#1021 - Demon (III)

The war had begun.

"While an orbital mass driver sounds like a single weapon, it's actually a system."

"This system originated from the European Space Agency's lunar development and colonization mission. From the very beginning, it was simply intended to build artificial satellites faster and at a lower cost."

"The moon's mass is only one-sixth of Earth's, and its escape velocity is about one-fifth of Earth's. This means that launching spacecraft or anything else from there requires significantly fewer resources."

"There are three colonies there, three orbital mass drivers. Through these drivers, materials from the moon can be precisely projected to the Earth-Moon Lagrange points, waiting for spacecraft to retrieve them for construction in space."

"But later, or perhaps from the beginning, the European Space Agency developed a new use for it: what if the projected material didn't stop at the Lagrange points, but fell directly onto Earth?"

"That would have devastating consequences, but this explosion was more powerful than I imagined, and exceeded Arasaka's predictions. Previous intelligence indicated that the ESA's strongest projectiles were 100-ton class, with an explosive power equivalent to conventional tactical nuclear weapons, but this one is different."

"This is probably a 300-ton class. They've improved."

Arasaka understands orbital mass drivers the most, because Saburo Arasaka dreams of possessing the world's most advanced weapons.

In the original world line, Arasaka had already begun espionage activities against the lunar colonies and was attempting to secretly deploy orbital mass drivers. As Arasaka's once most outstanding AI, Muramasa understood the European Space Agency's limits, understood the limits of orbital mass drivers.

The explosion caused by a 300-ton class projectile is already comparable to a large-yield tactical nuclear weapon. Riel isn't necessarily afraid of such explosions, but Night City is.

A devastating meteor fell from the sky, detonating internally at the last moment, even creating a cluster bomb effect. The city center is completely destroyed, and the surrounding buildings will suffer heavy casualties from the shockwave and fragmentation.

Night City is paralyzed, the surface layer is paralyzed.

A city of 7 million people is paralyzed.

It's unknown how many people died in this attack, and how many more will die from subsequent attacks.

The entire underground city is in a state of post-traumatic relief and fear of being attacked: nuclear striking others is one feeling, being struck is another.

Moreover, the New United States is vast and resource-rich, and the European Community is even more so. Night City? It's just a city!

When people are attacked, they start to imagine the worst. This is the worst: we are just a city, but the other side is the whole world!

Fortunately...

【Illuminati: The list construction suggestions you provided were very useful. Although morale is low, it is still within controllable range, and morale has not collapsed.】

Riel has extensive experience with nuclear strikes, having participated in wars with casualties in the billions. In such systematic warfare, public opinion control is a very important skill.

Initially, he disdained studying it, but later he was forced to. In this situation, he knows a thing or two about how to determine a list to ensure morale.

But this is, after all, a cruel technique: you have to decide who can hide and who can only die outside.

V fiercely punched the wall. Jack just glanced at it. He wanted to punch it too, but he couldn't.

"No wonder everyone uses Euros. Now I understand. Whoever doesn't listen will have stones thrown at them."

Muramasa's holographic projection added:

【Muramasa: To a large extent, you can say that a shell is concrete, but it's not just concrete. The technology and energy sources required to make the shell withstand the high temperatures generated by friction with the atmosphere, maintain its basic shape, control its trajectory and speed, and accelerate it to lunar escape velocity are all complex systemic engineering.】

【Muramasa: The European Space Agency only has one colony under control. 300-ton class should be their limit. They shouldn't have too many projectiles of this level in their hands, and the energy problem will also make it difficult for them to continue projecting.】

Mass drivers use electromagnetic rail acceleration for projection. The energy mainly comes from solar energy:

Lunar colonies are full of solar panels. Theoretically, there are also nuclear reactors there, but those are used for life support and maintaining factory operations.

The rails of electromagnetic catapults will ablate, which is a big problem on the moon; energy is not infinite either. Catapulting large-mass projectiles will lengthen the charging time. Even calculating the battery packs' ability to store electricity, it's impossible to strike with high density.

Riel said, "Estimated strike interval?"

【Muramasa: If the weapon is running well, the next strike should be at least 24 hours later.】

"Send out rescue teams to continue searching for survivors in the ruins, concentrate them in buildings, build simple fortresses and strongholds in the ruins, and evacuate in 20 hours."

【Illuminati: Okay, the advance team candidates have been selected.】

"Secondly, we need outside news. Let Adekka join the advance team to cover their departure from Night City. At the same time, send out some Iron Riders to perform the same task. We still have insiders in the New United States. Don't give up on them."

【Illuminati: Manpower will be a bit tight, but it can be arranged, and the fewer people in the base, the better.】

"Muramasa, adjust the production line."

Riel quickly made a decision, and one instruction after another was issued. The Illuminati's powerful social resource allocation ability could remind Riel where the limits of this underground city were, so that he could make trade-offs.

But this scene made Peralez and Ryan panic: their city was attacked. There's no need for a complicated bureaucratic system now, so what about them?

So Ryan immediately said, "What about us?"

Riel looked at Ryan and Peralez. In fact, this wasn't just their problem. There were still some politicians or company executives with similar status among the evacuees, such as Sherman from McKinnon, and the fixer groups.

The latest and most popular novels are available on [Liǔ] [Q] [ī] [Shū] [B] [ā] [.com]!

"Go to the engineering department to receive cybernetic modification and adjustment, and join the production line."

"Ah? Us? Go..."

"Yes," Riel interrupted Ryan. "Go work on the production line. If you can understand and learn engineering technology, then do engineering management. If not, listen to the team leader and the automatic dispatch center."

They had to go—

In a life-or-death struggle, there's no need for too many polite, tongue-twisting politicians and managers, especially in this situation: the underground city is not large, Riel has the Illuminati and advanced command system under his command, so they need to change.

But why not abandon them and take in more skilled workers? It's because they need to set an example for the people, and at the same time, play their role as politicians in inspiring people.

And one day in the future, if they win, those things they are good at during peacetime will still need them.

This is about adapting and changing.

Ryan and Peralez looked at each other, said nothing more, made up their minds, and turned to open the door—

As soon as they opened the door, they saw Lucy supporting David standing at the door, as well as the big brothers from various gangs.

V walked to Riel's side, looked at the people outside waiting for work, and nodded, "What about us? And them?"

Riel replied, "Remember what I told you before? If the European Space Agency directly intervenes in the battle..."

"Then you and I, we have to go to the moon."

"They too."