The indicator light in the upper right corner of the console turned from green to yellow, and Nana's finger stopped on the screen.

The current fluctuation value jumped once, then returned to normal.

“The main line load is uneven,” she said. “The temporary connection node number three is overloaded, and the backup power module has burned out.”

Chen Hao stared at the yellow light. "How much longer can it hold up?"

“The broadcast system is receiving priority power and is currently stable.” Nana pulled up the power distribution diagram. “However, if the voltage fluctuates again when the target enters the 500-meter trigger zone, the voice warning may be delayed.”

“Then we can’t just wait for it to ring automatically.” Chen Hao stood up. “We have to intervene manually.”

Susan flipped through her notebook, "Manual activation requires verifying the target's identity, and what if the judgment is even half a second too slow..."

"Then don't make any judgments." Chen Hao grabbed the walkie-talkie. "Karl, are the lights installed on the west wall yet?"

A hissing sound came from the walkie-talkie, followed by Carl's voice: "Just finished the call, but the probe angle can't be adjusted, it can't reach the bottom of the ditch. And I tried the trap, the tripwire was pulled three times, and it only went off once."

“The materials are no good.” He paused. “This pile of junk wouldn’t even fool a rat.”

Chen Hao put down the walkie-talkie and turned to look at Nana: "We were supposed to be repairing a defense system, but we ended up building a fault display stand."

Nana didn't laugh, but her eyes twitched slightly. "Database data shows that 70% of temporary defensive fortifications in history failed due to structural defects before they were even put into use."

“Listen to this,” Chen Hao said, shrugging. “Even robots are starting to say discouraging things.”

Susan looked up. "The problem isn't with the people, nor with our efforts. We're using scrap materials, assembling old parts, and we expect to achieve the effect of a military factory?"

“That’s why we need to change our mindset.” Chen Hao walked to the whiteboard, drew a circle with a pen, and said, “We’ve always wanted to raise the walls and weld the doors shut, but have we ever thought about this—we don’t actually need to stop people; we just need to make them feel like they can be stopped?”

The room fell silent for a moment.

Carl's voice came through the walkie-talkie: "You mean... playing tricks?"

“It’s not some kind of trickery.” Chen Hao drew a bunch of dotted lines around the circle. “It’s psychological warfare. They don’t know what we have, so let them guess. The more they guess, the less likely they are to make a move.”

Nana quickly pulled up the database. “There are similar cases. During World War II, a stronghold used fake gun emplacements to scare away an enemy reconnaissance team; in another record, the guards set up fake alarm posts in a no-man's-land, causing the intruders to mistake it for a minefield.”

"See?" Chen Hao tapped the whiteboard. "Others can fool people with wooden stakes, so with all our electronic equipment, are we afraid we can't create a few illusions?"

Susan frowned. "But a fake is still a fake. If they actually barge in, they'll see right through it."

“Then let them never dare to come in and take a look again.” Chen Hao grinned. “The most powerful trap isn’t steel spikes or electric fences, it’s the fear in their minds.”

Carl laughed on the other end of the line, "Alright, so how are you going to act? Play a recording in the middle of the night to scare people?"

“Simpler than that.” Chen Hao picked up a pen and marked a few points on the map. “First, the lights flash randomly. Not constantly, nor on a set time, but on and off irregularly for a few seconds, like someone is patrolling. Second, the broadcasts are intermittent. They don’t have to wait for them to get close before they go off; every now and then they’ll say something like, ‘Watch out for the east wall,’ making it sound like we’re keeping watch. Third—”

He paused for a moment, then said, "Put up a sign outside the wall."

"What brand?" Susan asked.

"Write something like 'High Voltage,' 'Toxic,' or 'Network Alarm System Alert.'" Chen Hao laughed. "The bigger the lettering, the better, and the more official the font, the better. It would be best to also draw a skull, something at an elementary school level would suffice."

Nana nodded, “Visual deterrence is the cheapest and fastest to implement. We have existing sheet metal that can be cut, and we have a sufficient stock of paint.”

“I’ll do it now.” Susan opened the new document. “The title will be ‘Multi-Deception Alertness Plan’.”

Carl shouted into the walkie-talkie, "Then I'll modify the flash unit so it doesn't keep getting stuck. I'll also bury a few empty tin cans; when people step on them, there'll be a loud clatter, enough to make them panic for a while."

“Yes.” Chen Hao sat down. “Sound, light and shadow, logo, a trinity. We don’t need it to be very sturdy, just to look complicated.”

Nana suddenly spoke up: "There are still hidden dangers in the power supply problem."

Everyone looked over.

She pointed to the power distribution diagram and said, "Even if non-essential equipment is shut down, the main control console can only maintain full-load operation for two hours. If external interference continues, the system may crash at a critical moment."

"Then don't let it operate at full capacity." Chen Hao tilted his head and thought for a moment. "Our current surveillance is running 24/7, but is it really necessary?"

“Normally it is necessary,” Nana replied, “but if an intermittent scanning mode is used, energy consumption can be reduced by 60 percent.”

