157: Chapter 157 Shipborne AI "Nuwa" and Quantum Command Network
Lin Mo walked quickly back to his core laboratory at the "Bright Dawn" base. The air purification system emitted a soft hiss, and several main screens had already lit up automatically. In the center of one, an encrypted file was displayed, titled [plan "plan"—General Outline for Final Interception Operations].
He didn't sit down to examine it immediately, but first connected to Su Xiaowan's channel.
"Xiao Wan, I've received the 'plan' proposal. Notify Captain Long Zhantian that in one hour, I need him and the head of the 'Nüwa' core logic group online to conduct the final pre-battle simulation confirmation. Also, synchronize the latest stable operation data packets for 'zhurong' Unit 3, especially the magnetic field response parameters, to 'Nüwa'; it might help its tactical calculations."
"Understood, I'll arrange it immediately." Su Xiaowan's efficiency was as high as ever.
After making these arrangements, Lin Mo sat in his ergonomic chair and immersed his mind in the "plan" proposal.
The proposal itself was the result of joint calculations between the "system" supercomputer and the "Nüwa" shipborne AI, featuring a clear structure and rigorous logic. However, Lin Mo's focus, beyond the macro tactical steps, lay in the "neural network" that made everything possible—the shipborne AI "Nüwa" and the Quantum Command Network it relied upon.
He clicked on the detailed technical appendix regarding "Nüwa."
On the holographic screen, a simple and elegant silhouette of a woman appeared in light and shadow. She didn't have a humanized face but was composed of countless flowing data streams and geometric light bands, containing immense computing power within her silence. Beside her were her core parameters:
[Codename: Nüwa]
[Infrastructure: Based on the 'system' quantum-classical hybrid computing paradigm, deeply optimized iteration version 7.]
[Core Features: Artificial General Intelligence (AGI-Restricted), specializing in interstellar battlefield situational awareness, multi-target real-time tactical planning, fleet coordinated control, and enemy behavior pattern prediction.]
[Learning Mechanism: Deep reinforcement learning integrated with real-time battlefield data iteration. All analysis data from 'reaper' probe wreckage, the 'beacon' signal characteristic library, and elite battle cases from a millennium of human warfare history have been imported.]
[Decision Speed: Theoretical peak response time of 3 nanoseconds (within the ship's quantum network environment).]
[Relationship with 'system': Not master-slave, but a 'specialized derivative' with high autonomy. Can synchronize faster-than-light quantum data with the 'system' parent body at any time (relying on relay nodes), but makes independent decisions during combat. 'system' focuses on macro strategy, technological deduction, and civilization management; 'Nüwa' focuses on micro tactics, instantaneous combat, and survival priority.]
"Specializing in the art of slaughter and survival..." Lin Mo whispered to himself. This positioning was very clear. Unlike "system," which needed to balance countless affairs like scientific research, people's livelihoods, and social management, every bit of computing power in "Nüwa's" "brain" was honed into a sharp dagger for finding the optimal path for killing or survival in the shortest time.
He continued to read further about how "Nüwa" would specifically play its role in the "plan" proposal:
Initial Lurking and Camouflage: "soaring heavens" will enter a "silent cruise" state, minimizing its radiation signature. "Nüwa" will control the adaptive camouflage coating on the hull to simulate the infrared and radar reflection characteristics of the asteroid background and release a carefully calculated, weak plasma cloud interacting with the solar wind to further obscure its tracks.
Perception and Analysis at the Moment of Contact: Once "the piercer" enters the optimal range of the "soaring heavens" enhanced sensors (a gift from the 'Guanghan Palace'), "Nüwa" will perform a full-spectrum, holographic scan within milliseconds. The focus will be on analyzing its shell's energy absorption/reflection characteristics, possible weapon port distribution, and most crucially—the initial frequency of its adaptive defense system's "learning rhythm."
