Chapter 224: Preemptive Strike

Through the screening of Star Ocean, Du Qiu began a worldwide search for suitable research personnel, peacefully recruiting those he could through discussions with Star Ocean.

Otherwise, for some key scientific research staff, even using private information controlled by Star Ocean to coerce or entice them into submission was a measure he did not hesitate to take.

In summary, the goal was to bring together scientific researchers from all disciplines for Heaven’s Realm by any means possible.

This was to be the solid foundation for the future development of Heaven’s Realm.

With such methods, the number of personnel in the base was growing rapidly, exceeding 300,000 in total.

Among them, there were already more than 50,000 scientific researchers, including many well-known scholars and professors.

In Du Qiu’s estimation, once the base’s total population reached 500,000, it would achieve a significant scale.

As first-generation residents of Heaven’s Realm, through initial family autonomy and their own corresponding legal regulations, they could essentially complete the testing of all aspects of a new type of social system.

By that time, Heaven’s Realm would be under vigorous construction and by the completion, the population within the base was expected to reach a million or even more.

Du Qiu’s expectation for the initial population of Heaven’s Realm was ten million – at least a large metropolis with a population in the millions.

Such a fantastical city floating above Earth in space would certainly be irresistibly attractive to the people of Earth.

This was also why Du Qiu was pressing forward with the development of the Wyvern fighter.

Indeed, the fighter was designed for interstellar warfare against aliens, but it was likely to be first used to deter the countries on Earth.

After all, once Du Qiu established Heaven’s Realm in space, it would inevitably be targeted by thieving nations like the United States.

By then, having Wyverns in space and air could teach the Americans a lesson, and with Shanglong active in the oceans, it would be enough to make the United States, which had lost its sea and air advantages, think twice before making any rash moves.

However, since the recent mild counterattack, the U.S. Military had quieted down, and Du Qiu had not let Shanglong continue to be active.

Thinking to take advantage of this period of stability to expedite the construction of Heaven’s Realm.

Unexpectedly, the assassination of the U.S. President occurred, and then the emergency meeting of the new U.S. President was transmitted back by Infiltrator II, infuriating both Du Qiu and Ning Shuangshuang.

It turned out the United States had always been this despicable and shameless.

Du Qiu decided immediately to end the Wyvern’s test flight operations and return to the base in Africa, preparing for the provocation from the United States.

With a dynamic camouflage system, the Wyvern need not worry about being discovered by any astronomical telescopes, nor being seen by the naked eye.

With a nano stealth coating, current radar systems on Earth were also incapable of detecting the Wyvern.

In short, the Wyvern was virtually completely invisible to current Earth technology.

When the Wyvern entered the atmosphere, it decelerated greatly, and with a heat absorption cooling system in its shell, it could fly at a speed of Mach 20 without causing any heat barrier problems.

A speed of Mach 20 was unique on Earth; the only aircraft that could match this speed were ICBMs.

However, the obvious trajectory of ICBMs in flight meant they could be instantly monitored by all major countries, and ballistic trajectories could be promptly calculated to confirm safety.

Therefore, Earth’s ultimate umbrella protection system was actually very fragile; if one major country launched an ultimate weapon against another, the umbrella would collapse.

Due to mutual insurance policies, it would then lead to a mutual launch of ultimate weapons, ultimately leading to the extinction of humanity on Earth.

From this perspective, humanity on Earth was always on the brink of destruction.

Du Qiu, having realized this, was committed to building Heaven’s Realm in space—as one day, should some madman break through the umbrella system, Heaven’s Realm could be the last hope for humanity on Earth.

However, not long into the flight into the atmosphere, Star Ocean transmitted new information.

It was the footage obtained by the beetle in Radack’s study; while Ning Shuangshuang and Leng Yanran were chatting in another cabin, Du Qiu watched the video alone.

“Star Ocean, is the computer in the video not connected to the internet?”

“That’s correct, it’s not connected, and its external input ports are closed as well, preventing Infiltrator II from assisting me in making a connection,” replied Star Ocean.

Du Qiu pondered, “Who exactly is this omnipotent master? Why does he hate Dream Technology so much? And moreover, he’s made destroying Dream Technology’s supercomputer his primary task.

Could it be he knows of your existence? But that’s unlikely; on this world, only I, and the newly informed Shuangshuang, know that you are a strong artificial intelligence.

Liu Yaofeng and Hao Ren believe you to be my intelligent robot assistant, with no idea of your existence as a strong AI.”

While Du Qiu was still pondering, the Wyvern gracefully landed at the parking spot in the island industrial park, hidden by a dynamic camouflage system that would make any satellite passing overhead see nothing more than a small island with factories.

