Chapter 100 Planetary Engine Ignition
Lu Mingfei was eating with his head down. The noise from the cafeteria and the aroma of food mixed together. The voices of people around him were intermittent, echoing in his ears like background noise. Just as he put a mouthful of rice into his mouth, Xu Yanbo strode over, his voice filled with considerable anxiety.
"Brother Lu, things are really chaotic out there right now. Many Internet devices have been attacked by viruses, and even the root servers have been attacked. The United Government has begun shutting down the global network one after another..."
"Brother Lu, what should we do if there is no internet in the future? We won't have to rely on telegrams to communicate, right?"
Xu Yanbo pulled out a chair and sat down opposite Lu Mingfei. He spoke very quickly, with a hint of anxiety in his words.
But Lu Mingfei did not respond to him. Instead, he stared quietly at the TV hanging on the wall of the cafeteria. The news on the screen was reporting a shocking news. The deafening explosion and tearing image fragments flashed by, attracting his attention.
"On the eve of the first hearing on the space elevator attack, two unmanned vehicles carrying suspects were attacked and lost control and crashed into the sea, killing all six suspects and eight escort personnel on board."
Hearing this, Lu Mingfei frowned and the chopsticks in his hand stopped in mid-air. These six suspects were exactly the targets they had been working hard to capture these days, but they did not expect that they would meet with an accident just after being handed over.
"Brother Lu, tonight that website called Pilipala is going to hold a large VTuber graduation event to send them out of the earth. Brother Lu, do you want to watch it together?" Xu Yanbo obviously didn't notice Lu Mingfei's silence and continued to talk excitedly, "They will send the data of those VTubers into the depths of the sky in the form of electromagnetic waves. Today is the last chance. The website will be closed tomorrow."
"VTuber? Virtual idol?" Lu Mingfei came back to his senses, a hint of helplessness flashed in his eyes. He turned his head to look at Xu Yanbo's expectant expression, and couldn't help but teasing, "Is it because you have watched too many virtual idols that you can't find a girlfriend?"
According to Lu Mingfei's observation over such a long period of time, Xu Yanbo has not found a girlfriend either because his job is dangerous or because he is obsessed with virtual idols.
Today's young people, including Xu Yanbo, place their emotions and hopes in the virtual world, as if it is their only safe haven. The cruelty of reality makes them seek comfort in the two-dimensional world, but can it really bring them hope? Who can the rise of virtual idols really save?
"Today is the last time, this website will be closed tomorrow..." Xu Yanbo wanted to say something when another person sat down next to them.
"Hey, Liu Peiqiang, you've forgotten your brothers now that you have a woman!" Xu Yanbo smiled and elbowed Liu Peiqiang who had just sat down, his tone filled with familiar mockery.
"No, I'm busy with training. I just came here as soon as I had time." Liu Peiqiang explained quickly, but his erratic eyes made people question what he said.
Lu Mingfei looked at Liu Peiqiang's obviously shy expression and smiled, "How are things going with Duoduo recently?"
"I haven't confessed yet..." Liu Peiqiang's face turned slightly red, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise. Although he tried hard to hide the little pride in his heart, he couldn't suppress it.
Young people are always like this. When they talk about the person they like, they always show such an unguarded expression.
The atmosphere instantly became a little more relaxed, but Lu Mingfei's eyes still drifted towards the TV from time to time, and he could not erase the scene of the six suspects' deaths from his mind.
"The Ark has crashed, and the lunar base is full of people. After your training, do you plan to stay here or return to China for development?" Lu Mingfei turned the topic back to business, with a serious look in his eyes.
Liu Peiqiang and his colleagues came to the Gabon base in the first place to participate in the Ark Project and build the lunar engine for the lunar base. But now the Ark space station has crashed, and due to the urgency of the mission on the moon, senior astronauts have been sent there. These interns are now in a bit of an awkward position, and can only serve as reserve talents for future space programs.
"My master advised me to return to China for development, and I think I should fly a fighter jet. After all, that's all I know." Liu Peiqiang scratched his head and said, a little embarrassedly.
