Jianghe City.
A rural courtyard, underground control center.
[The Skyfall Strategic Strike System has been deployed.]
[Countdown to launch initiated.]
[180, 179…]
The voice of the artificial intelligence echoed through the control center's hall, lending an air of solemnity.
Su Wu gazed at the countdown on the screen, his expression calm yet tinged with caution.
In truth, the countdown didn't need to be this long. Within the weapon systems of the Eden Satellite, the final activation sequence could be completed in as little as 30 seconds. The 180-second countdown represented the maximum allowable time after the weapon entered its final stage. Exceeding this time would necessitate either an immediate launch or a forced termination.
The reason for such a lengthy countdown lay in Su Wu's intentions. His goal was never to actually resort to military force. Given the current state of technology in the world, while the defenses of a regional capital might not fully withstand a space-based strike, it was unlikely that the entire capital would be completely obliterated. At most, it would suffer severe damage while retaining a significant military presence.
If it came to that, Su Wu would face the wrath and retaliation not only from the entire Eastern Continent but also from higher levels of the federal government. He would be dragged into a protracted, high-intensity war of attrition, which did not align with his core interests. Even if he won, the benefits would be minimal, and the consequences of losing would be far worse. Thus, by giving the other side sufficient time to react, he aimed to achieve deterrence rather than provoke an actual war.
When the countdown reached 127 seconds, Su Wu received a special communication request. The Eastern Continent government was attempting to contact him via the federal satellite network. Without delay, Su Wu accepted the call.
"This is Yi Nengjing, Governor of the Eastern Continent. Your sudden, unannounced attack—are you planning to overthrow the federation?" The voice on the other end was cold and hard, brimming with anger and dissatisfaction.
"My apologies," Su Wu replied courteously, though his tone remained firm. "Originally, our target was merely to deal with the gangs in Steel City. However, before we could act, we received intelligence that the Eastern Continent government intended to label us as a rebel force. We had no choice but to strike first."
Yi Nengjing paused for a moment, his tone softening slightly. "Could your intelligence be mistaken? I haven't received any proposals for large-scale military action recently."
"No mistake," Su Wu stated directly. "Eastern Continent Councilor Ge Zheng, during yesterday's secondary city management meeting, proposed that the influence of Jianghe City's civilian forces posed a threat to Steel City's security and suggested that the Eastern Continent government eradicate them. This proposal, barring any unforeseen circumstances, should already be on your desk in written form."
Su Wu had pinpointed the exact source of the information. Regardless of how rapidly Jianghe City had developed after the apocalypse, even with its population surging toward half a billion, in the federal records, it remained a remote, small city. When it came to civilian forces in such a city, a councilor like Ge Zheng, in theory, had the authority to label them as a rebel force without needing Yi Nengjing's approval. And according to the consistent practices of the federation and the Eastern Continent government, once such a decision was made, it was irreversible, regardless of the consequences.
"Ge Zheng!" Yi Nengjing couldn't help but curse. As the head of the Eastern Continent, he was well aware of the nature of the officials under his jurisdiction. It was clear that the councilor had been bribed to eliminate a rival. However, neither he nor Yi Nengjing had anticipated that the civilian forces of Jianghe City, which they had previously overlooked, possessed the military capability to directly threaten the safety of the Eastern Continent capital. This fundamentally changed the nature of the situation.
After calming himself, Yi Nengjing continued, "Clearly, this is a misunderstanding. Our current development focus in the Eastern Continent is entirely on the Western Wasteland Plateau. We have no intention of interfering in local disputes in Steel City. As for Councilor Ge Zheng, I will deal with him afterward and give your side a proper explanation. Please believe that his stance does not represent the Eastern Continent government."
At this point, Yi Nengjing had no desire to prolong the conversation. Through the call, he could clearly hear the countdown prompts on Su Wu's end, each beep like a hammer blow, exacerbating his growing frustration. Even if it meant damaging the Eastern Continent government's dignity and making him, as its leader, feel somewhat humiliated, he wanted to swiftly end this unforeseen disaster.
"I trust Governor Yi's promise," Su Wu said. "As civilians, we merely wish to band together to survive this catastrophe. We have no intention of provoking the Eastern Continent government or the federation. Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, that's for the best."
Su Wu didn't press Yi Nengjing further, instead smoothly aligning his words with the governor's. "Additionally, if Governor Yi has the time, you might want to take a look at our internet and television news. There are many interesting things there. For example, bio-organ printing technology capable of treating cancer and extending lifespan. I believe this could be of some help to the residents of the Eastern Continent capital."
In truth, Yi Nengjing had already heard of the bio-printer, a groundbreaking technology that surpassed pre-apocalypse medical science. However, by bringing it up explicitly, Su Wu was subtly issuing a warning. He was demonstrating that he possessed scientific research capabilities on par with pre-apocalypse levels, and that his possession of space-based weapons was no accident. He had the ability to handle the entire process from research and development to manufacturing and deployment.
Raw military power could only deter temporarily. Even now, Su Wu, through the Eden Satellite's reconnaissance equipment, had detected several federal armed satellites adjusting their orbits, subtly placing the Eden Satellite under routine surveillance. It was foreseeable that if Su Wu were to act out of line again, the result would no longer be a diplomatic concession but a swift and decisive federal strike.
However, if Su Wu, under the protection of formidable military power, could also demonstrate that he possessed top-tier scientific research teams and a vast population, then the tables would turn. The federation would have to carefully consider whether they could withstand Su Wu's retaliation if they failed to eliminate him in one fell swoop. This delicate mindset mirrored Su Wu's current approach toward the Eastern Continent capital—choosing deterrence over actual war.
