As the Helium Bomb blazed, a massive burst of electromagnetic radiation interfered with the Alliance warship's observation systems.
But at the center of the violent helium explosion, an invisible hemispherical force held a pocket of space secure. Outside the invisible shield, the explosion radiated heat at hundreds of millions of degrees Celsius. Inside, Tianhe 1 remained completely unscathed!
Tianhe 1 was traveling at 900,000 kilometers per hour. A point of light appeared on the protruding column at its bow, where its main reverse-thrust engine had originally been located.
Then a blue beam erupted from it, crossing hundreds of thousands of kilometers in the blink of an eye and striking the stern thruster of the Alliance warship as it turned its bow!
A chain of explosions disabled the Magnetic-Field Accelerator, and the leaking high-temperature ions melted straight through the warship's demon gold plating.
The firing main engine became a writhing mass of flames. Alarms blared throughout the warship.
The Propulsion Team reported, "The main thruster assembly has been destroyed! Emergency power shutdown!"
"We're switching to the warship's auxiliary engines to maintain propulsion!"
The warship was currently traveling at 540,000 kilometers per hour. Relying solely on its auxiliary engines, it could accelerate to 600,000 kilometers per hour.
Space offered no resistance. As long as thrust continued, the ship could keep building on its existing speed, but there was no longer enough time!
The unknown enemy was fraught with danger. The warship's two most powerful attacks had failed to so much as slow it down.
Captain Zhao Qing immediately ordered, "Use the auxiliary engines to turn us toward the Sun. Fight as we retreat!"
Everyone in the command center was shaken, but they carried out the orders without hesitation.
The Vice Captain was stunned by his decisiveness and silently endorsed the decision.
Zhao