“It’s good to develop in China. After all, you have someone you like now. Moreover, you have made contributions some time ago and now you have the rank of captain. You also have your master’s connections, so your future will be smooth.” Lu Mingfei said.
"What about you, Brother Lu? Are you still planning to stay in the Ranger Unit? My master said that you are very good at flying fighter jets. Do you want to return to China and develop in the Air Force?" Liu Peiqiang asked back.
"Are you kidding? Who is your brother Lu? He is now the team leader of the security department of the Gabon base. If he makes a few more contributions, he will be promoted to the rank of major. This is much better than returning to China for development." Xu Yanbo interrupted from the side, his tone full of admiration for Lu Mingfei.
After passing the Ranger assessment, Lu Mingfei was awarded the rank of captain when he became the captain of a team. He performed well during the space elevator crisis and has also performed very well in recent missions to capture attackers.
If he was not too young, Lu Mingfei would have been promoted to the rank of major long ago. Although his rank did not rise, his position did, from commanding one ranger team to commanding three ranger teams, and his living quarters were also changed from a collective dormitory to a single dormitory.
Lu Mingfei didn't say anything. He looked through the glass of the cafeteria at the planetary engine that was still under construction in the distance. The huge project was being topped out, and the flickering lights reflected in the night sky, as if reminding him that time was running out.
"There are still three months left." Lu Mingfei whispered, with a hint of heaviness in his tone, "Three months later is when the planetary engine will be ignited. If the ignition fails by then, then there will be no point in saying anything now."
After hearing Lu Mingfei's words, Liu Peiqiang and Xu Yanbo fell silent at the same time. The noise in the cafeteria seemed to quiet down all of a sudden, leaving only the roar of machinery coming from the distance outside the window.
"Let's go, Xu Yanbo. Although there is no mission today, we still have to patrol. There must be no accidents in the next three months." Lu Mingfei retracted his gaze, stood up, patted Liu Peiqiang on the shoulder, and said with a smile: "Come on, I'm still looking forward to drinking at your wedding."
As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and left the cafeteria. Xu Yanbo immediately followed him, and their figures gradually disappeared into the night.
On the night patrol, the air was slightly moist, and the lights of the base cast long shadows on them. Lu Mingfei and Xu Yanbo silently patrolled the entire Gabon base, their footsteps echoing dully on the concrete. They did not return to the dormitory until late at night.
Since Lu Mingfei has a single dormitory, the two of them don’t live together now.
Lu Mingfei lay in bed and couldn't fall asleep for a while. He still had doubts whether the planetary engine could be ignited successfully. Suddenly, he remembered the live broadcast event organized by the website called Pilipala that Xu Yanbo mentioned in the restaurant.
Virtual idols, leaving the solar system, can these things really give people hope?
He picked up the VR device beside him and put it on his head. Since the door frame robot can be remotely controlled using VR, the superiors required everyone to be proficient in using VR and then issued a VR device to each ranger. It was also because of this VR device that Xu Yanbo was immersed in the gentle arms of the virtual idol and did not look for a girlfriend.
If Lu Mingfei had not traveled back to the time before World War I, he might have been very interested in the virtual idol, but now he rarely cares about these entertainment matters.
The screen in front of him began to light up. He opened the website that Xu Yanbo mentioned, and a virtual stage appeared in front of him. The live broadcast was coming to an end.
Those bizarre-looking virtual idols were saying their farewell words on the stage, bright lights shone on them, and the virtual audiences around the stage were waving their glow sticks wildly.
This scene forms a huge contrast with the real human crisis. People use the virtual world to escape reality, but the reality is so cruel that people cannot bear to look directly at it. No wonder so many people want to choose the digital life plan and the happy hundred years plan.
Countless comments began to appear on the screen in front of Lu Mingfei, and the only message in these comments was "There is no helium flash in the world, just leave the solar system."
There are various languages in it, a total of 133. There are million people watching this live broadcast. They are saying goodbye to the current virtual idols and looking forward to their own future.