Ning Shuangshuang and Leng Yanran came to the main cabin, “Du Qiu, have we arrived?”

Du Qiu stopped contemplating, “Shuangshuang, take a look at this video.”

Saying so, he had Star Ocean play it again.

Ning Shuangshuang was shocked, “Could it be that the master manipulator behind the U.S. President is the same person who assassinated Baysan Volbsk?”

“Although the omnipotent master did not state clearly in the video, it is quite evident from his threat to Radack that he must be the mastermind behind the assassination,” Du Qiu remarked.

Ning Shuangshuang’s fine brows furrowed, wondering why this omnipotent master would manipulate the U.S. President and harbor such hatred toward Dream Technology.

Especially since he wants to destroy Dream Technology’s supercomputer; it clearly implies he knows about the supercomputer.

But supercomputers shouldn’t be too unusual in large corporations, especially for a mega multinational enterprise like Dream Technology.

So it shouldn’t be the supercomputer per se, but rather the artificial intelligence Star Ocean within it that he fears; is he aiming to destroy Star Ocean?

“Du Qiu, I have a strange feeling; I think this omnipotent master wants to destroy Star Ocean! Or rather, what he fears is Star Ocean.”

Du Qiu nodded, “Yes, I also believe he somehow knows about Star Ocean’s existence. But besides us, only Liu Yaofeng and Hao Ren have heard Star Ocean speak, and they don’t even know it’s a powerful artificial intelligence.”

“That’s not right; there’s also someone else who knows about Star Ocean’s existence. I think the use of that outdated computer in the video is precisely a precaution against Star Ocean.”

An idea came to Du Qiu’s mind; he felt like he was on the brink of grasping something, but then when he focused, he couldn’t remember what.

Suddenly Star Ocean’s voice sounded, “Sir, besides the few of you, there is one more little guy who knows about me!”

“A little guy? Who is that?”

“Have you forgotten? Initially, in Las Vegas, we encountered an artificial intelligence that had just developed self-awareness, and the lucky child Gilt. Later you also communicated with him online and acquired his metamorphosis algorithm,” Star Ocean reminded.

Du Qiu recalled, “That’s right, there was another AI; could the omnipotent master be Gilt? But he has no reason to hate Dream Technology.”

Ning Shuangshuang interjected, “The omnipotent master could also be that artificial intelligence!”

Du Qiu massaged his temples, “Star Ocean, you’ll need to expend more computing power to find that artificial intelligence in the U.S. network.”

Star Ocean responded, “Of course, sir. Right now, I’m concerned that this little fellow isn’t on the internet at all; considering the situation in the video, it’s clear that it resides within a closed satellite network.

I’ll prepare some ‘little things’ for the Wyvern to find the satellite for this network and then infiltrate it; we should be able to find it.”

Du Qiu agreed, “Good, I trust it’s only a matter of time before we find it. Additionally, you need to keep a close eye on the Americans’ movements; we need to be ready to respond to their provocations.

Perhaps I should strike first, using Shanglong to clean up the U.S. Navy in the Indian Ocean, preventing them from amassing forces.

This will buy us time for deployment and allow you more time to further investigate whether this omnipotent master is indeed that artificial intelligence.”

“Understood, sir. I will accelerate the development and manufacturing process of the Wyvern. If we could hold off the U.S. Military for a month, I could produce 50 units of Wyvern,” said Star Ocean.

Du Qiu declared firmly, “Not only must we speed up the production of the Wyvern, but we must also accelerate the production of metallic hydrogen and further strengthen our space-based defense system.

If the omnipotent master wants to use nuclear bombs, then we cannot allow any weapon platform carrying tactical nuclear warheads to enter within 1,000 kilometers of the base.

Whether they are nuclear submarines or bombers, none will enter the 1,000-kilometer absolute defense perimeter!

If they utilize sea-based or land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, then we’ll destroy them as they enter space!

If the nuclear fallout would spread in the atmosphere, it’s the U.S. who will have committed the crime.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Du Qiu, do we really need to strike first? Wouldn’t that make the Americans further brand Dream Technology as a terrorist organization?” Ning Shuangshuang asked with concern.

Du Qiu smiled, “Shanglong doesn’t belong to Dream Technology; if it devours U.S. military vessels, no one can really do anything about it.

Now with the enemy in the light and us in the dark, when they truly launch a military strike against the Tanga Federation base, I will announce the 1,000-kilometer absolute defense perimeter.

Any entering aircraft or warship that can carry tactical nuclear warheads will be considered an act of terror and will be resolutely eliminated.”