Chapter 133: Confidence Gained

The DT04 Electric Propulsion System was a huge innovation compared to past electric propulsion systems of Human Civilization.

Under the leadership of Qin Yu, the Negentropy Research Institute overcame many difficulties and completed the design and related technology research of the DT04 Electric Propulsion System.

In the DT04 Electric Propulsion System, except for the Helium-3 Fusion Reactor which used mature past technologies,

the other core parts, such as the Electric Propulsion Engine, mostly used new technologies and designs.

Without exaggeration, except that it still followed the technology path of electric propulsion,

the DT04 Electric Propulsion System was completely different from the various upgrades of the DT03 Electric Propulsion System.

To a large extent, this was already the upper limit the Helium-3 Fusion Reactor could reach as the power device of the DT04 Electric Propulsion System,

beyond that, to touch the upper limit of this electric propulsion technology path,

what was needed was probably a breakthrough in more advanced energy technologies with greater power and output, from both theory and practice.

The need was no longer just a breakthrough in the electric propulsion system alone;

it might require a big improvement in the technological level of Human Civilization, the whole science and technology system, and many areas.

Even with Qin Yu taking part, this would take a long time.

Under Qin Yu’s leadership and guidance, the DT04 Electric Propulsion System at that moment,

was already the best and most suitable overall plan that Human Civilization could finish building in a short period.

Of course,

it could be chosen as the DT04 Electric Propulsion System by Human Civilization at that time,

naturally because this new electric propulsion system could theoretically achieve a key target.

—The top speed could go above 5% of the speed of light.

…

With the production activities at that time mostly handled by Strong Artificial Intelligence coordinating the Intelligent Industrial Cluster,

the gap between theory and reality was actually quite small.

After the Negentropy Research Institute gave the detailed designs, ready technologies, and production plans to the Strong Artificial Intelligence in the Brain Intelligence Project,

the Strong Artificial Intelligence followed the designs and plans to send out production orders to the Intelligent Industrial Cluster in the Smart Industrial Zones of Human Civilization’s settlements in the Solar System.

Based on the plan, making the first DT04 Electric Propulsion System was mainly done in the Smart Industrial Zones on Mars, in its cities,

and setting up new smart industrial production chains was already starting under the Strong Artificial Intelligence’s coordination.

With Human Civilization giving permission for the Strong Artificial Intelligence to put enough resources and effort into building the DT04 Electric Propulsion System,

the construction process happened pretty fast.

Raw materials from the Asteroid Belt and Mars itself were made into finished parts,

then sent into Mars’ city Smart Industrial Zones to become parts of devices for the DT04 Electric Propulsion System subsystems,

and this kind of thing,

was happening at almost the same time in Smart Industrial Zones all over the Mars surface.

The Strong Artificial Intelligence closely managed the smart industrial production, using all the power of the Smart Industrial Cluster in that era.

In June of the Human United Era (HUE) year 57,

while the Stuo Civilization’s Interstellar Fleet parked in the Kuiper Belt,

Human Civilization finished building the first DT04 Electric Propulsion System and did tests on its functions.

Then,

at the end of June,

the Negentropy Research Institute put this DT04 Electric Propulsion System and dozens more made at the same time by Mars’ Smart Industrial Zone into a new Starship,

the other systems of this Starship had not changed much from past Human Civilization Starships, using some existing technologies.

Only to fit the new DT04 propulsion system, the ship’s structure was adjusted.

On this new Starship, Human Civilization began actual operating tests for the DT04 Electric Propulsion System.

…

During the new ship test run, Qin Yu, as the main developer and leader of this Starship’s propulsion system, was naturally present.

The ship parked in Mars orbit; because of its big size and the materials used,

this Starship was still mostly for space travel like a ‘Ferry Spaceship’, not for landing or taking off.

For naming this ship, researchers from the Negentropy Research Institute, the Energy and Power Research Institute, and other teams gave many ideas,

like ‘Doom Ship’ and ‘Rebirth Ship’… but in the end, a simple, plain name was chosen, ‘Azure’.

For the Starship Azure One, since there were no other Azure ships at that time,

it could be called just Azure for short.

This name was thought of considering the background of the Negentropy Research Institute and Human Civilization building it;

if Human Civilization faced big danger, this ship might carry Human Civilization away from home,

as it wandered in space, this ship would unavoidably serve as the new ‘Blue Star’ for Human Civilization.

The whole size of Azure was really large;

most of its structure was made while the DT04 Electric Propulsion System was still being designed.

Only after the DT04 Electric Propulsion System was finished and built did the final parts get put together.

If the original DT03 system was already huge, compared to the DT04 Electric Propulsion System at that time, it seemed much smaller.

But while it was bigger in size, the DT04 Electric Propulsion System had a much better Thrust-to-Weight Ratio.

And if the DT03 Electric Propulsion System seemed small next to the DT04 Electric Propulsion System,

then the ‘Ferry Spaceship’ from earlier Human Civilization times also seemed tiny next to Azure, which now had the DT04 Electric Propulsion System.

Azure’s size might still not match Stuo Civilization’s Planetary Fortress over 1500 kilometers across,

but it was about as big as the earlier ‘Spark Space City’.

According to the plan and hope of the Negentropy Research Institute,

the Starship Azure carrying the DT04 Electric Propulsion System,

was Human Civilization’s first real mothership for long voyages that could cross star systems and travel for years at light-speed.

