In the dead of night, when the base was completely silent, Lin Su was not in her dormitory, but in her core laboratory, staring blankly at a stack of paper documents about the batch of K7-319 components that had just been delivered by the confidential communications officer.
The documents include: the original mimeographed quality inspection report from the production plant, several transfer records during the journey, and a theoretical parameter analysis prepared in advance by the receiving unit (base).
The parameters were quite perfect, and what alerted her was precisely this “perfection” that met the factory standards.
According to the manufacturer’s sampling inspection records, the reference frequency fluctuation of a batch of core chips was controlled within an overly ideal and narrow range, almost as if it had been carefully “trimmed”.
This coincides with a situation warned about in her mother’s notes: when a chip is implanted with a special kind of physical Trojan, its inherent electromagnetic characteristics will be slightly altered.
To conceal this change, fraudsters often “optimize” the test data to an excessive degree, leaving behind subtle clues.
She believes that if the chip has been tampered with in a very sophisticated way during the manufacturing process, this theoretical “coincidence” could be the key to activating a “hardware Trojan”.
Without delay, she quickly wrote down the following on a piece of paper with a fountain pen:
“Commander Gu: Theoretical analysis of batch K7-319 components raises questions, suggesting a potential risk of latent physical damage. It is recommended that the highest level of isolation and re-inspection be implemented before warehousing. Lin Su. Effective immediately.”
To ensure the credibility of their communication, they agreed that Lin Su’s writings would be signed “Lin Su” instead of Gu Yun, who was known to everyone at the base.
She sealed the letter and handed it to the authorized sentry standing guard at the door: “Urgent! Deliver it to Commander Gu Beichen immediately. Top secret.”
Gu Beichen was inspecting the sentry post when the sentry found him in the barracks and handed him a letter.
He saw Lin Su’s handwritten note marked “Top Secret,” and his heart jumped. He immediately opened and read it under the corridor lights.
There is no conclusive evidence, only “theoretical analysis is questionable” and the signature “Lin Su”.
However, after the Qian Siming incident, Gu Beichen developed absolute trust in Lin Su’s technical acumen and judgment.
Without any hesitation, he immediately used his authority, issuing orders to the logistics duty room and warehouse security forces via internal telephone:
“I am Gu Beichen. After the arrival of cargo container K7-319, without my personal confirmation on-site, Comrade Gu Yun, no one is allowed to open or touch the container for any reason. Martial law must be enforced at the scene!”
The next morning, the transport trucks drove into the base.
The cargo was first delivered to a relatively independent warehouse personally designated by Gu Beichen.
Armed soldiers surrounded the warehouse.
Lin Su and Gu Beichen arrived almost at the same time. The two exchanged glances for a moment without exchanging any pleasantries.
Lin Su, carrying her hand tools and self-made testing equipment based on modified basic electronic components, personally opened the box in the presence of Gu Beichen and two armed soldiers.
She randomly selected a few components, connected them to the dry cell battery pack and portable oscilloscope she had brought, and conducted basic parameter tests without connecting them to the complete system circuit.
To Lin Su’s surprise, everything met the standards.
She tested box after box, and they all met the standards. Gu Beichen stayed by Lin Su’s side the whole time, helping her unpack the boxes and handing her tools.
Instead of giving up, she designed a simple verification method based on theoretical skepticism.
With Gu Beichen’s help, she built an extremely sensitive circuit that exceeded the range of conventional testing using an old oscilloscope and a dry cell battery.
She carefully touched specific points on the component with a probe, without applying any power, to measure only the extremely weak inherent electromagnetic leakage.
“Look here,” she said to Gu Beichen, pointing to an almost flat baseline on the oscilloscope screen.
Her body was a little stiff from being bent over for a long time, and she subconsciously turned slightly to the side, wanting to give Gu Beichen a better position to observe.
Gu Beichen was intently looking down, and the two of them accidentally crossed paths in front of the narrow workbench, his cheek almost brushing against her hair.
Lin Su felt as if she had been struck by an electric current, and she staggered backward, but her body swayed because her legs were numb.
Out of instinct, Gu Beichen quickly reached out and firmly supported her elbow.
The contact lasted only a moment. Lin Su immediately steadied herself, her arm slipping silently from his palm, her tone calm and even:
“Theoretically, there should be an extremely weak noise signal here, belonging to the chip’s own material, but right now, it’s too ‘clean’.”
Gu Beichen withdrew his hand and bent down, his fingers still feeling the texture of her coat fabric. He put it behind his back, quietly tightened his grip, and with the help of a magnifying glass, looked in the direction Lin Su pointed out.
In the physical region corresponding to that overly “clean” electromagnetic signal, he discovered that the color of the packaging material had extremely subtle unevenness that could not be explained by manufacturing defects.
“It looks like… it’s been edited in post-production?” he judged based on his experience in battlefield reconnaissance.
“Yes,” Lin Su stood up, his eyes serious. “The internal materials or structure may have been replaced. My theoretical speculation is very likely to be true.”
“Are you sure?” Gu Beichen turned to ask Lin Su.
“No. We need a more precise anatomical analysis, but the risks are very high.” Lin Su stood up, her eyes grave.
“However, considering the theoretical risks, I recommend classifying this component as the most suspicious target, sealing it immediately, and urgently exchanging it for a brand new batch from the original manufacturer.”
This means the project will be forced to be delayed, but it avoids catastrophic risks.
Gu Beichen looked at her and saw the certainty and unquestionable professional authority in her eyes.
“Execute according to Comrade Gu’s opinion.” He turned to Platoon Leader Zhan and gave the order.
“This component shall be sealed separately and sent to the highest-level evidence room. The remaining components… shall also be sealed and not used until Comrade Gu has fully confirmed their safety.”
The crisis was initially contained after the physical evidence arrived, relying on the most primitive method of “theory + visual inspection + basic instruments”.
The sunlight was a bit blinding as they left the warehouse. Gu Beichen walked up to Lin Su, his tone purely businesslike:
“Your judgment was timely and prevented potentially significant losses.”
Lin Su nodded slightly, her tone polite yet distant: “It’s my duty. We still need to investigate the loopholes in the production process, and that will require your help.”
“clear.”
This time, there were no data warnings, no high-tech countermeasures, only a scientist’s astonishing intuition based on profound knowledge and a soldier’s decisive action based on trust.
This contest, where the human element, belonging to a specific era, transcends “technology,” is perhaps more thrilling and more real.
Gu Beichen touched the hand that had just held Lin Su’s elbow, his heart aching slightly yet also filled with relief.
They are separated by the passage of time and numerous emotional barriers, but on this invisible front of safeguarding their shared beliefs, they are each other’s most reliable “comrades-in-arms”.
This realization stirred a slight ripple in his otherwise icy heart.