Chapter 37: Life-and-Death Speed

After entering the deep sea for 478 hours, the entire experimental submarine entered electronic silence, severing all contact with the base and beginning the silent underwater test voyage.
The heavy atmosphere inside the submarine gradually eased. Just look at the experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and professors from the National Defense University, who had time to come out of the special laboratory and have friendly conversations with the soldiers. Captain Sun Jing's face was already smiling, and everyone understood that the most dangerous mission was over.
Silent underwater navigation is no longer a dangerous mission for these crew members who have undergone rigorous training and rich sailing experience, but rather an easy journey. What they need to do now is assist the experts' assistants in collecting various data.
The submarine quietly scurries about 100 meters below the surface. Sun Jing nods in satisfaction. Although he doesn't know exactly what kind of technical upgrades and modifications this experimental submarine has undergone, it's clear that while maintaining frictional propulsion from the propellers in the seawater, it effectively reduces shockwave and noise. If this technology can be widely adopted in the navy, China's "Ming-class" submarine could shed the "ocean echo," which is truly dishonorable. It even represents the title of the price of death!
"Report," a sterner told Captain Sun Jing, "Our boat's battery power has reached the warning threshold and needs immediate recharging!" ”
Sun Jing glanced at her watch and ordered, "Rise at medium speed!" ”
According to the procedure, charging requires starting the diesel generator inside the submarine. This generator requires burning a large amount of oxygen when started, so the submarine must surface near the sea surface and extend the periscope and intake valve above the command console to draw in air.
The experimental submarine slowly floated, and at a height of fifteen meters above the surface, the submarine's periscope and intake valve were raised simultaneously. The diesel generator set inside the submarine began working amid rumbling sounds, ingesting large amounts of oxygen inside the chamber while continuously supplying electricity to the submarine's battery pack.
Sun Jing gently tapped the command console. To be honest, he really liked this experimental model, which was based on the "Ming-class" submarine. This submarine had also been creatively improved to address issues such as the submarine's long charging time, which could easily expose targets and affect assault missions, saving at least 30% of charging time compared to ordinary "Ming-class" submarines. You have to know, on a real battlefield, this thirty percent charging time can often determine the outcome of a submarine or even a battle!
Although China already possesses nuclear submarines, according to Sun Jing's estimate, the Chinese Navy will still need conventional-powered submarines as the main force for a considerable period of time. Enhancing the combat effectiveness of conventional submarines is the top concern for these submarine commanders.
"Finally, I can take every single one of the brothers back, but...... This treats everyone to a sea of food and drinks for three days, this ...... Could we treat them to beef noodles and free noodle soup every day? ”
Captain Sun Jing, who combined the courage of a man with the slyness of a rogue, had already begun secretly calculating in his mind how to avoid the danger of his wife's complete destruction. At that moment, suddenly, a piercing alarm erupted wildly in the command room, and the submarine's most dangerous red signal lights flashed with flickering blood-red light.
Something happened!
Cold sweat instantly soaked Sun Jing's military uniform. He quickly judged in his heart that the submarine was stable and showed no signs of external force. The submarine had now surfaced at a depth of fifteen meters above the surface, so it was impossible for a fatal problem like a pressure hull to be damaged. The diesel generator was still running, sounding normal, and the fire alarm light was off, indicating there was no fire inside the submarine......
One operator widened his eyes and shouted, "Report! Cabins 1, 2, and 3 have air pressure imbalance. According to detectors, the oxygen levels in these five cabins have already fallen below dangerous levels!" ”
Before the operator finished speaking, another operator shouted, "Reporting, cabins 4 and 5 have air pressure imbalance. For unknown reasons, the oxygen inside the cabin is rapidly depleting!" ”
Sun Jing snatched the communicator's microphone and shouted hoarsely, "Report to me immediately, what happened!" Zhanxia Ge, take your emergency rescue team and head to Cabin 5. Immediately bring those experts from the lab back for me! ”
The war hero called out, "Yes!" ”
But immediately, Zhanxiage shouted wildly from the other end of the submarine: "Reporting, for some reason, the hatch won't open!" ”
"Even if it won't open, you have to open it for me!" At this moment, Sun Jing's face twisted like a vengeful ghost. He roared hoarsely: "I don't care what method you use—even if you use torpedoes to blow up the submarine's cabin, you have to open the hatch for me!" Now their cabins are almost out of oxygen, and they could suffocate at any moment. They are academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, professors at the National Defense University, and treasures of our country. Even if they sold dozens of our worthless lives, they couldn't afford to pay for it!! ”
"Report!"
An operator shouted wildly, "Cabin 1 has become negative pressure!" ”
Sun Jing felt her legs go weak and involuntarily collapsed to the ground. Once negative air pressure filled the cabin, negative pressure would arise. Even if Zhanxiage and the emergency rescue team he led were reincarnated Powerful Vajra, they probably wouldn't be able to open the first cabin door.
"Report," the second operator was silent for a moment before quietly announcing, "The oxygen concentration in Cabins 1, 2, 3, and 4 is ...... Zero! ”
Sun Jing was truly stunned; he knew those national treasure-level experts were doomed! He sat there in a daze, muttering to himself, "What exactly happened? Why did the oxygen concentration in the cabin drop to zero after just two minutes?!" ”
The entire command room fell silent, not even the sound of the diesel generator clattering. Sun Jing's expression changed; he suddenly jumped up and slapped himself twice hard across the face. He hoarsely shouted, "I understand, I understand!" It was our submarine's intake valve that hadn't opened! Otherwise, the oxygen in our submarine's five cabins wouldn't have been depleted to zero degrees within two minutes, and there wouldn't be negative air pressure in our cabins! Damn it, we've done so many experiments, faced so many dangers, overcome one difficulty after another, and just as we're about to go home and face our superiors, proudly telling them we've successfully completed the task, we were ...... because of a tiny intake valve. All over?! ”
Tears and snot splattered down Sun Jing's face as he cried and slapped himself desperately. Amid the loud slaps, a thick layer of blood splattered across his face. He sobbed hoarsely, "Sun Jing, Sun Jing, aren't you damn amazing?" Don't you think you're a big shot? Why do you end up having diarrhea at the critical moment? Isn't the rapid oxygen consumption because the diesel generator sets are continuously consuming oxygen inside the cabin, while the outside oxygen is not being supplied in? Shouldn't you immediately think that the intake valve is malfunctioning? This mission failed, and so many brothers' lives were ruined because of your foolishness, your foolishness!! ”
"Captain, what are you doing?" Holding an extra-large pair of tongs, his face covered in sweat and grease, Zhanxiage charged in with Huang Zhipeng. He grabbed Sun Jing and shouted, "Big brother, calm down! We've just had an accident. If you lose control again, we're all finished!" ”
"It's over?" Yeah, it's over, we're finished, we're all finished! Sun Jing grabbed Zhanxiage's hand holding the pliers and shouted hoarsely, "If you think I'm your big brother, then raise your weapon and smash it my head. I'm the one who wronged you, I caused all of you to die!" ”
Zhanxiage glared and shouted wildly, "What on earth is going on?" ”
"Now we have fifty-seven officers and soldiers on the entire ship, plus those experts and their assistants, making a total of seventy people. The only ones who survived now are the few from our command room and your brothers from the emergency support team!" Sun Jing wiped the blood and tears from her face fiercely and shouted fiercely, "I can tell you, now all cabins one to five are under negative pressure. All our escape routes are sealed off—we can't escape!" If we don't get reinforcements, even though we're only fifteen meters from the sea, we'll all suffocate right here! ”