a superhydrophobic surface.

Technical Parameters:

Thickness: 200-300 nm

Adhesion: >50 MPa

Contact Angle: >160 degrees (superhydrophobic)

Antibacterial Rate: >99.9% (against marine microorganisms such as Silicibacter)

Salt Spray Resistance: >5,000 hours (equivalent to 20 years at sea)

UV Resistance: >10 years (equivalent to space environment)

Production Process:

After the Carbon Nanotubes are drawn, they immediately enter the first coating process—Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) to grow the titania nanotube array.

Second process—Magnetron sputtering deposition of the silver-copper doped layer, with thickness controlled at 50-80 nm.

Third process—immersion in Fluorinated siloxane solution, followed by high-temperature curing to form a superhydrophobic surface.

The entire process is conducted under nitrogen protection to avoid oxidation contamination.

Equipment Requirements: Existing Carbon Nanotubes production lines can be modified; three specialized pieces of equipment need to be added—a Plasma deposition chamber, a Magnetron sputtering chamber, and an Immersion curing chamber. Estimated modification period: 45 days.

Lin Mo opened his eyes and let out a long breath.

He had the formula, the process, and the equipment requirements.

But there was one problem—the coated cables needed to be re-produced.

This meant the five thousand kilometers of cable already laid would either have to be abandoned or repaired by robots later. As for the twenty-five thousand kilometers to be laid in the future, all of them had to be replaced with the new coated cables.

He picked up the phone and dialed Section Chief Wu's number.

At 1:00 AM, Section Chief Wu rushed into the Chief Engineers Office.

He was wearing pajamas with a work jacket over them, his hair a mess, clearly having just crawled out of bed. But as soon as he entered, his eyes were fixed on the stack of papers in Lin Mo's hand.

"Chief Designer Lin, this is..."

Lin Mo handed him the formula: "Anti-corrosion coating. Nanocomposite structure, three-layer protection. See if it can be implemented on our production line."

Section Chief Wu took the formula and flipped through the pages one by one. His eyes grew wider and wider, and by the time he reached the last page, his hands were trembling slightly.

"Chief Designer Lin, this... where did this formula come from?"

Lin Mo said calmly, "I have a source."

Section Chief Wu stared at him for a few seconds but didn't press further. He knew some questions shouldn't be asked.

"Can it be done?" Lin Mo asked.

Section Chief Wu took a deep breath, flipped through the formula again, and then said, "Yes. But the production line needs to be modified, and three new pieces of equipment need to be added. Plasma deposition chamber, Magnetron sputtering chamber, Immersion curing chamber... There are domestic manufacturers who can make these, but it will take time."

"How long?"

Section Chief Wu quickly calculated in his head: "Design, manufacture, installation, commissioning... at the fastest, it will take forty-five days."

Lin Mo was silent for a few seconds.

Forty-five days.

Adding the month that had already been suspended, the project schedule would be delayed by two and a half months.

But if they didn't do it, even bigger problems might arise in the future.

"Do it," he said.

Section Chief Wu nodded, then hesitated: "Chief Designer Lin, what about the five thousand kilometers already laid..."

Lin Mo's gaze fell on the pitch-black night sky outside the window: "Leave it for now. We'll deal with it once the repair robots are built."

At 3:00 AM, Chen Xueming was woken up by the phone.

"Xueming, there's a solution." Lin Mo's voice came through the receiver, carrying a hint of exhaustion. "We need to re-produce the coated cables. The five thousand kilometers already laid will be repaired by robots later."

Chen Xueming lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, silent for a long time.

Five thousand kilometers.

More than a month of effort.

To re-lay it just like that.

"Old Lin," he finally spoke, "how long will it take?"

"Forty-five days for the production line modification. Plus the research and development of the repair robots, about two months."

Chen Xueming closed his eyes.

Two months.

The project schedule delayed by two months.

But he knew that Lin Mo felt worse about making this decision than he did.

