Skyborne Mirage

"Expand the size of the shelter," Su Ming instructed. "With the arrest warrant lifted, even more people will be arriving."

On the surface, with the lifting of the arrest warrant, the necromancers no longer seem to face a threat to their survival.

But imagine a group of exiles who have been fleeing in fear for more than a year while being pursued and intercepted. When their shackles are suddenly removed, most of them, still in shock, will inevitably seek a haven that can provide "absolute protection".

It is foreseeable that the number of registered users of the Final Bone Mad Machines" will experience explosive growth in the short term.

As for what happens next?

After completely dismantling the Divine Covenant Faction, will Su Ming's subordinates still have to worry about manpower?

*****

At the experimental base of the Celestite Hydropower Station, the Vermilion Bow is ready and about to carry out a high-altitude ballistic launch mission.

According to the plan, the missile configuration for this launch underwent a major adjustment: 70% of its total weight was allocated to the first-stage thruster, and the front part carried a probe payload called "Visiting Heaven".

Therefore, this mission actually has two objectives: to further improve the technical verification of the electromagnetic launch satellite and to collect data on the outer atmosphere of the alien planet.

When Su Ming arrived, Beianqi was busy in the central control room. Upon seeing him, she immediately began to report the situation.

"The Plain Gift - Visiting Heaven combined unit is in place, and the first-stage thrusters have been cooled to minus one hundred degrees Celsius," said Beianqi.

During this period, the Plain Increase -Aerospace configuration conducted a total of fourteen launches.

Its payload capacity evolved from a simple, unloaded structure to a spacecraft capable of suborbital exploration, through repeated trials of adding small amounts of solid propellant for verification.

(Note: Suborbital vehicles typically refer to vehicles that fly at an altitude between 20 and 300 kilometers, with their highest point exceeding the Kármán line, but whose speed is insufficient to maintain an orbit.)

(Note: Explanatory words are provided free of charge.)

Su Ming carefully checked the status of each system. With the steady increase in the power of the hydroelectric turbine units, all launch preparations were completed.

"You take the lead, I'll just keep an eye on things," Su Ming said to Beianqi.

Although Beianqi could not withstand the dark energy corruption and could not directly master Earth's language through "Comprehend Languages," she had learned all the commonly used vocabulary and technical terms during this time with the help of the Electricity-Swallowing Beast.

Without hesitation, Beianqi ordered the electromagnetic charging of the Vermilion Bow to begin.

Su Ming sat down at the control panel next to him, brought up several key monitoring interfaces, and scanned the running data streams of each unit.

With a deafening roar that tore through the air, the "Plain Increase No. 15" rocket shot vertically into the sky like an arrow released from a bow, its rear half trailing the iconic white cone-shaped shock cloud as it rapidly ascended towards the heavens.

The low-altitude atmosphere is viscous and dense, causing the aircraft's speed to decrease rapidly. The excessively high initial velocity also caused the surface temperature of the rocket body to rise rapidly. Fortunately, due to pre-cooling, the temperature of all internal units remained within safe thresholds.

Ten seconds later, the optical and radar observation station set up 30 kilometers away successfully captured the target's trajectory.

"Altitude 10 kilometers, flight parameters stable, no abnormalities detected!" The observation station's report was transmitted back to the control center.

When Plain Increase No. 15 broke out of the troposphere and reached the stratosphere, the ambient temperature dropped. Water vapor in the low-pressure vortex region at the tail of the rocket began to crystallize, leaving a thin, shimmering ice crystal contrail in the blue sky.

"Maritime observation station, radar has acquired the target!" Five hundred kilometers away, the Pansy, which was on monitoring mission, also transmitted confirmation.

The Plain Increase quickly climbed to 18 kilometers, where the atmospheric density had dropped to one-tenth of that at ground level, significantly reducing the air resistance experienced by the aircraft.

The optimal power window appeared, Beianqi immediately issued the command, "First-stage thrusters, ignite!"

The solid gunpowder was detonated, and intense flames erupted from the bottom of the arrow, rapidly expanding into a full and spectacular orange-red trail cloud.

The Plain Gift suddenly jolted and began to accelerate violently under the surging thrust. The monitoring system showed a brief spike in the structural stress readings before quickly stabilizing.

Feedback from various observation points indicates that the system is functioning normally and the real-time speed is steadily increasing.

Su Ming activated the "Visiting Heaven" detector, and various data began to be transmitted back. However, at this moment, it was encased in the fairing of the arrowhead, and the data it detected was unrelated to the outside world.

The three high-definition cameras mounted on the front of the detector can only capture the smooth metal arc surface of the fairing's inner wall.

Plain Gift's speed quickly broke through Mach 3 again and continued to rush towards Mach 4, while its flight altitude also broke through the 70-kilometer mark.

The first-stage thruster ran out of fuel and shut down automatically.

Beianqi's voice rang out without the slightest hesitation. "First-stage separation! Second-stage ignition!"

