164: Chapter 164 The Enemy's Probing: A Disguised Attack

After the order for Level 2 combat readiness rest was issued, the lights on the bridge of the "soaring heavens" dimmed by one level, and some crew members in non-core positions began rotating to rest and eat.

The air was permeated with the faint, unique scent of high-energy nutrient packs and an oppressive silence.

Only the countdown constantly ticking on the main screen and the radar scan map reminded everyone that a storm was approaching.

Long Zhantian did not leave the bridge.

He closed his eyes to rest, but his brain was running at high speed, repeatedly simulating various contact scenarios that might occur with "the piercer."

The core steps of the "plan" scheme were branded into his mind, yet he still would not let go of any detail he might have overlooked.

Ground combat experience told him that plans could never keep up with changes, especially when facing a completely unknown enemy.

Time passed in silence.

There were two hours and seventeen minutes left until the projected interception window.

Suddenly, the active scanning array, which had been operating at a low frequency, emitted an extremely faint "beep" that was almost imperceptible to ordinary people.

At the same time, on an auxiliary screen of the tactical console in front of Long Zhantian, a weak signal that had almost blended into the background noise was instantly captured and magnified by "Nuwa" with a bright red frame.

"'Nuwa', report abnormality." Long Zhantian opened his eyes immediately, his gaze sharp as lightning.

"'soaring heavens' port side, azimuth 135, elevation -7, distance approximately 120,000 kilometers, detected a suspected high-speed moving object." Nuwa's electronic voice remained steady, but the content of the report caused all duty personnel on the bridge to tense up instantly.

"Target relative speed is eight kilometers per second, slowly approaching.

The signal characteristics are weak, the radar cross-section is extremely small, and the infrared signature has been disguised, which does not match the known characteristics of 'the piercer,' but is closer to... space debris or a small meteorite that has undergone special processing."

Space debris? At such a critical moment?

Long Zhantian frowned slightly.

Although this area was close to the debris cloud, it had just been cleared; the probability of a fish slipping through the net and happening to approach at this speed was negligible.

"Magnify signal analysis, focus on checking whether its trajectory shows signs of fine-tuning, and whether there are any unnatural radiation leaks or communication characteristics."

Long Zhantian ordered, while signaling the Vice Captain, "All ships, resume Level 1 combat readiness, silent mode, main weapons on standby but not charging, shields on minimum power standby."

The order was executed quickly.

The atmosphere on the bridge became heavy again, but no one panicked.

Everyone stared intently at the tiny light spot locked by "Nuwa."

"'Nuwa' analysis report: The target's trajectory shows extremely subtle, periodic fine-tuning that cannot be explained by gravitational perturbations, with an amplitude of less than one-thousandth of a degree, suspected to be active attitude control.

Detected an encrypted directional carrier signal in the extremely low frequency band, intensity is very weak, and the pattern does not match any known GDC or civilian communication protocols.

Target surface material analysis... contains an unnatural high-absorption coating, optimized for our main detection frequency bands."

Nuwa's reports popped up one by one, each stripping away a layer of possibility of it being a "natural celestial body."

"A disguised scout." Long Zhantian made the judgment immediately.

It was not "the piercer," nor was it an accident.

Someone was probing, peeping at the "soaring heavens'" combat readiness, sensor sensitivity, and even reaction procedures!

In this sensitive airspace, at this sensitive time...

"Can the source be tracked?" Long Zhantian's voice was cold.

"The directionality of the signal source is ambiguous, but based on its fine-tuned attitude and signal characteristics, reverse deduction suggests its possible remote control or information return direction is associated with several specific regions in Earth's low Earth orbit.

The "system" main body is cross-referencing, and the region with the highest preliminary correlation probability is..."

Nuwa paused for a fraction of a second, seemingly performing more complex verification, "...geostationary orbit, numbered GEO-447 to GEO-452, where there are several satellites with questionable ownership, nominally used for 'commercial meteorological observation'."

