The operation lasted for several standard hours. During this time, the life support system's alarm briefly sounded, indicating a decrease in air purification efficiency in a certain area. Kane had to pause his work to perform emergency maintenance. Resource scarcity and the system's aging were like a Damocles' sword hanging over their heads.
When Kane finally finished connecting the last fine-tuning circuit, a rather rudimentary-looking device appeared before them. It was pieced together from various different types of parts; the outer casing hadn't even been made yet, exposing a complex internal structure. At its center was a recalibrated focusing module, emitting a faint blue light, next to which was a crystal unit flashing with precise timing signals. It looked more like a scientific experimental instrument than a weapon.
"Prototype...assembled." Leah breathed a sigh of relief, the data flow in her eyes slowing down. "Initial testing is needed to verify the frequency generation and focusing functions."
She carefully connected the device to a separate, low-powered backup battery. The device emitted a low hum, and an extremely small but remarkably stable spot of light lit up at the front of the focusing module. Leah manipulated the device, firing an invisible, specific-frequency resonant wave into the open space of the bridge.
A soft hum…
A barely perceptible vibration filled the air. A gauge monitoring the ambient energy field beside her swayed slightly before returning to its normal position.
"Low-frequency test successful. Resonant wave successfully emitted and produced measurable interference effects," Leah reported, a hint of triumphant joy in her voice. "Now… we need to find a more powerful energy field for practical effect testing."
Her gaze, along with Kane's, fell on the main screen, on the direction representing the source of the faint signal echo.
Using that echo as a test target? That was undoubtedly extremely risky, potentially alerting the enemy.
"No," Kane rejected the idea. "We can't take the risk. Find a stable, non-critical energy source inside the ship for testing. For example… the lighting circuitry in a non-core area."
Leah understood Kane's caution and nodded. She adjusted the device to a resonant mode for ordinary light frequencies and aimed it at a separate emergency light in the corner of the bridge.
"Test begins."
The device hummed again. This time, the emergency light began to flicker violently at a visible frequency, its brightness fluctuating wildly, as if it might go out at any moment! A few seconds later, as Leah cut off the power, the light gradually returned to normal.
The test was a success! The theory was effective! Although the target was just an ordinary light, it proved the principle of resonance cancellation was feasible!
A wave of exhilaration washed over the two of them. This was the first truly good news since they had been adrift.
However, this exhilaration didn't last long.
The joy on Leah's face suddenly froze. She abruptly turned to look at the main sensor control panel, the data stream in her eyes instantly becoming rapid and chaotic.
"Commander! The signal echo...**intensity has increased dramatically! Increased by 300%!** And...the signal source...**is moving!**
Kane's heart sank! He rushed to the control panel.
On the screen, the previously faint and indistinct signal source had become much clearer and was moving slowly but surely toward the direction where the Nightingale was floating!
It wasn't a random echo within the CME cloud!
It was an independent, mobile entity!
That thing… wasn't dead! Not only was it alive, but it had… come knocking!