What the hell is a private enterprise?

Chapter 623 April Fool's Day Night

As Tang Wen hesitated over whether to speak while watching the chaotic 640 base, the Prism Building was already in an uproar.

As is well known, the Empire possesses the most radar monitoring stations in the world, spread across various regions.

When the No. 7 rocket appeared on the radar screen, more than a dozen monitoring stations were startled:
They only saw a fast-moving object, traveling at several kilometers per second, flash by in mid-air, and then rise at an astonishing speed. By the time the monitors reacted and put on their headphones to record, it had already crossed the Kármán line and entered space!

Everything happened in less than a minute, but the radar system had already automatically recorded the astonishing speed and trajectory and attempted to match it in the database. The final identification result was... A135!

That's right, it's Russia's A135 terminal interceptor missile!

The A135 is the world's only strategic anti-missile missile system. It was the ultimate masterpiece that the Russians failed to complete before their downfall, and it was not officially deployed until 95.

There are many anti-missile missile systems in the world. As the name suggests, they are missiles that intercept missiles. There are long-range interception, medium-range interception, short-range interception, etc. The closer the distance, the more difficult it becomes.

After all, ballistic missiles travel at speeds exceeding Mach 20 upon impact, covering nearly 7 kilometers per second, making interception extremely difficult. Conversely, the ascent phase and entry into the atmosphere are much easier.

Due to the extreme difficulty, the world at most struggles with mid-course missile defense and considers it the highest level of technology. However, the amazing polar bear has managed to develop the A135, which can complete the interception in the shortest distance of 80 kilometers, that is, within the last ten seconds of the missile's fall.

The most distinctive feature of this missile is its astonishing first-stage solid rocket motor, which can accelerate the rocket to 5 to 8 times the speed of sound in just 4 seconds, completing the interception in the blink of an eye.

This thing is so technologically advanced that it's frightening. So the Empire paid special attention to it during the pre-deployment testing and it was only recently updated in the databases of various monitoring stations.

The A135 is a true national strategic asset, the last line of defense against the reopening crisis. Its technology and cost are both astonishingly high. After deploying a few sets around Mosko, Russia immediately stopped development and strictly guarded its data.

When the monitoring station checked the launch trajectory, the launch location turned out to be in Rioín State!

They reported to Prism Building almost simultaneously:

This is incredible! The Russians have gone so far as to sell their ultimate secret weapon, their trump card, to the University of Tokyo. They just completed a test launch!
The idea of ​​a test launch is reasonable: since the No. 7 rocket lost its orbit and signal after leaving the atmosphere due to the loss of its payload, it is very similar to the situation after the interceptor missile runs out of fuel during a test launch!

Besides, there's no rocket launch base in Northeast China, so this must be a missile!

Prism Building was naturally baffled upon receiving the information and hurriedly mobilized its intelligence network to verify it, since speed and trajectory cannot be faked.

Monitoring stations such as Faji, Daiying, and Da Mao all observed this extremely strange trajectory, as if someone had launched a super-fast rocket.

Da Mao was the first to realize it and thought it might be A135. He immediately jumped up to verify, while the others were still completely confused.

The No. 7 rocket launched at 10:00 AM, and by noon, the China National Space Administration finally issued a belated announcement:
"On the morning of March 31, we conducted a non-orbital rocket launch test."

The public announcement was very brief, but the more words there were, the bigger the matter became.

Apart from the time, there was no mention of the location, type, or purpose; it looked exactly like a military experiment.

The real reason is that the domestic authorities don't know how to explain it. The original plan was to announce the launch as a success with a slight boast, and then show off the new equipment on television. As for the announcement of failure, although it was written, Qian Lin'an thought it was inappropriate to release it, so he simply made the announcement neither to say it was a success nor a failure, and let people guess first.

The effect was quite remarkable. Neither the Empire nor Russia had expected such a bizarre technology as artillery-launched rockets. After investigating and discovering that the A135 had definitely not been resold, they naturally speculated that:

Could this be a turtle version of the A135?

Oh dear, this is terrible!
The Russians began researching terminal missile defense in the 60s and initiated the A135 project in the 70s. However, they were unable to perfect it until their death, and it was only thanks to advancements in electronic technology that they were able to complete it in 95.

The chemistry, metallurgy, materials, and rocket technology involved are unfathomable. How did Tokyo University manage to secretly produce one?
While Prism Building was secretly alarmed and wondering if it had misjudged the situation, it mobilized its intelligence network to begin gathering information; meanwhile, Da Mao suspected that the information might have been leaked during the chaos at home a few years ago, and hurriedly began an internal investigation.

Dai Ying and Fa Ji were filled with doubt and suspicion. They felt that the University of Tokyo had done something extraordinary, but they didn't know the details. They also tried to find out more information.

On the last day of March, everyone was startled by the ridiculously fast rocket and remained silent for half a day.

Due to the time difference, the incident at Prism Building happened late at night, and countless people were forced to wake up by their bosses to work overtime, and naturally ordered a large batch of pizzas.

