Chapter 153: Space Command Center: Call Fish Pond

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

The White Emperor Space Combat Jet was towed out of the assembly workshop by robotic arms, and made its way onto the runway.

Tang Rui initiated the SEG unit with a press of a button.

Buzz!

The fighter jet shuddered briefly before swiftly regaining its composure.

Tang Rui firmly pulled up the lever on the left-hand side.

The landing gear gracefully retracted, leaving the White Emperor Sky Fighter hovering silently on the runway.

“Fish Pond to tower, requesting permission for take-off.”

Tang Rui activated the communication channel, broadcasting his request to the control tower.

“Tower to Fish Pond. Please confirm the aircraft type: is it a drone or a White Emperor fighter jet?”

This time, the control tower had learned to inquire about the specific model.

“Fish Pond to tower. It’s the White Emperor Space combat jet.”

“Please provide your flight route and purpose.”

“We don’t have a designated flight route. Our main objective is to test the maximum attainable altitude.”

“Roger, Fish Pond. We’re processing your request. Please stand by.”

“I request permission to deactivate the Longbo lens.”

“Permission denied. Deactivation of the Longbo lens is not authorized.”

The control tower firmly rejected Tang Rui’s request to disable the Longbo lens.

After all, with the Longbo lens off, how would he locate anyone?

Moreover, the White Emperor fighter jet had already been unveiled, rendering the deactivation of the Longbo lens meaningless.

In just under two minutes, his request was granted.

“Control tower calling Fish Pond, approval granted. You are clear for take-off.”

“Fish Pond acknowledges.”

Tang Rui pushed the throttle lever to the maximum, and with a gentle pull on the control stick, the fighter jet shot up like an arrow, climbing vertically into the sky.

The SEG unit countered Earth’s gravity effectively.

With a thrust-to-weight ratio of 22.5, the generated thrust was nothing short of astonishing.

In the blink of an eye, the fighter jet reached an altitude of 30,000 meters.

At this point, the fighter jet’s velocity had already soared to Mach 2.5.

The personnel in the control tower observed the radar data and raised their brows in disbelief.

30,000 meters?

Hadn’t they just taken off moments ago?

How had they ascended to 30,000 meters in the blink of an eye?

The tower was dumbfounded.

Looking at the radar data again, it showed 40,000 meters.

This was quite perplexing.

“Tower calling Fish Pond.”

“Fish Pond acknowledges. Go ahead.”

“What’s the theoretical service ceiling for a fighter jet?”

“I’m not sure, isn’t this a test flight?”

The control tower was left speechless and re-examined the radar data.

Hmm?

What’s going on?

100,000 meters?

“Tower calling Fish Pond, cease your climb. That airspace is not within our jurisdiction; it’s under the purview of the Space Administration.”

“Fish Pond acknowledges. Very well, please connect me to the Space Administration.”

At this point, Tang Rui’s velocity increased rapidly as the altitude exceeded 100,000 meters, and the atmosphere grew even thinner.

In these conditions, liquid oxygen in the aircraft was ejected into a high-pressure combustion chamber, mixed with fuel, and ignited.

In an instant, twin exhaust flames erupted from the engine.

The White Emperor Space Combat Jet accelerated to Mach 10, officially piercing through the black barrier.

100,000 meters.

200,000 meters.

Tang Rui gazed at the outside world, witnessing a layer of red light with flames stretching into aurora-like strips.

40 kilometers.

50 kilometers.

60 kilometers.

As the White Emperor fighter jet broke through the ionosphere, the electromagnetic radiation from outside interacted with the aircraft’s magnetic field, creating a brilliant spectacle of light.

Tang Rui took only a fleeting glimpse before diverting his gaze.

He continued to pilot the fighter jet, following the trajectory calculated by Red Lotus.

Space vastly differed from regular aviation.

In the sky, as long as one avoided collisions, there wasn’t much else to be concerned about.

However, in Earth’s low-Earth orbit, the risk of space debris had to be considered. Those objects were unpredictable.

A collision with space debris could result in catastrophic damage, though it appeared that the White Emperor’s layered carbon nano-coating, totaling 600 layers, was adequate protection.

Ordinary space debris couldn’t breach it.

Of course, Tang Rui had no intention of testing the space debris’s capabilities with his fighter jet; that would be utterly reckless.

According to Red Lotus’s calculated trajectory, Tang Rui swiftly passed the Karman line at 100 kilometers and officially entered the realm of space.

He eased off the throttle.

The fighter jet continued its course through inertia, still at remarkable speed.

In space, aerodynamics were irrelevant.

George didn’t hold sway here; it was all about Newton.

Therefore, Tang Rui activated the onboard engines to adjust the flight attitude. Although their thrust was relatively low, at just five kilograms maximum, in space, even a single kilogram of thrust proved highly effective, let alone five kilograms.

“Calling Fish Pond. Please respond if you copy.”

By this time, after passing through the black barrier once again, Tang Rui’s communication was reestablished.

“Copy, Tower. Fish Pond here. Go ahead,” Tang Rui replied.

“This is the Space Command Center. Please provide a status report.”

In the Space Command Center, everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon establishing contact with Tang Rui.

“Power systems are normal, navigation systems are functioning properly, life support systems are operational, and fuel reserves stand at 85%.”

Tang Rui quickly checked the data and reported.

“Very well, please proceed to establish a data link. The port is now open.”

“Connection complete.”

Tang Rui instructed Hong Lian to establish a data link with the Space Command Center. This enabled him to access the data from the entire satellite network, while the command center could also receive his flight data.

As the data link was established, the White Emperor Space Combat Jet’s data appeared on the large screen in the Space Command Center, including the projected flight path.

In the Space Command Center, the staff immediately commenced calculations to determine if there were any safety risks based on the flight trajectory.

The results of the calculations indicated a flawless flight path with no apparent safety concerns, with its destination being the Tiangong Space Station.

With this outcome, those in the command center understood that Tang Rui had thoroughly planned his flight.

The flight trajectory had been meticulously calculated, and the mission was to genuinely test the aircraft’s maximum altitude.

“Chief, should we instruct him to return?”

“No need, let him proceed. If he doesn’t go now, he’ll just attempt it again later, and you won’t be able to stop him.”

“Can we ask him to bring back Sun Lihai? He hasn’t been feeling well for the past two days, but he’s hanging in there. We originally planned to launch a mission at the end of this month to replace him. If we can use the fighter jet to retrieve him, it’ll put our original plans back on track.”

“We’ll need to inquire about the situation on his end and assess whether he has the means. If it’s not feasible, we can’t take the risk.”

At this moment, Tang Rui had Earth’s beautiful blue planet in his sights.

Observing Earth from the expanse of space was a truly breathtaking sight.

“Command to Fish Pond.”

“Fish Pond acknowledges. Go ahead.”

“I have an urgent mission. Can your aircraft transport someone back to the surface?”

“It can. The rear seat can accommodate one passenger.”

Tang Rui promptly responded. Ordinary individuals couldn’t occupy his fighter, but it was suitable for astronauts.

“Can the aircraft’s life support system and your anti-G suit ensure safety?”

“There’s no issue at all.”

This was no laughing matter.

With his life support system, he could even ferry someone to the moon, let alone to a space station.

However, fuel limitations meant they could journey there but not return.

As they conversed, the White Emperor Space Combat Jet had already approached the space station.

From a location five kilometers away, Tang Rui executed a graceful U-turn and initiated reverse thrust to decelerate.

He only halted once his velocity matched that of the station.

At this point, he could see astronauts within the station peering at him through the observation window..