Chapter 46: The Orbital Ascension and the Sky-Net Breach
The destruction of the lead dreadnought had sent a shockwave through the city of Aethelgard. For the first time in centuries, the "Calculated Peace" of the Collective was replaced by the chaotic heat of fire and twisted metal. But Zhou Fan knew this was only a localized "Runtime Error." To truly liberate the trillions still trapped in other sectors, he had to decapitate the system at its highest point: the Mainframe Satellite, "The Eye of Providence."
"The facility's power is at 4%," Ling Er reported, her face illuminated by the flickering green light of her terminal. "The defensive barrier won't hold another salvo from the remaining fleet."
Zhou Fan looked at the thousand refugees who had successfully synchronized with the local network. They were exhausted, their faces covered in sweat, but their eyes held a newfound clarity. They were no longer "Data Cattle"; they were Nodes of Resistance.
"We don't need a barrier," Zhou Fan said, his voice echoing with a cold, metallic resonance. "We need a Transport Protocol. Ling Er, initiate the [Molecular Reconstruction] of the hangar's scrap metal. I'm going to build us a chariot out of their own garbage."
Using the combined processing power of the "Human Network," Zhou Fan reached out with his mind. He didn't use a wrench; he used Telekinetic Coding. Thousands of pieces of wreckage from the fallen dreadnought began to fly toward the facility's roof. Under the intense heat of focused hard-light, the metal melted and reformed, guided by Zhou Fan's mental blueprints.
In minutes, a jagged, obsidian-colored vessel took shape. It wasn't beautiful, but it was a Kinetic Slingshot designed for one purpose: to punch through the atmosphere before the Collective's orbital cannons could lock on.
"Everyone, brace for High-G Acceleration!" Zhou Fan commanded as he and Ling Er boarded the makeshift ship.
The Vertical Climb
As the ship ignited its ion thrusters—hacked from the remains of the Enforcer Drones—the sky above Aethelgard began to change. The High Designers had activated the [Sky-Net Firewall]. A grid of red lasers crisscrossed the upper atmosphere, designed to vaporize anything that didn't carry an authorized digital signature.
"They've locked the sky," Ling Er shouted over the roar of the engines. "We're heading straight into a 'Deletion Grid'!"
"Then we change our signature," Zhou Fan replied calmly. He plugged his wrist-comm directly into the ship's core. "I'm going to 'Mask' us as a Meteorological Update. Ling Er, flood the Sky-Net with 'Weather Data'. Make them think we are just a thunderstorm."
The ship accelerated, a streak of violet fire cutting through the dark clouds. As they hit the red laser grid, the beams flickered. The Sky-Net's AI hesitated for a millisecond, confused by the massive amounts of "Rain and Wind" data Ling Er was broadcasting.
That millisecond was all Zhou Fan needed.
"[Boost: 400% - Overclock Thrusters]!"
The ship groaned, the metal plates screaming under the pressure. They punched through the grid, leaving a trail of blue static behind them. The darkness of the city fell away, replaced by the breathtaking, terrifying beauty of the Vacuum of Space.
The Eye of Providence
Before them lay the Mainframe Satellite. It was a city-sized structure of white porcelain and gold, orbiting the planet like a silent god. It was surrounded by a swarm of thousands of "Sentinel Satellites," all pointing their muzzles toward the planet below.
"This is it," Zhou Fan whispered. "The brain of the Collective."
"Zhou Fan... look at the data," Ling Er said, her voice trembling. "The satellite isn't just a computer. It's a Vessel. It's harvesting the 'Mental Energy' of the survivors and beaming it... somewhere else. Outside this star system."
Zhou Fan's eyes narrowed into slits of violet fire. The mystery was deepening. The Designers weren't just ruling; they were Exporting.
Suddenly, the ship's proximity alarm blared. A fleet of sleek, silver interceptors emerged from the satellite's hangar, moving with a grace that suggested they were piloted by "Integrated Consciousnesses"—the High Designers themselves.
"They've come to protect their 'Hard Drive'," Zhou Fan said, unsheathing his light-blade. "Ling Er, keep the ship steady. I'm going out to perform a Manual Override."
"Outside?! There's no air!"
"I don't need air," Zhou Fan said, his tactical suit sealing with a hiss. "I have Logic."
He stepped out of the airlock, his body enveloped in a localized gravity bubble, drifting toward the golden god of the sky while the silver interceptors closed in.