On the sixty-fifth day of research, humanity truly touched the edge of "God." A strange black warship appeared before everyone's eyes. Even so, it was hard for everyone to believe. They rubbed their eyes and looked again, then rubbed again after looking.
An American helicopter hovered above the temple, dropping a rope ladder.
"Take your time accepting it. I'm going down first," Annie said.
But before leaving, she walked up to Nie Yun. "You know? No matter what, I still don't want to see you looking dejected. Didn't you say you wanted to make your homeland strong? Then go fulfill your wish. I'll be watching." Without waiting for Nie Yun's reaction, Annie kissed him deeply. When Nie Yun wanted to embrace the girl, she had already moved away from his side.
Grabbing the rope ladder, Annie shed tears. "Let me tell you a secret. I knew you two years ago in America. Remember the girl who asked for your autograph at Hefei University? It's okay if you've forgotten. As long as you still remember you are a scientist, not something else, research diligently."
With that, the helicopter flew towards the ground.
"Quick, call for our support! Otherwise, America will get ahead!" Everyone frantically notified their support teams.
"Scientist?" Nie Yun suddenly laughed self-mockingly. Looking into the distance, Nie Yun's knot was untied.
"Just watch," his tone filled with immense confidence.
"What?! They've already found the warship!" Zhao Xiang stood up excitedly, holding the phone.
Calming down after a moment, Zhao Xiang said sternly, "Dig hard for me! Learn all the usable technology. Whoever can research a technology first, I'll build them a research institute. Remember, everything for the country!"
Hanging up the phone, he picked up the jointly signed agreement. Zhao Xiang discovered a loophole.
He immediately picked up the phone again and dialed the Navy: "Hello, this is Zhao Xiang. Immediately prepare a large amount of research materials for me, and also prepare a fleet consisting of ten battleships and twenty submarines. Wait, add a strategic nuclear submarine. Huh? No, we're not going to war. Tell the soldiers this operation is confidential, just say it's a secret military exercise in the outer seas. Remember, be quick, every minute concerns the future of the country!"
Standing at the foot of Noah's Ark, one truly understood the greatness of Atlantis.
The warship was one thousand two hundred meters long and one hundred fifty meters high. At the lower left corner of the warship was a building-like structure, fifty meters tall, presumably the bridge control room. The entire warship was a fully enclosed structure with smooth lines. The black metallic luster gleaming under the sunlight provided a strong visual impact.
"Is this the legendary spaceship?" Nie Yun muttered to himself, trembling.
No time for sighing with emotion. The team members quickly organized the delivered supplies and set up camp. Inside this oil-drum-like stone wall, the area was vast, enough for each research team to set up their own camp. Saying goodbye to the days of sleeping bags, they wondered if they would get used to it. Once organized, work began immediately.
Facing the egg-tight warship, everyone's first research topic was "alien metal."
Touching the cold outer shell, only a feeling of hardness remained. Nie Yun tried scratching the metal surface with a glass cutter; surprisingly, the artificial diamond tip shattered, while the metal hull didn't even have a scratch. It was certain that such a substance couldn't exist on Earth.
Metallurgy wasn't Nie Yun's forte; he could only watch other researchers fiddle with various instruments on the metal.
Truly unintentionally, Nie Yun noticed Annie wasn't studying the metal like everyone else. Instead, she stood in the distance, admiring Noah's Ark under the sunlight, as if appreciating a perfect piece of art.
Seeing the smile reappear on her face, Nie Yun's heart eased somewhat for some reason.
Ten days passed. The Chinese fleet finally arrived at the small island, but the sight before them was terrifying. Warships of various models from different countries were all concentrated in this sea area, totaling no less than three hundred.
The commander hurriedly contacted Zhao Xiang, but Zhao Xiang's reply was unusually calm.
"Is that so? Looks like we were still a step late. But it doesn't matter, just stay parked there. Absolutely do not fire first, but also absolutely do not be slow to return fire. If the enemy doesn't move, I don't move; the moment the enemy moves, I move."
"But with such a chaotic situation, if fighting really breaks out, it will be a world war!" the commander specifically emphasized. "And with our current military strength, we won't last three minutes."