In the footage from the rear camera, the nozzle of the second-stage liquid oxygen-kerosene engine instantly spews out a deep blue flame, and surging power is injected into the rocket body again, causing the speed curve to rise again, heading towards the Kármán line: the boundary between the atmosphere and space.

A look of joy spread across everyone's face in the control center. The curve on the screen steadily climbed, constantly breaking records; the mission was on the verge of success!

****

All the data on the screen suddenly started fluctuating wildly, and the image shook violently.

One second later, the image and data stream stabilized, and the flight speed continued to increase.

But what exactly was that unusual thing that happened just now? Everyone tensed up.

Ground observation stations and the Pansy immediately reported that no anomalies were detected around the rocket.

However, the image shook violently again!

This time, the speedometer reading clearly plummeted by tens of meters per second. Several structural stress sensors simultaneously activated their alarms, indicating that the main structure of the aircraft had undergone some degree of deformation!

"Jailout the fairing immediately!" Su Ming's voice drowned out the alarm, and he took direct command.

The current altitude is far from the designated separation point; the spacecraft is still at the edge of the thin atmosphere. Doing so would damage the "Visiting Heaven" probe, but Su Ming must see exactly what is happening!

The staff immediately unlocked the fairing, pressed the button, and quickly reported, "The fairing has been jettisoned!"

In the forward-facing image of the "Visiting Heaven" probe, the fairing that was obstructing the view bounced off to the sides like giant flower petals, tumbling downwards. The view suddenly opened up, revealing the deep cosmic background.

In this darkness, there seemed to be some blurry, distorted phantoms. However, the limitation of communication bandwidth made the image very rough, and the details were impossible to discern.

Another sudden shock struck, Plain Increase trembled violently for the third time!

The "Visiting Heaven" probe's image transmission was interrupted, and a row of glaring red warning lights on the control panel lit up, indicating that all optical camera units on the probe had failed.

But the rocket itself was still moving forward. Su Ming quickly ordered, "Adjust attitude, re-enter and return!"

"The ' Visiting Heaven ' satellite isn't broken; only the observation equipment is damaged." He quickly explained to Beianqi, "Let it return with the data; we must get the records we just recorded!"

The data stored by the detector itself is hundreds or thousands of times clearer than the data transmitted back.

"Clear!"

The spacecraft rapidly descended, returning to an altitude of seventy kilometers. As the second-stage thrusters separated, the data core of the "Visiting Heaven" rocket detached from the rocket body and began the recovery process as it passed through the atmosphere.

Su Ming quickly calculated the expected landing point coordinates. "Notify the Pansy to proceed at full speed to that area for salvage!"

"Yes!"

"Immediately assemble a team of scholars specializing in high-altitude and outer space phenomena," he told Ainuobia. "Once the Visiting Heaven ' data capsule is recovered, begin analysis immediately!"

"Scholars involved in this type of research are extremely rare." Ainuobia frowned slightly. "The altitude at which we've explored is unprecedented on this continent. Those researchers are all based on ground-based observations, and nine and a half out of ten of them focus their research on celestial phenomena."

"An astrologer would be fine too," Su Ming rubbed his temples. "It's better than having no knowledge at all."

"Okay!" Ainuobia replied.

****

"Huh? You can bump into things like that?" Jisu's eyes widened instantly.

In the Earth Support Team's conference room, Su Ming brought this "good news" that surprised everyone.

"Who would have thought?" He sighed softly, manipulating the Little Spiky Head, his electronic pen marking on the model of the Planet Taiya. "In the thermosphere of this alien planet, a type of colossal gaseous life form roams. They are almost completely transparent, with a very low density, and cannot be detected by conventional ground-based observation methods or radar beams. Incidentally, these things exist in Taya's mythology and are called 'Shen'."

"A real mirage," Sangzi sighed. "I was thinking your space is so pristine, you don't have to worry about space debris or calculate orbital collisions, saving you a lot of trouble!" She complained, "Unlike us, we have to argue with our neighbors every day about orbital occupancy."

She was referring to a company that had launched tens of thousands of satellites into orbit, creating a chaotic mess in low Earth orbit.

"But these mirages are even worse than space debris!" Su Ming continued to sketch data with his pen, "They are numerous, distributed within a range of 85 to 300 kilometers, with individual volumes ranging from ten million to one hundred million cubic meters, and their body temperature is consistent with the surrounding environment."

This intelligence comes partly from data captured by the Visiting Heaven probe before its destruction, and partly from the arduous observations conducted by the research team on the ground over the past few days.

"For the first two hours after sunset each day," Su Ming recounted, "When the sun's rays pass almost horizontally across the top of the atmosphere, we can barely glimpse the hazy outlines of these colossal objects from the ground using ultra-high-precision telescopes and image enhancement technology."

"Since the density of the 'Shen' is so low, how did it attack the ' Visiting Heaven '?" Jisu asked.

"It appears to be an impact," Su Ming replied. "Don't be fooled by their low density; they are enormous and can condense into a dense gaseous 'wall' in front of their flight path. If we suddenly crash into them at hypersonic speed, we will be slowed down and destroyed."

