Radar Under Their Noses

Two hundred streaks of light illuminated the dark night sky.

The orc guards on the shore, already like frightened birds, stared in terror at the sky that had been wantonly painted over.

The dragon's sudden attack just now has already caused considerable losses to the coastal defense forces.

Unfortunately, from beginning to end, they couldn't even grab onto the dragon's wingtip, and could only watch helplessly as their enemy sailed away.

What frustrated the orc defenders even more was that before the dragons retreated, they abandoned their unused aerial bombs as if they were a burden, and casually destroyed a coastal defense outpost.

Alarms blared everywhere, and all the orcs frantically scrambled into the caves.

But these missiles paid no heed to them, climbing to an altitude of 100 kilometers until they became tiny specks of light in the sky.

"This direction..."

The coastal defense officer looked up, tracing the contrails left by the missiles, his face draining of color.

"It's Cloud Fang City!"

****

Cloud Fang City, Abidaqi was awakened by the sound of an explosion. He flew out of his palace and hovered in mid-air above the Cloud Fang Royal Palace.

Looking up, one could see that the "Obscuring Barrier Canopy" above the Blackstone Mine, which had only recently been activated, had been destroyed.

The gray fog, like a torn curtain, crumbled in the night wind.

Abidaqi, who had just woken up from his deep sleep, was still a little dazed.

For an elf who is two thousand years old, being able to get up quickly after encountering an unexpected event is already a remarkable feat.

Even in the instant he realized what was happening, his first feeling was relief:

The destruction of the "Obscuring Barrier Canopy" only resulted in the loss of some materials.

At least Su Ming didn't destroy the Blackstone Mining Area's most important tunnels, shafts, and large-scale mining equipment.

A bell-ringing priest flew over quickly, clutching a magical communication message in his hand.

"Urgent telegram from Coastal Defense Command: The Pansy has launched a large number of missiles near the coast—"

Abidaqi suddenly raised his head.

Numerous points of light suddenly appeared in the night sky overhead, and they were rapidly growing larger.

"--Alchemy Missile."

The bell-ringer's unfinished words thus abruptly lost their meaning.

Five times the speed of sound is 6,000 kilometers per hour.

A distance of 300 kilometers is no more than three minutes for the "Star Patrol" missile!

Drafting messages, activating the communication array, sending, receiving, translating, and then submitting them.

Even at its highest efficiency, the Orc military communication system could only deliver alarms and the targets it was supposed to report to at the same time.

****

"Airspace is clear!"

The operator reports.

"Data link is intact!"

After the "Obscuring Barrier Canopy" was destroyed, the mechanical rats could receive commands from Su Ming without hindrance. All the rats' radio transmission power was pushed to the maximum, becoming beacons to guide the attack, and power consumption was no longer a concern.

The dispatch center has begun labeling.

Main mine tunnels, vertical shafts, hoisting systems, large mining equipment...

"Target assignment complete!"

Above the sky, two hundred "Star Patrol" missiles began their descent at a ferocious speed.

They pressed down from high altitudes, their warheads pointing straight to the ground, like a dense shower of falling stars.

Within the mining area, interception magic hastily rose up everywhere, and defensive light shields were also deployed above key buildings.

But this time, the situation was completely different from before.

The "Star Patrol" missile was too fast; electric magic was the only way it could hit.

Even so, the interception window lasts only a few hundred milliseconds, and is fleeting.

Some of the missiles that hit were blocked or absorbed by the magic array covering their outer shells.

As for the defensive shield, the "Star Patrol" missile's warhead is three times heavier and eight times faster than the "Eave Patrol" missile.

The kinetic energy carried by a single "Star Patrol" missile's warhead is equivalent to the combined kinetic energy of one hundred previous "Eave Patrol" missiles.

Multiply by two again!

The collision occurred, but there was no severe denting or twisting.

The high-speed projectile only created a ripple, leaving a smooth hole, before passing through.

