Translator: _Min_ Editor: Rundi
On the way to the interstellar era, there were many technologies that are prerequisite to interstellar travel. Such as controllable nuclear fusion, warp engine, shield technology, high-power energy weapons and so on.
Because of the difference in ideology, countries’ technology focus were quite different. For example, in shield technology, Pan-Asia Cooperation was undoubtedly leading in the forefront of the world.
The Holy Shield System was even more representative.
The city defense system built in 2147, after countless updates in decades, finally included the entire Wanghai into its protective cover. Although limited by the flaws in the technology itself, the shield system did not completely resist the bombardment of God’s Cane, but it still gained valuable time for citizens to enter fallout shelters.
In the virtual reality game where he met Lin Lin, Jiang Chen had seen that scene.
The waterfall-like light beams poured over the dome of the city, and countless light particles fluttered in the sky. Without thinking about the meaning behind this image, the picture was still indeed absolutely stunning.
“The Holy Shield? Of course I heard that before?” Jiang Chen took a sip of the hot and steamy black tea and looked at Lu Minghui thoughtfully.
“I believe that Mr. General has already noticed that the nuclear winter is approaching. Not long afterwards, the entire land will be covered with snow and ice. Even the strongest and toughest mutants will have to change their habits and migrate underground or southward.” Afterwards, Lu Minghui looked at Jiang Chen. “For us humans, it is the same. This land will no longer be suitable for our survival.”
After listening to his words, Jiang Chen smiled and half-jokingly said.
“So, are you going to order a space colonization ship from us?”
“Of course not.” Lu Minghui shook his head. “Although we believe in the doomsday theory, we are not complete escapist. Unless we are forced by life, I think no one want to escape from their homeland.”
“What’s your proposal?”
“The Holy Shield is the key to dealing with the nuclear winter.” Gazing into Jiang Chen’s eyes, Lu Minghui continued, “In the first three years, the Holy Shield was originally designed to deal with natural disasters such as typhoons. After the economic crisis, Pan-Asian Cooperation then added strategic defense capabilities to it.”
The words of Mr. Bishop surprised Jiang Chen.
He didn’t think that the original design philosophy of the Holy Shield was to shield typhoons, and not intended to shield artillery and missiles!
[I see…]
In this case, in the North Alliance Area declaration of war that was sent long ago, it mentioned a treasure. It must have been referring to the Holy Shield.
“I remember that it had been destroyed,” recalling what was seen in virtual reality, Jiang Chen whispered.
“It’s not destroyed, it’s just overloaded! It’s no different than being destroyed, but at least it’s not bad enough to be unrepairable. We have obtained the design drawings from the backup server of the Defense Research Institute in Shangjin. With some time, repairing it should not be a difficult task.”
Lu Minghui’s words made Jiang Chen eyes light up.
Paying attention to the interest on his face, Lu Minghui smiled and continued passionately.
“As long as we restart the shield system, we can isolate the entire city of Wanghai from the wasteland. As long as energy input is maintained, nuclear winter is nothing!”
“If energy input can be maintained,” Jiang Chen’s finger tapped the table lightly. “Have you considered the source of energy?”
“Although there is no way to get helium-3, but deuterium and tritium reaction is also a good choice. There are an ample amount of deuterium and tritium reserves in ocean. Though it is not environmentally friendly, no one really cares about that now,” Lu Minghui said.
Compared with the Hangzhou Merchants Alliance’s subway project, the proposal to restart the Holy Shield was obviously more reliable. Moving all the factories of Sixth Street underground? Are you kidding? The production machinery and factory buildings are not tables, at least not the kind of tables that can be moved freely.
After a glance at the snow accumulating outside, Jiang Chen refocused on the steamy white mist above the teacup.
“Your proposal has convinced me, but I still have a question.”
“Please.”
“Shangjin also has an urban defense system similar to the Holy Shield, why did you choose Wanghai, and not your current base Shangjin?” Jiang Chen asked the doubt in his heart.
Regarding Jiang Chen’s doubts, Lu Minghui was not surprised. He had a helpless expression on his face and explained, “Shangjing was one of the political centers of Pan-Asian Cooperation before the war. The number of shelters are also the highest in Pan-Asian. This means that when the war is over, it is far more chaotic than elsewhere. The survivors are divided into factionals and the network of relationships is complicated.”
Lu Minghui paused and sighed.
“The most critical thing is that the local survivors are far more exclusive than our imagination. Even if we have migrated to Shangjing for a few years, we still can’t gain their trust. Now that the nuclear winter is approaching, living supplies are getting scarcer. The relationship between the survivors has also deteriorated to unimaginable levels.”
“So you chose us.” Jiang Chen smiled.
“Yes,” Lu Minghui said seriously.
During negotiations, the bishop had already shown enough sincerity, but Jiang Chen did not rush to give him a reply.
“The so-called covenant is equal to alliance. I don’t want to go in circles. We can repair the Holy Shield ourselves. If so, what can we gain from an alliance with you?”
“The Northern Alliance Area is also our enemy. We are willing to work together with you to counter the threat from them. In addition, we will offer you a tribute. I am sure you will be interested.”
Jiang Chen noticed that Lu Minghui had used the word tribute very interestingly and could not help but raise an eyebrow. He asked intriguingly.
“Oh? What?”
“Stingray X-1, a protype of a small, multi-purpose spacecraft… I heard that you have a hobby of collecting space vehicles. If the rumors are true, I believe that the ‘artwork’ produced in the Jiuquan Launch Center will surely satisfy you,” Lu Minghui said respectfully.
…
The covenant was formed.
For Jiang Chen, the Stingray X-1 was a pleasant surprise. However, even without that, Jiang Chen would consider forming an alliance with the chapter of the Dusk Church.
Based on what Sun Xiaorou described, this chapter belonged to the Sectarian Guardians in the church. It believed in a drastically different path compared to the Bo Yu-led, radical extremists advocating for escapism. The divergence in doctrine also made the relationship between the two sides not so harmonious, so at the time of migration, both parties went separate ways. One went down the river and the other went to Shangjing.
Compared to those who were brainwashed by Bo Yu, the Sectarian Guardians were also more pragmatic. Jiang Chen promised that after the restart of the Holy Shield, he would assign them an autonomous region in Wanghai, allowing them to preserve their own traditions and formulate their own laws based on the NAC Constitution.
After the conclusion of the Covenant, the Dusk Church Sectarian Guardians in Shangjing will send 5,000-strong troops and head south to Wu City to support the Second Corp of the NAC to fight against the threat from the Northern Alliance Area.
After the threat of the Northern Alliance Area could be resolved, the two sides agreed to immediately launch the “Restoration of the Holy Shield” plan to cope with the ever-deadly nuclear winter…
