Apocalypse: I Build A Doomsday Train-Chapter 916 - 376: The Operation Begins

"The people in Zhou Mingyuan’s faction are very tense right now. Although the situation is under control, the actions of the Underground City have drawn some people’s attention. Over on the Breaking Curtain Plan side, many new alternate lists have been added. Upon investigation, they are all offspring or descendants of those officials."

"Tell Su Jin to cancel the political review. Anyone who fails the Starry Sky Physique Test or the Character Ability Test should be eliminated, regardless of their names."

In Chu Zhaonan’s office, just after he hung up the communicator, a knock was heard. A man with a calm and sharp gaze, dressed in military uniform, walked in. Chu Zhaonan did not turn around, but his tone already carried a hint of sternness.

"You should be preparing on the Far Star Ship of the Vanguard Plan now, not here."

Chu Jing took off his general’s hat, looking at the back of his father. He had two questions for coming here: one about the Vanguard Plan, and the other about the boarding list.

But looking at that back, he decided to forgo asking the second question because he understood his father, and he understood himself, knowing what kind of answer he would get, and he didn’t want to hear that answer.

"Dad, the Vanguard Fleet is ready. Two shield-breaking plans are completed, only the second remains."

Chu Zhaonan nodded without speaking. They were used to communicating through silence between father and son, which seemed to convey more information than words.

"You guessed right. The Dark Erosion Cells found in the Deep Red World have the same survival structure as superpowers and invasions. If we dig deeper, we might completely solve the problems of dark invasions and drinking water, this is the right direction. What I want to say is, the Phoenix Society can do it."

"I know they can do it," Chu Zhaonan said calmly.

"Can we give them a chance? Dad, I mean the others, everyone. I thought about this question for one night, and I hesitated when I saw you just now. I know as the captain of the Vanguard Fleet, asking you this question might disappoint you. I remember when you appointed me as the head of the Breaking Curtain Plan, you asked me if I understood your decision. I said: I understand, but my hesitation shows I can’t truly understand from your standpoint yet. It must be a huge pressure and decision, thousands of times more painful than facing the chairman’s son’s escape faction position. But Dad, if we can solve the dark invasion issue, wouldn’t the world have hundreds more days? Would things be different then?"

"Perhaps, but the logic is contradictory."

Chu Zhaonan’s voice softened a bit, patiently saying, "Do you remember what you told me when you first entered the Navy Academy and came back to talk about what you learned?"

"The key to a submarine’s victory lies in the silence before the attack," Chu Jing answered.

"Yes," Chu Zhaonan nodded. "Dark invasion is a toxin, and the Sky Veil is a barrier. When you discover that the bugs have become resistant and can break the glass container, what will you do?"

"Dad, thank you, and I’m sorry to have you say this to me."

Chu Jing fell silent after speaking. As the head of the Breaking Curtain Plan, he knew that only by standing from his father’s perspective could he say these words with such mindset, to not wait for the dawn of hope, to gamble everything with the most decisive means.

He glanced at Chu Zhaonan’s straight-standing back, then withdrew his gaze, preparing to put his military hat back on and leave.

"Wait."

Chu Zhaonan called him back. Chu Jing turned around and saw his father pointing to an unused tea table in the corner of the study, saying, "Since you’re already prepared, stay and have some tea with me."

This might be the calmest evening Chu Zhaonan had since settling in the Underground City after the Apocalypse Day. They brewed a pot of tea, a rarity, and talked about some family matters. Later, Chu Zhaonan discussed some of his original ideas on interstellar colonization with the Federation, and Chu Jing talked a lot about the fleet. They jointly discussed the significance of civilization stepping into the Far Star, even touching upon high-dimensional guesses about the Dark Civilization, and whether future humans could feasibly counterattack the Blue Star.

Throughout the process, Chu Zhaonan felt a long-lost pleasure. The tea in the cup never cooled. He watched the military badge on Chu Jing’s hat, placed upright on the table, gleaming in the study’s light. In that golden glow, he seemed to see a mighty Far Star Fleet carrying millions of human embryos and tens of thousands of young people, rushing into the stars toward the sun’s golden spots. Countless Starry Sky Propellers built a trail of blue tail flame points, carrying all hope and the seed of civilization, heading for the Far Star.

...

Jin Hai, the raging wind at night, and the decaying smell filled the air of the ruined city.

From high above, some faint lights of survivor caravan camps could be seen flickering amidst the dark city silhouette, but these lights were shrouded by endless darkness and waves of corpses. High walls and fences completely surrounded the industrial district, and at the Ring Star Train Factory here, thousands were stationed. Inside the factory, thousands of manufacturing robots and engineering teams were hastening to complete an unfinished standard interstellar train ship body.

On the main bridge of the Sky Dome Train, a few core members of Silent City and the Infinite Alliance gathered, the air heavy and desolate, as if a dark cloud loomed over everyone’s heads.

Lin Xian didn’t want to pass on negative emotions, so he only called Shi Deyuan, Ning Jing, Monica, Qian Deli, KIKI, Chen Sixuan, Director Ding, and of course, the new collaborator Jian Xuwei.

And on the Silent City side, only Mochizuki Masashi and Qian Suxun were there. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"So it’s no longer about the cooperation between Dawn City and the Deep Red World, but rather, their actions could very likely cause significant changes in Star Abyss." It was Monica who first broke the silence, her expression stern, and though her tone was indifferent, there was a trace of heaviness that could be captured in her demeanor.