Dynamic Tactical Generation and Weapon Allocation: Based on real-time scan results, "Nüwa" will instantaneously generate several or even dozens of attack combinations and predict "the piercer's" possible reaction paths. It will directly command the charging rhythm and frequency modulation of the "Thunder Department" main guns, control all secondary guns and point-defense systems for covering fire or jamming, and optimize the launch timing, angle, and detonation depth of "special field-effect jamming shells."
Coordination and Adaptation: In the proposal, "Nüwa" is granted extremely high autonomy for firing and tactical adjustments. Provided the ship's core safety is ensured, it can directly execute certain optimal counter-operations within extremely short windows (such as nanoseconds) without secondary confirmation from the human captain. Captain Long Zhantian will serve more in the roles of strategic supervision, final authorization, and handling emergencies outside of "Nüwa's" prepared plans.
"Combining human intuition, experience, and decision-making power with the AI's extreme speed, precise calculation, and ruthless logic..." Lin Mo thought to himself. This "man-machine unity" command mode was the most innovative and daring response humanity could offer when facing an enemy that might be technologically superior.
Next, he looked at the underlying architecture supporting "Nüwa's" efficient operation—the "Mozi" Quantum Command Network (Upgraded Shipborne Version).
The appendix used dynamic images to show the form of this network inside "soaring heavens": it wasn't physical wiring, but a kind of "information field" based on quantum entanglement that permeated the entire ship. Every key sensor, every weapon, every power unit, and even the individual tactical terminals equipped by every crew member (if needed) were embedded as "nodes" in this field.
Its core advantages leapt off the screen:
Zero Latency: Information transfer between nodes is achieved through quantum entanglement, ignoring physical distance; commands and feedback are almost simultaneous.
Ultra-Bandwidth: It can simultaneously process the massive data streams generated by all the ship's sensors and the complex instruction sets generated by "Nüwa" without any congestion.
Absolute Security: Quantum states cannot be cloned. Any attempt to eavesdrop or interfere with communications will immediately change the quantum state and be detected, making it theoretically impossible to crack or infiltrate.
Strong Resilience: The network possesses self-healing functions. Even if some nodes or links are destroyed, information can still be transmitted through other redundant paths, ensuring the command remains uninterrupted.
It was this very network that allowed "Nüwa" to deliver commands throughout the ship within 3 nanoseconds, enabling the entire "soaring heavens" to operate in coordination like a super-organism with a unified nervous system.
"The hour is up, Consultant Lin." Su Xiaowan's voice rang out on time. "The connections for Captain Long Zhantian and Dr. Qin Xue, the head of the 'Nüwa' core logic group, are ready."
The screen in front of Lin Mo split in two. On the left appeared Long Zhantian's steady face with the "soaring heavens" bridge in the background; on the right was a woman who looked to be in her thirties, with a calm and capable aura, wearing rimless glasses and a sharp gaze—this was Dr. Qin Xue.
"Consultant Lin," they both greeted.
"Time is tight, let's start directly." Lin Mo nodded. "Dr. Qin, first confirm: after receiving the new data from the 'zhurong engine,' has 'Nüwa' updated its assessment of 'soaring heavens' extreme maneuverability? This relates to the feasibility of several high-risk evasive maneuvers in the 'plan' proposal."
Dr. Qin Xue pushed up her glasses and spoke rapidly: "Updated. The new data indicates that the engine's vector response under extreme conditions is 7% faster than our previous modeling. 'Nüwa' has recalculated the evasive paths. The success rates for the A-3 and B-7 maneuvers in the original plan have increased by 5% and 8%, respectively. However, the requirements for instantaneous load on the hull structure have also increased by 2%. 'Nüwa' has synchronized and adjusted the warning thresholds for structural stress monitoring."
"Structural strength is within safety redundancy limits," Long Zhantian chimed in. "'Nüwa' has already confirmed the updated maneuver plan with me, and I believe it's feasible. Those moves... are very tricky, but that's exactly what the enemy won't expect."
