CHAPTER 457: CHAPTER 224: DIRECT CONFRONTATION

An important decision-making process often appears to be hasty at many times.

For instance, the initiation of a war, a regime change, or the end of an era and the birth of a new one.

But there’s no doubt that those decisions, seemingly "hasty," have been repeatedly driven by various events over a long period until they reach a critical point.

And when the situation breaks through the critical point, long discussions and deductions are no longer necessary.

Everyone in the vortex knows this has to be done.

Because if it is done, it might not lead to a good outcome.

But if not done, the result will certainly be unacceptably bad.

So, after an extremely brief discussion, Chen Jian, representing the Huaxia Army and the 011 base, decided to launch a long-range nuclear strike on the Mountain City, thousands of miles away.

The order was quickly issued, and everyone in the 011 base sprang into action.

Solid-fuel rockets don’t require temporary refueling, speeding up the whole preparation process considerably.

Even though none of them came from the Rocket Army and lacked relevant professional skills, with the assistance of Fu Xi, it took only 3 hours for the rocket to connect smoothly to the control system, entering a standby state.

And now, the only thing they had to do was wait.

Wait for a more suitable launch window and for the inertial navigation system to complete its final self-check.

Standing outside the launch site, Chen Jian quietly looked at the rocket in the distance and said to Lei Jie beside him:

"If it were just after we crossed over, could you have imagined a day when we’d personally launch a nuclear missile into the sky, aiming at a city we’re familiar with?"

Hearing his words, Lei Jie shook his head.

"First of all, we’re not aiming at a city we’re familiar with."

"Mountain City is no longer the Mountain City we remember; that city is the ’enemy-occupied area,’ and there is nothing inside but the enemy."

"Secondly, I never thought we would fight in such a retro way."

"I thought there would actually be cavalry riding horses, holding laser guns charging at us."

"But unfortunately, even the Mechanical God Sect hasn’t figured out such abstract things."

".... So you were really looking forward to it?"

Chen Jian asked with a slight tease.

"Of course, I was looking forward to it."

"Cavalry and laser guns are a man’s romance; the combination of these two, can you say it doesn’t excite you at all?"

"Not in the least."

Chen Jian shook his head, his gaze slightly turning back.

There, the residents still staying at the 011 base had already gathered.

They stared obsessively at the towering giant rocket. Although none could understand the function of this massive object, that did not affect their natural worship of it.

Chen Jian heard people whispering about the rocket’s purpose, someone saying it was a real sun.

A sun that could fly to the sky and cast irresistible rays from high altitude, melting away all heresies on the ground.

Such statements were obviously exaggerated, but at least they guessed the direction correctly.

Chen Jian didn’t correct them.

Because he knew that in no more than 5 minutes, everyone here would witness the real power of this missile.

His gaze returned to the tactical eyepiece before him, and by this time, the inertial navigation system self-check was 80% complete.

Theoretically, the missile now met the launch conditions.

But for higher reliability, Chen Jian still decided to let Fu Xi complete the final self-check.

"Once this missile is fired, nothing will be the same."

Chen Jian’s tone carried a slight sense of lament.

Lei Jie nodded slightly and then said:

"Actually, things have been different since we arrived at the 011 base."

"I hope things go smoothly this time."

"The threat Mountain City poses to us is too great. Its ’unknowability’ is even more dangerous than the Beast Tide itself."

"Without knowing what they might use against us, the only thing we can do is try to eliminate them as much as possible."

"Countdown, 240 seconds."

As Lei Jie finished speaking, Chen Jian raised his hand, signaling everyone to move away from the launch site.

The crowd stirred instantly, and amid the enormous noise of mechanical structure operation, the makeshift, simple but functional launch pad began to unfold slowly, with the camouflage on the launch pad gradually falling off.

"Countdown, 180 seconds."

"Inertial navigation system self-check completed."

"Strike coordinate parameters set."

"Please enter the unlock codes."

Fu Xi’s voice sounded in the headphones, Chen Jian nodded to Lei Jie, and the two of them entered two different nuclear unlock codes.

"Nuclear weapons unlocked."

"Countdown, 120 seconds."

"Engine self-check completed."

"Enter final launch decision window."

Chen Jian and Lei Jie kept retreating, but their eyes were fixed on the rocket on the launch pad in the distance.

Even after all the preparations, he still wasn’t too confident about a successful launch.

"Everyone immediately take cover!"

Chen Jian issued the final order, the 011 base gates opened, and the civilians who had been waiting outside poured in instantly.

"Main channel gate closed."

"Countdown, 60 seconds."

"Prepare for impact."

"Copy, prepare for impact."

Chen Jian hid behind the cover, ducking low.

"Countdown, 30 seconds."

"All systems ready."

"Enter the countdown."

The cold countdown voice sounded.

Chen Jian’s heart began to race violently.

But just at this moment, he suddenly heard an urgent shout in his headphones.

"Something strange detected over Han Shui!"

It was the voice of He Shuo.

"Missile contrail appeared in the sky!"

"Heading from west to east!"

"From Mountain City!"

Buzz.

It felt as if Chen Jian’s brain had been hit hard.

Contrail.

Missile.

These two words were incredibly familiar to him.

But at this moment, he felt unusually unfamiliar.

Undoubtedly, this was retaliation from Mountain City.

They also have long-range strike capability!

Yet how did they anticipate it in advance??

Satellite.

It could only be a satellite.

The moment the launch pad disguise was removed, they immediately launched an attack!

Nuclear retaliation?

That might be the only explanation.

But.....

No.

If it were nuclear retaliation, they would undoubtedly use ballistic missiles.

And based on the trajectory of a ballistic missile, when it flies over Han Shui City, it should be at its mid-flight stage.

At this time, the missile should be at least over 100 kilometers high.

From any perspective, it would be impossible for He Shuo in Han Shui City to visually see the contrail cloud.

It’s not a nuclear missile.

Most likely, it’s just an ultra-long-range cruise missile!

In an instant, Chen Jian’s heart settled down.

He took a slight breath, then calmly ordered:

"Prepare for terminal interception with the close-in defense system!"

"Ignite the rocket for immediate launch!"

"Understood!"

Instantly, the massive flame erupted from the tail of the soaring rocket.

Subsequently, the dazzling Mach ring, carrying tremendous thrust, slowly lifted the rocket into the sky.

Chen Jian quietly watched the scene.

Behind him, the residents inside the 011 base were closely watching the real-time monitoring screen, erupting with incredible screams of amazement.

seconds later, the rocket completely ascended into the high altitude, successfully entering its trajectory.

In the dim twilight sky, a flash streaked by at high speed.

Soon after, this flash brushed past the contrail extending from afar, heading directly west.

Separated by a thousand kilometers, the two most formidable adversaries, at that moment....

Finally had their first direct confrontation!