Chapter 543
, Level 2? Not the atmosphere!
The capital city, in its western suburbs!
A black Hongqi sedan silently entered a heavily guarded underground location.
“Grandpa, if Mr. Su finds out that we’re secretly spying on him from behind, wouldn’t that be a bit inappropriate?” As soon as they got out of the car, Huang Feng walked up to Grandpa Xiao and said in a low voice, with a hint of concern on his face.
Upon hearing this, Old Master Xiao glared at him and snorted irritably, "Since when did you become one with that brat Su Chen? You're even thinking about him now?"
"And what does 'peeping' mean? What do you think that brat is up to? He's smarter than you think. From the very beginning, that brat Su Chen knew that when he was using the Beidou system, someone would be watching him from behind the scenes."
There was one more thing that Old Master Xiao didn't say: he came in person this time to better protect Su Chen.
If this kid does something earth-shattering on Zheng Island, the Beidou system testing and management center will receive the corresponding data and testing videos immediately.
If he doesn't show up, the management center will definitely report it to higher authorities immediately, and who knows how many people will be drawn to that.
This can be seen as him indirectly putting Su Chen, that brat, in check.
Upon hearing this, Huang Feng opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but he didn't know what to say. It seemed that what the old man said was correct; his mind was indeed not as quick as Su Chen's.
Although he hadn't known Su Chen for long, the two had a good relationship, which was one of the reasons why he risked being reprimanded to stand up for Su Chen.
"Alright, stop standing there!" Old Master Xiao glanced at him, his tone softening. "Go see what surprise that kid has prepared for this old man!"
The two quickly passed through the last security checkpoint and entered the brightly lit, technologically advanced main control center hall.
Inside the hall, a huge circular screen is displaying complex airspace maps and satellite orbit data streams.
Upon seeing Mr. Xiao's arrival, several middle-aged men dressed in white coats, who were clearly the heads of the control center, quickly stepped forward to greet him respectfully.
Grandpa Xiao waved his hand, his sharp gaze sweeping across the screen, and asked in a deep voice, "What's the current situation? Did that kid really use two Beidou satellites?"
A middle-aged man in a white coat, responsible for the operation of the BeiDou system, immediately stepped forward and respectfully reported: "Yes, sir! Twenty minutes ago, Mr. Su contacted the control center directly through a first-level encrypted channel and requested two high-orbit satellites. The data link has been established, and the satellites are currently maneuvering their orbits. It is expected to be completed in fifteen minutes!"
As soon as the person in charge finished speaking, two dots representing satellites appeared on the large screen, subtly adjusting their positions, and a clear data stream indicator pointed to Zheng Island on the coast of the Bohai Sea.
"You brat, let me see what surprise you've prepared!" Old Master Xiao paused, his tone carrying an unquestionable command: "Access the real-time monitoring screen and data stream, activate the highest privileges!"
"Yes!"
Although the technicians were all shocked when they heard about the highest level of access, their professional competence left them no room for doubt.
The technicians quickly got to work, and soon a screen appeared on the main screen, displaying a real-time image generated by the fusion of Beidou high-definition satellite remote sensing and data link – the No. 1 assembly workshop in the Zhengdao Park!
Grandpa Xiao stared at the assembly workshop on the screen, muttering to himself, "I wonder if that brat Su Chen will really cause trouble this time?!"
There was nothing he could do; Su Chen's surprises to him before had always been so overwhelming. He just didn't know what would happen this time!
Zhengdao Industrial Park, No. 1 Assembly Workshop!
As time passed, the sun set, revealing the deep night sky, with a few playful stars already appearing in the distant heavens.
With a loud "boom," the heavy electronic doors of the final assembly workshop slowly slid to both sides, and the "White Emperor" slowly drove out of the final assembly workshop and arrived at the outdoor dedicated takeoff pad, towed by a special tractor.
Its silver-gray paint job appears even more austere under natural light, and its streamlined body seems to blend into the night, ready to pierce the sky at a single command.
This scene was naturally transmitted in real time to the large screen in the main control center via the Beidou satellite, and the image clearly showed an aircraft being dragged out of the huge factory.
"Immediately expand the takeoff area!" Upon seeing this, Old Master Xiao immediately gave the order in a deep voice.
