Ou Zhanpeng was fine, but the answer he received left everyone's minds unsettled, feeling as if they had fallen into a trap.
Before anyone else could raise their hand, Ling Xiao quickly stood up. "Director Dan, I want to ask if this plan is for us to execute alone, or if the other小伙伴s are also intended to participate?"
Fighting alien species wasn't a matter for China alone. Even if the other小伙伴s lacked the technology or ability to build spaceships, contributing some funds, personnel, or even raw materials would be a contribution to the great cause of resisting alien species, wouldn't it?
Ou Zhanpeng's eyes changed. He suddenly looked at Ling Xiao with new respect. *This kid is finally asking a question with some depth. Has he been provoked and learned to use his brain?*
Dan Qiuyu pondered for a moment. "This shouldn't have been disclosed, but since you've asked, I can answer... We have prepared two sets of plans: one to proceed independently, and one to cooperate with other小伙伴s. The specific execution will depend on the progress of the foreign affairs department."
The words were few, but they revealed a great deal of information. Ling Xiao immediately pressed further, "Will they contribute personnel or resources? It's not like we're forming a joint force, is it?"
"Your question is beyond the scope of this!" Dan Qiuyu glared at him fiercely. "If I knew the answer, I wouldn't be holding this meeting with you all here. Wouldn't it be better to join the foreign affairs delegation for bilateral consultations?"
Ling Xiao was immediately rendered speechless, but he still refused to give up. "Director, if you know any news, please reveal a little."
"Alright, your questions are finished. Sit down."
The crowd couldn't help but let out a few light laughs, and the atmosphere immediately became much more relaxed.
Although many questions remained unanswered, they were not matters that the people present could interfere with. The higher authorities must have a complete plan. Those who were curious could ask more, and those who were not so curious could simply wait for arrangements from above without any problem.
"Any more questions?" Dan Qiuyu asked.
"Yes!" Ou Zhanpeng raised his hand again.
Dan Qiuyu's eyes widened again. "If you're asking on his behalf, then spare me the effort."
Hearing this, everyone laughed again.
Ou Zhanpeng asked earnestly, "Since the plan has been made and the warships are already being built, what about the combat plan? Is there a combat plan?"
Dan Qiuyu blinked in surprise. "The warships haven't even gone into space yet, and you're already thinking about combat plans?"
Ou Zhanpeng smiled. "Purely out of curiosity. If not, then forget it."
Dan Qiuyu also smiled. "You've actually hit the nail on the head. To be honest with you all, at the end of October last year, before the warships were even designed, a large number of combat plans had already been drafted. There were plans for aliens landing on Mars, for aliens hiding in the asteroid belt, and even for Jupiter and Saturn. All possibilities have been considered. When the actual battle begins, the command center will naturally formulate the most suitable combat strategy based on the actual situation of both sides."
After saying this, Dan Qiuyu paused for a moment. "The next two months are the most critical period. You must train well and master the operating techniques of the new warships as soon as possible. In the coming days, more people will be joining us. You and they, all together, will undergo a final elimination process."
"You must understand that this expedition is not just about one warship going into battle; it is the only opportunity to completely annihilate the aliens. Therefore, I will not allow any situation that should not occur within this team. Those who are incompetent, those who are just coasting, those who have other ideas in their hearts, all of you, get out!"
By the end, Dan Qiuyu's voice was stern and forceful. Everyone's hearts tightened, and the slight relaxation they had felt moments ago vanished instantly.
"Any more questions?" Dan Qiuyu asked again.
This time, no one raised their hand to ask.
"Good, now I will announce the appointments... Temporary acting captain will be Dan Qiuyu, meaning myself." Director Dan patted his chest. "Acting vice-captain, Luo Tu!"
"Present!" A middle-aged lieutenant colonel stood up.
"Communications Officer Xu Qing!"
"Present!"
"Gunner Gu Haibo."
"Present!"
"Chief Engineer..."
"Radar Chief..."
"Pilot and Assault Team Member, Ou Zhanpeng!"
"Present!" Ou Zhanpeng found it quite awkward. What did pilot and assault team member mean? Can these two positions be held concurrently?
"Ling Xiao!" Dan Qiuyu called out another name.
"Present!" Ling Xiao also stood up. The two unfortunate fellows exchanged wry smiles.
After all the positions were assigned, Dan Qiuyu put away the list. "It is now 10:40 AM. We only have two months left. Time is tight and the mission is heavy, so you must immediately enter a state of combat readiness. Starting this afternoon, everyone will go to the simulators and practice coordinating in their respective roles according to the given combat plans."
He paused again here. "Let me make one thing clear upfront. I can accept incompetence, and I can accept voluntary withdrawal, but trying to coast along here is absolutely not allowed!"
"Meeting adjourned!" With that, he strode out of the conference room.
As soon as Dan Qiuyu's figure left, the conference room exploded. People clustered together in groups of three or two, discussing heatedly. Some raised questions, others analyzed and clarified, and it was as if the conference room had suddenly turned into a marketplace.
That afternoon, everyone was fully immersed in simulation training.
The equipment needed for training was readily available, located in the full-environment simulation pods.
As the name suggests, this was an indoor training ground where not only all four walls were screens, but the ceiling and floor were also screens.
After everyone took their positions, Dan Qiuyu announced the start of the training and personally loaded the combat data. "Combat objective: destroy the alien base on Mars. Luo Tu, you are in charge of command!"
The gray screens flickered and transformed into deep space. A red planet appeared beneath their feet, as if within reach, just like arriving in the outer space of Mars. The realism was astonishing.
Luo Tu immediately issued a series of commands: reconnaissance, fire control, navigation, communications. All departments sprang into action. Although everyone knew it was just a drill, under such an environment and atmosphere, each person instinctively became nervous.
Under Luo Tu's command, the "warship" circled Mars. After orbiting a quarter of the planet, a massive alien base appeared on the surface of Mars.
Luo Tu's gaze sharpened. "Missile pre..."
The sound was still in the air when the main screen in front of them was suddenly filled with intense flashing light, and then the screen froze. Various instruments and equipment in the bridge began to alarm madly. The piercing alarm noise confused everyone.
A voice echoed in the simulated bridge: "Hull hit, bow breached!"
Then, another flash of light, and the screen on the left froze.
"Starboard side hit, breached!"
"Bottom of the ship hit, breached... Bridge destroyed, warship out of control, determined... our warship has sunk."