Hope, Orange!

With no other conditions available to provide a testing environment for the Hope, Su Mo made a compensatory choice of an extremely cautious Triple Test for system debugging.

Cut all the entertainment systems and only install an Automatic Driving System, given the current configuration of the host.

In continuous load testing, although the load rate often reached 60% or higher, the overall performance curve still showed a healthy curve.

Compared to this arc, the concurrent testing arc on the other side also performed well. When simulating encounters with enemies, the Hope was able to make timely course adjustments to avoid obstacles.

As for the most important number of simulated extreme driving errors, it remained at "0" without any fluctuations.

Nodding, after recording all the simulated data changes provided in the test in his notebook, Su Mo immediately stopped waiting, turned off the power, and disassembled the entire host.

More than ten days of busy work, all for this moment.

But when he actually put the computer into the Storage Space and looked at the empty Computer Desk, Su Mo still couldn't help but feel uneasy.

To outsiders, he is an all-powerful super special forces soldier, proficient in everything from firearms use to wilderness survival.

But only Su Mo himself knew that his first experience of piloting a ship would be entrusted to this eighty-meter-long, elegant Hope!

"If I went back to Earth and told people that the first ship I ever sailed was a destroyer, even my dad would probably think I was bragging!"

Think about it, the most impressive thing Su Ba ever did in his life was to touch a tank and a helicopter, which he would often brag about at the dinner table.

Now, having just gotten started, he was about to pilot a destroyer. This strange experience made Su Mo laugh, and much of his unease disappeared.

Upon reaching the second floor, the cooks had already brought over the food.

Surprisingly, none of the four children chose to rush to eat today. Instead, they continued to turn on the lights and sit under them, reading the manual written by Su Mo.

With the departure for sea imminent, not only Su Mo felt a sense of urgency.

For Moore and Oreo, the task on their shoulders is equally heavy.

Instead of disturbing the fourth primary school student's studies, he took out his share from the Temperature Control basin.

Sitting on the dusty dining table, Su Mo finished his last dinner before "setting sail".

Su Mo didn't eat much for this meal. Two cabbage and tofu buns, three ounces of beef, and a bowl of porridge were enough to make him feel a little full.

Su Mo knew that this was an inevitable result of the rapid peristalsis in the stomach when a person was nervous.

But as he placed the Temperature Control basin back in its original spot, Su Mo's eyes no longer held any fear; instead, they were filled with unwavering determination! "What's there to be afraid of? If we can't start it today, even if we have to rely on Survival Points to repair it, I will get this ship out to sea!"

"If we don't have enough Survival Points, I'll risk my life to lure this alien race out. I refuse to believe that a living person can suffocate from inanimate objects."

After silently giving himself a couple of pep talks and confirming that everything he needed to bring on board for testing was in his Storage Space, Su Mo closed the shelter door and strode out.

The sky is round and the earth is square. Nights come later in the wasteland, but by 6:30 pm, the sky is already slowly getting dark.

The spotlights that the shipyard would normally turn on at this time no longer emit their light after manufacturing is completed.

Upon seeing Su Mo approaching from afar, Chen Shen, who had been waiting for a long time, quickly came forward and gave a brief report on the loading of all the supplies.

The first batch of supplies that were loaded onto the ship contained virtually no valuables.

Some of the food items were cabbages pickled by the cooks in Hope Village these days, which did not spoil or rot when stored in the warehouse.

"Good, well done. What we Hope Village is strict discipline and this kind of efficiency."

After praising Chen Shen's leadership and the villagers' efficiency, Su Mo continued his rambling:

"Tonight, I have another very important task for you!"

"Big Brother Su, please speak!"

"Starting at seven o'clock, a two-kilometer radius around the Hope will be placed under martial law. No one is allowed to enter this area without my order."

"All militiamen must be mobilized. This is not a drill; I need martial law with arms deployed!"

Seeing Su Mo's serious face and hearing his murderous words, Chen Shen did not immediately accept the order to work as usual.

Instead, his expression changed, as if he had thought of something. "Big Brother Su, does this mean we're going to have tonight?"