Technicians quickly operated the camera, zooming in rapidly so that everyone present could clearly see the strange aircraft being slowly towed out by the tractor.
The main control center has many experts in the aerospace field. Immediately, one of the experts, wearing glasses, leaned forward subconsciously, his brows furrowed. "This aircraft feels a bit strange. I've never seen this aerodynamic layout before! The wing-body integration is close to 100%. The overall fuselage design completely violates the design concept of conventional high-speed aircraft!"
Another senior researcher in charge of the propulsion system murmured, "Looking at its tail structure, there are no obvious traditional nozzles. This energy release method is very peculiar. This aircraft is not simple!"
A low murmur immediately rose in the control center, the researchers' faces filled with confusion and intense curiosity.
They had seen countless classified projects, but the silver-gray aircraft before them was unfamiliar and even somewhat perplexing, simply because of its design.
Grandpa Xiao didn't speak, but his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. Although he wasn't a technical expert, based on his years of experience and understanding of Su Chen, he felt that this aircraft was neither a traditional fighter jet nor a spacecraft, but more like a futuristic fighter jet full of science fiction elements.
"Young Su, what exactly are you up to?" Old Master Xiao couldn't help but feel a pang of melancholy.
Meanwhile, the final assembly workshop had reached its most critical moment.
"Report! Data link connection successful! BeiDou satellite in position, signal stable, data reception normal!"
"Report! The core infusion of Baidi Energy is complete, and the output power is stable!"
"Report! Flight control system self-test passed, all control surfaces are responding normally!"
"Report! There are no flight paths in the surrounding airspace, and the weather conditions meet the standards for test flight!"
As a series of clear and powerful reports came through the intercom system, Su Chen, Xiao Chen, Li Qiwen, and others quickly arrived at the control room.
On the huge electronic screen, several images were displayed, including real-time external images of "Baidi", key internal parameters, and a macroscopic airspace situation map transmitted back by Beidou satellites.
As the chief commander of the test flight, Wen Zhanpeng immediately looked to Su Chen for instructions. Seeing Su Chen nod slightly, he immediately stood in front of the control panel, took a deep breath, picked up the communicator, and his voice was amplified throughout the entire assembly workshop: "'White Emperor' first test flight, one minute countdown!"
Inside the control room, everyone's eyes were focused on the large screen. The atmosphere was so tense it felt like water could drip from it. Xiao Chen unconsciously clenched his fists, and even his breathing slowed down considerably. Li Qiwen stared intently at the various data points, afraid that the slightest anomaly might appear.
Although Su Chen's expression was calm, his slightly pursed lips revealed his inner turmoil.
This was, after all, the first test flight of "White Emperor," a crucial step in many future plans. "Thirty seconds to go!"
"Twenty seconds!"
"Ten, nine, eight, three, two, one!"
"start up!"
At Wen Zhanpeng's command, the operator pressed the red start button forcefully.
On the screen, the stationary "White Emperor" suddenly spewed out a dark blue tail flame. At first, it was not intense, but the next moment, a powerful energy wave swept out, accompanied by a deep roar of the tail flame. The silver-gray fighter jet, like a silver lightning bolt breaking free of its shackles, instantly accelerated and sped off along the runway.
Its acceleration was faster than imagined. After only a very short distance, the nose of the aircraft lifted up lightly and shot into the sky at a near-perfect angle.
"Takeoff successful! Perfect attitude!" the observer shouted.
On the screen, the height and speed values of "White Emperor" began to jump and climb wildly.
"An altitude of five thousand meters!"
"Speed exceeding Mach 2!"
"Altitude 15000 meters, entering the stratosphere! Speed Mach 5!"
"Power system successfully switched to cruise mode! Speed Mach 8! Mach 10! Mach 12!"
The data refreshed like a waterfall, and suppressed gasps of surprise echoed in the control room.
Although I was mentally prepared, seeing those numbers representing speed increase at such an alarming rate was still exhilarating!
"Report, Boss! Baidi has reached the designated test altitude of 80000 meters! The speed is stable at Mach 16.5! Shall we test its maximum speed and altitude?" Wen Zhanpeng's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement; they had truly succeeded!
As for testing its maximum speed and altitude, the data on the White Emperor shows that it can reach a maximum altitude of 100 kilometers, or 100,000 meters, and a speed of Mach 20.
