30: Reactor startup successful

During this process, resource points had also laboriously climbed to 3,100, thanks to the steady output of the Collection Station and the scavenging of the SCVs, leaving a gap of 400 points from the goal.

Han Zhe looked at the special materials stacked next to the reactor construction area, which shimmered with a strange luster. He then glanced at the refining core, temporarily silent due to energy depletion, and the slightly "fatigued" SCVs (their energy buffers were also heavily drained).

"Rest... No, we can't fully rest." Han Zhe's voice was raspy. "'Pioneer' squad, perform minimum maintenance and charging. System, utilize every scrap of energy produced by the 'sun ray' array to prioritize restoring basic operations of the refining core. Once energy recovers to 5 units, we will immediately begin assembly of the reactor's main body! Meanwhile, the Collection Station must not stop! We'll rely on it for that 400-point gap!"

The next few hours were the "quietest" moments since the base was established. There was no roar of machinery, no flash of welding light—only the 'sun ray' array silently absorbing starlight and the rhythmic, dull grinding and smelting sounds of the Collection Station, like the slow, powerful heartbeat of the base.

Han Zhe leaned back in front of the console, resting with his eyes closed, but his mind was highly focused, sensing the extremely slow recovery of the system's energy pool. Every bit of energy injected brought him one step closer to his goal.

When the energy reading laboriously climbed to 5.2 standard units, Han Zhe snapped his eyes open.

"Energy has reached minimum startup requirements! 'Pioneer' squad, resume operations! System, initiate the reactor main body assembly protocol!"

The slumbering steel behemoth woke once more.

The three SCVs were fully charged and dove back into the fray. Under the system's millimeter-precise guidance, they began the final assembly, integrating the precious special materials with the pre-fabricated base, protective shell, and piping system.

Superconducting coils were carefully wound onto specialized supports and connected to complex cooling lines. The core of the Confinement Magnetic Field Generator—a dark silver polyhedron the size of a soccer ball emitting faint force field fluctuations—was installed into its designated position at the center of the reactor. The high-temperature resistant inner walls were pieced together one by one, forming a perfect spherical vessel.

Every step required extreme precision and stability. The SCVs' mechanical arms were as steady as surgical platforms, and the flash of welding torches flickered at critical points, firmly uniting the various components into a single whole.

The massive cylindrical reactor shell gradually closed, encasing its sophisticated internal "heart." The outer protective layers, cooling fins, energy output interfaces, monitoring sensors, and—most importantly—the emergency cooling and shutdown systems were installed one by one.

When the final maintenance hatch was sealed by a heavy radiation-proof door, a behemoth eight meters tall and five meters in diameter, covered entirely in heavy matte-gray armor and bristling with pipe interfaces and cooling structures, stood tall in the construction area at the corner of the platform.

It lacked a flashy appearance and even looked somewhat clunky and crude, but the energy and risk contained within gave everyone (and every machine) nearby an invisible sense of pressure.

['Spark' Fusion Reactor (Experimental) main body construction complete. Entering final system integration and pre-start checks. Current Resource Points: 3,480 (near completion). Energy Level: 6.1 units (just enough for minimum startup requirements).]

Only one final step remained! It was also the most dangerous step—injecting fuel and ignition.

"System, perform final self-check! Check all system connections, sealing, magnetic field stability, cooling cycles, and safety protocols! Ensure everything is foolproof!" Han Zhe's voice carried a hint of imperceptible trembling. Success or failure rested on this single move.

[Final self-check initiated... Scanning all subsystems...]

[Confinement Magnetic Field Generator: Online, status stable.]

[Superconducting Coils and Cooling System: Online, circulation normal.]

[Reactor Inner Wall and Sealing: Intact, no leaks.]

[Fuel Injection System: Ready. (Note: Purified deuterium-tritium fuel mixture and catalysts extracted from the M-3 Wreckage Reactor are ready; reserves can support approximately 72 standard hours of full-power operation for the experimental reactor.)]

