Chapter Twenty: Overhauling the Centrifuge

Watching Xu Yan actually start dismantling the centrifuge, Duan Peng suddenly remembered something and shouted, “Wait.”

Xu Yan looked up and asked, “What’s the matter?”

“Do you understand this?”

“Huh? What’s going on?”

“Are you joking?” Duan Peng exclaimed in disbelief. “Modifying the centrifuge? You’ve gone mad?”

“I’m not crazy!” Xu Yan replied. “The problem now isn’t the overall structure of the centrifuge; it’s just that the intelligent control system lacks some data. We just need to remove a few small components and rewrite the program accordingly, and it’ll work.”

Duan Peng still found it hard to believe. “I get the feeling what you’re saying sounds more like fantasy than reality.”

“Enough talk, help me out!” Xu Yan seldom explained, because if Qiyu didn’t release the information wave to him, he would have been clueless.

Every step he took now was guided by Qiyu, and it seemed he had no choice.

Although he was controlling this body now, there was also a primal force within driving him to follow this plan.

After a whole day’s work, until nightfall, the mechanical and component modifications were completed.

Xu Yan looked at the centrifuge, which appeared unchanged externally but had some parts replaced and added internally. He still felt somewhat puzzled.

Just as Xu Yan opened the special computer for the Jinjiang Special Forces and connected it to the centrifuge’s program core, Jing Zhiming and Zhang Xudong walked in.

“Why are you still here?” Zhang Xudong asked. “Why haven’t you reported back to the team?”

Xu Yan stopped his operation and stood side by side with Duan Peng before replying, “Reporting to the captain, team leader, I’m modifying the centrifuge.”

“Modifying the centrifuge?” Jing Zhiming’s eyes flickered; he thought he had misheard.

“Yes. Making the centrifuge more intelligent to gradually train more interstellar soldiers to endure up to 10G load.”

Zhang Xudong and Duan Peng had identical reactions at first—the muscles outside their military vests twitched uncontrollably.

Jing Zhiming, on the other hand, walked thoughtfully to the already active computer and asked, “How exactly are you modifying it?”

“Reporting, captain, I have upgraded and replaced some components inside this centrifuge and added some reinforcements. Now only one thing remains.”

“What is it?”

“To modify the centrifuge’s control program to make it more intelligent.”

“How long will it take?”

“About three hours to complete.”

“Good, keep it up. I’ll inspect it in three hours,” Jing Zhiming said, then waved at Zhang Xudong. The two left as quietly as they had arrived.

“This is…” Duan Peng exhaled, “He agreed?”

“Seems so,” Xu Yan smiled faintly.

“He didn’t even ask why, just took it for granted that you could do it.”

Xu Yan walked back to the computer and teased, “The captain’s fit to be a teammate. You, on the other hand, still have a ways to go!”

“What do you mean I have a ways to go? I’ve been crazy with you all day!”

“But you still don’t believe me!”

“Xu Yan,” Duan Peng shouted, “Go ask around. Throughout the Jinjiang Special Forces, or even the whole interstellar forces, see if anyone would believe this!”

“The captain is the only one,” Xu Yan retorted.

“You two…” Duan Peng was speechless, “Two lunatics!”

Despite his words, Duan Peng chose to stay silent as Xu Yan began modifying the program. He fetched a tall stool and watched quietly from the side.

It wasn’t that he didn’t understand programming, but he didn’t understand the centrifuge’s program and dared not touch it.

Though this was old equipment retired from the interstellar forces, it was still valuable. If the modifications went wrong, no one could bear the responsibility.

And if it succeeded…

It would be nothing short of a fairy tale—how could it possibly work?

But reality proved otherwise, and Duan Peng realized he had underestimated Xu Yan.

About three hours later, Xu Yan, a bit excited, pressed the final key just as Jing Zhiming and Zhang Xudong returned almost on cue.

“Done?” Jing Zhiming asked.

“Yes,” Xu Yan quickly stood from the computer.

“Good,” Jing Zhiming nodded. “What’s the difference between the modified centrifuge and the original?”

“The captain didn’t ask earlier, and now you want to know?” Duan Peng gaped at Jing Zhiming.

“Is there a problem?”

“Of course! You don’t even know what he’s changed! And you just let him start using this valuable centrifuge like that?”

“You’re partly responsible too!”

“I!” Duan Peng shut his mouth completely.

Once Duan Peng was silent, Xu Yan began explaining the main differences of the improved centrifuge to Jing Zhiming.

First, it was the intelligence. The old centrifuge could only gradually increase or decrease load pressure, which meant the body’s physical condition had to meet certain requirements before entering, limiting time and personnel.

But load pressure is a kind of environment—as if you live in a high-altitude plateau and then descend to low altitude, you experience oxygen intoxication; going back up, you suffer hypoxia.

However, if your survival environment is inherently high load and high pressure, you won’t feel the burden as heavily.

The modified centrifuge has this function: it adjusts pressure based on each person’s physical reactions, gradually increasing it within safe limits until they fully adapt to high load and pressure.

This solves the problem of the rapid responses required by interstellar fighters, without needing to adjust load and pressure inside the spacecraft, which reduces the soldiers’ endurance.

To a great extent, it lowers the entry barrier for interstellar soldiers, meaning fewer will be retired prematurely.

At the same time, for shuttles, interstellar ships, and fighters, many components can be reduced, allowing for lighter or more heavily loaded vessels.

Xu Yan had only finished the first point when Jing Zhiming, stirred with excitement, interrupted and asked directly, “What is the maximum load pressure of this centrifuge now?”

“10G,” Xu Yan answered.

“Good, I’ll try it,” Jing Zhiming said without hesitation, opening the centrifuge door to enter.

Zhang Xudong immediately grabbed him. “Captain, you should check and test it first. Not to mention the intelligence system, the internal parts have been modified and haven’t been verified yet!”

Jing Zhiming kept holding the door, eyes fixed on Xu Yan.

“Reporting, captain, I’m very confident. One test and it will pass. It’s absolutely safe.”

Jing Zhiming smiled and said to Zhang Xudong, “Did you hear that?”

“Captain, I’ll go!” Zhang Xudong quickly said, seeing his advice was futile. “I’m younger and can endure more if anything happens!”

“Get lost!” Jing Zhiming kicked Zhang Xudong aside. “Such a good opportunity, and you want to snatch the first try from me?”