A single nuclear power plant in the Yugoslav Federation could supply the industrial and daily needs of the entire Balkan Peninsula. Its standard output of one trillion watts was equivalent to that of more than five hundred of the largest nuclear reactors in the modern world, no less powerful than the atomic reactors installed on bombardment satellites. Since these industrial laser bombardment satellites were used to heat Mars's polar ice caps and convert them into an atmosphere, they were often equipped with multiple atomic reactors. When several ruby-red Particle Beams illuminated the void beyond the Helicarrier, the might of that technology was displayed in the most direct way possible—despite the great distance, the entire bridge was still lit by that dazzling glow. For an instant, the blinding red radiance overwhelmed every light fixture on the bridge, but the armored viewport glass automatically adjusted its brightness and filtered out the long wavelengths, restoring the bridge to its original illumination.
The Emperor stood before the captain's throne on the bridge, one hand resting on the railing.
At His side was the Helicarrier's integrated information processing system. Dense streams of data from external sensors, early-warning drones, satellite surveillance, and more cascaded across black screens like waterfalls. Only a few screens displayed images of the laser bombardment site two hundred kilometers away. Tita stood at the center of the surrounding screens, issuing orders at a speed of thought beyond human capacity. "Two minutes and forty-one seconds remain in the laser bombardment. The Void bombers have left the hangars. Formations 104 and 103 will carry out the bombing mission." Tita turned to report to her master. Based on data such as the Attilan base's light reflectivity, Martian Technicians had inferred the principles and defensive capacity of its shield field technology. The staff department's analysts and