"Okay," he said, "I'll wait on my end. It's a good chance to let the workers get some rest."

Lin Mo paused on the other end of the line, then said, "Xueming, I'm sorry."

Chen Xueming was stunned for a moment: "Sorry for what?"

"For making you work in vain for so long."

Chen Xueming was silent for a few seconds, then laughed.

"Old Lin, what are you talking about? Finding problems and solving them—isn't that what we've always been doing? If everything went smoothly, what would they need us for?"

Lin Mo didn't speak.

Chen Xueming continued: "Alright, don't think too much. Hurry up with the production line modification on your end. I'll keep an eye on the laid cables here to make sure they don't deteriorate further. In two months, we'll start over."

After hanging up, Chen Xueming lay in bed, looking at the ceiling.

The sound of waves came from outside the window, rhythmic and steady.

He thought of the night of the typhoon, lying on the pier, nearly swept away by the waves. He remembered the nineteen-year-old kid kneeling and crying before him after saving Wang Lei. He remembered Lin Mo saying "as long as everyone is safe," Li Xiao's braised pork, and Master Liu coming specifically to cook.

Two months, what was that?

They had endured the typhoon, protected it from spies, and suffered through countless failures.

Doing it once more would be the same.

The next morning, Lin Mo called an emergency meeting.

In attendance were Li Xiao, Section Chief Wu, Zhao Gang, and Chen Xueming via video link.

Lin Mo went through the coating formula and modification plan in full. Finally, looking at the four faces on the screen, he said:

"The project schedule will be delayed by two months. This is my decision, and I will take the responsibility."

The meeting room was silent for a few seconds.

Li Xiao was the first to speak: "Senior Brother, I support you."

Section Chief Wu followed: "Chief Designer Lin, regarding the production line modification, I guarantee it will be completed in forty-five days."

Zhao Gang nodded: "No problem on the security side. I'll guard it for two months."

Chen Xueming smiled on the other end of the screen: "Old Lin, I already said it—whatever decision you make, I support it."

Lin Mo looked at them and suddenly felt a lump in his throat.

He cleared his throat and said, "Good. Then let's do it."

At 3:00 PM, Li Xiao found Lin Mo.

"Senior Brother, I want to redo the plan for the repair robots."

Lin Mo looked at her: "Why?"

Li Xiao took out the stack of formula documents: "After seeing this coating, I think the original plan was too clumsy. Since the new coating is so incredible, our repair robots should use the same principle—with a miniature plasma deposition head to grow the nano-coating directly on the cable, without needing some local vacuum chamber."

Lin Mo was stunned for a moment, and then his eyes slowly lit up.

"Can you make it?"

Li Xiao thought for a moment: "It will take time. But within two months, it should be possible."

Lin Mo looked at her, suddenly remembering the clumsy little girl from a few years ago. Now she stood before him, confident and determined, her eyes sparkling.

"Do it," he said.

Li Xiao smiled: "Okay."

In the evening, Lin Mo stood alone on the roof of the base, looking at the distant horizon.

The setting sun was sinking, dyeing the entire sky orange-red. The sea surface shimmered, as if scattered with countless pieces of gold.

He thought of the formula the system gave him, the 5,000 research points, Section Chief Wu saying "forty-five days," Chen Xueming saying "doing it once more would be the same," and Li Xiao saying "within two months it should be possible."

Two months.

Not too long, not too short.

But it was enough for them to solve the problem completely.

Enough for them to start anew.

He took out his phone and sent a message to Wang Zhenguo:

"Teacher, I've run into a bit of trouble. But it can be solved. How is your health?"

A few minutes later, Wang Zhenguo replied:

"Don't be afraid of trouble, just solve it. I'm fine, don't worry. Keep up the good work on your end."

Lin Mo looked at the message, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly.

He put away his phone and took one last look at the setting sun.

Tomorrow, the sun will rise again.

The space elevator will continue to be built.