Lu Mingfei stared at the virtual stage on the screen. The overflowing colors and cheerful background music on the screen seemed incompatible with the crisis in the outside world.
Those virtual idols who were about to "graduate" walked into the launch cabin one after another. Their figures gradually disappeared in the light and shadow of the stage, and the virtual audiences in the audience cheered and bid them farewell.
Lu Mingfei felt an absurd contrast. The million people on the Internet seemed to be partying. They held up comments like "There is no helium flash in the world as long as we leave the solar system", expressing their expectations for the future and even some kind of tragic determination, but the streets were full of people holding up signs in support of the Digital Life Plan.
The picture on the screen gradually transformed into the vastness of the universe. A virtual rocket was launched into space, carrying the "consciousness" of those digital idols, as if it had really left the solar system and was heading towards the endless starry sky.
But can we really leave the solar system? Lu Mingfei silently took off the VR device, his eyes a little blurry. He was the only one in the room, surrounded by silence, and all the noise from the outside world seemed to be isolated outside this door.
His thoughts drifted back to the news just now. The escorted suspects were attacked, and six suspects and eight escorts were killed. The conspiracy behind this was obviously not over, and the power of the Digital Life Faction was still surging in secret.
The day for the planetary engine ignition is getting closer, and Lu Mingfei knows that any tiny mistake may lead to irreversible consequences.
It was late at night, but his heart was not at peace. He closed his eyes and the fire when the space elevator crashed appeared in his mind.
In the darkness, he once again recalled the conversation that took place during the day.
"You can't find a girlfriend because you watch this too much."
Xu Yanbo's smile appeared in front of him, but at this moment, that smile seemed particularly powerless. Those young people use virtual idols to fill the emotional emptiness and pin their hopes on something illusory. Is this really reliable?
Can the planetary engine really succeed? What will happen after leaving the solar system? Can humans really escape this unprecedented catastrophe?
But now the success or failure of the planetary engine concerns the fate of mankind. The world is on the brink of collapse and there is almost no way out.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Lu Mingfei sat up suddenly, wondering who it could be at this time. He walked to the door, opened it, and saw Xu Yanbo's anxious face.
"Brother Lu, something bad has happened! We have just received a new order and we have to set off immediately!" Xu Yanbo's voice was a little nervous, as if something big had happened.
Lu Mingfei frowned slightly, and his fatigue was instantly suppressed. He grabbed the combat uniform on the table and put it on quickly.
"what happened?"
"I don't know the details, I just know it's related to the suspects we escorted before." Xu Yanbo took a breath, "The higher-ups asked us to investigate, the deaths of those suspects are not that simple."
"Let's go." Lu Mingfei didn't say anything else and quickly followed Xu Yanbo out of the dormitory.
Outside, the armored vehicle's engine had been started and was waiting for them. Under the moonlight, Lu Mingfei took a deep breath and stepped into the vehicle steadily and quickly.
…………
Three months later
During this period, the Gabon base almost never had a moment of peace. Another attack came quietly, and intensive firepower and deafening explosions became daily routine. However, with the tenacious resistance of Lu Mingfei, the Ranger Squad, and the soldiers at the base, they repelled the invading enemies time and time again.
Every battle was like a fully drawn string. If you relax a little, it might break. However, they succeeded and captured batch after batch of members of the Digital Life Sect.
"Brother Lu, it is said that the organization is called 'Noens', but they are buried too deep, so we only know their name for now." Xu Yanbo walked out of the interrogation room, with a hint of vigilance in his tired eyes. Obviously, he couldn't completely relax.
Lu Mingfei stood outside the interrogation room and silently lit a cigarette. The smoke rose in the cold air. He squinted his eyes and stared at the huge planetary engine in the distance, with complicated emotions surging in his heart.
Three months of fighting and three months of defense, the steel behemoth before them carried all their hopes and efforts.
"Today is the day when the planetary engine is ignited, right?" He held the cigarette between his lips, his voice low, as if he was talking to himself.
