Chapter 423

Chapter 423: The Door

Anyone who has seen Lin Mo’s detailed information knows that this pilot is far more than just a fighter ace. The Aerospace Department possesses higher levels of confidentiality than the air force, comparable to the Second Artillery Corps, and naturally, they can access the classified information of registered fighter aces.

At first glance, number one looks just like a weasel, causing trouble wherever he goes, harboring the wrath of the top fighter jet manufacturer, the Lockheed family. If it weren’t for military protection and security department oversight, he would have lost his life long ago.

However, digging deeper reveals a different story. There’s a retired expert from the 611 Institute, recognized as a rising star in the aviation field. It’s worth noting that the aviation sector could very well poach talent from the aerospace domain; the connections he has are impressive—far beyond what a mere pilot can possess.

Additionally, he maintains good relationships with major domestic aerospace manufacturers and has professional dealings with them. Recently, he has also associated with a newly established fighter jet design and production company, reportedly linked to a prominent family, and there’s rumor he has acquired a small stake in the business.

With each layer of background unfurling, the pilot’s value becomes quite different; he seems to be an air combat ace in the guise of an aviation expert or vice versa.

Regardless, the outcome is largely the same. He qualifies as a dark horse among this batch of astronaut candidates, though he appears quite low-key. Even though he has significant strengths, being a food lover isn’t exactly a standout feature; his notable talents are powerful spatial awareness and attention allocation ability, which seem to mark him as a natural Air Knight.

Lin Mo crouches beside the wreckage of the destroyed six-legged alien robot. In the eyes of the leaders at the Fifth Aerospace Training Center, he is clearly a technical expert with considerable authority, beneficial for gathering crucial information and intelligence right away.

After all, not only does he design fighter jets, but he also can build them himself—truly formidable.

In terms of mechanical technology, there might be very few young people in the training center who can surpass this number one.

Thus, the training center is not in a hurry to recover the wreckage for documentation in anticipation of the incoming investigation team, allowing Lin Mo to continue his disassembly and analysis.

As for which parts may be missing, it remains unknown.

“Nothing special discovered; this robot is constructed very simply, using ordinary materials, which will lose precision after a period of time—it’s a disposable item, essentially cannon fodder. All the electronic components inside have been stripped of their identifiers; even the electrical parameters are blank, and there’s a main control core processor that seems to belong to a private research institute. Although this specialized chip is powerful, its application range is narrow, and the cost is enormous. The only highlight is the operating system, but the memory storage is damaged, and it apparently has a self-destruct mechanism. I can’t access the system code. Did they undertake this operation thinking the gains would outweigh their costs? That’s quite unusual!”

As Lin Mo responds, he picks up some components, planning to take them back as toys for the Gold Giant Dragon.

“Number one, you don’t need to concern yourself with the aftermath; just assist in the analysis.”

Major General Sun ponders for a moment, not intending to involve Lin Mo further. Under normal circumstances, he would treat Lin Mo like a guest of honor, entrusting him with significant technical appraisal responsibilities. However, right now, that’s not possible.

The selection process must continue; it cannot be delayed under any circumstances, as it signifies the preservation of China’s aerospace legacy. Even if he himself were delayed, he would never allow any factor to interfere with this selection.

Major General Sun carries his own grievances.

Furthermore, Lin Mo holds the status of an astronaut candidate, and this qualification is of utmost importance for a young pilot, meaning the honor of a meteoric rise.

The battle ends after fifteen minutes, with both sides employing high-tech weapons, causing massive damage and disruption. As China’s strategic aerospace department, this incident is tightly sealed.

The Fifth Aerospace Training Center is not only extensive in area but also located in a remote place, making it difficult for events to be known to the outside world. Even if the media catches wind of something, the center’s official line is that they are conducting safety exercises.

In the mere twenty minutes of combat, the guard battalion has lost twelve men, with over one hundred injured, despite special protective gear that still cannot provide comprehensive defense against powerful weapons.

The training center’s combat mechanical soldiers suffered casualty rates nearly one-to-one, with fifteen out of twenty-two tracked battle robots destroyed. The robots’ tenacity and aggressive assaults have led to high destruction rates, ultimately resulting in the destruction of seventeen six-legged alien robots, plus another thirteen taken out by the guard soldiers, totaling thirty completely disabled invading robots.

