Chapter 500 - 491: Tendering_1

"Commissioner Lin, this, this... I always feel like this is a joke."

United Mining’s current Chairman and CEO Wu Yi stood backstage at the press conference, still hesitating whether to go on stage.

"Old Wu, this has always been part of United Mining’s plan, and the accounts are managed here. As the CEO, of course, you should be the one presenting. I’m just a director.

Hurry up, they’re all waiting below."

As Lin Ju spoke, he pushed Wu Yi onto the stage, then briskly walked to the side of the venue, trying to hide as discreetly as possible.

This press conference featured an impressive lineup; in addition to well-known domestic and international journalists and media, ambassadors from permanent member countries of the United Nations were also notified, with over 100 attendees in total, and high levels of preparedness from our own personnel set to appear.

Almost all journalists and other attendees arrived more than two hours early because the theme of the press conference was simply too unbelievable.

The black-themed backdrop of the conference displayed the words:

"United Mining Yu Shu No. 1 Mining Site Fusion Explosive Device Procurement and Bidding Announcement Press Conference"

Fusion explosive device—isn’t that just a hydrogen bomb?!

When Aerospace Development Committee made headlines a few days ago for starting a trend of using hydrogen bombs for mining, the whole world discussed it heatedly, but no one took it seriously; it was all just hype around the topic.

But when United Mining truly began to send out invitations, everyone’s reaction was surprisingly uniform: You’re actually serious?

United Mining’s very existence is major news, so almost all parties that received invitations came, regardless of the outcome; this was definitely a chance to scoop up a big story.

The ambassadors from the four countries of UK were specifically arranged to sit together, exchanging curious glances and speculating on various possibilities.

Although the invitations were printed by United Mining, the people who notified them were of a different caliber.

The discussion among the hundred-plus attendees made the venue noisy, but as soon as Wu Yi appeared, the noise ceased immediately, and all eyes focused on him.

Although he had seen many grand events, he felt uncomfortable all over. After taking his position, he even cast inexplicable glances towards several people in the audience.

It’s mad, mad. Surely this matter couldn’t be decided by those at Aerospace Development Committee alone; it can only mean that everyone, from top to bottom, has been blinded by the fancy rhetoric of the aerospace community and has gone utterly mad.

With this in mind, Wu Yi still motioned for silence with a wave of his hand and cleared his throat, getting straight to the point as gravely as possible:

"Through the continuous ten-day Skylight II reconnaissance mission and subsequent ground analysis, our company has obtained a vast amount of new data on the geological environment of the Moon and resource development. It is a significant achievement in humanity’s exploration beyond Earth, a milestone.

...

In order to develop and utilize lunar resources more reasonably, our company has decided to start the construction of the Yu Shu No. 1 base and mining site in full swing beginning in 2018. To enhance construction efficiency and—"

Wu Yi paused for a moment but continued without changing his expression:

"To better utilize the fruits of human scientific and technological development and to expand the civilian applications of nuclear energy, we have decided to use the relatively clean and safe fusion explosive device for mining development. Hence, we are issuing another public invitation for bids:

We issue a procurement order for fusion explosive devices to any legally qualified company or institution worldwide; the initial intention includes 15 to 20 devices with explosive yields ranging from 10 to 20 million tons of TNT equivalent, requiring delivery within eight months.

This tender is solely for explosive devices and will be fully used for legitimate and peaceful resource development under supervision. Interested bidders must contact us through official channels to accept the bid, including joint bids by individuals, organizations, or institutions. Details about the purchase scale and funds will be disclosed after the transaction is finalized.

Additionally, United Mining Development Co., Ltd. has obtained the necessary permits and qualifications in the relevant field, which we hereby announce."

The audience listened attentively to every single word he said, not wanting to miss any useful information, until Wu Yi gestured that he had finished speaking and was ready to take questions, causing a sudden burst of hands shooting up in an attempt to ask questions.

The first opportunity for questions Wu Yi decided to give to Thailand.

Hua Xin Agency: "Good day, spokesperson. We all know nuclear bombs have strong radioactivity. Would detonating them on the Moon cause serious pollution issues?"

Wu Yi: "Nuclear bombs are divided into fission-based atomic bombs and fusion-based hydrogen bombs. The latter’s main reaction hardly produces long-lived nuclear radiation, and can even clean up some of the radiation from fission types. It’s recognized as a very clean bomb, even cleaner than using large amounts of conventional explosives.

Moreover, nuclear bombs have already been used for engineering purposes in the last century. The Union has precedent for using atomic bombs to construct reservoirs, where the residual radiation reduced to normal levels within a year, safe enough for people to swim in. The much cleaner hydrogen bombs are even less of a concern.

In addition, the Moon’s environment has no atmosphere so the blast radius is extremely small, and its force hardly propagates, allowing us to control the blast within a certain area; and the space environment already has intense radiation problems, the radiation from hydrogen bombs is barely noticeable in comparison."

Hua Xin Agency principally needed to cooperate by answering some basic questions from the public and set a good tone, so after hearing the response, the reporter sat down.

Wu Yi looked for his next target... you there, TASS!

A young female reporter, still within her period of validity, stood up as usual to greet him, her eyes burning with flames:

"Does United Mining Company intend to purchase hydrogen bombs internationally? Your country also has the capability to produce them."

Wu Yi: "We are a commercial space development company, and everything must follow business rules. There are five countries on Earth that legitimately possess hydrogen bombs, so we issued a tender to all of them, to select the most suitable proposal, and we welcome bids from multiple suppliers."

"Would you buy the Tsar Bomba then? It has a 50-megaton yield, much stronger."

Medvedev, seated at the front, turned his head to look at the female reporter and loudly corrected:

"Not 50 million tons, it’s 170 million tons yield. Its full form has a 170 million tons yield!"

TASS reporter: "..."

Wu Yi: "..."

Others: "..."

Lin Ju stood by the wall, holding his forehead, feeling like the focus wasn’t quite right?

Wu Yi knew this press conference was doomed to be messy, but he could only reply:

"This requires the concerned parties to submit bids; it’s not a question that can be answered on the spot. Whether a bid is successful will be determined by strict evaluation. Next, please."

A BBC reporter excitedly took over the microphone:

"Mr. Wu, has your company considered that using hydrogen bombs might violate the Outer Space Treaty? Isn’t this a disruption to the international order, or does your country intend to breach this treaty by deploying nuclear weapons in space?"

Wu Yi: "The Outer Space Treaty stipulates that nuclear weapons cannot be deployed, but the fusion explosive devices we need are just tools for mining operations and won’t pose a security threat to anyone. We have no intention of disrupting international order, nor are we against the treaty!

Furthermore, the UK legally possesses fusion devices, and we are equally open to their bids."

"..."

The entire afternoon passed with Wu Yi constantly drinking water and answering questions. The press conference was forced to be delayed by two hours to cope with the reporters.

Feeling his calves go numb, Wu Yi called on the last reporter; then, a short female reporter with buckteeth stood up and angrily accused:

"We firmly oppose the use of hydrogen bombs under any circumstances, anywhere. We firmly oppose!"

The person from Edo News was finally removed by security. Then, several domestic officials in charge of the nuclear industry and key members of the Aerospace Development Committee came up on stage, which marked the end of the press conference.

But the embassy personnel from all around stayed seated, knowing that there would be more information disclosed in private meetings later.