Prologue

Hu Xu did not think much and quickly untied the safety rope, heading straight for the lock switch. At this moment, the captain, political commissar, and others on the bridge were also nervously watching the damaged manual switch on the monitor. Although maintenance personnel had already been dispatched, in such a critical moment, even a second's delay could potentially lead to significant losses of national property. The Haikou is an invaluable asset to the navy and the nation, and this is beyond doubt

Cut off the power supply fuse, lock the control box, and Hu Xufei quickly used the safety rope at his waist to bind the damaged cover. At this moment, he was already drenched by the huge waves, and Hu Xufei, with his lips turning blue, knew that his body temperature was rapidly dropping, yet he still persisted in tying the final knot.

The captain and the political commissar standing in front of the monitor ordered the ship to reduce speed and make every effort to rescue, yet they both took off their military caps in unison. In such a low-temperature environment, a normal person would suffer from cardiac arrest and death due to rapid hypothermia after falling into the water for thirty seconds. Moreover, navigating in side waves, even for an advanced destroyer like the Haikou, is extremely dangerous, with the risk of capsizing at any moment.

How comfortable! The biting cold wind made Hu Xu's face turn red, and his hands felt somewhat numb, yet he felt no trace of the so-called chill. Perhaps this is another manifestation of the spirit of the navy

Those familiar with naval vessels are well aware of this common knowledge: during high-speed maneuvers of a warship, dangerous waves can even sweep over the bridge at heights of more than 20 meters

"Ah, the great navy of a century!" Hu Xu muttered this phrase, which he expressed at least a dozen times each day, once again. He then picked up a safety belt, glanced around, and secretly opened the hatch handle. First, he lit a cigarette, and then, braving the biting cold wind that blew towards him, he stepped out of the cabin. After all, it was still early March, and the very experienced Hu Xu did not intend to venture far, securing the safety rope near the hatch.

Launched on April 29, 2003, the "Haikou" missile destroyer can be regarded as a new addition among the large surface vessels of the Chinese Navy. With a full displacement of 6,000 tons and a maximum speed of 33 knots, it is equipped with four large fixed phased array radars that can simultaneously track 120 targets and automatically select the 10 most threatening targets for simultaneous attack based on the data link.

Hu Xu's greatest hobby is standing on the deck of a fast-moving warship, experiencing the thrill of riding the waves. Although he has undergone inspections and faced disciplinary actions for this, he remains undeterred and continues to relish this enjoyment.

Whether it was the heart-wrenching cries of his comrades or the roaring waves, Hu Xu could no longer hear or see anything. It was as if he had been pulled into an eternal black hole. Hu Xu's last thought was, so this is what death is like?

The deep blue surface of the Pacific Ocean is tumultuous, rising and falling with great vigor

Given that both his grandfather and father served in the navy, he witnessed the process of the Chinese navy's development from nonexistence to existence, and from weakness to gradual strength; otherwise, Hu Xu would have been dismissed from the warship early on and become a proud shore duty officer

Midshipman Hu Xu, a trainee gunner and Navy Lieutenant, is currently in serious violation of regulations by engaging in activities on the outer deck while the warship is sailing at full combat speed, despite not being in a combat position

Hu Xuji finished smoking a cigarette and was about to untie the safety rope to return to the cabin when suddenly, a flash of the distinctive bright blue light of an electric arc appeared

Hu Xu knew that the control box was the manual unlocking launch device for the "Haihong-9" anti-aircraft missile. The missile was in a locked state, and any short circuit that caused an accidental launch could likely result in an explosion within the vertical launch container, with consequences that were extremely dire.

As a graduate student specializing in naval artillery, Hu Xu's so-called work has already been replaced by computer programs and data links. The 100 mm caliber stealth main gun, along with Hu Xu, consists of only five people, including three junior officer mechanics and one electrical maintenance technician. This situation leaves him feeling extremely frustrated, as he is unable to experience the sensation of operating the gun in a 'combat position'.

In other words, the legendary ship-to-ship combat within visual range has indeed occurred. Hu Xu's task is simply to stay on the ammunition conveyor belt under the turret to check the delivery status and assist the command personnel in eliminating any mechanical failures that may arise at any moment, and nothing more.

Hu Xu turned his head to look at the place where the blue light had just appeared. Following a massive surge, Hu Xu was astonished to discover that a control box on the base of the shipborne "Haihong-9" type air defense missile vertical launch system had likely been damaged due to improper locking, with several exposed wire ends sparking blue as they swung back and forth.

The seemingly ordinary surge can effortlessly sweep away objects weighing over 500 kilograms from the deck of a warship into the sea, while theoretically, most of the human skeleton can withstand a maximum pressure of only 490 pounds. Regardless of one's swimming ability, if swept away by the surge, survival is virtually impossible.

Subsequently, Hu Xu revealed a difficult smile towards the emergency repair assault team that was slowly advancing along the safety line on the deck. In an instant, a large wave crashed over, and without the safety line, Hu Xu felt his body lighten and lost consciousness

Born into a naval family, Hu Xu has loved the sea since childhood. He often likens the sea to his lover; however, since he is still single, he can only seek solace in the sea during his free time