Chapter 6

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Chapter 6: What a Mess I’ve Made!

As a fan of science fiction, Lin Wei’s favorite daily activity was discussing space battles and tactics online on YY Space Battleship forum. He debated whether space battles should follow modern air and sea combat strategies, using electronic suppression, reconnaissance advantage to attack enemies first, destroy enemies first, combining reconnaissance and attack as one, or should they go back to the traditional method of strong ships and cannons, lining up in a neat formation to engage in battle.

A news alert popped up in the lower right corner, "China and the US join forces in counter-terrorism in Central Africa, marking the largest multinational counter-terrorism cooperation in 20 years (click for more details)."

"Light up a candle for the terrorists." Lin Wei glanced at the news alert. When did terrorist organizations targeted by the two biggest rogues in the world survive more than three days? Even the dream team of the USA Prism and China Express would have a hard time if facing a country of just middling caliber, let alone a terrorist organization.

"Knock, knock!" A knocking sound came from the door. Lin Wei had to leave the heated discussion turning into a quarrel and hurried to open the door. He hadn’t done anything illegal, so he wasn’t worried about a utility check. However, when he opened the door, facing two stern-faced men in sharp black suits at the door, his expression froze immediately.

"You are Lin Wei, who posted the thread ‘Everyone come and see which tactics are best for space battles?’ on XX forum, right?"

"That… "

"Come with us." Lin Wei quickly glanced at the credentials in front of him, discreetly observed the muscles bulging under the other’s clothes, obediently changed his shoes, locked the door, and sullenly got into an ordinary black car with them.

"Just kidding around, not serious. I won’t do it again next time," Lin Wei quickly explained when he found himself seated in what seemed like an interrogation room.

"Clack! Clack! Clack!" The burly man sitting opposite Lin Wei, with half of his face covered by oversized sunglasses, rhythmically tapped on the table. Two sharp gazes seemed to be cutting through Lin Wei from behind the sunglasses. "Hmm…" the man drawled with a prolonged tone. "What do you think space battles need?"

"I’m really scared now! I was so silly, just posting some rebellious and anti-government comments, only to find out even these nonsense posts can get me in trouble. It was just a joke, no need to be so serious."

"Starting now, you will be cut off from all contact except for approved designated personnel, and your movements will be restricted…"

"Why me!" Lin Wei slammed the table in anger.

"Sit down!" A cold glint passed over the black-suited man’s sunglasses.

"Oh…" Lin Wei obediently sat back down.

"From now on, gather your thoughts. Tell us everything you think a Space Battleship needs – equipment, devices, crew, anything."

"Huh?"

"Anything you think is necessary and feasible, we will do our best to meet your demands."

"Huh? Do we have the ability to make a Space Battleship?" The recent news is about the development project of a new type of Falcon-20, with a carrying capacity of only 1000 tons, and the cost is very high. For traveling to and from Mars, isn’t a Space Battleship too… fast?

"What do you think?" The man showed a scary smile.

"Um, there’s another question."

"Speak!"

"I’m just a regular person, why are you asking me about this?"

"Good question. Indeed, someone like you who has not received any professional design training, or any relevant military tactical education, and knows nothing about command or staff courses, would not normally be involved in this project."

"Then why…"

"However, this is an unusual situation now, and we happen to need a group of people with… unique and creative ideas."

Humans have never experienced space warfare before. Of course, if it were just that, professionals could come up with a reliable strategy and plan, since the main opponents are still humans. They have received professional training, follow basic laws of war, and the enemy’s technology and tactics are essentially similar to ours. Just like how humans developed real combat aircraft for the first time, extending warfare to the skies, it will thrive.

However, since the beginning of civilization, humans have never fought against any other race, and they never expected the Space Displacer and hyperspace jump device to become so common and simple. Therefore, the differences in technological development, tactical systems, and equipment systems controlled by alien civilizations that have mastered these technologies could be significant. When humans venture into the stars, what kind of strange enemies will they encounter?

These questions cannot be answered by anyone on Earth except the Kloros people, who cannot find a second hypothetical opponent. Based on the research by the strategic think tanks, considering their industrial level, population size, and political system, the intelligence of the Kloros people can only serve as a reference and is not representative due to their limited scope relative to the universe or galaxy.

War is never one-sided, and the same goes for equipment systems. It is a result of mutual understanding between both sides, multiple attempts and failures on the battlefield, lessons learned, improvements, and real combat validations. Humans may have advantages in creating equipment and warships when dealing with similar beings, but when facing unreasonable alien enemies like the Space Displacer, their combat effectiveness remains uncertain.

No one can guarantee this, and the solutions involve continuing to interrogate unfortunate Kloros captives, dispatching armed exploration teams to conduct on-site surveys based on the star map provided by the Kloros people, and brainstorming ideas from idle individuals posting online.

Just as humans cannot imagine the tactics of aliens, military designers and commanders find it challenging to envision the unconventional ideas of these inexperienced individuals in this field without any established guidelines to follow.