"Your suborbital flight was only six times the speed of sound, right?" Jisu frowned. "If it were a real satellite launch, it would have to reach more than twenty times the speed of sound—wouldn't we be doomed if we crashed into it?"

The Planet Taiya is slightly larger in diameter and has slightly higher gravity, with a first cosmic velocity of 8.9 kilometers per second, which is approximately 26 times the speed of sound.

"So, in other words, we can't launch satellites for the time being?" Jin Rongjia asked worriedly.

"At least the current plan won't work," Su Ming replied.

In principle, reaching an altitude of 300 kilometers or more is sufficient. However, while the damage caused by the mirage "impact" is one aspect, the truly fatal factor is the deceleration effect they bring.

In a normal satellite launch, the most important phase of kinetic energy accumulation occurs during flight in outer space, which utilizes the drag-free characteristics.

Now that a group of malicious "creatures" have suddenly appeared and blocked the way, this basic premise is lost.

"We launched Plain Gift No. 16 again, and the situation was the same." Su Ming sighed even deeper. "What's even more troublesome is that observations show those 'mirages' actively gather above the trajectory after sensing the rocket's launch."

"Tsk tsk, as expected of another world, the biodiversity is truly... unique," Jisu exclaimed.

"The satellite is very important to us; we must find a way to solve this problem," Sangzi said, deep in thought.

However, this situation is indeed somewhat perplexing for the satellite system on the Earth side.

"This is the first time researchers in Taya have clearly observed the existence of a mirage, and the entire academic community is buzzing with excitement," Su Ming said. "We've contacted the Supreme Knowledge Association, and we expect over a dozen top scholars from different fields to be on their way to provide support."

Although the Final Bone Mad Machines had its own purpose, in the face of such a groundbreaking discovery, the academic community obviously wouldn't get bogged down in the so-called "you and me," much less heed the prohibition of the Temple of Light.

The necromancer has been removed from the wanted list. As for "heretic" organizations and the like—can you distinguish which terms printed in academic papers are related to "heretics"?

Now, visit requests are pouring in every day. If it weren't for Zijin's strict review process, there would probably be thousands more researchers willing to come to Dragon Valley to study the mirage using the unique astronomical observation equipment of the Final Bone Mad Machines.

Su Ming didn't mind taking this opportunity to expand his team's think tank, but Zijin's point was that only by strictly controlling the number of participants and demonstrating scarcity could they catch the real big fish.

"By the way, how did the cold atom imaging analysis go?" he asked Sangzi.

"It's terrible, yet unbelievably good." Sangzi even sighed. "This ' Gospel ' completely transcends the framework of any known superconducting material system on Earth; its properties are so different—enough to warrant its own chapter in the field of physics."

"In other words, it has huge potential, but it needs time to develop, right?"

"That's how it is!" Sangzi nodded. "Don't ask me about the specifics; I won't say a word." She said coldly, "Until you completely resolve the issue of controlling your own power, I don't want to be accused of 'causing someone's death by discussing high-energy physics'."

During this period, everyone avoided mentioning topics related to the quantum realm in front of Su Ming.

"That's right," Jisu laughed, "If anything were to happen to you, it wouldn't be something that can be covered up as manslaughter; it would at least be a case of manslaughter against humanity!"

Sangzi suddenly smiled mischievously, "Besides, where are you going to find a girl these days who makes your heart flutter and gives you a kiss?"

Su Ming covered his forehead.

"[Miao Xin, it was you who had to say that!]" he demanded angrily.

[Oh my, everyone's really interested in this kind of gossip!] Miao Xin said smugly, [I even used this to trade for Sangzi melons from my hometown. Want to hear about them?]

Su Ming glanced at the technical supervisor in front of him who was teasing him, [----To get to the point.]

[Sangzi and Jin Rongjia met by chance and developed feelings for each other, starting to date. However, because they both worked in confidential departments, they never mentioned their work during their dates, and their addresses and whereabouts became a mystery. Both suspected the other of being a spy and, coincidentally, reported him to the security department.]

Su Ming couldn't hold back any longer and collapsed onto the table, bursting into uncontrollable laughter.

[Because it was too embarrassing, the two of them tacitly broke off contact.] Miao Xin added with a hint of regret, [

This "beautiful story" has come to an end.

"You two actually had that kind of backstory? That's hilarious!" He pointed at Sangzi and Jin Rongjia, laughing so hard he could barely speak.

"Hey, what's making you so happy? Tell us quickly!" Jisu immediately chimed in, eager to gossip.

"I'm afraid if I tell, they'll kill you." Su Ming patted Jisu's shoulder. "Alright, I'm going back to work. See you later!" Then he ended the connection.

"So stingy!" Jisu complained.

He stood up as well, but caught Sangzi and Jin Rongjia glaring at him unfriendly.

"Uh... I have to get going too!" Jisu grabbed the pen and notebook from the table and fled.