Hunter of Mysterious Creature-Chapter 496 - 95: Test Failed
Two hours later, in the southern suburbs of Tianfu City, at the simulation test site.
The first live test didn’t involve the testers directly. Instead, the PFDA was fitted onto a mannequin made of special materials, and the PFDA was controlled remotely.
According to the blueprints, Sun Hang used Taishan mycelium to produce the first batch of joint components that met the PFDA requirements. Due to the presence of the "wishful thinking" ability, the component pass rate reached one hundred percent, leaving the engineers responsible for measuring the component errors wide-eyed in astonishment.
"All components are qualified! Quick! Start assembly immediately!"
"Not a single one was scrapped? How is that possible? Did you measure incorrectly?"
"If they’re not faulty, they’re not faulty. Dammit, why keep talking? Don’t waste time! Hurry!" As several engineers continued to argue, on the other side, Song Yarong was already cursing.
She took off the bulky protective suit, changed into a tight-fitting combat suit, and wrapped a long down coat over it. A semi-covered goggle was secured to her face, and her prosthetic eye kept spinning, constantly scanning the PFDA "Prototype No. 1" fixed on the launch stand.
Though it was noon in midsummer, the temperature in the southern suburbs of Tianfu City was minus seventeen degrees Celsius. Heavy snowflakes floated down, and the ground was as hard as steel, while the biting cold wind made the flag nearby flap fiercely.
Everyone present was dressed in thick cold-resistant clothing, except for Sun Hang.
"Aren’t you afraid of the cold?" Shinkata Misaki asked.
She was wrapped in a military coat with a fur collar and wore a thick hat. Even so, her nose was red from the cold, and she had to periodically sniffle back the snot trailing from her nostrils.
"Not really," Sun Hang replied. "It’s not that cold."
"I envy you, infected people, for your physique," Shinkata Misaki said softly.
"First, not every infected person is as cold-resistant as him; second, many infected people constantly face threats of death or losing control." Song Yarong turned to glance at Shinkata Misaki. "Many people envy the abilities of infected people, but once they become infected themselves, they only miss the life they had as ordinary people."
"That may not be true." Shinkata Misaki snorted. "In Chunming City, I’ve seen many infected people who were ecstatic after gaining abilities. For them, the infection was like changing their destiny... Lots of people from the lower class face threats of death too, yet their lives are not as good as the Hunters enjoying Federation Government subsidies... If I were like them, I’d definitely want to become a Hunter."
Song Yarong wanted to say, "These people will regret it sooner or later," but she suddenly realized she was also an infected person. The ability brought by the infection not only didn’t trouble her but also provided her many advantages. Her salary, position, and authority level all rose steadily... There’s no doubt that these were all thanks to her special identity as an infected person.
As for the discrimination and hostility ordinary people had towards the infected, working in a research institute and interacting daily with scientists and engineers, she hadn’t really experienced that.
Song Yarong eventually said nothing and turned away.
Under the operation of four highly skilled technicians, the PFDA, equipped with Taishan mycelium components, quickly completed its final calibration, and the test dummy was placed in the "cockpit." With the ear-piercing warning sounds blaring, the area behind the launch stand was quickly cleared, and everyone withdrew to a safety zone over a hundred meters away.
"Ignite in three seconds!" Song Yarong shouted loudly.
Soon, the large rocket motor nozzles began to spout long flames. The cables securing the PFDA snapped straight, making groaning sounds as if they were under unbearable strain.
"Thrust has reached the pre-determined standard! Release the restraints!"
A few sharp pops sounded as the cables attached to the PFDA snapped, and the PFDA, along with its integrated propulsion system, disappeared from sight like an arrow leaving the bow.
The strong airflow even sent the boxes placed on either side of the launch support, which were used to hold monitoring devices, flying off.
"Initial velocity 4.71 Mach!!" the observer immediately called out. "It’s still accelerating, already reaching 4.85 Mach! 4.89! Breaking 4.9!"
The airflow generated by the PFDA in flight cut through frozen soil, plowing a deep furrow in the ground, and the massive sonic boom produced as it broke the sound barrier completely drowned out the observer reporting the speed.
The test field was entirely modeled after the terrain surrounding the Chimera 17, with the launch area located about thirty kilometers from Chimera 17. At Mach 5 speed, the PFDA could reach the target location in less than 18 seconds.
The sky over this area was filled with numerous drones to capture real-time footage of the PFDA’s flight. Simultaneously, they acted as relay stations, transmitting data from the numerous sensors installed inside the PFDA, along with visuals, back to the launch area. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
"The speed has reached 5.07 Mach and is roughly stabilized. The propellant consumption of the thrusters is normal! All the thrusters are operating normally! The PFDA’s structural load is within acceptable limits! The pilot’s G-load has decreased from the initial 79G during acceleration to 24G, and it is steadily decreasing!"