Small building shields are like paper in the face of such hypersonic weapons.

The "Star Patrol" missile swarm descended in an instant.

The entire Blackstone Mining Area suddenly lit up.

The earth sank, then surged like waves. Mine towers shook, tracks snapped, and rooftops were ripped off by the shockwave.

****

Abidaqi rose even higher.

Intricate runes swirled along his iris, the dazzling firelight faded from his vision, and the smoke was stripped away.

Everything within the Blackstone Mining Area is clearly visible.

He was astonished to discover that the Blackstone Mining Area had undergone a dramatic change in just one second.

All the trigger points were extremely precise.

Not a single missile landed in the dormitory area, nor were any non-critical facilities hit.

The entrances to each of the thirteen main mine tunnels were hit by two to three missiles.

The explosion tore apart the support structure, and the rock strata were squeezed inward, sealing the tunnel.

Twenty large elevator shafts and ventilation shafts were damaged; the shaft frames collapsed, and a dull thud echoed from deep within the shaft walls.

Fifteen transport rail hubs were completely destroyed, and more than thirty mechanical facilities were all equally damaged, especially the large, expensive ventilation and pumping equipment, which were all twisted and deformed.

Each of the five core warehouses was targeted by more than five missiles. The alchemical materials stored inside underwent a chain reaction, causing pillars of fire of different colors to rise.

Abidaqi slowly clenched his fist, the veins on the back of his hand bulging. His eyes, calm and composed after two thousand years, were filled with rage.

"Damn Bone King!" The curse was squeezed out from between his teeth.

This was the first swear word Abidaqi learned after arriving in Taya.

This was also the first time he had said it.

However, judging from the current situation, this is unlikely to be the last time.

****

The rising sun streamed through the window, and Su Ming woke up from bed.

Even in Cloud Fang City, which was controlled by orcs, the early morning was still a pleasant thing.

In particular, there was a faint burnt smell wafting from the direction of the Blackstone Mining Area in the air.

Su Ming pushed open the window.

The sky was tinged with a pale gold by the rising sun, and several wisps of black smoke of varying thickness hung diagonally in the air.

Clearly, the fire at the Blackstone Mining Area has not been completely extinguished.

"There are 18 targets in Category 1, all of which are covered. There are 64 targets in Categories 2 and 3, covering 70% of them." The support team reported the statistical results to him.

"Excellent!" Su Ming exclaimed.

Even though our side has invested considerable resources in this operation, successfully paralyzing an enemy area that can be considered a strategic priority is absolutely worthwhile.

Su Ming continued to review the follow-up reports from last night.

Under aerial reconnaissance, Abidaqi flew into a rage and even went to the mine site with Death Knell to organize "disaster relief."

This is more than enough to prove that they hit something that hurt the other side deeply.

"I really want to know what the Plundering Clock is doing down there."

Su Ming gazed at the black smoke in the distance and sighed softly.

I don't know exactly what was blown up, so it wasn't quite as satisfying as I'd hoped.

"Dandelion Operation will be launched, and once we occupy Water Chestnut Island, we'll know, won't we?" Jin Rongjia said.

Jin Rongjia and Chihuo took turns in charge of support command.

Once the war officially begins, the command system will face immense workload.

After finishing breakfast, Su Ming opened the list.

There are three things that need to be addressed immediately.

"If the ' Obscuring Barrier Canopy ' reappears, how can communications be guaranteed?" Su Ming asked.

Although the "Obscuring Barrier Canopy" from last night has been destroyed, the Plundering Clock can be completely rebuilt.

"We have a way to ensure communication," Jisu told Su Ming.

He sent me a document.

It contains a new satellite communication protocol.

The specific principle is to bypass the signal by utilizing the edge coupling effect of low-frequency electromagnetic waves, or to find the resonant interval based on the structure of the "Obscuring Barrier Canopy" to achieve signal penetration.

Su Ming glanced through it, but didn't understand a single word.