"That's right, tonight is the most important moment for Hope Village, and I don't want anyone to disturb me!"

Upon hearing that it was indeed as he had thought, Chen Shen, who had been preparing for more than ten days, immediately stopped wasting words.

After a standard military salute, Chen Shen pulled out a pistol from his Storage Space and quickly ran towards the village.

The Hope is about to be tested! This is not only an extremely important event for Su Mo, but also a matter of life and death for hundreds of people in Hope Village.

These days, none of the villagers mention this matter while they are working.

But when I go to bed at night, I often find myself unable to sleep because of these thoughts.

Everyone, including the management, was afraid that the Hope might encounter some setback when entering the sea, causing dozens of days of preparation to be in vain.

Even Chen Shen, who had prepared countless test plans in his mind beforehand, still couldn't help but feel a dizzying excitement when he actually heard Su Mo's words.

He knew how drastic the changes in human nature would occur in the impending Ocean Disaster if the test succeeded.

He knew even better that if Su Mo could build destroyers like this, what a bright future awaited him if he followed Su Mo.

"Big Brother Su, you must succeed!"

Even though he was running until his chest felt like it was going to burst and his whole body was emitting signs of oxygen deficiency, Chen Shen did not stop.

He knew that Su Mo would succeed!

I don't know what others think, but after sitting at the bow of the boat and watching the sun completely sink below the horizon, Su Mo opened the cockpit door and sat down with an air of nonchalance.

Currently, the Hope is not powered on and needs to be connected to the Material Conversion Engine to continuously output power.

He took out a mechanic, had him hold a lamp, and after completing the installation of the main unit in the dark, Su Mo pressed the button for the three-layer mechanism leading down to the Engine Room again.

With a clatter, the iron plate slowly extended and retracted. After glancing at the main switch and making sure it was off, Su Mo skillfully climbed the iron steps to the Engine Room.

Currently, the pumping pipe of the two pipes is temporarily suspended because the ocean has not yet arrived.

To get the engine to provide energy and start the ship right now, you have to manually add resources to it.

After thinking for a moment, Su Mo first took out a 50L tank of diesel fuel and poured it down the feed inlet.

Close the feed inlet and try clicking the start button on the Matter Conversion Engine.

As expected, a panel identical to those in other Module Technology slowly unfolded from the side of the engine.

"Compared to the control panel of Oil Well, the control panel of the Matter Conversion Engine is five times larger, almost the size of a 30-inch television. Not bad at all."

Based on the principle that bigger is better, Su Mo was secretly pleased when he saw the size of the panel.

But upon seeing the data displayed above, Su Mo's joy immediately turned into deep sorrow.

While 50L of diesel fuel can certainly start the engine and get it running, unfortunately, it will only last for 1 minute and 20 seconds before being completely consumed.

Without knowing exactly how much power it can output, this consumption seems like a bottomless pit.

If it weren't for the ability to convert water, relying solely on diesel fuel, even if they sold Su Mo, wouldn't be enough to raise the resources for a single voyage.

"It seems diesel fuel doesn't burn very well. Should we replace it with something else?"

After closing the panel and reopening the feed inlet, Su Mo looked at the various odds and ends in the Storage Space and began to try them one by one.

Iron, one kilogram, 1.8 seconds, pass!

Bronze, 2.2 seconds, pass!

Wood, 0.9 seconds, pass!

Plastic, 1.1 seconds, Pass!

Wheat, 0.3 seconds, Pass!

Water, 0.65 seconds! After trying more than a dozen things, copper undoubtedly won the championship when measured in kilograms, as one kilogram can burn for a full 2.2 seconds.

But this amount of time is just a drop in the ocean.

"Good heavens, so that means my thousand units of copper will only last for thirty-odd minutes? That's outrageous!"

Looking at the statistics, Su Mo shook his head repeatedly and crossed out everything except for water.

A water energy conversion ratio of 0.65 is sufficient! Based on the fact that the medium-sized water pump installed on the Hope can pump 65 tons per hour, it can pump 1080 kilograms per minute.

