The unidentified flying objects encountered and involved in conflict in the Western Pacific were aliens. Did anyone have a different opinion?
After waiting for more than ten seconds, no one present raised any objections. These unidentified flying objects were officially defined as aliens or an alien civilization.
Since they were aliens, how did their technological capabilities compare with ours?
If the two sides had not made contact through this kind of conflict, that question could have been addressed later. Starting from politics and diplomacy, they could deepen mutual understanding. If they could achieve mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, all the better. Even if not, they could still exchange knowledge and broaden their understanding of the universe.
But now, this question was extremely important. The facts proved that the aliens were highly aggressive. If their technology was unimaginably powerful and overwhelmingly superior to humanity's, then how could they protect the lives and property of the people under such brutal circumstances? How could they ensure the continuation of Huaxia Civilization?
"Please come up and speak."
Whoosh. A senior naval officer rose to his feet, walked to the podium, and projected the materials he had submitted onto the massive screen.
"After compiling and assessing the intelligence currently available, and taking objective conditions into account, our conclusion is this: the alien civilization's technology is somewhat more advanced than ours, but we are not being suppressed unilaterally."
At those words, everyone turned to look at the naval officer. A satellite image appeared on the enormous projection screen, showing warships trailing black smoke.
"Based on the intelligence we currently possess, the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group successfully broke contact after being attacked by aliens. Its overall losses remain within an acceptable range. Aside from the loss of ninety percent of its carrier-based aircraft, only one warship was sunk. This proves that the civilization's military strength has not achieved an overwhelming or dimensional advantage over human technology."
The officer's words sparked quiet discussion among those present. Though it sounded somewhat disrespectful to the USA, the fact was that its warships were indeed far too old, and their combat effectiveness had declined severely.
"Furthermore, we are not without achievements. We are the first country to shoot down aliens—and we shot down three at once! The People's Navy has made history!"
If the earlier remarks had only prompted quiet discussion, then hearing that Great East was the first country to shoot down alien aircraft raised the noise in the room by an entire level.
The officer was right. This truly was history in the making. Like the Americans' one small step on the moon—if they had really gone there—at this moment, Great East represented all of humanity!
"During the conflict with the aliens, Liaoning carrier-based pilots Comrade Zhang Peng and Comrade Liu Jun, working with their comrades, successfully shot down three aircraft. The wreckage has already been recovered." As he spoke, the navy lieutenant general lifted his chin slightly, and the naval officers below straightened their backs as well.
The air force officers, meanwhile, felt their teeth ache at the sight of the navy's smugness. New warships were rolling off the line like dumplings, while they had only a sixth-generation fighter. Right! They had a sixth-generation fighter! They were not jealous! Not jealous at all!
The army officers were even more depressed. Aside from new shoes, they had some good equipment too, but seeing the navy's new dumplings and the air force's sixth-generation fighter left them craving more.
In the seats, the captain of the Fujian Carrier, who had rushed back in a hurry, leaned slightly toward the person beside him and whispered, "Say, those two pilots..."
"Forget it. There's no way they'll let them go!" Elite naval aviation pilots with confirmed kills were prized treasures aboard any carrier. With Zhang Jun's personality, he would definitely hide them away like treasures. Anyone trying to poach them would be asking for a fight.
"But we can arrange an exchange."
"Good."
The captain of the Fujian Carrier was not angry. In the end, they would still have to board his ship anyway. The drawbacks of ski-jump takeoffs were right there; only catapult launches allowed full ammunition and fuel loads, letting the Flying Shark unleash its greatest combat power!
He could let Zhang Jun help train them for a while first. Hehehe. At the thought, the captain of the 003 smiled blissfully.
"No wonder, no wonder." The professor who sold sea cucumbers in Inner Mongolia adjusted the pen in his hand and suddenly understood. No wonder the USA had not loudly promoted its usual "beacon of humanity" rhetoric this time. It had been passively beaten one-sidedly and had not shot down a single enemy aircraft. If it publicized that, Great East would slap it in the face in return. Had it even restricted and removed some Hollywood alien-fighting films out of fear that the aliens would see them and come knocking?
Unlike him, the academicians, PhDs, and technicians in the science and technology fields immediately had bloodshot eyes upon hearing that the navy had obtained wreckage from alien aircraft. This was the creation of another civilization. By studying the wreckage, they could roughly infer the other side's industrial and technological level, then work backward to reconstruct its entire industrial system.
What technology did they use? What materials did they use? Were there elements that did not exist on Earth? And what principles did they operate on?
One could use another mountain's stones to polish one's own jade. Could some of their technologies be used as references to solve current technical problems?
If the people onstage had not held them back, these old academicians would absolutely have shown the navy what it meant to be overwhelmed by hospitality!
Several dozen old academicians would form a group and go drink tea with the navy. Every day! And each tea session would last all day!
Where was the wreckage?
The people onstage immediately noticed the stir among the national treasures seated in the science section. They hurriedly spoke on behalf of those national treasures; even they could not withstand the old academicians' "siege."
"Most of the wreckage is aboard the 815A vessel. A small portion has been brought back and is currently being analyzed in the laboratory."
Hm? Being analyzed in a laboratory?!
The old academicians immediately turned suspicious gazes on the people beside them. Which old bastard was so lucky? How many papers could that produce!
And there was such good stuff, yet someone had not brought it out and was studying it alone? Hoarding everything for oneself would not make anyone fat!
Upon hearing the naval officer's words, Academician Zhou, seated in the front row, began coughing. This is bad. The things his student had offered him out of filial respect were about to be exposed. As the saying went, those near the water got the moonlight first. Since Song Xizhu was aboard the 815A vessel, how could she not get priority access to some of it?
"Old Zhou, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, nothing. I just choked on my saliva."
"Really?" His old friend looked Academician Zhou up and down suspiciously. Once a chain of suspicion formed, it was unbreakable.
"Of course. Um, come by my laboratory when you have time," Academician Zhou said quietly.
The old academician immediately gave Academician Zhou a look that said, "You sly bastard," and the corners of his mouth rose. An unspoken deal was struck at that moment. The chain of suspicion was shattered.
"Please rest assured, the wreckage will be distributed to military-industrial universities and research institutes according to their needs!" the person onstage declared loudly.
Having received that guarantee, the old academicians nodded in satisfaction to themselves. As for who got more and who got less, that would depend on their own abilities!
"Actual combat has proven that our cannons can inflict effective damage on them, but our missiles have suffered severe interference. Whether radar-guided or infrared-guided, once they approach the alien aircraft, they malfunction. The specific circumstances are..."
After the interruption ended, the naval officer continued explaining the situation.
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