Chapter 478 Shadow of Space

Yang Xiaobing burst through the door to the control center, his coat still on, snow dripping from his collar. He was panting, his voice a half-octave higher than usual.

"It changed course."

He Yuzhu didn't turn around. On the big screen, a red dot appeared next to the blue track.

"It's heading towards Kunlun's orbit. It's moving very fast; it's not an ordinary satellite."

He Yuzhu's hand remained on the teacup, not picking it up. Lin Jianguo stood up from the control console, tapped a few times on the keyboard, and retrieved the data.

"The altitude dropped from 36,000 to 20,000. The change in orbit was significant, and fuel consumption was considerable." His voice was calm, but his throat tightened when he said the last few words.

Ma Yuejin squatted in the corner, lighting and stubbing out his cigarette repeatedly. Qian Zhiyuan walked up from the back row and stared at the screen for several seconds.

"This is not a missile. A missile only has enough fuel for one maneuver. It goes from Antarctica to geostationary orbit, then changes course to near-Earth, requiring at least three ignitions. This is a spacecraft capable of sustained thrust."

He Yuzhu picked up the microphone, paused for a second on the call button before pressing it.

"Kunlun, ground. An unidentified object is approaching you."

He didn't say the words "emergency notification," but Tan Wei noticed the change in his tone.

"How far is it?"

"Twelve thousand. Relative speed of five hundred meters per second. Still getting closer."

Tan Wei paused for two seconds. "The ground radar didn't detect it. The target is very small, with a reflective surface of less than one square meter. It's also not visible optically."

"The enemy has strong maneuverability. They descended from geosynchronous orbit. Pay attention to the starboard side."

"clear."

He Yuzhu put down the microphone and turned to look at the control console. Yang Xiaobing stood behind him, the snow water on his coat pooling on the floor.

"Director He, this thing came from the Antarctic base. If it's a weapon, we have the right to shoot it down."

"We have no right to shoot it down. We can only monitor it," He Yuzhu said in a low voice. "What if we crash into it?" Yang Xiaobing pressed.

He Yuzhu didn't answer. He walked to another phone and dialed the General Staff's number. He listened for a few seconds, then hung up without saying a word. Old Sun stood up from the communications station.

"Hai Li asked, 'Can we retaliate?'"

"No. We can only tell the Kunlun to be careful."

The red dot on the big screen flickered several times. Lin Jianguo pointed to the data.

"It accelerated again. The meeting time was brought forward to three hours and fifty minutes. The closest distance was four hundred kilometers."

Ma Yuejin threw his cigarette into the trash can and stood up. "It's getting closer to us."

Qian Zhiyuan shook his head. "It's not about getting close. It's testing its tracking capabilities. It's launching from the Antarctic electromagnetic orbit and using its own thrust to change course. Its target is the Kunlun spacecraft, not to collide with it, but to test its own sensors and algorithms."

"So we'll be the targets on the training field?" Yang Xiaobing raised his voice.

"This is just a test. Next time we might get closer to 100 kilometers, or 50 kilometers." Qian Zhiyuan's voice lowered.

He Yuzhu picked up the microphone.

"Kunlun, the other side is accelerating again. The rendezvous time is three hours and fifty minutes, and the closest distance is four hundred kilometers. Do you need to maneuver?"

Tan Wei did not answer immediately. A brief static sound came through the communication channel.

"Ground, no movement for now. Maintain existing trajectory."

"Received. I will keep you informed."

Three hours. No one left the control center. Lin Jianguo reported data every twenty minutes. The distance had shrunk from 400 kilometers to 380, 360, 350. Ma Yuejin squatted in a corner, several extinguished cigarette butts lying on the ground. Qian Zhiyuan leaned against the wall, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the screen. Yang Xiaobing stood at the door, his coat already dry, but he didn't take it off.

Old Sun brought over a stack of boxed lunches, but no one touched them.

"Two hours. Three hundred and twenty kilometers away." Lin Jianguo looked up.

He Yuzhu stood in front of the command platform, his left hand gripping the microphone, his right hand pressing against the edge of the table, his knuckles turning white.

Tan Wei's voice came through the communication channel, tinged with a barely perceptible tension. "On the ground, we can't see anything on starboard. But the sensors are interfering. The frequency is wide, like it's actively scanning."

Qian Zhiyuan straightened up from the wall. "They're illuminating the Kunlun. With radar. This isn't a test of tracking capabilities; they're collecting the Kunlun's electromagnetic signature."

He Yuzhu pressed the call button. "Kunlun, shut down non-essential radiation equipment. Only maintain quantum communication."

"clear."

No one spoke in the control center. The hum of the server fans seemed exceptionally loud.

"One hour. 280 kilometers away."

He Yuzhu put down the microphone and turned to look at Yang Xiaobing. "Have Zhou Zhiyuan keep a close eye on Antarctica. Report the next launch in advance."

Yang Xiaobing nodded, pushed open the door, and went out.

"Thirty minutes. Two hundred and fifty kilometers away."

Lin Jianguo's voice began to tighten. Ma Yuejin stood up from the ground and walked to the screen. Qian Zhiyuan took his hand out of his pocket.

"Twenty minutes. Two hundred and twenty kilometers away."

Tan Wei's voice came through. "On the ground, the interference has increased. Communication quality is deteriorating."

"Kunlun, maintain quantum communication. Silence on other frequency bands."

"clear."

"Ten minutes. Two hundred kilometers away."

He Yuzhu gripped the microphone, his palms sweaty.

"Five minutes. 180 kilometers away."

"One minute. 160 kilometers away."

Lin Jianguo's voice trailed off. "Rendezvous. Closest distance 158 kilometers. The target is not approaching and is starting to move away."

Tan Wei's breathing could be heard over the communication channel; it was heavier than usual.

"Ground, target passes by on starboard. I still can't see anything. But the jamming has stopped."

He Yuzhu released the microphone, his fingers leaving several sweaty marks on the edge of the table.

"Kunlun, all alert."

He put down the microphone and turned around. His legs were a little stiff, and he stood there for a couple of seconds before taking a step.

"Project Sky Shield preliminary research has begun. A space defense platform, objective: to monitor and intercept unidentified objects approaching our spacecraft." He looked at Lin Jianguo. "A framework plan must be available within a week."

Ma Yuejin emerged from the corner. "What can 20 million do? It's not even enough to build a model."

"First, develop a proposal. Once the proposal is approved, then apply for formal funding."

Lin Jianguo opened his notebook, the pen tip poking at the paper. He looked up at He Yuzhu, then lowered his head to write again.

Old Sun stood up from the communications station, holding a telegram in his hand.

"Director He, can the preliminary research funding for the Ocean Shield Project be reduced to ten million?"

He Yuzhu did not answer the telegram.

"Tell them, we can't cut it. Minimum twenty million." His voice wasn't loud, but every word was firm. "Anything below that, we'd rather not take it. We can't skimp on this."

Old Sun put away the telegram and left.

He Yuzhu stood alone in front of the command platform. The red dot on the big screen moved further and further away, while the blue dot remained on its original trajectory.

Yang Xiaobing pushed open the door and came back; his coat was wet again, and it was snowing outside.

"Director He, Zhou Zhiyuan said that the Antarctic base launched another one. The orbit is the same as this one."

He Yuzhu stared at the disappearing red dot on the screen.

"Keep a close eye on them. Next time we come, let the Sky Shield simulation system track us. Let's see how capable we are at tracking them."