Chapter 303: Two Reports
Williams did not say a word. His eyes were looking out the window. Currently, two simulation wars.h.i.+p systems were rotating at full speed on the experiment platform. A spherical white energy s.h.i.+eld was enclosing them as hundreds of laser emitters were repeatedly attacking the s.h.i.+ps.
The pulse laser emitters only used a single salvo to destroy the energy s.h.i.+eld completely. The energy-s.h.i.+eld boosters maintained their highest working state throughout, quickly repairing the energy s.h.i.+eld, but unfortunately, before it was done, another salvo landed, penetrating past the energy s.h.i.+eld.
This process repeated in such a manner. Every single minute throughout the fifty-seven hours, the lasers would destroy the energy s.h.i.+eld and the boosters would repair them, again and again.
The energy-s.h.i.+eld booster was facing up against a daunting task which was both insane and merciless; the energy-s.h.i.+eld booster could only begin working upon the s.h.i.+eld being under a.s.sault and would go into dormant state for the rest of time, but now that the energy s.h.i.+eld was being relentlessly attacked and was not given enough time to rest at all, it meant that it had to maintain the standard of its highest working state throughout the entire test period.
When the heat build-up within a machine without any means of releasing, every single part would experience a really tough test. This was just like a car that had its accelerator pushed to the maximum limit, speeding through the highway. How would a car being operated in such a fas.h.i.+on last longer than another car which was just cruising around in the suburbs? Even if the car had an exceptional engine, which could run stably, what about its tires? The oil circuit? Could it all run at full capacity throughout?
Machinery was a complex collection of systems made up of many parts and modules working in tandem. Even the most ingenious machinist could not guarantee that every part would be able to continue operating under the highest load; over time, there would always be some parts with poor durability that would gradually start failing.
“Looks like it’s going to be impossible for this energy-s.h.i.+eld booster to make it through the level 5 stress test,” Williams said.
Saying this, they saw a series of flas.h.i.+ng sparks explode inside the laboratory. Another energy s.h.i.+eld had fallen because it could not withstand the stress, and the mainframe immediately cut off its power supply and stopped the test.
The truth was plain for all to see. Five out of the six energy-s.h.i.+eld boosters they acquired had been successively destroyed, not fulfilling the ‘two out of six’ criterion Tai had set.
Layton sighed as he turned to Williams. “You and your big mouth. If this were really a battlefield, I hope your officers’ headquarters would not make too many mistakes with your battle plans.”
Williams shrugged helplessly, not appearing too bothered. His eyes continued to stare at the last remaining energy-s.h.i.+eld booster, watching that white energy s.h.i.+eld remain unusually indomitable, being repeatedly beaten yet it still remained s.h.i.+ning time and again.
The two went over to a couch in the control center and sat down. Williams pulled out a box of maple candy and popped two into his mouth. He was in deep thought, while Layton pulled a sad expression.
Either understood that the energy-s.h.i.+eld boosters failing to get through the level 5 stress test meant it was not exceptional enough, and Tai had set a very harsh bar. It would have been a real miracle for this universal equipment to survive a level 5 stress test. Forget about the energy-s.h.i.+eld boosters, which cost several million star coins; there was not even a guarantee that the deluxe version, which cost hundreds of millions of star coins, might pa.s.s the test.
Layton was quiet for some time before he said, “Looks like there’s no hope for the energy-s.h.i.+eld booster to equip the entire military. Who knows when the upper and lower chambers will allow the military to send our troops out to quell the Death Trio Star Region’s rebellion?”
Williams smiled. “Look at you, always thinking about the end of the world so you can lead the fleet out for a chance at glory. Unfortunately, you’re going to have to be disappointed this time; there’s no way you’ll have the dispatch orders in your hands in six months.”
Layton was very disappointed, but even more so, he was nonplussed.
“Why not? I’ve already gotten the orders to raise the naval readiness to level 2 and have begun to s.h.i.+p reserve supplies out to the frontlines. Even, 1147, 2158, and 3069, the three elite naval-combined fleets have been deployed to the frontlines, yet you’re telling me that I won’t be able to have the dispatch order in the next six months? Since we won’t be dispatched to quell the rebellion, what’s the point of them sending the fleets over?”
Layton was slightly agitated. The schism of the Pan-human Alliance was simply unforgivable in his eyes, which was why Layton had been a little nettled when Williams said that they would definitely not be sent out in the next six months.
Williams calmly explained, “The reason why the military got the order now is solely to pressure those warlords in the Death Trio Star Region, to warn them not to go overboard. They don’t want them thinking that the Alliance will do nothing to stop their rebellion. As for really sending the fleets out to quell the rebellion, you’ll still have to wait for quite some time. Honestly, six months is already the most optimistic time frame I predicted that this can happen. In fact, it might even drag till a year or two.”
Layton was even more perplexed. “Is the Alliance just going to let them break off as they desire?”
Williams answered, “Of course not. You don’t have a deep understanding of how politicians think. Aside from how expensive it will be to send the fleet into the Death Trio Star Region and fight things out, it may also result in heavy casualties. After all, those warlords were people of the Alliance Military, so they’re more than capable of fighting back.
“The Death Trio Star Region must be recovered, but the key is when. Rather than dispatching the fleets while the three regions are still in turmoil, why not wait till they finish slaughtering one another for the Alliance Military to swoop in and clean up what’s left. This is what those politicians are best at; the lives of the citizens living there aren’t really important in their eyes, so why would they not be more than happy to reap the most benefits with the least amount of effort?”
