At this point, although the experiment was still some way from completion, it could already be considered a success.
The technical department soon reported to the commanders. "At the current rate, we'll be able to take control of the fortress's central systems in another two or three hours."
Of course, that was assuming the Empire didn't physically sever the connection or use some incomprehensible occult countermeasure.
The technical officers began following the earlier plan: collecting the formulas used to generate the backend programs, analyzing vulnerabilities in the ports, and recording which permissions were available.
They remembered all too clearly that the marshal had said this was a training exercise. Next time, they'd be hunting much bigger game.
Deng Zhengqing relayed the latest results to everyone. "The operation is going smoothly. We've severed the energy lines to the turrets in Sector D. It'll take them at least thirty minutes to restore power. Even if they have well-trained engineers risking their lives under fire to make manual repairs, it'll still take at least twenty minutes."
"That's enough. Now we'll see whether Her Excellency the Commander's intelligence was correct," Wayne said.
"Let's give it a try. It's not like we have anything to lose." Eleanor Bonaparte didn't hesitate. She immediately ordered the fighters to make a penetration run.
The four squadrons of Red Phantoms had been ready and waiting. They unfurled their wings of light and began accelerating. As they charged forward, they discovered that the enemy really was facing them with a markedly thinner interception net.
At that moment, the impenetrable porcupine finally showed a weakness.
Half a minute later, the targets of the Earth fighters' attack came within range.
They were several inconspicuous air-exchange vents in the fortress's outer armor.
These were minor structural flaws left behind by Imperial engineers in