"What's going on?"
David was stunned. Instantly, everyone rushed to their stations, ready for battle.
This was a Level One alert.
The kind that only sounds when an aircraft carrier is potentially under major attack.
Inside the command center, all the officers stared grimly at the low-altitude radar screen. The USS Enterprise was just out on a routine patrol, and none of the heavy weapons were loaded. The sudden alarm had everyone on edge.
"Report!"
"Radar is showing a low-altitude object flying toward the carrier at 3.5 times the speed of sound. It will pass over the carrier in five seconds." One of the observers stood up and saluted David, sweat pouring down his face. As the observer, he'd failed to detect the threat in time. If the carrier were attacked because of this delay, it would be an unforgivable mistake.
"What?"
"Why did it take so long to detect the UFO? Even if we start loading the guns now, the anti-aircraft cannons won't be ready in five seconds!" David's expression darkened.
"Because… because the object has been flying below 1,000 meters the whole time. It's a miracle we even picked it up on radar."
"…"
"Can you identify what it is?"
"No. Probably a drone!"
David's mind raced, then he made a snap decision. The heavy weapons couldn't be loaded in time, but the conventional weapons still had ammo.
Though not designed to intercept supersonic objects, they might be their only chance.
"Activate the anti-aircraft guns and cannons. Create a defensive net to stop the object from approaching the carrier. Begin loading heavy weapons. Prep the fighter jets for launch. All submarines and escort ships—protect the carrier at all costs."
David gave the order calmly.
Any unidentified flying object approaching at high speed, without any identification code, was treated as a hostile threat.
Shoot first, ask questions later.
If the radar had detected it earlier, even the airspace within several dozen miles of the carrier would've been declared off-limits.
While the alarm initially startled everyone, trained soldiers quickly regained their composure.
After all…
They were elite military personnel.
And the Enterprise was a floating fortress, one of the highest-power military assets. If it was just one unknown object, it likely wouldn't be able to cause serious damage. Once the heavy weapons were operational, it'd face a barrage of firepower.
Everyone stood ready.
All the anti-aircraft guns and cannons on the Enterprise locked onto the incoming object.
"…"
"That's the UFO?"
"Damn."
"Why does it look like a robot? Or a mech?"
"What the hell is going on?"
As Chen Mo drew closer, they could now see it with the naked eye.
And that was what truly shocked them—what was this thing? How could something like that exist on Earth? Even sci-fi writers wouldn't dare imagine this.
David was dumbfounded too.
But the anti-aircraft weapons didn't hesitate. A storm of bullets roared into the sky, forming a deadly net aimed at Chen Mo.
"…"
"Seriously? Red Queen, why didn't you tell me there was a carrier here?" Chen Mo broke into a cold sweat as he saw the torrent of bullets heading his way.
"I didn't realize there was a fully silent aircraft carrier in international waters," Red Queen said with a hint of guilt.
"It's fine. These bullets shouldn't be able to harm me."
Chen Mo forced a smile and tried to stay calm.
He was just a normal student. Deep down, he was scared stiff.
But there was no other choice now—he had to trust his nano combat suit and push forward.
Chen Mo zigzagged through the sky, dodging most of the fire. Still, a few rounds managed to hit him.
Hmm?
Well…
The hits just caused a slight vibration in the suit. No real damage at all.
This nano combat suit was insane!
"What the hell?"
"That thing flying above us—what kind of monster is that? All those shells and bullets, and it's completely unharmed?"
"Is this some kind of new tech?"
"Could it be American?"
"Report this. Immediately."
"If that thing really is a robot, it's the peak of single-soldier combat tech. A humanoid nuke. Way beyond special forces."
It wasn't just the soldiers who were stunned—David was too.
What was this?
In all his years of military service, he'd never seen anything like it. A flying robot? And faster than a fighter jet?
David watched the robot fly away.
He finally exhaled.
Thankfully, the unidentified humanoid robot didn't attack. If it had landed on the carrier while they were still unarmed… who knows what kind of damage it could've done.
After enjoying the thrill of it, Chen Mo quietly returned to the Haicheng Nuclear Power Plant from the open sea.
The nano suit…
Damn, it was amazing!
But—
He knew this was his last-resort lifesaving tool. He absolutely could not expose it, or there'd be serious consequences.
While Chen Mo was enjoying himself, others were not.
In her office, Xuanwu Division Chief Long Xiaoyun stared at a video taken from the aircraft carrier. It clearly showed Chen Mo wearing the nano suit, flying through a barrage of bullets.
Why did it end up on her desk?
Because the object's flight path led straight to Haicheng.
Long Xiaoyun was overwhelmed.
What was going on in Haicheng?
The citywide blackout from a few days ago hadn't even been resolved—and now a flying robot?
And not just any robot. Judging by its appearance, it was far beyond modern tech.
More alien than actual aliens.
The Xuanwu Division had encountered extraterrestrial civilizations before, but nothing like this. A robot faster than a fighter jet?
Insane.
What kind of monster had moved into Haicheng?
Wait a minute!
Could this robot be the one that drained all of Haicheng's electricity?
As Long Xiaoyun thought about it, her eyes lit up. She immediately decided to merge the two investigations. If this robot was linked to the blackout, then maybe that was a good thing. It meant the culprit had taken action—and any action could leave a trail.
She had a gut feeling.
Someone—or something—not of this time had appeared in Haicheng. A time traveler, maybe. Or an alien. If they could capture it and study its technology, it could change the course of human history.