The Warp Drive Engine

Within Orbital Starport No. 27.

Lin Fan looked at the tens of thousands of officers and soldiers in front of him, their expressions somewhat unfriendly. He smiled and continued, "You must be wondering how this guy, only 19 years old, became a colonel and the commander of a task force fleet?"

"You must be wondering if this guy is a rich kid from some family trying to gain experience?"

"And you must be wondering, why should this guy be in command of us?"

Lin Fan asked these three questions with a smile, scanning the assembled officers and soldiers.

"Then, I will now announce the sole guiding principle for the 101st Task Force Fleet going forward: anyone who can defeat me in a fleet simulation battle will become the new fleet commander."

Upon hearing Lin Fan's words, the tens of thousands of officers and soldiers erupted. No fleet commander would ever do something like this!

Could it be that they had misunderstood? Did this overly young colonel actually possess true talent and skill?

Wait, Lin Fan... this name sounds so familiar.

Many among the officers and soldiers suddenly realized, finding Lin Fan's name increasingly familiar, as if they had heard it somewhere before.

Ah, they remembered! Could it be that Lin Fan?

A major standing at the very front suddenly recalled something, a flicker of excitement appearing in his eyes.

"Report!"

"Speak!"

"I would like to ask if the commander had a simulation battle with Wood Scott from the Federal Fleet Headquarters last year?"

"Yes, I did have a simulation battle with Wood Scott last year!"

It was him indeed. The major who asked the question became even more excited upon receiving Lin Fan's confirmation.

At this point, everyone else also realized why Lin Fan's name felt so familiar.

This was the Lin Fan who, last year, had annihilated Wood Scott's fleet with only one lightly damaged battleship. He was hailed as a once-in-a-millennium prodigy from the Interstellar Military Academy.

No wonder he was already a colonel at just 19 years old and the commander of a task force fleet.

Everything made sense now. They thought, "No wonder! How could someone like that, a young master seeking to boost his resume, appear under Commander Liang's command? This is absurd!" Many began to inwardly pat themselves on the back for their foresight.

"Does anyone else have any questions?"

"Report!"

"Speak!"

"I heard that the Artificial Gravity Generator we are currently using was also designed by the commander. Is this true?"

"That's correct, it was indeed designed by me!"

Swish. This time, the shock among everyone was even greater. After all, most officers and soldiers didn't care about technical matters, let alone who designed what! Only a few officers with an interest in technology would bother to find out.

Therefore, the vast majority of people didn't know that Lin Fan had designed the Artificial Gravity Generator. Learning this now, they were extremely stunned.

What was this? Not only a prodigy in fleet command, but also a prodigy in scientific research?

In an instant, the unfriendly expressions on everyone's faces vanished, replaced by fervor and admiration.

With such a monstrous commander, they felt their future was much more secure.

"If no one else has any questions, today's session ends here! Everyone return to your posts. Specific orders will be issued by Deputy Liang later."

"Yes!"

"Deputy Liang, escort me to meet the research team arranged by Commander Liang!"

"Understood!"

With his usual unchanging expression, he responded and turned to leave without any hesitation.

Lin Fan shook his head. The road ahead was long and arduous. He immediately followed.

Not long after, the two arrived at a massive building in the center of the starport. Several white-haired elders were directing over a hundred people in the unpacking and debugging of various equipment.

Liang Xue led Lin Fan to an elder, estimated to be around 70 years old, wearing a white lab coat.

"Elder Bai, this is the base commander, Colonel Lin Fan."

"Oh? You're the Lin Fan that Liang Xingchen mentioned to me? The designer of the Artificial Gravity Generator? I am Elder Bai Zixuan."

"Hello, Elder Bai. I will have to trouble you a lot from now on."

"Don't say that. I've already made it clear to Liang Xingchen. If you can't bring me any surprises, I'm leaving right away!"

"Uh..."

Lin Fan was puzzled. Why did everyone Liang Xingchen assigned to him have such a bad temper? Well, he supposed he would just have to assume that talented people had eccentric personalities.

"That is natural, Elder Bai. I have a latest design here, and I've prepared all the related technology. However, as you know, I am a fleet commander and don't have time for subsequent manufacturing and testing. So, I will have to trouble you with it!"

"Hmm? Let me see. What kind of technology is it?"

"Here. I believe this will provide you with enough surprise!"

Lin Fan reached into his pocket with his right hand, took out a storage card, and handed it to Bai Zixuan.

This was prepared long ago, all the technical data has already been stored within.

After Bai Zixuan took the storage card, he raised his right arm and inserted it into the neural computer he wore on his right hand, immediately reading the information inside.

Looking at the neatly organized folders of various data, especially the names on those folders, Bai Zixuan was stunned.

Warp Drive Engine Design Blueprints, Detailed Explanation of Space Folding Technology, Related Material Formulas and Recipes.

Bai Zixuan admitted he was shocked by these names and immediately clicked on the Warp Drive Engine Design Blueprints to view them, enlarging them via holographic projection.

A few minutes later, Bai Zixuan took a large stride and appeared before Lin Fan, reaching out with both hands and directly grabbing Lin Fan's clothes.

"Uh, Elder Bai, please calm down."

"Calm down? What are you talking about? Lin Fan, do you know what you've researched?"

"Of course, I know!"

"You say that so easily. This thing is enough to make you the Federation's greatest scientist!"

Bai Zixuan wasn't exaggerating at all. What is a warp drive engine? It's something that allows the Federation's fleet to travel quickly across the universe without relying on the Starways. The distances between star systems will no longer be a problem.

With this, not to mention anything else, at the very least, it would give the Federation's fleet a decisive advantage in their battles against the Oakes Empire.

Liang Xue, who was standing nearby, showed a change in expression for the first time. Who was Bai Zixuan? He was a tough character who wouldn't even give his own father, Liang Xingchen, face.

And now he was excitedly calling Lin Fan the Federation's greatest scientist in front of her?

What kind of data did this guy show Bai Zixuan?

Liang Xue looked at Lin Fan, a sliver of curiosity suddenly appearing in her heart.

"Hello, is this Liang Xingchen?"

Bai Zixuan had already contacted Liang Xingchen on the side.

"Elder Bai, what is it?"

"You still have the nerve to ask? Immediately allocate more personnel to me, I need more than ten times the current number of people."

"Did something happen?"

"You still have the nerve to ask what happened? Lin Fan's mess is too big. I can't handle it with just the current 100 or so people!"

"Lin Fan made a huge mess?"