Zhao Xiang pondered for a moment and asked, "If everything is ready, how long does it take for the submarine to launch nuclear missiles?"
"If the silo doors are fully open and the targets are locked, just inputting the password to confirm launch would take about two minutes," the commander replied.
"Good." Zhao Xiang took a deep breath. "I order the strategic nuclear submarine to surface, all silo doors open, nuclear missiles enter ready-to-launch status."
"Chairman! Are you saying we should use nuclear missiles?!" The commander almost shouted. All the soldiers on the bridge stared at the commander who was on the phone.
"Yes. As for the targets, lock onto the capitals and important cities of all the countries currently present at your location," Zhao Xiang confirmed.
"Chairman, in that case..." The commander dared not think further.
"I understand your concerns," Zhao Xiang sighed, looking at the national map behind him. "Remember, it's best not to fight. If fighting truly breaks out, absolutely do not disgrace the country. Even if it means sacrifice, hold on long enough for the nuclear submarine to destroy the attacking nations. Although I cannot tell you, that island holds the hope for China's prosperity. Our scientists are working hard to find it for us. When they return, it's highly possible that will be the moment China looks down upon the world. At that time, when we shout 'I am Chinese,' we will be even prouder. Our China is not afraid of war, and China's soldiers are even less afraid of sacrifice. You must guard our scientists there until they return safely.
Everything for the homeland!"
The commander calmed down because the Chairman had said "Homeland!"
The Chinese fleet quickly formed a circular formation. The nuclear submarine slowly rose from the center, silo doors fully open.
Seeing this, some nations with insufficient fleet strength quickly followed suit. The commander of the US carrier group said, sweat beading, "Are they crazy?"
April 1991, the largest nuclear crisis in history emerged. Yet, not a single civilian in the world knew they might be targeted by dozens of nuclear warheads, continuing their lives foolishly.
The scientists inside were completely unaware of the situation outside, continuing their near-frantic research.
Time flew; a year passed.
The hatch of Noah's Ark had been found. Scientists from every nation began searching within for what they considered the most cutting-edge technology. Research focus universally shifted towards military applications. Because nuclear fission technology had been discovered, the world had truly returned to the same starting line. Whoever researched a new terrifying alien weapon first, becoming the new hegemon of Earth was no longer a dream.
Nie Yun, as the leader of the Chinese team, however, couldn't decide on a research goal. Some suggested researching mecha-like individual soldier weaponry like the US; others suggested researching space fighters like Germany. Various proposals reached Nie Yun, all ending up as "discuss later."
It wasn't that Nie Yun didn't want to research; it was because Nie Yun discovered something strange about Noah's Ark: since it was a warship, why couldn't any shipboard weapons be found? Even if it functioned like an aircraft carrier, it was impossible not to have a single weapon. "Not the strongest!" Nie Yun concluded after examining every discovered weapon.
Annie seemed to know this too. She only let other personnel research mecha while she herself searched for something inside the warship.
Recalling the incompletely translated inscription, Nie Yun knew Annie must have obtained some unknown secrets.
However, to appease the other scientists, Nie Yun, after deliberation, decided to research genes. Noah's Ark's gene bank contained the most complete DNA codes of all prehistoric creatures on Earth, along with some research materials written in Atlantean.
January 1993, another spring. In these two years, various discoveries previously unimaginable appeared one after another. The constant excitement had numbed Nie Yun's heart.
Until Annie stood before Nie Yun, his heart once again underwent torment.
"Is there something you need me for?" Nie Yun's expression was extremely awkward.
"Remember? You still owe me one thing. I just want you to help me with something."
"Me?" Nie Yun pointed at himself strangely.
"Yes, you. As payment, I will tell you some secrets about Atlantis. If you agree, meet me at the bridge at 2 AM." After speaking, Annie turned and left.
For some reason, after hearing it was just asking for help, Nie Yun felt somewhat disappointed.
That night, Nie Yun hesitated whether to go or not, but at 2 AM, he still appeared on the bridge.
"I knew you would come," Annie said calmly.
"I just want to know the secrets you mentioned," Nie Yun turned his head aside, avoiding Annie's gaze.
"Is that so?" Annie lowered her head.
"What do you need my help with?" Nie Yun asked.
The real prologue began this night.