"Maybe Apollo doesn't have warp technology, at least this branch on Li Star doesn't."
At this moment, Xue Jie, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke.
"Perhaps what they possess is a sub-light speed navigation technology that is less advanced than warp speed. This kind of navigation can break through the limitations of the Tsiolkovsky rocket equation, but it involves acceleration and deceleration. When going to the moon, due to the short distance, they couldn't fully utilize it, arriving before they could accelerate to their fastest speed, which is why the average speed was low."
Some players understood immediately, while the rest reacted for a few seconds before also nodding in a dazed manner.
From a logical perspective, this guess makes sense.
Bei Hai Xian Yu: "Um, everyone, allow me to interject. I think Apollo's main fighter force is likely stationed in the space station near the wormhole, because controlling the space near the wormhole is equivalent to controlling the navigation routes into and out of the Li Star star system. They haven't seen other spaceships emerge from the wormhole Jump Point in the past year, which is why they concluded that we are not Tianren."
Black Smoke: "That makes sense! Damn it... no wonder they looked down on us, so that's what it was!"
Ma Lou: "Going to another star system takes a week. I don't know if that refers to the distance between the two wormhole space stations or the distance between the two colonies. This directly determines how long it will take for reinforcements from the wormhole station to arrive at Li Star."
Salty Fish: "Yes, that's what I wanted to say. Time is crucial. We need to know Apollo's space navigation parameters, and also figure out the actual distance of the wormhole Jump Point."
Lu Yuan felt extremely pleased.
He had indeed recruited a group of excellent employees!
Moreover, amidst the noisy discussions of the employees, five words became increasingly clear in his mind.
Cangyuan industrial ship!
If Apollo really relies on a more primitive method of space navigation than warp speed, then could this industrial ship store similar, or even more advanced, technology?
"Everyone!"
Lu Yuan clapped his hands, attracting everyone's attention.
The small employee canteen immediately fell silent.
"Regardless, we now know that Apollo has at least two outer space strongholds: the satellite station and the wormhole station."
"The situation is now clearer! Furthermore, I want to tell everyone something. During the initial forced landing, besides the previous airdrop pod, I actually received another suspicious signal..."
Mm-hmm!
The young players nodded like pounding garlic.
Got it!
The developers are about to start a new storyline!
Testing the game content while developing it is normal for an alpha test online game.
Otherwise, something you knew during the forced landing, you'd really hold onto it for over two months?
Lu Yuan continued: "Now, every day that passes, Cangyuan grows a little, and the possibility of relations with Apollo further deteriorating will also be higher than the previous day."
"Therefore, I've decided to carry out the second space mission as soon as possible to investigate that suspicious signal! The liquid oxygen propellant will be ready in 10 hours. The spaceplane will be launched punctually at 3:30 PM, 15 hours from now!"
"Oh, 15 hours, the timing is just right!"
The players did a conversion. The launch time was exactly 8:30 PM tomorrow night on Earth.
"Next, I will announce the crew list."
With the successful experience from last time, this space mission can take more people. More EVA suits have also been made, and power armor itself already possesses the basic functions of an EVA suit.
The main pilot is still Chang Kong, and Lu Yuan will personally serve as co-pilot.
Both Jubian and Nan Guo de Xue, the two Scholars, need to be brought along. Black Smoke, the Engineer, also needs to be taken.
Responsible for escort duty are Guo Li Cheng, Ma Lou, and Dan Ta. Caoyuan Ye Xing is not present, so these three are the strongest in combat.
Additionally, Lu Yuan also brought Victory Male God. This player's skills are also good, and he is exceptionally optimistic, which can help lighten the tense atmosphere under high pressure.
The team consists of 9 people in total. The remaining 15 people, plus the Butler, will stay and guard the base.
With Salty Fish, the strategist-type player, holding down the fort, there won't be much of a problem.
When the list was announced, the selected players danced with joy, logged off early, and went to the player community to chat, giving their characters ample time to rest and recuperate.
Those not selected beat their chests and stamped their feet, vowing to level up fiercely and hone their skills, striving to make a splash in the next campaign event.
At 3:30 PM Li Star time, the crew members boarded.
Watched by the players on the ground, the spaceplane took off. Four variable-cycle jet engines quickly propelled it to an altitude of 35 kilometers. After that, the methane engines ignited, and the plane began to leave the atmosphere.
Another four hours passed, and the spaceplane finally reached the Li Star geosynchronous orbit at over 35,000 kilometers.
This was only equivalent to one-tenth of the distance to the moon. Relying solely on chemical engines for interstellar travel, the speed was despairingly slow.
Lu Yuan gave the coordinates to Chang Kong, who successfully found the target.
The outline of the Cangyuan industrial ship clearly appeared against the background of the pale yellow-green planet!
"It looks like a cut potato."
Victory Male God offered a sharp comment.
Black Smoke: "This is called stealth design!"
Like the previous airdrop pod, the Cangyuan industrial ship was angular and gem-shaped.
It seems that in the era of great cosmic navigation, radar stealth design was very common for various spacecraft to evade hostile forces and pirates. Their appearance wasn't as hideous as in many 'realistic' space games, with exposed hulls and trusses.
They were either streamlined with exquisite curved surfaces or had a geometric blocky technological style. A more 'handsome' visual appearance often meant better radar stealth performance.
However, as the spaceplane approached, everyone quickly realized that unlike the airdrop pod, this thing was much larger – a real space vessel.
Victory Male God's previous jesting now turned into exclamations of awe.
"Holy cow, this is bigger than an aircraft carrier!"
He wasn't wrong. The industrial ship was over 400 meters long, with a maximum height and width both close to 100 meters. Its volume was several times that of a 21st-century heavy aircraft carrier.
Chang Kong piloted the spaceplane, bringing it to a steady stop beside the industrial ship.
"All hands exit the cabin!"
At Lu Yuan's command, all 9 people exited the cargo door into outer space. Operating the compressed air nozzles on their backs, they dispersed, splitting up to scan the ship's hull with the scanners in their hands.
Guo Li Cheng: "Team Leader, I found the airlock control panel! This ship is also Cangyuan's, but it seems it can't be unlocked automatically this time..."
Of course, this kind of thing was no challenge for the professional players. Black Smoke immediately rushed over with a plasma cutter.
"The master craftsman is here!"
The industrial ship wasn't a warship; it had no armor, making the outer shell easy to cut. Soon, a glowing red circle was cut into the airlock door.
Black Smoke kicked open the cut metal plate. The sound, transmitted through his spacesuit and exoskeleton into his ears, sounded particularly muffled. He himself was sent flying backward by the reaction force and had to activate his air nozzles to stabilize himself.
In a weightless environment, many things defy common sense, and everyone had to relearn and adapt.
"Let's go, everyone follow me and don't fall behind! I wonder what treasures are inside, haha!"
Victory Male God was impatient and was the first to fly into the interior of the industrial ship.