In an instant, everyone in the control room focused their attention on Su Chen.
Su Chen didn't rush to answer. He crossed his arms, touched his chin with his right hand, and his eyes flashed with a strange light. "How is Bai Di currently?"
As soon as Su Chen finished speaking, a technician immediately responded loudly:
"All systems are operating stably!"
"Structural stress is within the safety threshold!"
"Energy core output is stable!"
"Alright!" Su Chen shouted, then ordered, "Maintain cruise mode and circle around from north to south."
A complete circle from north to south?! Everyone present was stunned when they heard about Su Chen's fame and fortune.
They were all prepared to test the limits of the White Emperor, but they never expected such a shocking order to be announced, leaving them momentarily stunned.
Xiao Chen put his arm around Su Chen's shoulder and pulled him aside, saying, "Old Su, are you crazy? Going around from north to south, do you know how much of a commotion that will cause? Several major regions might even be mobilized because of this?"
Su Chen naturally understood what Xiao Chen meant by the "several regions" in his words. He smiled calmly and patted the hand on his shoulder. "Brother Chen, have you forgotten about the coating on Bai Di? Do you think those regions can be detected? Not to mention that Bai Di is flying at an altitude of 80,000 meters in near space. Currently, apart from the Beidou satellite that is linked to Bai Di, even if satellites in the sky lock onto that area, they may not be able to detect it."
"Besides, do you think Old Master Xiao isn't paying attention right now? Let's make a bet, do you believe that the old man is somewhere right now, using his highest authority to keep an eye on Baidi!"
Hearing this, Xiao Chen pondered for a moment, then quickly understood the key point. A look of shock immediately appeared on his face. He swallowed hard and looked at Su Chen with a trembling voice, saying, "Don't tell me that all of this was part of your plan, and that even the old man was tricked by you from the beginning?"
"Sigh~ Look at what you're saying, what scheming or not scheming. I was just showing the old man the strength of my future military-industrial enterprise." Su Chen's lips curled into a meaningful smile. "Only by demonstrating additional value can we gain more support!"
"Sigh~ My military industrial enterprises are developing too slowly. At the current rate, it will take three to five years to establish them. So I can only think of ways and take shortcuts!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen took a deep breath and looked at Su Chen with an extremely complicated expression. He realized that he had underestimated Su Chen. He originally thought that Su Chen was on the second level, but now it seemed that Su Chen was probably on the atmospheric level.
Previously, I was thinking that Su Chen had already thought of the fact that Baidi lacked eyes, so he applied for the Beidou system permission from his grandfather. Now it seems that it's not a lack of eyes, it's a lack of a stage!
The moment Baidi made its first flight from north to south—or rather, the moment Baidi took its first test flight—it already shocked the old man watching from behind the scenes.
Since things have already come to this, let's go all out!
A crazy idea quickly popped into Xiao Chen's mind. He leaned close to Su Chen and whispered a few words in his ear. Upon hearing this, a look of astonishment immediately appeared on Su Chen's face.
Su Chen thought about it seriously for a moment, then shook his head slightly and rejected Xiao Chen's crazy idea: "Brother Chen, you should forget about this idea. If it goes wrong, it could put us in a passive position. Besides, now is not the time to be in the spotlight!"
There's nothing we can do about it. Who told Xiao Chen to be so audacious as to think he could send Bai Di directly to North America, take a trip there, and then come back?
Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen quickly calmed down and said with a wry smile, "You're right. I was too naive. Let's do as you said before. Consider it a test of the monitoring capabilities in various places."
Su Chen stood in the center of the control room again and nodded to Wen Zhanpeng.
Upon receiving the order, Wen Zhanpeng was equally shocked, but he immediately carried it out. He picked up the communicator, his voice steady yet carrying a hint of barely perceptible excitement: "New order: Maintain an altitude of 80000 meters, a speed of Mach 16.5, and a heading due south to conduct a cross-regional cruise demonstration!"
As the command was given, "White Emperor" on the screen slightly adjusted its direction, drawing an almost invisible trajectory in the deep night sky, and sped off towards the south.
Meanwhile, in the underground main control center in the western suburbs of the capital.
The hall was completely silent; you could hear a pin drop. (End of Chapter)