After spending a warm morning with Shi He and Su Lei, He Kui got up and took the two women to the nanotechnology laboratory at the design bureau.
"He Kui, you're here," said Hoth, a researcher in the lab. He stood up quickly upon seeing him, offering a casual yet respectful salute. "You were incredible in the last battle!"
"It was a team effort," He Kui replied modestly. "Let's get started."
"Understood!" Today's task was to conduct an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) experiment on nanorobots. Following his recent breakthroughs, He Kui now had the technical expertise to proceed. The threat of nuclear weapons had drawn the National Defense Committee's attention to his research, making it a priority.
Not only was the EMP functionality crucial, but He Kui also had ambitions to integrate it into a light-shield system.
"Are all the materials ready?" He Kui asked as he approached the workstation.
"Yes, everything's prepared. We just need to fabricate the precision components and assemble them," Hoth confirmed.
"Then let's begin."
The nanorobots He Kui planned to create were tiny spherical devices. A single robot would be imperceptible to the naked eye and lack significant offensive capability. However, a cluster of a hundred could generate substantial damage when released inside a machine. According to He Kui's calculations, a hundred robots would form the smallest functional unit for effective attacks.
While producing a single nanorobot took He Kui about ten minutes, fabricating an entire batch required a collective effort and abundant resources. Fortunately, given the importance of the project, sourcing materials was not an issue. First, however, he needed to build ten prototypes to demonstrate the feasibility and functionality of his design.
With Hoth assisting him, He Kui completed the ten nanorobot prototypes within a few hours and promptly applied for access to the testing facility.
"Director He!" The head of the testing facility greeted him with a sharp salute, his demeanor one of utmost respect.
"No need for formalities," He Kui said with a nod. Since He Kui had risen to prominence, the people in May City treated him as a highly valuable asset. His infrequent visits only heightened the fanfare surrounding him. In fact, his reputation in May City now rivaled that of some district leaders and even approached that of high-ranking council members.
"Understood!" the facility head replied, lowering his hand. He then continued, "Everything is set up as per your instructions. Please, take a look."
The facility head opened the testing area's barrier, revealing an enclosed chamber designed to resemble a rocky terrain. At its center stood a Dagger mobile suit, gleaming under the bright overhead lights.
"This is the latest model equipped to resist Odin's spear attacks. The chamber walls are coated with electromagnetic shielding paint for safety."
"Good. Let's begin," He Kui instructed.
"Shouldn't we wait for Commissioner Joule?" the facility head hesitated.
"No need. He can observe remotely."
As a pragmatist, Joule valued efficiency, and He Kui knew he wouldn't mind skipping the formalities.
"If you say so." The facility head activated the lights, illuminating the chamber fully. The metallic surface of the Dagger mobile suit shimmered under the bright lights.
"Alright, the first live test will now commence. Quantum communication devices are in place, and all personnel should leave the testing chamber immediately," He Kui announced.
"Quantum devices deployed. Sensors and recording equipment are operational," Hoth reported from the control panel. The quantum communication device resembled an elliptical black orb, part of the Dragon Fang system used for controlling remote cannons. Here, it served to command the nanorobots. However, due to their minuscule size, the robots couldn't perform complex maneuvers like the cannons. Instead, they operated in groups of ten, following basic commands.
As the number of nanorobots in a group increased, so did their signal reception and operational capabilities. Conversely, dispersing the robots reduced precision and power but expanded their area of effect. For now, with only ten robots available, precision and strength were secondary; successful control was the primary goal.
"Let's proceed with the first live test," He Kui declared, taking his position at the main console.
Under his control, the ten nearly invisible nanorobots moved like a disciplined squad, entering the Dagger suit's interior through small gaps in its armor.
Meanwhile, in the National Defense Committee's headquarters, the experiment was being live-streamed to senior officials. Fresh from a strategy meeting, Amarfie and Joule sat alongside Patrick Zala, all three looking visibly fatigued with dark circles under their eyes.
"Quite sudden, isn't it?" Amarfie remarked with a wry smile.
"I appreciate his efficiency," Joule responded, clearly unbothered by He Kui's decision to start early.
"Indeed," Patrick Zala agreed, nodding as he watched the screen. Unlike researchers who often dragged their feet with endless discussions and incomplete projects, He Kui's results-oriented approach was a breath of fresh air. With time being a luxury they didn't have, Zala found it reassuring.
"Still, rushing things increases the risk of failure," Amarfie cautioned.
"Failure is a learning opportunity," Joule countered confidently. "Besides, with He Kui's abilities, I doubt it will fail."
"Optimism is good, but we must remain realistic," Zala said, his calm demeanor unchanged as he watched the live feed. "By the way, when can we expect the production of his Nim alloy to begin?"
"The production line is being prepared on the moon, but we need to reinforce Tolemey's defenses first. That will take another two months," Joule replied without looking away from the screen.
"Will He Kui need to oversee the production line personally?"
"We can arrange for him to provide remote guidance," Joule suggested.
"Good. Once the Heinlein upgrades are completed, ensure He Kui's expertise is transferred to others as well. Relying solely on him isn't sustainable."
"Understood."
Back
in the testing chamber, He Kui initiated the nanorobots' discharge sequence.