Chapter 239: The New Warship “Wuyi”
Li Star, industrial ship cafeteria.
“Come on, brothers, lend a hand!”
A group of Scholars and Engineers pushed several long tables together and set up a 3D holographic projector.
Although there was a dedicated conference room on the industrial ship, they preferred to discuss plans here. The space was larger, the atmosphere was more relaxed, and they could chat while eating snacks.
Around the temporary “conference table,” players gathered in several layers, inside and out, all looking energetic.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, Moto clapped his hands a few times, signaling for silence.
“Everyone should already know that the mission at the New Hope branch was completed very well. In the future, with the development of our home star system and surrounding star systems, and the collection of various raw materials, we are expected to experience a rapid leap!
“Therefore, the development of manufacturing is crucial from now on. The specific achievements will depend on us! The Executive Officer has given us the task to formulate a new military industrial development plan based on at least 20 times the current raw material supply!”
“20 times! This task feels so massive!”
A new player, who hadn't been playing long, exclaimed, his tone not one of apprehension, but excitement.
“Yes, yes, it feels like every 'level up' in interstellar civilization doesn't just double power, but adds at least a zero to the end! A qualitative change occurs!”
Moto smiled and nodded.
“Indeed! But don't feel too much pressure, everyone. ‘Star Sea’ now has over 2500 beta testers, over 500 Engineers,
and 120 Scholars!
“Among them, there are also experts who understand system control theory. They will collaborate with the butler to first formulate the broad framework for enterprise development.
“The specific work later, when it comes to our hands, will be simplified into the common task-receiving and task-doing mode, but both the task list and task rewards are dynamic. If you want to increase your experience and cangyuan coin income, your work must be both fast and good!
“Of course, none of this is the focus today. The most important thing comes first. Today, let's discuss the warship matter first!”
“Is there a problem with the ‘Qinling’ class frigate?” Many people felt a bit confused. “I think its combat performance is quite good.”
Moto: “For this, let's invite our chief scientist and weapon master, Jubian, to explain it to everyone.”
Clap, clap, clap, clap!
Everyone applauded in welcome.
“Alright, alright, stop trying to kill me with praise.”
Jubian walked to the holographic projector and projected a 3D blueprint of a warship, nearly 10 meters long, above the conjoined table panels.
“To make a long story short, all Sailor players and the Executive Officer himself have highly praised the majestic main cannon of the ‘Qinling’ class, even hoping it could be more powerful. All relevant R&D personnel should be proud of their work achievements! It’s worth celebrating!”
“Hooray!!”
“Hmm, very spirited! However, in actual combat, our ‘Qinling’ class, being an axial cannon ship, also exhibited the disadvantage of being relatively clumsy.
“Furthermore, I wonder if everyone noticed, our first fleet battle was actually very dangerous!
“Apollo's drone tactics sounded an alarm for us! At that time, facing hundreds of suddenly appearing false targets, the 101 and 102 warships were actually unable to accurately hit the real enemy ships. If the Executive Officer hadn't decisively ordered a warp jump, and if the Jialan hadn't fallen into panic and used the Moras Missile correctly—the battle might have had a different outcome!”
“Hmm—.”
The players recalled and found that it was indeed true.
Winning this battle actually had a certain element of luck.
“Then how about improving the ‘Qinling’ by adding a drone hangar and secondary cannons?”
“I think that would be too bloated,” Black Smoke commented, puffing on a cigar. “Designs that constantly add features are usually not good designs, and can easily cause costs and project complexity to spiral out of control.”
“I think it would be better to redesign a new warship specializing in support, and have this new warship cooperate with the ‘Qinling’!”
Moto suggested, based on his intuition and experience as a professional shipbuilder.
“I think so too!” Jubian nodded. “Since it specializes in support, we can remove the main cannon first!”
Moto: “Right! The total volume of the main cannon plus the superconducting capacitor array is actually very large. After removing it, a large amount of volume and tonnage will be immediately freed up, completely accommodating a hangar for 500 drones, and maybe even a drone repair workshop!”
Jubian: “More than that, buddy. After removing the main cannon, the energy demand of the entire ship will also decrease. The original three large reactors can be replaced with one large and one medium, and the freed-up power room space can accommodate at least three more “owl”s.”
“Hmm, exactly!”
Others also contributed their opinions, and a group of Engineers and scientists quickly reached a consensus in their heated discussion.
Finally, Moto drew the blueprint and, with AI assistance, proposed the preliminary draft.
The new warship was named the “Wuyi” class, with a length identical to the “Qinling” at 218 meters, a slightly reduced weight of 11,200 tons, and a slightly larger volume.