"So, as long as I replace the ground receiving equipment, I don't have to worry about the communication being cut off by that 'sky screen' again?"

He extracted the parts he could understand. "Yes," Jisu replied.

"We're the ancestors when it comes to playing with radios."

"Unless the other side uses a Faraday cage to seal off the entire Cloud Fang City, they won't be able to stop you from playing Dou Dizhu tonight."

"... As if I have time to play." Su Ming couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The new satellite antenna is still being modified by the manufacturing department and will be able to transmit data at a little later.

Su Ming pondered for a moment and put a half-check mark next to the first item.

"Then the second item is enemy reconnaissance," he said.

After the "Obscuring Barrier Canopy" covers Cloud Fang City, in addition to cutting off communications, it will also bring another more troublesome side effect --

They will lose control of the enemy's movements.

Nothing else really matters.

Su Ming absolutely could not accept that, without paying attention, he was sent flying to the top of the Plundering Clock Raccoon Dog Dream Theater by Abidaqi or the Bell of Death Knell, thus exposing his existence.

"I'm sorry, this problem cannot be solved at the moment," Jisu said.

"We do have new technologies that can penetrate jamming, but we can't launch new reconnaissance satellites into orbit."

This is actually a problem that Su Ming himself brought about.

The new satellite must be summoned from Earth.

Even if the technical department manages to get it working in Taya, it's still because of Su Ming that the Pansy has to stay on the front lines at Water Chestnut Island and can't possibly travel halfway around the world to the North Pole.

The contradiction lies in the fact that if Su Ming successfully leaves Water Chestnut Island, they won't need to rush.

****

However, one of the staff officers suggested a solution:

A battlefield radar system will be installed near the Raccoon Dog Dream Theater to fill the gaps in satellite reconnaissance.

Everyone was stunned after hearing this.

In normal warfare, radar would be placed in a relatively safe rear area.

By increasing transmission power, they compensated for signal attenuation due to distance. They ensured the safety of the radar equipment through camouflage, air defense positions, and fixed fortifications. And then—

They actually installed early warning radar directly inside the enemy's stronghold!

However, following this line of reasoning, everyone found that this plan actually seemed feasible.

The Plundering Clock does not have a systematic electromagnetic detection device.

These visitors from Eden also lacked awareness and understanding in this regard!

****

Everyone immediately began selecting suitable equipment.

"KU/X-band, patch microstrip phased array radar!"

Jisu quickly provided a solution.

"Full coverage radius of ten kilometers, with an effective detection range of five kilometers for targets the size of a person."

This performance is sufficient; Su Ming began receiving the relevant information.

This is a radar system designed for individual soldier use, equipped with four integrated antennas. Each antenna is about the size of a book.

The radar's four antennas are oriented in different directions, completing an electronic scan of ±45 degrees, covering a 360-degree field of view.

This means that when it is working, there is no need for the antenna to undergo conspicuous mechanical rotation, making it easy to camouflage.

"What's the power output of this equipment?" Su Ming asked the crucial question.

"The transmission power is 10 watts, and the total power consumption is 40 watts," Jisu replied.

This power output is roughly equivalent to that of a household electric fan.

Adding a solar photovoltaic panel and a matching battery is perfectly adequate!

Su Ming glanced at the total weight of the machine again; it weighed approximately 25 kilograms.

"Great, it can definitely be installed!" Su Ming said happily.

He folded the tablet, straightened his clothes, and got up to walk outside.

"I'll go find the materials!"

Jisu then realized the most critical problem: phased array devices require the use of a large amount of high-performance semiconductor materials.

Carbon and silicon are not the problem, but rare elements like gallium, germanium, and indium are extremely dangerous.

This item is hard to find even in the entire Taya, let alone on Water Chestnut Island where alchemy is not well-developed.

In fact, these things are hard to find even in most parts of the world.

"Where are you going to look?" Jisu asked curiously.

Su Ming smiled slightly, "Scavenging, I guess!"