Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 653 Aerial Exploration of the Lake: Sonar Equipment, the Germans Have Followed Us
The next morning.

The treasure-hunting team, already prepared, began its first day of aerial exploration.

With the threat from Germany present, there's no time to delay.

Fang Wen, Gong Xiuneng, Steve, and two American geological historians participated in the aerial exploration.

The plane used for the trip was Taishan's private jet; the Boeing 314, due to its large size, did not participate and remained parked at the dock.

The plane's engines roared low as Fang Wen maneuvered the aircraft slowly away from the Texas Island dock.

Inside the cabin, two American geological historians, Professor White and his assistant Leonard, were fiddling with a strange little device.

The device, which even Fang Wen had never seen before, piqued his curiosity as he observed everything through mechanical perception.

The plane took off, flew over Texas Island, and began its exploration flight.

The two geologists in the rear cabin had also set up their equipment.

White walked to the cockpit and explained to Fang Wen, "I need a good observation point. Could you open the hatch?"

“That’s a bit dangerous, you’d need to wear a safety rope, and the observation wouldn’t be very good. If you’re looking at the ground vertically, there’s another way.”

Fang Wen said loudly, "Gong Xiuneng, open the hatch."

The bottom hatch was originally a bombing device for military aircraft, but considering that civilian aircraft would also be used in combat during war, Fang Wen required that all civilian aircraft produced by Taishan be equipped with stealth military features.

Upon receiving the order, Gong Xiuneng walked to the middle of the rear cabin, lifted the rubber floor, and revealed the circular hatch underneath.

He used a special screwdriver to remove the safety device, then pulled hard to lift the hatch cover.

There is another layer of protection beneath the bottom hatch that needs to be removed.

Gong Xiuneng gestured loudly, "Put on the safety rope and step back a bit, the wind will be very strong when I open it."

Fang Wen translated it once, and the two geologists quickly put on safety ropes with Gong Xiuneng's help.

Steve stepped back to watch.

Wearing a safety rope, Gong Xiuneng then forcefully turned on the last safety switch and stomped down on it.

With a bang, the protection panel opened.

A strong wind blew in through the hole, causing the people in the cabin to involuntarily step back.

Then, the two geologists lay down, and the strong Leonard carried the device to the hatch, carefully lifting it out while White observed through a corner lens similar to a periscope.

White then reached out and began operating the device.

After their first observation, Gong Xiuneng pulled back the protective panel and closed the bottom hatch.

Fang Wen then asked, "What kind of equipment are you using?"

White explained, "It's a homemade depth sounder that emits sound waves through a magnetostrictive transducer. The sound waves are reflected back when they encounter underwater objects and are received by the transducer. The depth is calculated by measuring the round-trip time of the sound waves."

No!
Fang Wen couldn't help but associate the principle of this device with another type of device: a sonar detection device.

Sonar detection devices are really useful.

Militarily, it can be used for anti-submarine warfare (detecting submarines), underwater navigation of submarines (avoiding shoals and reefs), and mine detection.

It can also be used in civilian applications such as fisheries (detecting fish schools), marine surveying (creating seabed topographic maps), and shipwreck search and rescue (locating underwater debris).

As the war expands, within a year or two, the British, American, and German navies will purchase large quantities of this equipment for use in submarines and anti-submarine warfare.

He had the idea of ​​purchasing this technology, even if it couldn't be mass-produced for the time being, it could still serve as a technological reserve.

But first, we need to see if the equipment is effective.

Thinking of this, Fang Wen didn't say anything more and continued to fly the plane along the lake.

Just as Taishan was exploring the lake by seaplane, a Junkers Ju-52 transport plane was slowly landing in Bahdar Port on the west shore of Lake Tana—an important town and port controlled by the Italian colonial army.

The plane bumped and slowed down on the uneven, newly paved runway. As the plane came to a stop, the cabin door opened, and Heinrich, accompanied by more than thirty members of the World Heritage Association and armed bodyguards from the SS, stepped off the plane. An Italian major, who had been waiting on the runway, immediately greeted them and said in broken German, "Major Heinrich, the American you are looking for landed on the lake west of Texas Island yesterday!"

"Decker Island?" A glint of ruthlessness flashed in Heinrich's eyes. He pulled a map of Lake Tana from his pocket and circled the corresponding island. "Is it them? How many?"