At that time,

when standing on Mars, knowing exactly where Azure was,

people could see Azure directly from Mars as it stayed in orbit.

The whole operating test of Azure,

the Negentropy Research Institute did not make a big announcement at that time;

only the related research teams in Human Civilization knew about it.

“… All power devices on Azure are now on.”

“Starting all Electric Propulsion Engines on Azure.”

For Azure’s first test run, the ship carried some monitoring gear but no people or goods.

The test was still run by the Strong Artificial Intelligence following test steps made by the Energy and Power Research Institute.

Including Qin Yu,

At this moment, the researchers could only witness.

With Azure One fully activating,

Clear images streamed back from the monitoring devices around its starry region showed

that a plasma outflow had already begun behind Azure One.

Fierce energy surged outward from within the ship.

“Azure One is accelerating.”

Azure One, positioned in the synchronous orbit of Mars, started drifting

and began accelerating towards the target area.

“Ship remains stable… electric propulsion system operating nominally.”

Most researchers monitoring the test ignored the Strong Artificial Intelligence’s feedback,

focusing instead on data from the acceleration phase—tracking curves from the electric propulsion systems

and subsystem performances monitored by their own teams.

Fortunately, for Azure One’s first test run, all data shifts stayed within expected theoretical ranges.

Pressures on the propulsion systems also fell within acceptable redundancy margins.

This era had shrunk the gap between theory and practice;

since the design was thorough and complete,

and with Strong Artificial Intelligence overseeing Intelligent Machinery construction,

the whole system should function smoothly barring extreme surprises.

Azure One’s first voyage aimed at the outer edge of the Solar System in the opposite direction.

For Azure One—the ship equipped with the DT04 Electric Propulsion System—to approach its maximum speed,

the acceleration phase would be long,

taking about two years to exceed 5% light speed.

Thus, the entire maiden test would be lengthy too.

It needed to accelerate in one direction to peak velocity, decelerate, turn back, re-accelerate,

and finally brake till stopping, completing a full journey back to Mars’ synchronous orbit.

This scenario mirrored the Stuo Civilization’s Interstellar Fleet,

which also took two years to decelerate before parking beyond the Kuiper Belt.

However, the Energy and Power Research Institute teams didn’t endure three years of nail-biting suspense.

Like Qin Yu now—

Deep familiarity with the system meant shortly after Azure One’s launch and acceleration began,

current data shifts proved to Academician Qin Yu

that DT04’s maiden run and Azure One’s overall test were essentially victorious.

Once the ship accelerated past a milestone,

no announcement was needed.

Researchers from both the Institute and partner teams

spontaneously started applauding,

then the applause swelled wilder—unable to contain their elation,

they finally erupted in cheers.

At this pivotal moment, no researcher from the Institute or DT04’s development teams could stay calm,

not even those from the Negentropy Research Institute had ever felt greater exhilaration.

They knew exactly what DT04’s success implied.

Under any circumstance,

this triumph gave Human Civilization newfound confidence.

With DT04, outright victory against Stuo Civilization might remain uncertain,

but escape was possible now—they could ensure survival and buy more time.

Whatever happened, Humanity now had more choices.

Considering worst-case scenarios,

DT04’s emergence might feel delayed,

but unlike the predecessor DT03,

it bridged that speed gap crippling Human Civilization—it was here!

Now, Qin Yu also smiled.

For personally leading DT04’s creation,

this success was profoundly gratifying.

Designing DT04 felt routine for him:

under his “Super Brain,” no problem proved unsolvable—just extended sequential reasoning needing time, even from him.

Meanwhile,

some researchers in euphoria began shouting messily:

“…DT04! DT04!”

“Long live HCC! Long live Human Civilization!”

“Director Qin! Director Qin!”

Others roared Qin Yu’s name—

especially those working closest to him recognized his critical roles across projects.

He led researchers forward relentlessly in his chosen paths;

Academician Qin Yu always spotted true direction in thick fog;

to him, nothing seemed unsolvable.

Under crushing earlier pressures,

people poured all energy into DT04 research

and never succumbed to despair—

in large part, owing to Academician Qin Yu.

……

Neither the Institute nor the Negentropy Research Institute publicized DT04’s test widely beforehand,

but upon success, this news wasn’t hidden from the populace.

Amid society-wide tension, pessimism, or strange agitation,

this breakthrough arrived right when morale needed lifting.

“…Negentropy Research Institute is awesome! Academician Qin is awesome! I bow to Academician Qin Yu!”

“I knew it! Though weaker than Stuo earlier, we’ll surpass them! With Academician Qin Yu, with Negentropy—victory!”

“Long live Human Civilization!”

“Heheh… our ships match theirs now… won’t necessarily beat Stuo fast, but they can’t chase us if we flee!”

“Academician Qin! Eternal glory to Academician Qin!”

“Can I finally sleep tonight? Knew it—great Human Civilization always breaks through crises!”

“Maybe I’m crazy, but Stuo’s arrival helped—forced our growth.”

“Realistically, Stuo evolved longer, probably has hidden tech. But matching their speed? At least hope exists… less suffocating despair now.”

This breakthrough—

DT04 Electric Propulsion System born under colossal pressure—

slightly lifted Human Civilization’s mood,

offering many a long-needed anchor to grasp.

Yet for the other side,

for Stuo Civilization—

learning that Human Civilization now also travels at 5% light speed?

That revelation would paint a wildly different picture.