Its main weapon was carrier-based aircraft, with two hangars, front and rear, capable of accommodating a total of 10 “owl” heavy fighters, essentially making it a light aircraft carrier.
There were three types of secondary weapons. The first was a total of six medium electromagnetic cannons on the back and belly of the warship. When fired in a volley, their output power was equivalent to one-quarter of the “Qinling” class main cannon.
Because they were installed in turrets, these six ship cannons could complete target acquisition and aiming without rotating the ship's hull, and could simultaneously point at the target in most “positions.”
The cost, however, was a more complex recoil control solution, and a radar stealth capability that was a full level worse than the “Qinling.”
In combat, the exposed electromagnetic acceleration rails, as external protrusions, would form a larger radar cross-section. Normally, they could be retracted into large folding cannon barrel boxes. The second type of secondary weapon was a total of 500 drones. This armament was entirely transplanted from Apollo's unknown source black technology and was very advanced.
In combat, it could simultaneously form at least 50 false targets, greatly reducing the hit rate of enemy long-range weapons on our fleet, as well as the concentration of firepower, allowing the close-in defense interception system to fire more calmly.
If necessary, these drones could also carry weapons and intelligently network with manned carrier-based aircraft to perform air combat or bombing missions.
The ship had two atomic-level 3D printers built-in, which could perform drone repair operations or replenish drones on the battlefield at a rate of 1 per day when raw materials were sufficient.
The third weapon was Cang Yuan’s own future warp interstellar torpedoes. Currently, a total of 96 vertical launch pits were reserved, arranged in two groups on both sides of the hull with a 4x12 configuration.
In addition to vastly different weapon systems, the “Wuyi” class also carried more powerful radar and electronic jamming arrays. Among them, the main radar used near-insulating oxidized components, with a transmit power of up to 4GW, reaching the current technological limit. In working condition, it had to be cooled by an Entropy Zero Element Furnace, otherwise the waste heat would be even more terrifying than electromagnetic cannons.
It could even be used as a weapon within 1 kilometer, like a microwave oven, to cook human bodies.
In short, compared to the “Qinling,” the “Wuyi” class frigate was more adept at maneuvering and electronic information warfare.
According to the plan, in the future Cang Yuan fleet, it would form a 1:1 numerical pairing with the “Qinling” class, making up for the previous shortcoming of being powerful but not agile enough.
“Does anyone else have anything to add?”
Moto stood with his hands on his hips, looking at his 3D sketch, feeling quite satisfied inside.
“I participated in the interrogation of prisoners earlier,” Black Smoke said, puffing on his cigar. “It was finally revealed that the decline in condition after long-distance raids was also one of the important reasons why the Punishment Fleet lost the battle, so I suggest improving the living conditions on board.”
“Players’ characters all sleep in stasis pods and are unconscious during that time, so the dormitory conditions are just that. The main thing is to improve the quality of life in the waking state.”
Fang Xue Hou Tian Tai Jian said.
He was one of the few attendees without a Scholar or Engineer professional background, the reason being his real-life proficiency in game scene design, whose professional skills could help enhance the aesthetic appeal of equipment.
“That's simple, add an activity room, and then—add an internet cafe!” Moto said. “Those Sailors get really bored. They either go offline or go online to play other games from Earth.”
“This—alright!”
Everyone was more or less speechless.
Although the method was feasible, playing other games within a game was still a bit too abstract.
The biggest problem with ‘Star Sea’ currently was precisely that it was too realistic.
A round trip to New Hope by warp ship took a full 25 days, during which fighting monsters and exploring were completely abandoned. Although this was much less time-consuming than the two to three-year Mars missions in reality, it was still a bit too grueling.
If only they could open up some teleportation functions…
Even if it was only for going back and forth between two locations!
Finally, the players, in a flurry of discussion, offered some suggestions for industrial production, the two most important consensuses being:
Firstly, more space docks must be built, starting with 5!
When they are lined up in orbit, it will be all about the imposing presence!
The new docks can be larger than the current ones, preparing for the golden age standard frigates that will be around 400 meters long in the future.
If all goes well, this will also be the first type of warship designed and built by players themselves that is larger than a heavy aircraft carrier in reality!
Secondly, more super factories should be built on Li Star's surface and in orbit, imitating the industrial production modules of the industrial ship.
If there is spare capacity, one could even be built on Emerald Star's surface to accelerate the development of the “theme park” there, allowing more players to efficiently grind levels and refine biological zero element.
The current industrial ship's production capacity saturation has reached 85%, and its crude oil carbon extraction and carbon material manufacturing modules have long been completely saturated. The potential problem of insufficient production capacity must be resolved as soon as possible.
New Hope, corporate branch.
When Lu Yuan woke up, he found that after many days, his vision was once again flooded with system messages.
