NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3
Chapter 3 The Shock of the Chief Engineer of the Second Generation Aero Engine R&D
I hang up the phone and narrow my eyes. Special mail? I am 90% sure that this could be something major. Soldiers have to report things that they believe may be important events to higher ups. This means that the things they report can either be very important or only of slight significance. It all depends on what they bring to my attention. I wait for a little while before Liu knocks on my door. Most people do not bother bringing news right now since it is time for lunch.
“Liu! Come in!” I shout.
Liu pushes in the door and sees me sitting on the sofa. He hurries over and opens up his laptop and places it in front of me.
“Dean Wanjun, look. This is the information that was sent.”
“Research and practice of the pulse detonation engine technology?”
I scan the folder and my eyes suddenly widen.
“Is this real?” I ask.
“Dean,” Liu addresses me. “I have read some of the information. Apart from the beginning, everything else is too advanced for me to understand. I am afraid that only a person who has an advanced understanding of engineering can judge this information.”
I slightly nod with a sharp and solemn expression that replaced my laziness. I open the folder and look at the information inside. Even if I do not understand anything, as the dean of the Flight Academy, I can still judge the information. I am at least 70% sure that this information is true, but whether it can be built or not needs professional judgment.
“Liu, scan this email for bugs. I do not want this information to leak outside of our school. I will contact the Academy of Sciences.”
“Yes, Dean. However, this information is too complex for a normal engineer. Don’t you know Mr. Chen, the person in charge of the Second Generation Aero Engine research project?”
This sentence startles me, and I slap my thigh.
“How did I forget Old Chen? That guy is now the chief engineer in charge of that project. If it is him, he can definitely judge how feasible this information is.”
I waste no time. This matter is too important. Even if I am ranked as a lieutenant general and this task is below me, I waste no time. I faintly feel that this information may shock the entire research and development team.
Daxia Military Fighter R&D Center at Windy City
Engine Research Project Team
None of the members of the Aero Engine Research Project ever took a break, not even during lunch hours. I, Chen Qi, am the head of this division. Should any problems occur I am the one who can fix them. I have to keep an eye on every part of the development of this engine, as many problems can only be solved by me. However, this type of research cannot be completed overnight. For three full years, the Scramjet plane has still been just a concept and the core difficulties have yet to be cleared.
“My colleagues. We came up with the concept of the Scramjets three years ago, but we have yet to make any progress. The country’s fortune has been spent. If there is no progress made, this will be our responsibility. We cannot afford to fail. The military powers on the other side of the ocean have been researching this for the past five years. We do not know how much progress they have made, but we must finish this before them.”
My words fall onto the entire department, and they go silent. Their faces turn blue and red, as they are ashamed of themselves. For three whole years, tens of billions have been spent on the Scramjet project, but no progress has been made. Even if I were to say nothing, the department would still feel shameful of its failure. As I finish speaking, a staff member pushes the entrance door open and walks into the room.
“Chen, you have a call.”
“Not now.”
“It is Dean Wanjun.”
“Little Wanjun?”
“Yes.”
“Bring the phone.”
I take the phone from the person and hold it to my ear.
“Wanjun, I am busy. Hurry and say what you need. I’m violating the rules just speaking to you like this,” I say.
“Okay, I will make it short,” Wanjun says.
Wanjun is not angry at my words. Almost the entire R&D department is top secret, which means that Chen must have a high standing, otherwise, mobile phones are not allowed. This is especially true for the Scramjet department, as it is of the highest secrecy level. Any information that is leaked is a loss for the entire country.
“I used the intranet to send you something. I need to know if it is real,” Wanjun says.
“What could be so important that I need to stop my own research to look over?”
“First, put down what you have in your hands. This is even more important than the Scramjet Engine.”
I know Wanjun’s words are important because of his unusual temper. I am also curious and quickly turn on a computer to download all of the materials that were transferred over. I open them and look over all of the information attentively.
“The Third Generation Aero Engine… The research and development of Pulse Detonation Engines, C/C new materials…” I mutter in a low voice.
That is not the main point of the information, but it is enough to capture my attention. I continue looking down at the laptop screen that displays all of the densely packed formulas and data. I look over every single letter of the documents. For the next 30 minutes, the entire conference room becomes hushed as they watch the spectacle before them. My indifferent expression had disappeared long ago and is replaced with only shock.
“Sigh. This is the complete make up of the Third Generation Aero Engine… The pulse detonation is so efficient. This engine could be used as a planetary engine, not just for fighter jets,” I say as I breathe in the cool air conditioning.
Half an hour is not enough time to check over everything, but I could not have gotten my credentials if I could not judge something simply by looking at the calculations. This has a 90% possibility to be accurate. I take a breath again and call Wanjun back.
“Wanjun, where did this information come from? Which military engineer?”
“Does it have a real possibility of being implemented?”
“Possibility? It’s more than a possibility. It has a 99% likeliness that it can be used to create a new engine. We should just completely abandon the second generation and build the third generation,” I say with a red flush on my face and an agitated expression.
We spent three full years of research designing the second generation engine, but there has been no progress in actually implementing any of it. Now, a complete set of blueprints far more advanced than the Scramjet Engine is in my hands. People can only imagine the mood I am in.
“Who did this?” I demand.
“I do not know. This was sent to our college’s mailbox.”
“Your… college mailbox?”
I was stunned. The mailbox of the Academy can receive information that is beyond our current engines? Do not lie to me. I have not gone senile yet.
I cannot believe it.
“Wanjun, you are still pranking me after all of this time. Tell me who it is. I have to ask him to help us develop the engine. I will give him the Chief Engineer position and act as their deputy.”
“Are you… Deputy?”
Wanjun is stunned by my words, but at the same time, understands the importance of this information.