Chapter 212 Decisive Battle, The Waterdrop's Counterattack_1
Lin Sen: "Your stalling tactics are too obvious, and your negotiation skills are clumsy.
"I need your direct response—this is a negotiation.
"I'm only giving you 30 seconds. After that, Lin Yun will notify Feng Zi to activate the Global Broadcast Station. Ten minutes later, the broadcast will begin!
"You must have realized by now, I've always intended to activate the Global Broadcast Station to allow the Deep Space Fleet to escape.
"Only in this way can humanity truly advance into deep space, and there'll be no turning back.
"Remaining in the Solar System—even if humanity were to prevail, once humans understand the 'Dark Forest,' they might be unwilling or afraid to venture out ever again, potentially locking themselves inside the Solar System forever.
"If humanity is defeated, then there is no need for discussion, after all, you would not leave us any way to survive.
"I am merely seeking a future for humanity. As for why I didn't broadcast earlier but waited until today,
"The reason is simple. We have been in a standoff for 200 years, and I have always wanted to witness firsthand the differences between civilizations.
"Moreover, had I acted prematurely, I would have faced humanity's judgment. Now is the best time. Whether humanity wins or not, we will have completed our mission."
No. 7: "Indeed, it's a clever strategy—to let the Deep Space Fleet escape and preserve the seeds of humanity.
"At the same time, you also want a battle with us to see the gap between us.
"You want to witness our technology; the appearance of 'The Waterdrop' has also shown you the direction for future technological development.
"You still have the 'Dark Forest' to contend with us, and the outcome is still unknown.
"It would be better if you could defeat us in battle, but if not, you could still deter us by invoking the 'Dark Forest.'
"Even if all plans fail, you've retained the ember of civilization and completed your mission.
"I must say, your plan is perfect.
"But you're far too arrogant. You see everyone as mere bugs—from us Trisolarans to even your fellow humans.
"Arrogance is the greatest barrier to survival, and you will pay the price for your pride..."
…
Meanwhile, in the Sixth Battle Zone.
The ambush point of the three asteroids remained eerily silent; perhaps the Trisolaran 'Waterdrop' had already turned to invisible dust in the ferocious hail of laser fire.
Just as humanity let its guard down, thinking the first light of victory was emerging, a new crisis was quietly brewing not far away.
Suddenly, a 'Waterdrop' materialized out of thin air along the line between the Sun and Earth, hurtling toward Earth at an astonishing 100 times the Third Cosmic Velocity.
By the time this sudden 'Waterdrop' was detected, it was only 400,000 kilometers from Earth, and at its speed, it would reach Earth in another four minutes.
The alarms of the global as well as the close Earth defense systems (formerly the planetary defense systems) blared incessantly, shrill and piercing, shrouding every bustling city center and quiet rural field with their urgent cries.
Just 400,000 kilometers away, nearing the Moon's orbit. People had been casting vigilant eyes several astronomical units away in the search for possible threats, but they had never imagined that danger would so suddenly descend upon their "back."
People seemed caught utterly off guard by this abrupt development, as fear and panic spread through the air. Each one felt an unprecedented pressure, as if an invisible force had grasped their throats.
Earth's near-defense system was fully activated, and military weapon platforms throughout space demonstrated their power. High-Energy Laser Cannons, Ion Beam Weapons, Electromagnetic Railguns… all space weapons were firing at full force in an attempt to intercept the rapidly approaching Waterdrop.
The entire space was filled with the glow of various weapons and the sound of explosions, yet the Waterdrop entered as if it were in unclaimed territory, utterly indifferent to humanity's attacks. Those weapons, the pinnacle of human technology, had no effect apart from slightly reducing its speed.
Even as the docks stood in its way, the Waterdrop passed through them as effortlessly as a steel ball through cheese.
Due to the impact's velocity, the dock only showed two exceptionally regular circular holes where the Waterdrop entered and exited, their diameters as large as the Waterdrop at its thickest part.
But as soon as the holes appeared, they deformed and disappeared because the surrounding dock's exterior melted away due to the heat generated from high-speed impact and the ultra-high temperature of the Waterdrop's propulsion glow.
The section of the dock that was hit soon turned red-hot. This incandescence spread from the impact point outward, quickly covering a large area of the dock.
The Waterdrop didn't care at all about the things it passed; its target was always the Global Broadcast Station.
At this time, the Waterdrop seemed to have shut down its power system, allowing human attacks to decelerate it. When the speed decreased to ten times the Third Cosmic Velocity, the Waterdrop had already come into contact with Earth's outermost atmosphere.
As the Waterdrop entered the atmosphere at a hundred times the Third Cosmic Velocity, high-speed friction ionized the surrounding air, creating dazzling trails of light as it fell swiftly from the sky.
In the instant of contact with the atmosphere, the gases in the atmospheric layer were compressed at high speed, creating a deafening sonic boom that echoed thunderously across the sky.
In less than five seconds, the Waterdrop collided with the ground.
The instant of impact brought a thunderous roar that filled the heavens, as if a massive meteorite had mercilessly smashed into Earth.
The powerful shockwave from the impact spread rapidly from the collision point in all directions, profoundly shaking those who witnessed it.
The Global Broadcast Station was reduced to dust in an instant from the collision and the shockwave. The tremendous energy released at the moment of impact was like a catastrophic storm, mercilessly ravaging the entire area, as if the Earth's crust had been fractured by the blow.
Dust blocked out the sky, as if to swallow everything in endless darkness. The severity of the impact was unspeakable, leaving nothing but ruins and deep silence.
After the impact, the Waterdrop immediately flew away from Earth, for it had another objective: to blockade the Sun.
The Trisolarans' power was vividly displayed before humanity, an overwhelming force that people could only dream of but never reach. They were so shaken that they could not speak for a long time, as if all their strength had been drained by the massive impact.
The Global Broadcast Stations positioned on either side of Earth's orbit around the Sun also faced the same fate.
Between them and the Sun, Waterdrops abruptly appeared, each hurtling toward the two stations at a hundred times the Third Cosmic Velocity.
The outcome was inevitable, and no amount of human struggle or weapons' fire seemed to have any effect.
With unstoppable momentum, the Waterdrop collided with the Global Broadcast Station, its speed and force so fierce that any defense seemed illusory.
The moment of impact was like a heated knife slicing through cheese, the Waterdrop easily penetrating the station's exterior.
In front of it, the entire structure of the broadcast station was as if made of paper, incapable of stopping it for even a second. The entire collision process was both swift and devastating, the Global Broadcast Station was instantly destroyed, turned to rubble.
This collision was so rapid and violent that it left onlookers dumbfounded and in disbelief.