Gag Order

Liang Xingchen was a little dazed in his office.

Lin Fan had caused a huge mess? What was going on? Checking the time, Lin Fan should have only just arrived at the 101st Fleet, right?

"Elder Bai, what exactly happened?"

"What do you mean, what happened? He gave me a technical document. Do you know what kind of technology it was?"

"What technology?"

"The complete technical documentation for a Warp Drive Engine. He even worked out the formulas for every material needed. Do you know what that means? It means we can start building one right away! Do you understand?"

"What?"

Liang Xingchen shot to his feet from his chair in shock and let out a roar.

Even the adjutant in the office next door heard him, which showed just how stunned he was.

That kid had just told me he had some new ideas and designs. This was his new idea? A Warp Drive Engine?

How could Liang Xingchen not know what a Warp Drive Engine was?

It altered spacetime and folded space to achieve faster-than-light travel.

At present, humanity traveled between Star Systems through the so-called Star Paths that connected them. Although Star Paths allowed travel at three times the speed of light, they had a major flaw: one could only travel along their fixed routes.

To put it simply, Star Paths were like railways spread throughout the Milky Way, while each Star System was like a city.

Thus, if one wanted to travel to a Star System a hundred light-years away via a Star Path, one first had to find the route and reach the entrance to the Star Path.

Then one had to follow the route to the first Star System, then travel from there to the second. It was not a straight journey, but more like a train stopping at one station after another.

As for what Star Paths actually were? Sorry, humanity still had no real answer. They only knew that Star Paths crisscrossed the Milky Way like a transportation network.

Take the Solar System, for example. It had two outward Star Paths, leading respectively to Proxima and the Barnard's Star System.

The most widely accepted theory about Star Paths was that they were not naturally formed, but artificial—possibly cosmic transportation routes laid down by some civilization long ago!

Warp Drive Engines, however, were different. They did not need to advance station by station along fixed routes like Star Paths. Within their maximum folding range, they could travel directly to any location, and they were far faster than traveling by Star Path.

Their military applications were even more significant. Normally, it was impossible to use Star Paths for rapid movement within a Star System, since Star Paths were merely transportation networks connecting different Star Systems.

But Warp Drive Engines had no such limitations. They could also be used within a Star System for short-range jumps. What did that represent?

As a god of war, Liang Xingchen instantly came up with several tactics made possible by Warp Drive Engines.

The tactics he imagined startled even him. They could completely wipe out the 120,000 Oakes Empire warships gathered at Jupiter.

It was precisely because he understood all this that Liang Xingchen lost control and shouted.

And now, he finally understood why Bai Zixuan had said a little over a hundred people would not be enough and that they needed at least ten times that manpower.

"What are you shouting for, kid? Are you trying to deafen this old man?"

"Sorry, sorry. I got a little carried away."

"Hurry up and assign people to me. We need to build a prototype and test it as quickly as possible."

"Understood. I'll immediately send personnel over. If you need anything else, just tell me. I'll give you my full support!"

"Fine. If I need anything, I'll come find you. That's it, I'm hanging up."

Looking at the communication that Bai Zixuan had abruptly cut off, Liang Xingchen did not feel anything in particular. He was used to it; it was like this every time.

Still, Lin Fan had brought Liang Xingchen far too many surprises. He had even managed to create a Warp Drive Engine.

Without any hesitation, Liang Xingchen pressed a red button on his desk. It was an emergency communication line directly connected to the Federation President and could not be used except in an emergency.

"President Lin, this is Liang Xingchen. Something has happened here."

A few minutes later, after ending his communication with Lin Zhen, Liang Xingchen summoned his adjutant.

"Go. Have every Mars Base researcher related to engines and materials report to Medium Orbital Starport No. 27. Execute immediately!"

"Yes!"

After the adjutant left, Liang Xingchen contacted Bai Zixuan again.

"What is it now, kid? I'm busy!"

"Elder Bai, I'm here to convey a presidential order. President Lin has just signed an order classifying all information related to Lin Fan as Top Secret Level. You need to issue a gag order over there. No one may reveal the source of the relevant technology."

"How can that be? You're depriving the Federation's greatest scientist of the honor he deserves!"

"Elder Bai, it's fine. Just tell Lin Fan it was the president's order, and he'll understand!"

Bai Zixuan quickly hung up on him again, leaving Liang Xingchen somewhat helpless.

Inside Medium Starport No. 27, Bai Zixuan was so furious that his beard trembled and his eyes bulged.

What right did the president have to take away Lin Fan's honor? What right did he have to do that?

"Elder Bai, what's wrong with you?"

Seeing how furious Bai Zixuan looked, Lin Fan walked over and asked.

"Lin Fan, you came at the right time. That kid Liang Xingchen just said the president issued a gag order. No one is allowed to reveal the source of the Warp Drive Engine technology. Isn't that robbing you of the honor you deserve? Don't worry, I absolutely will not allow this to happen!"

"Uh..."

Lin Fan finally understood why Bai Zixuan was so angry. He was standing up for him.

His heart warmed a little. Old Bai was a good man.

As for the old man back home, Lin Fan did not even need to think to know what he meant. He was trying to protect him. After all, the technology Lin Fan had produced this time was a little too outrageous.

"Elder Bai, you don't need to do this. The president is actually protecting me."

"Bullshit. Wait, you said the president is protecting you? Lin Zhen? Lin Fan?"

Bai Zixuan was not a foolish man. He immediately thought of a possibility and stared at Lin Fan with wide eyes.

Lin Fan did not answer Bai Zixuan. He merely gave him a wry smile and nodded.

"Fine, I won't interfere in this matter. I'll issue a gag order to everyone who knows, as the president instructed."

"Thank you, Elder Bai! Oh, and here is the technical documentation for some Industrial Robots I developed before. I'll hand it over to you as well."

"Hm? Then hurry up and let me see it."

Seeing Bai Zixuan's eager expression, Lin Fan could only smile wryly.

He took out another storage card and handed it to him.