“What is intermittent scanning?” Susan asked.

"For example, the infrared monitoring is activated every five minutes, lasting for thirty seconds each time," Nana explained. "The rest of the time, the system is in sleep mode, only retaining basic signal reception."

“It sounds like he’s taking a nap,” Carl said.

“But that’s enough to detect problems,” Nana added. “A moving target won’t just happen to pass through all the monitoring points during its dormant period.”

“Let’s do it this way,” Chen Hao decided. “Use the saved electricity to charge the flashing device and set up several sets of alternating false alarms. We’re not afraid of missing anything, we’re just afraid of seeing too much.”

After Susan finished writing down the last line, she said, "The plan can be implemented immediately. I've also revised the broadcast message. It's no longer limited to approach warnings; we've added random prompts, such as 'Anomalies in the western area, please check' or 'Unauthorized activity detected.'"

“It sounds like an internal call,” Carl chuckled. “Outsiders would think there’s a whole bunch of people working on it.”

“That’s the effect we want.” Chen Hao leaned back in his chair. “We’re not building defenses right now, we’re filming a movie. You’re the director, I’m the screenwriter, and the actors—are all fake.”

Nana began adjusting the system parameters.

The monitoring screen switched to energy-saving mode and flashed every few minutes, like a heartbeat.

The voltage curve on the main control panel gradually stabilized, and the yellow light turned green again.

“The temporary voltage stabilization device has been connected,” Nana said. “It was built using a discarded transformer and copper wire windings, and the output fluctuations are controlled within a safe range.”

"Good heavens." Chen Hao looked at her operation log. "This isn't fixing circuits, it's building Lego from a pile of junk."

“Resources are limited,” Nana said softly, “but the knowledge base is complete.”

A metallic clanging sound came from Carl's end. "I've modified the trap too. I removed the vibration sensor from the remote-controlled car and paired it with the infrared module from the old camera, making it a dual-trigger system. Although the reaction is a bit slower, at least we won't be fooled by wildcats anymore."

"Wait a minute." Chen Hao suddenly sat up straight. "You mean dual triggering?"

“Yes,” Carl said. “Vibration and heating sensation, both conditions must be met simultaneously for it to make a sound.”

“Then we can do it the other way around.” Chen Hao’s eyes lit up. “We don’t necessarily have to call the police; we can fake a coordinated response.”

"What do you mean?" Susan asked.

“For example, if the trap on the west wall goes off, the lights on the east wall will flash, and the north broadcast will immediately announce ‘Intrusion point detected.’” Chen Hao spoke faster and faster. “In reality, there’s no one there, but we make the whole base look like a coordinated response.”

“It creates a sense of a unified system,” Nana continued. “Even if each module operates independently, it can still present the illusion of unified command.”

"Smart." Susan quickly typed it in. "This way, even if something goes wrong in one part, the overall deterrent effect won't collapse."

“I’ll go lay the cables now,” Carl said. “First, let’s create a cross feedback loop between the west wall and the south corner.”

“Go ahead.” Chen Hao checked the time. “There are still twenty minutes before the target enters the restricted area. We need to get this setup in place before then.”

Susan closed her laptop. "I'll go to the warehouse to find sheet metal and paint to make warning signs."

Nana continued to debug the system, setting the broadcast, lighting, and monitoring to segmented trigger mode.

Chen Hao sat in front of the control panel, holding a pen in his hand, drawing a new layout diagram on a piece of paper.

Energy-saving monitoring, fake traps, random broadcasts, visual intimidation... all these are interconnected and form a network.

He finished the last stroke and looked up at the screen.

The red dot is still moving, getting closer and closer to the 500-meter line.

The green light on the main control panel is stable, and the voltage is normal.

The broadcast system countdown is reloading, the numbers are ticking: 04:12.

He pressed the intercom button: "Attention all units, the psychological defense line is officially in operation. This time, we won't rely on steel and concrete, but on making them scare themselves."

On the walkie-talkie, Carl's voice chuckled: "Hopefully they'll be timid."

Susan's voice followed immediately: "The sign is done. The skull is drawn a little crooked, but it's pretty scary."

Nana said softly, "All the deception mechanisms are ready and waiting to be activated."

Chen Hao stared at the ever-moving red dot without saying a word.

He reached out and tapped the edge of the screen.

The next second, the searchlight on the west wall flashed without warning and then went out.

Three seconds later, the broadcast suddenly started:

"Attention to the west wall; unusual activity detected."

The sound was calm, but the content was indistinct.

Stop when you've finished speaking.

No one moved inside.

The surveillance camera went black for five seconds and then came back on.

The red dot continues to move forward.

Chen Hao's lips curled up slightly.

He pressed the call button again: "First wave, release."

Nana's finger swiped across the screen.

Outside the base, an old street lamp that had never been used suddenly lit up, flashed twice, and went out.

Ten meters away, a metal sign that read "High Voltage Danger" swayed gently in the wind.