Only after Prism Building, still harboring resentment, completed its analysis did foreign military experts, with a probing intent, write articles in interview programs and newspapers:

A certain observation station discovered a high-speed rocket in Rionin. After analyzing its trajectory and speed, it was speculated that it might be a terminal anti-missile device similar to the A135. It's amazing that Tokyo University's technology has developed to this level!
This is, of course, also a way to fish for prey, a not-so-clever but often effective open scheme.

Also due to the time difference, the news didn't reach China until the morning of April 1st.

On this day, the front page of the mainstream media outlet BCC featured:

Groups of Antarctic penguins migrate to tropical rainforests to spend the winter.

CCN's hot news is:

Alabama has passed legislation to change the value of pi to 3.

The biggest news from the third brother is:

India successfully conducted an intercontinental live-fire test of dropping mushroom-shaped explosives.

While major media outlets were busy creating entertaining content for April Fool's Day, the serious content published by this military expert didn't garner much attention. Even when it was featured, many Chinese viewers still thought it was just an April Fool's joke.

The fake news fabricated by the media is meticulously designed, making it difficult for many ordinary people to detect anything unusual. Then, in the afternoon, a message from a news outlet appeared in the newspaper:

"A large-scale violence has occurred in Jakarta, and several students have been injured."

April Fool's Day pranks rarely involve this kind of joke, and the world's attention has once again focused on this backward land.

……

Nansha
"Pull back on the stick, go around! Look at your descent rate, are you trying to land right in the hangar?!"

Nie Qiang's roar filled the radio. An approaching A4 immediately throttled to the limit, pulled up and veered slightly just before hitting the deck, then turned again along a paperclip trajectory to re-enter the landing curve.

The second landing went smoothly; the hook caught securely on the third arresting cable, allowing Nie Qiang to breathe a sigh of relief while simultaneously complaining:
"This trainee was just too nervous, but mainly because he lacked experience. We used to train in the port, but when we moved to the sea, all sorts of problems arose."

I need to catch up on my lessons tonight, otherwise something terrible is bound to happen.

Liu Kan: "Should we take a break from training?"

"We can't stop. If we don't practice our courage now, we'll never learn!"

Although Nie Qiang said this, what he really thought was completely different:
Since setting sail, the atmosphere has become increasingly tense.

News of Geyser Oil's troubles was rampant, and amidst this, the HMS Yorktown, under the guise of relocating tourist attractions, rushed to the Spratly Islands and began intensive, high-intensity training. Meanwhile, the two battleships, usually relegated to mascot roles, surprisingly gathered crews and began operations, even conducting unusual gunnery drills during a few clear airspace periods. After the Great White Fleet dropped off the foreign tourists at the Grand Bay Port, the battleships New York and New Mexico, along with four destroyers, turned south again.

Yesterday morning, several large ships happened to meet. Nie Qiang went up to the deck and saw the Kongo-class battlecruiser with its guns raised high, speeding past the side of the aircraft carrier. The heavy hull broke through the waves, bringing up white sprays of water on both sides.

Meanwhile, the Fusang was conducting artillery practice in the distance, the power of its 356mm cannons resounding through the sky.

Looking back, the two dazzlingly white battleships, New York and New Mexico, were approaching from behind, accompanied by four destroyers lined up in a row. One of the destroyers was even speeding at 40 knots, occasionally making sharp turns to show off its high maneuverability.

By the time he came to his senses, the noise of propellers was already in his ears. Gekin's unique 007-style flight training had begun. The trainee pilots were piloting the CJ-6J primary trainer, which was propelled by hydraulic catapults and was rising towards the rising sun, gleaming brightly... What the hell was that idiot who did this? Did they not learn all the regulations for nothing?!

The pleasant atmosphere of the ocean fleet was ruined by a reckless rookie pilot and a dim-witted ground crew member, but after a thorough overhaul, Nie Qiang was quite certain that things were not so simple.

As the days went by, not only him, but also some discontent arose among the sailors in training:
70% of the sailors under Guykin's command are from the first batch of trainees after the grueling training. Although they were all members of the gang before, they all came from the same place and were considered fellow villagers. Over time, they naturally developed a special bond due to their shared experiences.

With over 200 trainees and instructors trapped, these sailors, who deal with destroyers, battleships, and aircraft carriers every day, felt an urge to carry sharp weapons. They trained even more diligently, eagerly awaiting Tang Wen's order to head south.

The desire to head south grew stronger over time, but on April Fool's Day, they suddenly received instructions:

Return to Nansha Port to replenish supplies and get some rest!

……

Jakarta

"Damn it, why do I always have to do these lousy jobs?"

Smith picked up a cup of coffee and complained to his old friend Bert, who was a year ahead of him.

The IAA's methods are clearly not limited to hiring a few hyenas to carry out small-scale operations; these are just details. At a macro level, further efforts are needed—Bert is in charge of this area.

“Smith, isn’t the division of labor clear? I don’t have your hearing and agility. My job is just a paper investigator.”

Bert smiled and shrugged, while Smith could only mutter a word:
"You office workers always put us laborers in the spotlight. I should have applied for a typist job too."