Further calculations show that it can pump 18 kg per second, which can supply the engine's power consumption for 11.7 seconds, which is more than enough.

Of course, Su Mo still has one trump card in his hands.

After closing the panel again, this time when the feed inlet was opened, Su Mo did not add any other random things.

Instead, they brought out the most precious resource currently available in the Underground Shelter: Psionic Water! This magical water source, rich in psionic energy, has acquired even more amazing functions after its second upgrade.

Even without trying, it's absolutely No.1!

However, despite feeling sorry for them, the tests still need to be done.

After trying to pour one liter of Psionic Water into the inlet and closing the top cover, the numbers on the panel changed dramatically when I opened it this time.

Previously, when various materials were added, the upgrade time was measured in seconds.

But this time, quite glaringly, Su Mo saw an hour on the statistics panel!

And the number before the hour is not small, a full 1.8!

"One liter of Psionic Water can power the engine for a full 1.8 hours, and only 13 liters are needed per day to supply its daily consumption."

"Although it's significantly more powerful than other materials, it's still not as cost-effective as using water!"

Once on board, the Youneng Water Well in the refuge cannot be taken away, meaning that for every liter used, there is one less liter available.

Such a precious strategic resource could not be used as fuel by Su Mo; except in emergencies, it was powered by water 99% of the time.

"However, now that we have had a power supply for such a long time, we can start testing directly."

Click "Start Operation" on the panel, and you'll hear the Matter Conversion Engine gradually begin to make a spiraling sound.

Without further hesitation, Su Mo quickly climbed back up the stairs to the driver's cab on the first floor.

The material engine takes three minutes to start. After three minutes, the entire ship will be fully powered and ready to go.

At that time, all Su Mo needs to do is pull the main power switch to power up the entire ship.

This super destroyer, which has gathered nearly 100,000 resources of various kinds, is about to unleash its brilliance in front of everyone!

One minute, two minutes. Sitting in the driver's seat, watching the clock count down and listening to the increasingly loud whirring of the rotors in the tunnel, for some reason, Su Mo's heart gradually calmed down.

"Ninety thousand Iron Block, thirty thousand copper blocks, high-strength steel plates produced by the modular furnace, four mechanics working tirelessly day and night, the modular shipyard operating around the clock."

"From the very beginning, I witnessed its birth, and I also witnessed its completion!"

"I've poured so much of my heart and soul into this ship; there's no reason, no justification, that it will fail."

"Hope, give it to me! Charge!"

Silently waiting, as the roar of the Engine Room finally subsided, Su Mo suddenly opened his closed eyes, radiating an extremely confident glint.

The upper arm drives the forearm, the forearm drives the palm, and the moment the palm touches the switch, with Su Mo exerting force, the "switch" symbolizing the rebirth of the "Hope" finally falls! Boom! It's like a thunderclap from a clear sky, or like a wildfire.

At that moment, after the switch was turned on, it wasn't just the ship that trembled, but the entire world! The small depression seemed to be bearing an undue burden.

The scaffolding supporting the entire Hope began to creak inexplicably, as if it might collapse at any moment.

The sun had already set on the horizon, bathed in the inky darkness of the moonlight.

The Hope seemed to come alive, trembling incessantly on the ground! This scene stunned the hundreds of villagers who had surrounded the Hope in the darkness! Just a moment ago, they were holding torches, their eyes shining brightly.

They knew that tonight, they could only succeed, not fail! But the next second, as the earth trembled, they suddenly found that the sky, which had been dark, suddenly brightened up again.

Curious, they turned around to see what was happening. A scene that would never be forgotten by any of the villagers was branded into their minds like a hot iron. The Hope was shining! Like a giant beast, the Hope, lying prostrate on the earth, was bursting with deep purple light!

"Look! What's that!"

The deep purple light wasn't dazzling, but the villagers on the bow of the ship were astonished to discover...

At the bow of the Hope, where the large flag stands, some orange lights are converging.

Compared to deep purple, orange is very faint, so faint that it seems like it might disappear at any moment.

But the next second, before more villagers could get a better look, the orange light seemed to receive a boost, and in the blink of an eye...

Hope, it's orange!