After the two sides reached an agreement, the Eden Satellite's countdown was halted at the final 20 seconds. The beam that had pierced the clouds gradually dimmed until it disappeared without a trace. In the dark expanse of space, 30,000 kilometers above Earth, the titanium-tungsten alloy warhead at the center of the Eden Satellite still faintly glowed. The energy stored within it would naturally dissipate over the next 40 hours, returning everything to its original state. During this time, it could not be reactivated.
Of course, this had no impact on Su Wu. Even if the strike ultimately went unexecuted, the Eden Satellite's energy reserves had been significantly depleted after activating the tractor beam. It would take at least 20 days of recharging via solar panels to restore its energy to 100%, during which time Su Wu would be unable to use the Skyfall Strategic Strike System again.
"The cost is heavy," Su Wu remarked, "but in exchange for permission to occupy Steel City, it's not bad."
He stood up and walked to the side of the metal platform, gazing at the projected map of Steel City. The negotiations with the Eastern Continent government had taken only a few minutes. The situation there remained unchanged from before. Robot armies were deployed across the hills, ready and waiting for Su Wu's final command to attack.
Steel City.
Southern District Joint Command Center.
Liu Qing surveyed his surroundings. The command hall, converted from an underground plaza, was now filled with hundreds of people. They came from various factions within Steel City—some from the top-tier factions controlling entire army groups, others from elite factions with only a few thousand members but holding unique technologies. Without exception, they were all now under Liu Qing's command.
"Commander Liu, Jianghe City has already amassed its forces and advanced to the Jingde Shopping District. They could breach our first line of defense at any moment. Are you confident you can hold it?" A figure appeared on the display in front of the command platform, addressing Liu Qing.
"Chairman Qin, our combined forces are terrifyingly strong. Not only do you possess cutting-edge military weapons, but other factions also have their own unique advantages. Some even have power armor and Annihilation-Class Main Battle Tanks. With this setup, we could even take on the Eastern Continent capital. I can't find a reason for us to lose."
Liu Qing couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion as he looked at the figure on the screen—someone he had once looked up to. He had once believed that this person would eventually become the great unifier of Steel City. But now, as the commander of the joint forces tasked with repelling the invasion, with the authority to mobilize the various armed forces provided by the major factions, he realized that Steel City harbored many powerful factions no less formidable than the Chairman. The idea that the Chairman would inevitably dominate Steel City now seemed laughably naive.
"Then I'll leave it to you," Chairman Qin said with a hint of restraint, nodding at Liu Qing. To Liu Qing, who had now seen through the Chairman's facade, the gesture seemed almost… humble. It gave him the sense that so-called great figures were, after all, nothing special.
Ending the call, Liu Qing stood up and looked out at the front lines where the two sides were about to clash. A surge of ambition and pride welled up within him. "Pass the order: everyone, prepare for battle. Tonight, I'll personally host a victory banquet."
On the snow-covered ground, boom! Dozens of blazing trails of light rose from behind the spider robots scattered across the hills, arcing into Steel City's defenses. Thus began the much-anticipated Steel City Offensive and Defensive Battle. However, apart from a handful of the Eastern Continent's top figures, no one knew that the outcome of this war, which had just begun without a single casualty, had already been decided.
The two sides were not evenly matched opponents. This was a battle between a lion and a rabbit.
[Reconnaissance drone squadrons launched.]
[Building reconnaissance network.]
[Marking enemy targets.]
[Combat drone swarms take off, bombing enemy armored units.]
[Spider robot armies disperse formations, advancing at full speed.]
[Heavy Main Battle Spider Robots' main cannons begin charging.]
[Locking onto the following high-firepower points—]
As the battle unfolded, an immense flow of data circulated among the hundreds of reconnaissance drones hovering above the battlefield, eventually converging at the control center in Jianghe City, where the artificial intelligence analyzed and made decisions.
Within the first 10 seconds of the war, while the defending Steel City coalition forces had yet to fully engage, Su Wu's AI had already locked onto tens of thousands of coalition soldiers, watchtowers, logistics hubs, and armored units on the front lines. It directed the robot armies to launch precise attacks.
Rockets, electromagnetic cannons, and the most numerous electromagnetic rifles wove a vast, overwhelming web of firepower in the shortest possible time, raining down hundreds of thousands, even millions, of bullets and bombs onto the enemy's positions. In that instant, thousands of coalition soldiers who had failed to take cover fell in droves. All heavy firepower points equipped with machine guns and artillery simultaneously erupted in violent explosions. Concrete bunkers and trenches dug into the ice and soil offered no protection whatsoever, shattering into pieces under the bombardment of metallic hydrogen bombs.
By the 20th second of the war, apart from a few elite soldiers hidden within armored vehicles or wearing power armor and exoskeleton suits, the first line of defense painstakingly constructed by the Steel City coalition forces was virtually devoid of life. These survivors, however, failed to make much of an impact. As the main spider robot armies, machine dog auxiliary forces, and swarms of over 10,000 combat drones breached the defenses, they were soon engulfed in a storm of firepower.
Seven minutes into the war, the AI reported to Su Wu that the front-line forces had completely occupied the first line of defense. The actual combat time had been less than half a minute; most of the time had been spent on movement. Despite Su Wu's decision to launch the war during relatively favorable weather conditions, the environment—with an average temperature of -60°C—remained a significant obstacle for both the Steel City coalition forces and Su Wu's spider robot armies.
(End of Chapter)