“Absolutely confirmed!” the Italian major replied. “We have deployed special surveillance personnel to guard against any contact between the resistance forces and religious groups in the lake. Yesterday afternoon, they saw two seaplanes, one small and one large, landing on the water next to Decker Island. In addition, that evening, our informants on the island rowed over to report that an American ‘historical expedition’ had made contact with the priests of the monastery.”

"A historical expedition?" Heinrich sneered. They Germans also used this name.

He turned to his deputy behind him and instructed, "Report to the general immediately and request that two Ar 196 seaplanes be dispatched. Also, send a telegram to the Italian North Africa Command requesting permission for the local garrison to support our operation."

The deputy went inside the plane and used the telegraph machine he had brought to send a telegram.

After a while, he received the response he wanted from both telegrams he sent.

Subsequently, the Italian officer who had received him returned, his attitude drastically changed.

"I have received orders from headquarters to cooperate with your operation."

The two huddled together to discuss how to deal with the American inspection team.

The officer pointed to the map: "Now, we're going to Port Gorgola in the south of Decker Island—it's the closest port to Decker Island, only ten kilometers by water, and there are Italian troops stationed there, which will make it easier for us to carry out our operation."

"Could you send your troops to attack Texas Island?" Heinrich asked.

The Italian major looked troubled: "Mr. Heinrich, Decker Island is a holy site for Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. We cannot send troops directly to the island, otherwise it will incite public anger..."

Since that didn't work, Heinrich changed his strategy: "Then we'll go there first, and have your troops deploy at Port Gorgora to monitor the access routes to Decker Island. What they're looking for is definitely in the lake. As soon as they set off by boat, we'll intercept them halfway; if they return with the item, we'll just seize it!"

After reaching an agreement, the German expedition's plane immediately took off and flew south.

Fang Wen had been flying the plane for four hours over Lake Tana.

We flew almost the entire deep water area of ​​Lake Tana.

It's time to return. The plane turned around, flew back to Texas Island, landed on the lake, and then docked at the pier.

The group disembarked from the plane and returned to their campsite on the island.

Inside the tent, two geologists explained what they had observed, combined with their own analysis.

Professor White began by saying, “Mr. Fang, Mr. Steve, the results of these three hours of exploration are very clear—Lake Tana is not an ordinary lake; it is a tectonic lake in the Afar Rift Valley in the northern part of the East African Rift Valley, formed by crustal movement millions of years ago.”

Leonard squatted down beside him, pointing to the varying shades of blue on the sketch map drawn up today, and added: "The water depth data we recorded with the probes perfectly confirms the direction of the rift valley. Look here—the water depth in the eastern part of the lake is generally over 50 meters, reaching a maximum of 75 meters, which is distributed along a northeast-southwest trending fault zone; while in the western part of the lake, near Decker Island, the water depth is mostly between 20 and 30 meters, which is a shallow water area formed by volcanic lava accumulation."

"Tectonic movement?" Although Steve was fascinated by the mysterious, he also knew a lot about science. "I've heard of this theory. It seems that the African continent was originally a whole with the Eurasian continent, but it was separated due to severe tectonic movement. The Red Sea and the long East African Rift Valley below it were caused by tectonic movement."

“Yes, that’s right.” Professor White nodded with a smile, pulling a black rock sample with sharp edges from his backpack. “This is a volcanic rock I collected on Decker Island, composed of basalt. This indicates that Decker Island itself is a volcanic cone, and the fertile soil on the island was formed by the weathering of volcanic ash. Thus, we can analyze further. Millions of years ago, the crust of the East African Rift Valley stretched and fractured, causing continuous volcanic eruptions. The situation here is the same; the gushing lava blocked the original river channel, forming a natural dam; later, rainwater and groundwater converged, forming Lake Tana.”

Explaining the formation of Lake Tana doesn't seem to offer much help in the search for underwater temples.

Steve frowned.

But then, geologists offered a new analysis.

“Historically, the area of ​​Lake Tana has been constantly changing. According to our assessment, more than 2000 years ago, when the First Dynasty of Ethiopia was established, it was during a severe drought. At that time, the lake's surface area was 40% smaller than it is now, and the water depth was also much lower. Under such circumstances, it is very likely that the deep water area today was still land at that time.”

This analysis made Steve understand immediately.