Therefore, with the assistance of national or even global powerful institutions, individuals who focus on practical solutions have been gathered together after eliminating those extreme energy practitioners, space cultivation enthusiasts, and fans overly influenced by fictional works.

They are authorized to use any necessary equipment, radar, and facilities. If certain equipment is unavailable, a hearing can be arranged. If they can persuade the scientific oddities, a dedicated research team may also assist them.

The only requirement is for them to unleash their creativity within a reasonable framework, providing the military professionals with hypothetical opponents and tools for brainstorming, in order to explore potential alien strategies and tactics. This process aims to develop a relatively reliable, though not necessarily highly effective, universal equipment plan, which is the limit of what newcomers to interstellar warfare can achieve.

Even so, these ideas are still based on human thought patterns and scientific systems, possibly missing many "Hidden Rules" and secrets lurking in unexplored corners of the human mind, leading to even stranger and unimaginable situations.

However, the think tanks couldn’t come up with a better solution for this situation. They could only take it step by step. Fortunately, the technology for super-space and spaceless movement is not difficult in terms of craftsmanship, and the cost is not too high. Even if the cost is high, it is likely that countries will bear it.

Meanwhile, Ruier and Captain Mason were naturally among this group of people. Based on their experience in past battles, they would imagine the most terrifying enemies and dreamlike combinations, even idol-level imaginary enemies that seem impossible.

"It’s better to be beaten to tears on the training ground than to be killed on the battlefield!" A strong declaration from a big shot in China left the newly formed Space Force officials speechless about complaining about the unfair advantage of the enemy.

April 6, 2075, Dalian Shipyard

Due to his larger fists and higher comparative value, Captain Mason was taken by Americans. He would be surrounded by elite personnel selected from the navy and air force at the newly established "Spacecraft Construction Site" on the West Coast, along with a group of sci-fi fans, and then trained to the brink of death by a group of marines who had fallen from the fourth to the fifth rank.

The culprits who inexplicably added an orbital freefall course to themselves and were stuffed into rocket return cabins to bungee jump down from near-earth orbit, the fifth-ranking personnel were already prepared for a batch of perfect hells awaiting them.

Supported by two guards, Ruier walked on the edge of the shipyard with a group of curious and astonished civilians. The vertically standing huge metal construction frames, unlike the usual shipyards, resembled a jungle of steel. The military’s experimental spear-shaped super monsters squatted on the frames, coldly overlooking the ants passing by at their feet, casting their shadows over them.

Ruier’s steps became heavier as he looked up at the arrogant figure that obscured his vision, even the sunlight yielding to it. Such a terrifying monster that even the largest flagship built by the Empire would be a mere rowboat in front of it. In this huge shipyard, which is said to be just one of the industrial zones in the north and south of this country, this type of super warship looks like batches of salted fish hanging on bamboo poles to dry.

"Length of 210 meters, maximum rear wing span of 74 meters, the bridge is in the middle of the hull, semi-buried, main weapons are three-tiered G-class lasers, and a belly-mounted electromagnetic railgun, equipped with improved short-range guided torpedoes for space use, approximately 6 CIWS systems on each side of the hull."

"Without armor, the spacecraft uses lightweight composite materials like rocket ablation shells. We lack the experience to know what materials and how to distribute armor in space. So, for now, we won’t have armor. We’ll install it later during exercises and simulated battles, based on what we learn."

"The technical manuals, data, and training guides for your simulated enemies will be given to you later for reference. Your design plans and technical details won’t be shared with them."

This isn’t a fair fight. The higher-ups never intended for a fair fight. They don’t want to see elite soldiers beating amateur fighters. Their goal is to identify their own weaknesses and flaws in space combat simulations and improve upon them, even if the unfair rules make you cry, you must continue!

Unfortunately, Lieutenant Ruier was almost in tears before. This isn’t a real battle! This isn’t a real war!

Look at these darn warships and their darn performance. Even if Ruier isn’t familiar with naval combat, he knows one thing – as long as the tonnage utilization isn’t terrible, these monsters, with a minimum weight of 20,000 tons, are nothing but scrap metal makers. ‘Is this a first-rate battleship or a second-rate battleship?’ Ruier wondered silently.

"They have a huge population," Ruier concluded after passing through the city of Dalian. The crowds, even more than during the Empire’s main deity’s grand ritual, truly terrified him. "They can produce so much steel." Just counting the number of cars racing down the streets was enough to unsettle him; he didn’t dare ask for the exact figure as that would shatter his last bit of faith.

"What power is this!" Standing beneath the massive construction frame, looking up at the "spearhead" that seemed to represent the fate of all living beings in the universe, feeling the overwhelming shadow pressing down on him.

"They have everything, except the ability for space travel." Ruier chuckled bitterly. Then, he saw a test ship ascending slowly like the Empire warships he knew, producing a soul-shaking screech as it disappeared into the sky.

"Well, now they have it… because of our foolishness…" Ruier’s whole body bristled with fear. "My goodness! What have we done!"