"Haha...then you should study international relations."

Bert laughed. Unlike the usual shady Smith, he was an employee who could operate openly and also worked for a think tank.

As for everything that's happening in Java... Prism Building was already foreseeable last year.

This brings us to the internal situation of the Chuawa. The current authorities are, how should I put it, a centralized system with a strong military character, which doesn't quite fit the civilization that the empire keeps talking about.

This model was more advantageous when the world was caught between two giants and had to reopen frequently. But as the world relaxed, some within the company naturally believed that it should also be relaxed to benefit economic development.

The clash between old and new ideas, coupled with the economic crisis... even freshmen majoring in international relations know that significant conflicts will arise.

The parties involved will naturally want to shift the blame, and the victims will also shift the blame accordingly.

Even if the IAA does nothing, what is destined to happen will still happen; this is an inevitable trend.

Just as the bullet fired at Archduke Ferdinand sparked a war involving tens of millions of people, you can't say that so many people fought to the death just for a complete stranger; at most, it only accelerated the evolution of events.

The IAA intervened this time mainly to give Gaijin a warning, to make Tang Wen suffer a little, without having too much impact, to warn Tang Wen not to get out of control, and finally to prevent him from trying to interfere in Southeast Asia.

As for whether Gekin would be enraged and send out his fleet, the think tank dismissed the possibility after only a moment's consideration.

Come on, we're almost in the 21st century!
The Prism Building did not ignore the authenticity of the legendary "cement warships" and "iron-clad ships," especially the aircraft carrier Hildebrand, which was gifted to the Navy by Gaikin, and this was noted.

But even if it were true... what would be the point?
Are we all part of a lost empire?

The Second Fleet's crushing defeat of the Iowa sisters and the Third Fleet's oppression of the entire continent of Europe did not mean that battleships and outdated aircraft were superior; rather, it was simply that the advanced technology of the lost empire was being displayed in this form. Anything else would have been just as bizarre.

For example, instead of warships, thousands of Tiger tanks appeared in the north and south of Sugo on Christmas Day. Inside were all fearless little black boxes and clone drivers. They might actually push all the way to Sugar Zero Street!

The main force that the Dongjiang Maritime Joint Defense Team used to deploy consisted of fishing boats with the lowest level of professionalism, which were not even comparable to warships and were only better than civilian ships. They were not the imposing large warships they looked like.

Slightly more advanced cruisers rarely make an appearance, and while aircraft carriers and battleships look impressive, they have only been launched once or twice, spending most of their time docked and gathering dust.

Because Geigen doesn't have that many fearless and reckless superhumans like Hans. Their sailors are all painstakingly trained and recruited at great expense, and their professional level is far inferior to that of ordinary sailors. They are lucky if they can keep the ship afloat and avoid sinking. The death of even one person would lead to a huge public relations crisis.

By the standards of the Imperial Navy, of the more than 1,500 sailors under Gekin, at most 100 could clean the decks of warships; the rest were really only good enough for fishing and working on civilian ships.

The media often mentions that Geiger is the world's number one company in terms of naval power, but in the eyes of navies around the world, it is precisely a living example of a century-old navy, proving to the world that talent is the most important thing—even a bunch of antique warships can only be effective if they are handled by professionals.

Even if Tang Wen were incredibly audacious, would Zhuawa be afraid of a few wrecked ships?

That's impossible!

Prism Building had been aware of the news that Geigin's warships had been transferred to the Spratly Islands, but after secretly observing them a few times, they were shocked by their appalling level of performance. Although the warships were arranged in a seemingly proper manner (controlled by the system captain), the rest of their performance could only be described as childish and reckless. In the Empire, they would all be immediately suspended from training, criticized, and sent back to their farms to work.

After seeing the report, Johnson was even convinced that if these warships could maintain their formation and not collide with each other or get lost after sailing 100 nautical miles, it would be thanks to God, no, to the God of Heaven.

Rather than saying they were preparing to head south, it's more believable that they were genuinely trying to revitalize the Pearl Harbor tourist area.

……

Bitong County
Wang Wu stood atop the warehouse crates and shouted to the crowd at the top of his lungs:
"Brothers, listen to me! Just a few hours ago, chaos broke out in Jakarta, the largest city, and we might be affected. Everyone must be careful from now on. Regularly check the outer railings for any looseness, and have someone on duty every night!"

The trained sailors readily agreed and quickly divided up their duties, arranging watch rosters and setting up an alert.

These days they have become increasingly aware of their situation, especially since Lec actually sent people to persuade them to confess their crimes in exchange for early return home... a despicable trick, but fortunately the sailors in the warehouse were united enough not to fall for it.

But they were also afraid that Lecce's patience might run out, so they became even more vigilant.

But things were worse than expected. Wang Wu originally thought that the trouble in Yadaga wouldn't spread to the remote Bitong County for at least three to five days, and that gathering everyone was just a precautionary measure.

But when everyone was half asleep in the middle of the night, the metal sheets of the warehouse were being pounded on frantically, accompanied by heart-wrenching screams:

"It's on fire! It's on fire!"

(End of this chapter)