"Very good." Lin Mo continued, "Regarding the usage logic of the 'special field-effect jamming shells,' I need to confirm 'Nüwa's' judgment priority and trigger conditions one last time."
Dr. Qin Xue pulled up several lines of core code logic: "The priority is set as follows: on the premise of ensuring the safety of the 'soaring heavens' core compartments and main weapon arrays, achieving the best jamming effect is the highest goal. The trigger condition is based on 'Nüwa's' real-time analysis of 'the piercer's' adaptive system frequency. Once its rhythm is identified as entering a certain 'resonance vulnerability window' and our ship's main gun is in the optimal firing position, the jamming shell will automatically fire without manual intervention. The entire process is expected to be completed within 0.1 seconds."
"This time window is indeed something humans cannot grasp," Long Zhantian admitted frankly. "I authorize 'Nüwa' full autonomy in this matter."
Lin Mo pondered for a moment and raised one last, crucial question: "Dr. Qin, Captain Long. Based on the joint simulation by 'system' and 'Nüwa,' suppose 'the piercer' possesses more powerful offensive or defensive means beyond our expectations, such as some kind of large-scale spatial disturbance weapon, or stronger information suppression capabilities... What is 'Nüwa's' contingency plan? Or rather, how would its 'survival priority' logic choose in a desperate situation?"
This question caused silence on both ends of the connection for a few seconds.
Dr. Qin Xue took a deep breath and answered seriously: "Consultant Lin, this is one of the deepest instructions in 'Nüwa's' logic. In all simulated desperate scenarios, when the probability of the ship being destroyed is determined to exceed 99.9% and there are no effective counter-measures, 'Nüwa's' ultimate contingency plan is: initiate the 'Seed Protocol'."
"Seed Protocol?"
"Yes. 'Nüwa' will compress and encrypt all combat data since the 'beacon' signal anomaly, the observation and analysis of 'the piercer,' and its own core algorithms iteratively optimized during battle. It will then instantaneously upload them to the 'system' parent body via the quantum network and attempt to broadcast them to all GDC nodes via backup links. Simultaneously, it will do its utmost to control the ship for a suicidal collision or energy overload, aiming to buy the final moments for data transmission and cause as much damage to the enemy as possible. Its core logic is: even if 'soaring heavens' is sunk, it must ensure that future comrades obtain the intelligence and experience paid for with blood."
The laboratory was deathly silent. This ultimate contingency plan, cold to the point of being cruel, radiated a tragic yet rational light. Sacrificing a ship and a group of people to exchange for a greater hope of civilization's subsequent survival.
Long Zhantian's face showed no emotion, he only nodded heavily: "I accept this plan. This is the kind of resolve a warship and its 'brain' should have."
Lin Mo slowly exhaled, his gaze sweeping over the two people on the screen and finally settling on the words for the plan codename, "plan."
"Then," he announced in a deep voice, "plan 'plan' is finally confirmed. I authorize 'soaring heavens' Captain Long Zhantian and shipborne AI 'Nüwa' to fully execute this interception operation. 'Guanghan Palace', 'Bright Dawn' base, the 'system' network, and all available GDC resources will provide you with full support."
"For civilization." Long Zhantian gave a solemn salute.
"Mission will be accomplished." Dr. Qin Xue responded concisely.
The connection ended.
Lin Mo sat alone in the lab, looking at the elegant and powerful silhouette of "Nüwa" on the screen and the schematic diagram of the quantum network symbolizing faster-than-light connections.
Humanity's top intellectual creation, most advanced communication technology, and most heroic warriors were about to engage in a fate-deciding collision with a cold alien Scavenger in the vast and indifferent starry sky.
"Nüwa" mends the heavens, "Houyi" shoots the suns. Ancient myths were being given a brand-new, survival-related realistic meaning.
The countdown entered its final stage.