"First ignite the lunar engine. If successful, then ignite the planetary engine." Xu Yanbo followed Lu Mingfei's gaze and looked up at the sky.
The moon is faintly visible, hanging in the deep blue night sky, quiet and cold. However, beneath that tranquility lies a tremendous power, and an unprecedented experiment in human history is about to begin.
As they were watching, Xu Yanbo suddenly shouted, "Look, Brother Lu! The moon is bright!"
Lu Mingfei looked up and saw a faint light suddenly appear above the moon. The light seemed small and fragile in the endless darkness, like a lost meteor. The light only lasted for a moment before quickly going out.
The sound of the broadcast suddenly broke the silence in the base, resounding in all directions, awakening everyone who was immersed in tension. The workers put down their tools one after another, and the soldiers stopped patrolling. Everyone went outside or stood by the window, looking up at the distant sky, their heartbeats accelerating, anticipation and tension intertwined.
"The test ignition of the Lunar No. engine was completed, and the moon successfully produced an angular displacement of nanoarcseconds, proving that the moon can be pushed to a critical position within years to lift the gravitational blockade on the earth. Based on this achievement, if the Earth No. planetary engine is successfully tested, the two experiments will perfectly verify the feasibility of the Mountain Moving Plan, bring real hope to all mankind, and resolve the solar crisis."
Every word in the broadcast was like a heavy hammer, striking people's hearts. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the huge planetary engine in the distance. It stood on the horizon, its steel body glowing coldly in the moonlight.
"Ten, nine, eight, seven..."
The countdown started, the voice on the radio echoed again and again, the air in the base seemed to begin to solidify, people's heartbeats and breathing gradually synchronized, sweat began to appear on their palms, and their nerves were tense.
Lu Mingfei's hands were also shaking slightly, the cigarette was burning between his fingers, but he forgot to smoke it. His eyes were fixed on the engine in the distance, and the only sound in his ears was the countdown.
"Three, two, one, light the fire!"
As soon as the words fell, a deafening roar suddenly exploded, and the planetary engine in the distance spewed out smoke that covered the sky. The thick black cloud spread madly in all directions like a ferocious beast.
The ground of the Gabon base began to tremble. Glass shattered, street lights exploded, metal supports were bent, and dust flew in the air, as if the end of the world had come.
"Pah, pah, pah! Brother Lu, why is there no movement? Did you fail?" Xu Yanbo's mouth was full of sand and dust. He coughed desperately and spit out the ashes in his mouth, his eyes filled with uneasiness and anxiety.
Lu Mingfei did not answer. He stared at the engine in the distance without blinking. His heart seemed to have stopped beating. The noise around him faded away. The world was so quiet that only the huge engine was left standing between heaven and earth.
Suddenly, a dazzling blue beam of light shot up from the sky, as if it was going to tear the sky apart. The beam of light went straight through the clouds and was tightly connected to the ground, like a god descending, exuding suffocating power.
"It's... It's... It's... It's!!!" Xu Yanbo was stunned for a moment, unable to believe the facts before his eyes, and then, his face burst into wild cheers. He excitedly rushed to Lu Mingfei, hugged him, and shouted loudly.
Lu Mingfei's shoulders were hurt by his hug, but he smiled. The smile slowly spread from the corners of his mouth, and his eyes were full of excitement that could not be concealed.
The atmosphere around the base was boiling at this moment. Countless people were shouting, cheering, and hugging each other. Tears and laughter were intertwined. All the depression and pain were released at this moment.
The earth trembled slightly under the illumination of the beam of light, and planetary engine No. 1 was ignited successfully.
At this moment, not only the Gabon base, but people all over the world are cheering for this. Every person in front of the screen, every city, and every piece of land are injected with new hope at this moment. Human beings, this race that has experienced many vicissitudes, finally see a ray of light at this moment.
Lu Mingfei stood in the crowd, looking at the beam of light that pierced through the sky and earth in the distance. His eyes gradually softened, but he knew in his heart that this was only the beginning and the real test was still to come.
(End of this chapter)
