After being released, the satellite will continuously transmit surrounding information to the nearest node satellite via electromagnetic waves. The node satellite has a four-dimensional channel, which can transmit information to Earth Two as quickly as possible.
For technological safety and production convenience, not every satellite will be equipped with a four-dimensional channel. Ordinary satellites will still communicate with each other via electromagnetic waves. However, the distance between them and the node satellites will not exceed ten seconds. In addition, all satellites are specially designed to be tamper-proof and transparent. Once the mission is completed, if they cannot be recovered within the predetermined time, they will self-destruct or be remotely detonated at any time, destroying all remaining human technology.
Just a week after one batch of satellites was released, they brushed past a massive, ragtag fleet, coming within 200 million kilometers of each other. This distance is like two people walking towards each other in a narrow alley without noticing each other's presence. Of course, the material influence of the Nebula Region was also a very important factor.
The satellites did not detect the ragtag fleet, but the ragtag fleet did detect the satellite constellation. The fleet stopped and patiently waited for the satellite constellation to pass before continuing its slow movement. At this point, the fleet was 1.5 light-years away from Earth Two.
Ultimately, Hu Yu decided to deploy an antiparticle beam defense system. Even without the Nebula Consciousness, setting up this defense system would be beneficial and harmless. The manufacture of antiparticle beam weapons is very simple, and the quickest way to set up the entire defense system is to use small spaceships. All that's needed is to set up several magnetic field lines on the small spaceships and place more antimatter production equipment. When needed, the small spaceships will fly above the atmosphere and activate the antimatter production equipment. Then, antimatter particles will be continuously ejected into outer space at multiple angles through the magnetic field lines. However, to create an impenetrable defense system, at least one hundred million small spaceships would be needed.
In order to gather enough small spaceships in a short period of time, Hu Yu had no choice but to borrow them from the public, promising to return brand-new spaceships in the future and giving them a certain amount of fleet contribution points. Within an hour of the loan information being released, owners of more than one billion small spaceships were willing to lend their spaceships to the fleet free of charge, without any reward or even the obligation to return them. Moreover, they volunteered to act as the operators of the small spaceships and work together to build this defense system, all for the safety of Earth Two. In the end, the fleet selected one hundred million spaceships that were not used frequently and were in relatively good condition to build the defense system.
For over sixty years in the Nebula Region, the industrial system, besides meeting the production needs of the Wind Master, had a surplus of one-third. Normally, the production machinery and equipment were required to be stored away for future large-scale expansion. Now, some of these surplus factories, those easily adaptable, have been used to modify small spaceships.
The entire modification process is expected to take three years. However, this large-scale modification has boosted the production of antimatter instruments. Let alone two tons of antimatter per day, it is estimated that five tons per day will be no problem once the small spaceship is modified.
The ragtag fleet in the nebula continued its advance, having luckily evaded satellite detection. However, their speed remained constant at a maximum of five times the speed of light until they came to a complete stop 0.5 light-years from Earth Two.
Ten thousand Wind Master separated from the fleet and embarked on their journey to Earth Two on their own. Leading them was none other than Zhang Yuanshan!!!
The Wind Master continued their journey at five times the speed of light. Shortly after they set sail, their Wind Master was detected by nearby reconnaissance satellites, which have a maximum detection range of 0.5 light-years.
" Old Hu, Old Hu, it's the Wind Master! The Wind Master is back! And Zhang Yuanshan Zhang Yuanshan is back too!" Wen Zhonghua shouted loudly to Hu Yu.
"What? That can't be right!"
"What do you mean it's impossible? This is a message just transmitted back from the satellite. However, it seems the Wind Master's communication system is damaged, and we can't talk to Zhang Yuanshan for the time being. We can only know he's still alive through satellite images. Look, he's waving to the satellite through the porthole. He knows we can see him through the satellite."
"Where are they now?"
"At a distance of 0.5 light-years and a speed of only 5 times the speed of light, it will take one month to reach this place."
"Try to re-establish contact with Zhang Yuanshan."