[Energy Output Interface: Ready, connected to the base main power grid and backup buffer pool.]

[Safety Systems (Multi-layer Redundancy): Online, including automatic shutdown, emergency cooling, radiation isolation barriers, etc.]

[Self-check complete. All systems reporting normal, startup standards met. Warning: Experimental reactor; first ignition carries a theoretical risk of loss of control (probability < 0.7%). Suggesting minimum power trial ignition test.]

A 0.7% chance of losing control... it sounded low, but if it happened, it could mean disaster for the entire platform.

Han Zhe took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over the silent steel behemoth on the monitor, then glancing at 'ark one' and the Collection Station operating safely nearby under the protection of the shield field. He walked to the console, his finger hovering over the virtual button marked "Ignition."

"Initiate... minimum power trial ignition procedure. Set energy output to 1% of rated power," he ordered in a low voice.

[Command confirmed. Initiating trial ignition procedure. Fuel injection... confinement magnetic field strength increasing... energy focusing...]

A low hum, seemingly coming from the bowels of the earth, emanated from inside the reactor. On the monitoring data, the confinement magnetic field's strength curve began to climb steadily, the fuel injection readings jumped, and the pressure sensors inside the reactor began to sense the change.

Han Zhe held his breath.

A few seconds later—

The humming suddenly became sharp and stable! Several status indicator lights on the reactor shell turned from dark to green! The energy output reading on the monitor jumped from 0 and stabilized at a small but very real value!

[Trial ignition successful! Reactor has entered minimum power stable operation (Output Power: 0.05 MW). All parameters normal! Radiation levels: Controllable, within the shield field. Energy is steadily inputting into the base power grid.]

Success! No explosion, no leaks, everything was normal!

Han Zhe let out a long, long sigh of relief, feeling as if all his strength had been drained; he nearly collapsed. But he forced himself to stand firm, a light of wild joy erupting in his eyes!

"Gradually increase output power! In 10% increments, stabilize for ten minutes at each stage while monitoring all parameters! Goal: Reach 50% of rated power (2.5 MW)!"

[Power increase procedure initiated... 10%... 20%... 30%...]

Following Han Zhe's command, the reactor's low hum gradually became deep and powerful, and the output power readings climbed steadily. The lights on the platform seemed to become brighter and more stable, the refining core resumed its full-speed hum, and even the 'sun ray' array seemed to see a slight increase in efficiency due to the stabilized grid voltage.

When the power stabilized at 2.5 MW, the entire base seemed to be injected with new vitality. The sense of energy abundance was transmitted through every pipe, every light, and every machine.

['Spark' Fusion Reactor has reached 50% rated power stable operation. Total base energy supply has increased to more than 25 times the original level. Energy bottleneck... temporarily broken.]

Looking at the monitoring data, Han Zhe wore the most hearty and relieved smile since his transmigration.

He walked to the observation port of 'ark one' and looked outside.

In the pitch-black deep space, the D-4 Platform looked like an unremarkable, crude metal lump. But inside, the automated Collection Station was tirelessly devouring mineral deposits, three SCVs were loyally guarding and building their home, the powerful fusion reactor was providing surging power, and most importantly—the Global Shield Field acted like the sturdiest invisible shield, firmly wrapping and hiding all this life and fire.

From a dilapidated escape pod to a primary base with an automated resource chain, a fusion energy core, and strategic-grade stealth capabilities... he had walked the most difficult part of the road.

Now, he finally had enough resources and energy, along with a relatively safe sanctuary, to start thinking about things further ahead.

For example, analyzing the database of that unknown civilization.

For example, repairing and upgrading the SCVs, or even manufacturing combat units.

For example, exploring the world beyond this debris belt.

Perhaps even... searching for a way back to his own universe, or at least to a safer place.

Han Zhe withdrew his gaze and looked at the still-silent data storage unit from the unknown probe on the console.