Magic? My Iron Torrent will sweep it all away!

Chapter 719 Future Development Direction Meeting

Lin Mo's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly apologized, saying:

"I'm sorry, everyone. I just finished discussing new cooperation with the various tribes of Terra. I've kept you waiting."

If it were anyone else, being late for a meeting of this level would definitely create a tense atmosphere in the meeting room.

Upon seeing Lin Mo enter, many people actually smiled.

This young man is a rising star in the Great Xia Dynasty, the reason why everyone is able to live well, and Zhao Lao's favorite now.

Aside from all that, Lin Mo had just extricated himself from the dual affairs of the Terra and Kona battlefields, and everyone knew how busy he had been during this time.

They had all tried to schedule appointments with Lin Mo to get closer to him, but the secretary from the New Hope Project politely declined, as she was genuinely too busy.

When Zhao Lao saw Lin Mo arrive, a gentle smile appeared on his previously expressionless face.

"You're here."

He raised his hand and gestured to his left:

"Come on, have a seat, we've been waiting for you."

Lin Mo nodded and quickly walked to sit down on Zhao Lao's left.

Along the way, the various leaders nodded slightly to him, including Zhao Gang and others.

Lin Mo responded to each of them.

Once he was seated, Old Zhao looked around the conference room and his tone returned to its usual calm.

"Now that everyone is here..."

"Let's begin the meeting. We'll mainly discuss our current work, upcoming tasks, and future development directions."

After he finished speaking, he looked at Han Niba.

"You go first."

Han Niba nodded and said in a deep voice:

"The first phase of the Kona satellite landing program has been largely completed."

"Currently, the four teleportation gates are operating stably, the outposts have continuous supply capabilities, and the outer perimeter has been extended to 32 kilometers."

"The demons have only sent out small groups of troops to probe in the past few days, and have not organized a large-scale counterattack."

"The construction of the base is proceeding day and night."

Han Niba paused for a moment, then continued:

"Yesterday, on behalf of the Great Xia, I sent a message to the Kona civilization requesting payment for the first phase of the mission."

"This is the mission content for the first phase of the Kona civilization, and the reward is a technology."

A line of text then popped up on the screen.

[Phase One Mission: Daxia establishes an outpost on the Kona satellite.]

The mission objectives include: establishing a sustainable bridgehead for troop deployment, supply, defense, and communications, and ensuring the long-term existence of this outpost.

The meeting room fell silent.

Everyone knows that this reward is not just money, nor is it ordinary supplies.

Rather, it was the cutting-edge technology that the Kona civilization promised to Great Xia.

At this stage, a mature interstellar technology could mean that Great Xia could avoid taking detours for several years or even decades.

Han Niba paused for half a second, then said:

"The Kona civilization replied that the Great Xia had successfully landed on the Kona satellite, repelled the demons, and initially established a foothold."

"However, the outpost is not yet fully completed, and there is still a risk that it may be repelled by the demons again."

"Therefore, the Kona civilization will not consider the mission complete for the time being."

"Once the base is completed and its long-term existence is confirmed, they will pay the agreed-upon remuneration."

As soon as he finished speaking, a low murmur arose in the conference room.

Someone frowned.

Some people sneered.

Some people also subconsciously looked at Old Zhao.

Lin Mo wasn't too surprised.

The one who truly controls the overall situation in the Kona civilization today is that powerful artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence follows rules, but it can also be rigid.

It acknowledges that Great Xia won, but does not acknowledge that "Great Xia has completed its mission."

But from another perspective, there really aren't any loopholes to exploit.

After listening, Old Zhao tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

"It seems that the powerful artificial intelligence of the Kona civilization is more cautious and more mechanical than we expected."

His tone was not harsh, but it quickly silenced the meeting room.

"In that case, build the base until it has nothing to say."

At this point, Old Zhao looked at Han Niba.

"There's no need to rush Kona about the payment."

"We are currently in a period of explosive technological absorption. The data provided by the Kona civilization is enough for the Academy of Sciences and the industrial sector to digest for a long time."

"What's more important right now is to turn the Kona outpost into a true bridgehead."

Han Niba nodded.

"Yes."

He switched the screen, and it showed a list of military requirements.

"The military's needs can be mainly divided into three categories."

"First, there is a significant shortage of various types of unmanned combat equipment, including Pangu mechs, Tier 3 to Tier 5 robots, armored vehicles, drones, and land-based turrets, etc."

"Second, the production chain for nuclear and antimatter bombs must continue to accelerate."

"Third, and most importantly."

Han Niba looked up and his gaze swept over the crowd.

"We need a spaceship."

On the screen, the orbital image of the Kona satellite was magnified.

The remains of plasma worms still floated in the darkness, their enormous corpses resembling fleshy mountains.

Even though they are dead, they still give people a huge sense of oppression.

Han Niba's voice was deep and cold:

"Everyone has already seen the threat posed by the Demon Plasma Worms."

"If it weren't for the support from the Kona civilization, we might not have been able to hold onto this landing site."

"The battlefields of the future cannot be confined to the ground."

"Air superiority and orbital control must be firmly in our own hands."

No one objected.

The battlefield of Kona has proven that the demon race is not limited to ground-based demonic tides.

They possess plasma worms capable of traversing space, large-scale orbital bombardment capabilities, and intergalactic wormhole delivery capabilities.

Relying solely on the ground, the Great Xia will inevitably be put on the defensive sooner or later.

Han Niba continued:

"One more thing, the Kona civilization has a fleet."

"If Great Xia doesn't have its own fleet, it will naturally be at a disadvantage in cooperation."

"We are allies with the Kona civilization, but allies must have a basis of equal strength."

Many people in the conference room nodded slightly.

Cooperation between civilizations has never been maintained by mere words of friendship.

Kona was naturally grateful that Daxia was able to save him.

However, if the Great Xia does not have its own interstellar power in the future, the relationship between the two sides will inevitably undergo subtle changes sooner or later.

To prevent Kona from developing a sense of contempt, Great Xia must have its own fleet.

Just like the aircraft carriers of yesteryear!

Old Zhao turned to look at Qian Zhenhua.

"Professor Qian, the progress of spaceship manufacturing still depends on the progress of your Academy of Sciences."

Qian Zhenhua adjusted his old-fashioned black-rimmed glasses and opened the documents in front of him.

His hair was gray, but his expression was bright.

"Okay, progress is faster than expected."

"We have basically mastered the shipborne shield technology provided by the Kona civilization."

"Seven rounds of theoretical verification have been completed, and the small-scale experimental device is now operating stably."

"Next, we will manufacture the first ship-based prototype and install it on the Kuafu first."

Kuafu.

The only truly large spaceship in the Great Xia Dynasty.

In the past, it was a strategic project built with almost the entire nation's resources.

However, because the disaster on Earth came too quickly and the spaceship manufacturing cycle was too long, the Kuafu was more like a lonely spark.

It is different now.

It will soon be equipped with the shipborne shields of the Kona civilization.

This means that the Great Xia spaceship will have the ability to defend itself in the face of interstellar warfare!