"You mean that Menelik I built a temple on land, but over time it was submerged at the bottom of the lake. So the temple wasn't built underwater at all."

Professor White nodded: "Yes, that's what we think. According to this theory, if we further eliminate possibilities, the area of ​​the lake that needs to be explored is only one-fifth of its original size."

Now things are really messed up. Fang Wen has eliminated half the area, and the two geologists have eliminated another part, leaving even less area to search.

But professional geological research involves more than just these.

Professor White adjusted his glasses, his tone becoming serious. "Faulting in the rift valley can create natural rock caves or troughs, and the ancients may have used this geological structure to build stone temples. Moreover, our detectors show that the echoes in several abnormal areas are very strange, like the echo characteristics of underwater caves. We can also suspect that these are submerged underwater stone temples."

Fang Wen's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that he discovered it within a single day?

He said, "Mark those anomalous areas. Our exploration tomorrow will take place in those areas."

Geologists marked the location on a map.

There are five locations in total, distributed in different areas. One of them is the area where Fang Wen received the mysterious energy signal earlier.

It seems that with a little cooperation tomorrow, we can guide the exploration team to discover the problems there.

At that moment, a roaring sound came from the sky.

Fang Wen quickly shook off his thoughts and strode out of the tent to check.

Three planes flew over Texas Island.

One was a German Junkers Ju-52 transport plane, and the other two were seaplanes that Fang Wen had never seen before.

However, information on this aircraft model was found among the aircraft intelligence collected from various countries.

The Adolf Ar 196 is a newly developed German amphibious military aircraft designed to replace the older Henschel He 50 amphibious aircraft.

This seaplane is a low-wing monoplane, and its overall structure consists of a fuselage, support frame, and float.

It has a two-seat cockpit; the rear cockpit is responsible for observing the sea surface, communicating with the ship, and operating the machine gun.

Therefore, this fighter jet was an important combat weapon that the Germans prepared for their navy.

Unexpectedly, it appeared in Africa before it was even widely deployed in the navy.

It seems the Germans have already followed us, which will add another layer of uncertainty to the treasure hunt.

Therefore, Fang Wen and Steve immediately sought out Ali to discuss countermeasures.

Not long after, Ali and the priest Meles arrived.

Steve asked anxiously, "The Italians might help the Germans. What will you do if they attack Texas Island?"

Ali translated for the priest Meles, who became very emotional and rattled off a long string of words.

Ali translated very seriously: "The priest said that this is a holy place, and no outsider may set foot on the island without the permission of the clergy. The inhabitants of the island will defend the holy place from desecration."

He paused for a moment, then stated his opinion: "The Italians know the dangers of doing this and would never agree to the Germans' demands. If they really dare to do it, I will send this message throughout the country, and the consequences will be very serious."

Steve relaxed somewhat: "If they don't dare to go ashore, they'll just have to search for treasure on the lake with us. Then we'll need to prepare underwater diving equipment and boats so we can dive in and explore as soon as we find anything."

The arrangement was correct, and no one objected. Immediately, the boxes containing the diving equipment were opened, and the treasure hunters assembled them into complete diving suits and checked for any problems.

Another group of people went to Boeing 314 and retrieved the rubber boats from the plane.

In the port of Gorgora, two Adolf Ar 196 seaplanes land on the water.

The Junkers Ju-52 transport plane landed at the garrison camp.

SS Major Heinrich and Professor Achim, the leader of the World Heritage Association's mission, disembarked.

The others then moved the supplies out and got to work.

Heinrich and Professor Achim walked to the other side of the harbor and used a telescope to observe the distant Decker Island.

"Professor, do you think they've discovered treasure?"

“Only one day has passed, it can’t be that fast. This treasure has been passed down for 2000 years, but it has never been discovered. It must be very well hidden.”

Heinrich put down his binoculars and asked again, "Professor, I'm curious why the World Heritage Association is searching for this legendary treasure. Can it really improve the overall quality of the German people?"

Professor Achim revealed a peculiar excitement: "The Führer has led us to rise again, and we want to prove Germany's strength to the world. This is a shortcut. Just imagine, what if German men, women, and children possessed superhuman strength, speed, and analytical and judgmental abilities?"

His words touched Heinrich, and the two looked longingly at the distant island.

(End of this chapter)