Pretty Country? Or some other restless force?

Long Zhantian's mind flashed with Wilkins's gloomy face, as well as those empty seats at the GDC meeting and the lonely national flag hologram.

It seems that some people, even if they dare not join openly, have never given up on making small moves in the shadows, even wanting to steal intelligence and evaluate the weight of the "pawn" before this battle concerning the survival of humanity.

"Target continues to approach, current distance is 100,000 kilometers.

Expected to enter our ship's high-precision optical sensor optimal observation range in three minutes." The sensor officer reported.

"Want to take a closer look? Then let it see clearly." A cold light flashed in Long Zhantian's eyes.

"'Nuwa', I authorize you to use non-lethal countermeasures.

Goal: Drive away the scout, paralyze its observation and data transmission capabilities, but try not to destroy it completely; leave a 'whole corpse' for its master to see.

Method... use our newly upgraded 'Mozi' network derivative interference protocol."

"'Mozi' network active electronic suppression protocol activated.

Target locked.

Generating customized full-spectrum jamming and data contamination signal packets... Firing."

Nuwa's execution efficiency was astonishingly high.

The moment the order was given, an invisible but highly concentrated directional electromagnetic pulse, mixed with malicious data streams specifically targeting its detection frequency bands and possible communication protocols, shot out from an inconspicuous hemispherical device on the hull of the "soaring heavens," precisely enveloping the scout disguised as space debris.

In the vacuum 100,000 kilometers away, the scout, which was carefully adjusting its angle and attempting to "sneak a photo" of the details of the "soaring heavens'" side weapon arrays and shield generators with its high-resolution lens, suddenly seemed to crash into an invisible wall filled with malicious noise and logic bombs!

Its carefully designed high-absorption coating instantly overloaded, emitting a wail that only its own sensors could capture.

Its internal precision electronic systems were violently invaded and disrupted, the preset encrypted communication links were crudely injected with massive amounts of junk information and unsolvable garbled code, and the data transmission channel instantly clogged and collapsed.

Even more fatally, that powerful directional electromagnetic pulse directly burned out its most vulnerable external sensor interfaces and some core processing units.

The disguise failed completely.

The camouflage shell on the surface of the scout, simulating the unevenness of a meteorite, partially peeled off under the energy impact, revealing the smooth metal structure beneath with obvious artificial traces and micro-thruster nozzles.

Like a cockroach caught in a flashlight beam, it tried to adjust its posture in a panic, its originally concealed fine-tuning thrusters spewing out several chaotic ion streams, making its trajectory wobbly and unable to maintain a stable observation posture.

"'Nuwa' report: Target electronic systems have suffered devastating interference, sensors failed, data link interrupted, active propulsion system control in chaos.

The target has lost its reconnaissance and transmission capabilities.

Its final inertial trajectory prediction will deviate from our ship's course and drift towards Mars."

"Beautiful." The Vice Captain couldn't help but praise in a low voice.

Without firing a single shot, without even raising the shields, just one precise electronic suppression turned this ill-intentioned peeper into space debris.

Long Zhantian did not show much joy on his face.

He watched the light spot on the main screen that had lost control and was tumbling away, and said in a deep voice: "Record all data of this incident, including the scout's signal characteristics, movement patterns, and our interference effects.

Synchronize it to Consultant Lin at the 'Bright Dawn' base and the 'system' main body.

Also, 'Nuwa', based on this contact, update your response plans for potential third-party (non-'the piercer') interference, especially targeting more covert and diverse reconnaissance and electronic warfare methods."

"Data recording complete.

plan updating." Nuwa responded.

"All ships, lift Level 1 combat readiness, resume Level 2."

Long Zhantian sat back in the captain's chair, his gaze returning to the deep darkness ahead of the main course, "Just a small interlude.

The real guest will be here soon."

He glanced at the countdown: one hour and fifty-nine minutes until the projected contact with "the piercer."