"It's too far; we don't have any engineering vessels there."
"Immediately arrange for the nearest node satellite to go there."
It would be a lie to say Hu Yu wasn't happy about Zhang Yuanshan's return. He had once put Zhang Yuanshan Zhang Yuanshan in danger and thought he would never see him again. Unexpectedly, Zhang Yuanshan returned a few months later, bringing back the lost Wind Master fleet. Psychologically, Hu Yu was undoubtedly relieved.
The node satellite could not perform warp drive and could only maneuver to the place where the warship had passed and wait. A week later, the node satellite arrived at the designated location, and the Wind Master fleet led by Zhang Yuanshan also arrived and stopped there. The two sides docked, and the node satellite, which was equipped with the four-dimensional network, entered the warship where Zhang Yuanshan was located and established a connection with Hu Yu.
"General."
" Zhang Yuanshan, what's going on?" Hu Yu asked before Zhang Yuanshan could finish speaking.
"General, I'm trapped in a spatial vortex there. Warships are sinking into it one after another, and we can't escape."
Why didn't we see the spatial vortex?
"General, this is a spatial vortex. The outer edge of the vortex moves relatively slowly, so from the outside, the warships trapped in it appear to be moving normally. However, the smaller ships that were trapped deeper into the vortex can only be seen once inside. When I got trapped, I realized the strangeness of the situation, and before I could send a message, the fleet's communications went down."
"So how did you escape?"
"General, I didn't escape at all. I was inside for months. No matter how I maneuvered the warship, I couldn't escape the vortex. I could only run the warship at maximum power to fight against the vortex's gravity. Watching the warship slowly sink deeper into the vortex, I thought I would be torn to pieces by the spatial distortion caused by the vortex. Who knew that after several months, the vortex would disappear on its own, and I was able to escape. However, the fleet's four-dimensional channel was damaged and was no longer under my control. Fortunately, there was a backup radio command system on the warship, which allowed me to lead the fleet back."
"Good, good, it's good that you're back, it's good that you're back. I'll celebrate your victory."
"Thank you, General. It's my duty."
After shutting down the communication, a layer of mist began to emanate from Zhang Yuanshan's body. Hehehe~~~hehehe~~~ His eerie laughter echoed throughout the entire Wind Master. If anyone were here, this sound could frighten them so much that their heart would stop and their blood vessels would burst.
On the other side, Hu Yu told everyone the news that Zhang Yuanshan had returned, which made everyone very happy, especially Academician Zeng and Academician Liu. Upon hearing about the existence of spatial vortexes, they couldn't wait to fly over and see them. Unfortunately, Zhang Yuanshan said that the spatial vortex had disappeared naturally and they couldn't see it anymore. However, Academician Zeng still wanted to go and see the surrounding environment to find out what caused the spatial vortex.
Space vortexes are not actually nonexistent in nature; on the contrary, they are quite common. They are usually driven by the high-speed rotation of extreme celestial bodies. However, the core of the space vortex that Zhang Yuanshan encountered did not have an extreme celestial body, indicating that the vortex was caused by external conditions. If the fleet mastered this technology, its attack power would definitely be no less than that of space compression.
Zhang Yuanshan's fleet was less than two days away from Earth Two. On this day, Academician Xiao finally emerged from the underground bio-ship, preparing to report to Hu Yu on his research and conjectures regarding Nebula Consciousness. Just then, Hu Yu passed by the bio-ship and heard the news of Zhang Yuanshan's return. Academician Xiao's hair stood on end, and he jumped to his feet.
"General, are you telling the truth?"
"It's true, we've re-established communication and confirmed his identity."
"Confirmed? How was it confirmed?"
"I inquired about his situation regarding the loss of contact, and his answers were all correct. He also discovered a spatial vortex, which would be a great asset to the fleet, but unfortunately it has already disappeared. However, Academician Zeng is still preparing to go and investigate in person. Preparations are underway, and Academician Zeng and his team will depart once Zhang Yuanshan's fleet returns to Earth Two and obtains more detailed information."