Aside from the six-legged robots, several other types of robots were discovered, resembling mechanical spiders the size of cats or dogs. Although they lacked offensive and defensive capabilities, they played a significant role in damaging and disrupting various exposed electronic devices and sensors.

From the onset, the malfunction of the monitoring system and the invasion of the computer center were entirely due to these small creatures, and soldiers from the guard battalion worked hard to eliminate them all.

“How is the underground hangar? Has it been opened?” Major General Sun and several other high-ranking leaders from the training center, accompanied by elite guards from the battalion, descended to a hidden area fifty meters below the center.

They entered the underground via a long sloped elevator, passing through a lengthy corridor to reach a spacious hall of about a thousand square meters. They stopped in front of a ten-meter-high steel door.

The air still held the stench of burnt electronics, with some defensive weapons either malfunctioning or destroyed. Bloodstains, metal scraps, and engineering plastic remnants remained visible on the ground, suggesting that a fierce battle had taken place here as well.

Around four to five destroyed six-legged alien robots lay on the ground, appearing slightly larger than those outside. They are equipped with special composite armor that covers their entire bodies, resembling armored beetles.

Tracks of the tracked robots are evident on the ground, and about one and a half meters off the floor beside the tall special alloy impact-proof steel door, there was once a biometric verifier that now sits exposed, the panel ripped apart to reveal wires and fibers.

“Report: The invading robots ultimately failed to open this last door. However, it was dangerously close. They forcefully breached the system using brute strength and had clearly prepared in advance, using mechanical spiders as signal relays for remote control in this signal-jamming location. I must admit, I’m somewhat impressed by the enemy’s creativity to conceive such a plan.”

A middle-aged man with graying hair, dressed in a camouflage uniform, and showing signs of weariness spoke, his pale complexion indicating that he had spent years stationed in this dim underground, nearly exhausting his youth here.

The special alloy impact-proof steel door bore numerous marks of attack—acid corrosion, deep cuts from lasers, and signs of heavy armor-piercing weapon strikes at suspected bearing joints, showcasing the intense physical and technological assaults it had endured in a short period. However, it remained steadfast, upholding its duty.

No matter whether attacks were made through electronic signal disruption, deception, or explosive force, this ten-meter door stood firm and was unable to be breached, resulting in a failed effort from these elite six-legged robots.

“Major Jin, please open the door. I hope everything inside remains intact.”

A lieutenant general looked at the numerous scars on the steel door and couldn’t help but suck in a breath. Compared to what might be inside this door, the losses outside almost seem trivial.

“Yes, please wait. The repair verification device requires at least a day to function. However, we can use the emergency device now to open this door using the reserve secret access system.”

Major Jin seemed well-prepared and took out two small devices from his waist, connecting them to the door’s verification machine with wires, data cables, and optical fibers.

Connecting the optical fiber took a bit more effort. After making the proper connections, both devices appeared to work in parallel, each having a keyhole on top.

Major Jin exchanged nods with another person stationed in this underground area, and they each produced a uniquely shaped key. Just as they were about to insert the keys into the slots, Major Jin’s expression suddenly changed, and he stuttered, “W-what? This door is open? These robots have already hacked the opening system? Why isn’t the door opened? It was clearly powered. Is there a malfunction?”

“Oh? Are you sure this door hasn’t been opened?”

The other person questioned, uncertainty flickering across his face. The security strength of this final door had proven unbreakable, yet no fortress can avoid being breached from weak points within. If the door’s control system has been infiltrated, then its invulnerability is rendered meaningless.

The lieutenant general and Major General Sun exchanged glances and gestured to the soldiers of the guard battalion behind them. Two squads of soldiers stepped out, quickly forming several combat groups, loading their weapons and aiming their guns at the door.

From a corner of the hall, two tracked combat robots quietly crept out, taking positions for optimal support fire.

This was a precautionary measure to prevent anyone from entering prematurely.

“I’m confident! The door is fitted with a mechanical opening mechanism that does not rely on computers or chips, using physical connections instead. It is immune to electromagnetic interference. The opening or closing process will trigger an alert; whether opened correctly or by brute force, as long as the door moves, it will signal.”