High in the sky, a reconnaissance craft raced forward with its engines at full throttle, accompanied by two or three fighter planes on either side. A moment later, the fighters' canopies snapped open, and their pilots quickly parachuted to safety. Left without anyone at the controls, the planes continued on their course without veering in the slightest.
Meanwhile, the metal gun barrel in the distance swung rapidly around and locked onto its targets.
The next instant, a brilliant blue beam shot out like lightning. In less than two seconds, it tore across the sky and struck the unmanned planes with pinpoint accuracy, blasting them apart. Then the muzzle adjusted slightly, aiming at the reconnaissance craft. Moments later, the reconnaissance airship flying at full speed also became a glittering spark in the sky.
"Excellent. Test complete."
Dr. Tester shouted triumphantly into the microphone, then turned toward Li Wei with a broad grin.
"What do you think, Sir Li Wei? This is a brand-new weapon! The Electric Particle Ray Cannon! Its effective range is roughly one kilometer. There's no need to worry about loading ammunition. It can keep firing using the energy stored in an Energy Storage Crystal! The interval between shots is only four seconds!"
"Yes, not bad. It's really... impressive."
Li Wei regarded the cannon before him with mixed feelings, unsure what to say. On the one hand, he had to admit that Dr. Tester was one hell of a genius. This Electric Particle Ray Cannon alone had sent the Empire sprinting straight into the interstellar age.
But on the other hand... well, how should he put it...
Li Wei silently regarded the seats beside the Electric Particle Ray Cannons. Yes, these things still had to be turned manually, aimed by eye, and fired by a human operator.
They were