Chapter 769

Chapter 769: The Accident

In the year 6572 of the Xia Calendar, Planet Cape VII

The automated factory on Planet Cape VII has been running for several decades, with only about ten maintenance workers; everything else is automated production.

The production line here can create any tech products from Blue Star, including the most advanced spaceships, as long as there are enough raw materials.

The Founder Two spaceship has been under construction for five years and is nearly complete; it is currently being fueled. It is still hybrid-powered, and inside the launch bay, there is a nuclear reactor room holding hundreds of tons of nuclear fuel, along with high-tech fixed fuel from Blue Star and three spirit stone compartments.

Different types of energy have different uses. This hybrid power is better suited for the ever-changing environment of the universe than a single power source.

The control panel of the spaceship shows that the fuel loading is over ninety percent complete. It will be finished in no more than half a day.

Meanwhile, dozens of engineering robots are doing the final checks on the spaceship, and the results are being sent in real-time to the control panel and the distant Blue Star Space Center.

"Lord Cao, all checks are fine. We expect to launch in twelve hours."

"Then let’s launch."

Cao Wang nodded. Long ago, he was really looking forward to the launch of such a spaceship, but now he felt no excitement because he had seen so many launches. Cao Wang had been involved with hundreds of spacecraft launches.

Twelve hours later, the rocket launched the Founder Two spaceship into the sky. This launch method is quite traditional; they actually have more ways to do it, like using certain robots to carry it up.

When the spaceship reached space, it began to accelerate. From the moment the engine started, the speed climbed sharply. The pull of celestial bodies was nothing; even the gravity of star systems could not stop the spaceship’s advance.

The spaceship quickly reached twenty thousand Mach, and at this speed, it was heading towards New Hope Planet.

At a speed of twenty thousand Mach, it could fly over twenty million kilometers in just one hour. The speed was so fast that even a cultivator at the Tao Achieving level could only watch in amazement.

"Beep beep, alarm alert!"

"System error, system error."

"System self-protection mechanism activated…"

However, two hours later, inside the flying ship Founder Two, the control panel suddenly rang with an alarm. A robotic operator froze in place and became unresponsive.

The system checked several times but couldn’t fix the error. The system had to activate its self-protection mechanism, completely slowing down the ship’s speed and starting the secondary system to direct the engineering robots inside the ship to perform repairs.

"What happened? Why is the control system malfunctioning?"

"Is it a computer virus?"

"What is happening with the testing personnel? Pull up the testing logs."

In the Blue Star’s space center, things were in chaos. Cao Wang, who had just gone to rest, returned and shouted loudly at everyone.

After a flurry of hurried checks, one worker said, "Sir, we have checked everything, and there are no problems."

"Sir, look at this; this is the construction log, and this is the inspection log, both are fine."

"It can’t possibly be a computer virus…"

"Sir, the inspection report from the engineering robot on the spaceship is also complete. The spaceship is fine; the problem is with the artificial intelligence control system."

Soon, the engineering robot on the spaceship also provided a report; everything was normal, the hardware was fine, so the problem must be with the software.

"Sir, the control software on Founder Two is our mainstream control software, and it has been used hundreds of times on spaceships. This is the first time it has failed."

"Are you saying that the software is also fine?"

"I would bet my life that the software is fine."

The software engineer quickly said, "They are really being wronged. Their system is a mature one and has been checked many times before. How could there be a problem?"

"There is nothing wrong with the hardware or software. Tell me, what is happening?"

"Also, what is the emergency plan, and how do we deal with this now?"

Cao Wang shouted again. As a leader, he rarely got involved in specific tasks anymore; he left those for others and focused on the big picture.

"Sir, in this situation, we may have to restart."

"Will restarting the system solve it?"

"I can’t guarantee that. Besides that, we have tried everything else. If it doesn’t solve the problem, we will have to use the backup system and energy to return the spaceship to Cape VII."

"Go handle it immediately."

Cao Wang waved his hand and did not say much more. This spaceship is very important, but there is nothing that could cause them a huge loss. Even if they have to fly back to Cape VII for a major check-up, it would only cost them some money.

"Beep beep…"

One minute later, Cao Wang’s watch made a sound. He looked at it and answered the video call on his watch.

"Ancestor Lin, Ancestor Cao."

"Cao Wang, bring Founder Two back."

"Ancestor, you received the message so quickly?"

"Don’t ask too much. Once you arrive at Cape VII, use the teleportation array to send it to Lunar Base. Remember to use the active storage space, not the storage tool. I will supervise the whole process."

"Yes, Ancestor."

"Just like that."

Soon, the video call ended. Cao Wang felt a bit confused, but he didn’t think too much. Since the Ancestor said so, he would just do it.

·········

"You said, how did it do that?"

"I don’t know. I just want to know, is flying fifty million kilometers beyond Cape VII its limit?"

"It should be. Otherwise, there is no reason to stop us."

"What do you think we should do? We are trapped, and our last hope is gone."

Cao Ying looked gloomy, filled with unexplainable sadness. Lin Jiang patted her shoulder to comfort her.

"Since we are here, let’s find peace. Don’t be too hopeless. As long as we are alive, there is always hope."

"With you by my side, even if I die, I am not afraid."

"Yes, I feel the same."

"Then let’s go back."

"It’s almost time; we’ll be back tomorrow."

Lin Jiang nodded. They quickly returned. The Founder Two’s spaceship had activated its backup system and raced back.

Three days later, the spaceship arrived at Lunar Base, but only stayed for an hour before being sent back to Cape VII Space Base for a thorough check.

After checking for half a month and confirming everything was fine, it launched again. This time, the spaceship ran smoothly and took two hundred years to reach the New Hope Planet area.

Lin Jiang never brought up the matter again, as if it had never happened.

Three months later, Lin Jiang and Cao Ying began traveling around the world, visiting every place, even the Fangzhang Continent occupied by the demon race, and they ventured deep into the heart of the demon race’s territory.

·······

Yun River, Branch of the Spiritual Energy Research Institute

"Liang Long, do you really want to decline the director position? The former director highly recommended you for his role!"

The dean said to Liang Long. After returning from Haigang City, he had gained more experience. So, after a few years, he decided to promote Liang Long from deputy director to director. But unexpectedly, Liang Long refused.

"Dean, the director’s position comes with too many responsibilities. Right now, I only want to focus on my research. I really can’t take it unless I improve myself and create a clone."

"Since you say that, I won’t persuade you anymore. But by refusing this time, you might have fewer chances to enter a management role in the future."

"Everyone has their own goals, Dean. Please don’t try to convince me. I need to go back to my experiments now."

"Oh, fine, fine, you can go."

"Thank you, Dean."

Liang Long cupped his hands in respect and left the dean’s office. He naturally returned to his own area, not caring at all about the whispers of others.

He was someone who had moved beyond petty interests. He truly felt no desire for power struggles; he didn’t need it at all. What he was interested in now was Huaxia’s science and technology.

Now he is not just studying and researching in his own field; he hopes to blossom in many areas. If he wants to be a perfect being, he must be perfect everywhere. It does not matter how strong one field is.