Layton heavily slapped the desk as he cursed.
“Those bloodsuckers! To think military men like us have to listen to orders from the likes of them, just our luck.”
Williams paused briefly before saying, “Actually, there are still quite a number of people in the Alliance who want to act as quickly as possible, but it’s unfortunate that a majority of citizens don’t really care about the situation in the Death Trio Star Region. Perhaps it’s human nature; only when the disaster befalls themselves do they start to feel fear.
“Once public opinion rises to a certain level, or if the combat strength of the Death Trio Star Region drops to the point they can no longer pose a threat, that’s when the upper and lower chambers will make the decision to send troops over to quell the rebellion, so all we can do until then is prepare and wait.”
There was no way for the energy-s.h.i.+eld booster to pa.s.s the stress test, nor could the rebellion in the Death Trio Star Region be put down. These two five-star generals felt like heroes who were powerless to do anything, and the atmosphere around them became somewhat gloomy.
Williams suddenly crunched on the candies in his mouth as he uttered in a deep voice, “I’ve suddenly got an idea. Perhaps it’s worth a shot.”
…
The date of Ernst’s birthday drew near, and Sunset Villa slowly became busier as well. There would be large parties of guests arriving from all across the Alliance, with luxurious c.o.c.ktail parties being thrown every night.
Avril was also getting busier, constantly being required to greet the guests, even needing her to be familiar with their names to avoid causing any awkwardness. As such, the times she got to meet with Xia Fei lessened.
Xia Fei was now staying at a hotel not too far away from Avril’s residence. Early each morning, he would accompany Avril to have breakfast before retiring to his room to busy himself, while Avril would return to the Sunset Villa and attend to her own matters.
There had been no news from the military this entire time, though they had borrowed another batch of energy-s.h.i.+eld boosters from Thuram’s side. This time, they took much more: twelve of the standard version and twelve of the enhanced version. It was as if they were still anxiously conducting their tests.
It was still three days away from Ernst’s birthday, and Xia Fei had finally gotten a call from Yawei of Black Abyss.
“We’ve discussed what you proposed, and we’re willing to exchange a permanent control of one galaxy for a thousand energy-s.h.i.+eld boosters,” Yawei said in a deep voice. Deep dark circles were under his eyes. According to news from the media, the military fleet in the Black Abyss had already lost three consecutive battles right at the start of the war, losing a large piece of their forward position. It was most likely those tough obstacles from the recent battles that gave him sleepless nights, and perhaps it was due to this that made him agree to Xia Fei’s proposal.
…
Turning the conversation, Yawei spoke up once more. “But I do have one condition: We need to test the effect of the energy-s.h.i.+eld boosters on the battlefield before we officially sign the agreement.”
Xia Fei nodded. “That’s reasonable. I’ll be making a trip to Black Abyss personally, arriving in approximately forty-five days’ time. I’ll be discussing with you all the specific conditions myself.”
Yawei furrowed his brows. “Can it be sooner? When will the goods be arriving?”
Xia Fei smiled. “You know as well as I do how tough the journey from the Alliance core to Black Abyss will be. Forty-five days is already the quickest I can manage. Once we reach an agreement, the goods will arrive very soon.”
“How soon?”
“Very soon.”
Yawei was silent for a good while. It was very evident that now was not a good time to argue with Xia Fei, for the initiative was in Xia Fei’s hands, not his own.
“Alright, I believe you, but please don’t disappoint me,” Yawei said.
Xia Fei answered, “I also wish that your men can hold on during this period.”
Turning off the screen, Phantom asked, puzzled, “They won’t change their mind at the last minute, reneging on the deal after obtaining our boosters, will they? After all, the Death Trio Star Region is still their territory.”
Xia Fei chuckled. “For now, perhaps. The Alliance is sure to be dispatching their fleet to quell the rebellion in the Death Trio Star Region, and it’s only a matter of when. By the time the Alliance Military garrison themselves there, even if they don’t wish to honor the agreement, they will have to look to their masters first. That’s why all I have to do is gain the most optimum contract and quietly wait for the day when the Alliance steps in and regains their lost territory.
“Of course, there’s a certain risk to this. For example, if the Alliance really ends up letting them self-govern, to continue being tyrants of their territory, there’s nothing I can do in the case that they don’t honor the agreement. However, if we think about this in another sense, the Death Trio Star Region had had an uprising occur once, so how could the Alliance just completely leave them alone? The most likely possibility is for the Alliance to implement a limited supervision of the Death Trio Star Region, stationing a small portion of their fleets that will continue to help enact their laws and policies.
“An agreement in a lawless land is nothing more than waste paper, but it turns into a contract when in a place with law. While what I have is nothing more than waste paper now, our goal will have been achieved if it one day turns into a contract.”
Phantom nodded. What Xia Fei had just said made perfect sense. The moment law and order returned to the Death Trio Star Region, this contract that they had made now would be able to come into effect. Even if it was just a perfunctory contract made with Xia Fei, it would still be legally binding when that day came.
…
Ministry of Military Affairs. Williams and Layton handed in a report to Tai.
“Though one energy-s.h.i.+eld booster cleared the level 5 stress test, that’s still not enough to clear the criterion I’ve set. I intend to reject Quantum Holdings from entering the A-list suppliers for the military. Does either of you have any opinions?” Tai read through the doc.u.ment and asked.
Williams calmly pulled out another report from his briefcase and handed it over. “Tai, you should look at this other report before deciding.”