Chapter 586 - 574: Early Clean-up

"Back in my youth, space travel was a formidable and complex task that required coordination across various industries to advance.

NACA needed over 200,000 employees and the genius of Von Braun to create Saturn V, but SpaceX managed to produce the nearly twice as massive Starship with 2,000 people and stainless steel.

It seems that the progress of science and human society has made space travel more and more accessible, and the barriers are getting lower, but now you’ve reverted it to that bygone era."

Sitting in a high-rise teahouse in the Jingcheng Business District, the Big Shot continued to say while gazing out at the distant view through the glass curtain wall:

"New Yuan now has ten thousand formal employees, you’ve actually surpassed the space agency."

Lin Ju, who became somewhat uncomfortable at the Big Shot’s lack of constraint due to his reassignment, responded with habitual modesty:

"No, no, no, the space agency, aerospace technology, and the science and technology industry span the whole country. What we have can hardly compare."

The Big Shot shook his head, saying earnestly:

"In the era of Saturn V, there wasn’t mature CAD software. NACA alone recruited tens of thousands of engineers just to draw with pencils, so looking merely at the number of employees isn’t correct.

Many of our experts have visited your place and say that New Yuan’s level of automation is the highest in the world. Eight thousand out of your ten thousand employees are in R&D and design; our true elite force doesn’t differ much and, unlike you, isn’t so concentrated that they can’t constantly exchange new ideas."

"So the whole thing fell apart once the third one came along."

"Hahaha..."

The joke made by Lin Ju lightened the atmosphere considerably, and the Big Shot didn’t continue on that topic, instead beginning to talk about United Mining:

"I have some news I can share with you in advance, though you’ll probably be notified in a few days: the UK’s first thermonuclear test bomb is ready, and it can be launched at any time."

"So soon?"

Lin Ju was surprised not at the speed of the bomb’s readiness but that the UK actually had a rocket available for launch.

According to the results of a previous meeting, each party’s hydrogen bomb was to be self-launched into Moon orbit, as it was after all a matter of dignity, not to mention such highly classified items shouldn’t be handled excessively by others.

The top three had no problem; the bomb, weighing only a few tons, could be sent over with their active rockets, France had a stock of Ariane 5 and the soon-to-be maiden flight VV-1, but the UK, what did the UK have?

The UK’s only successful launch vehicle was the "Black Arrow," which launched a 65.8 kilogram satellite into space in 1971, officially becoming the sixth country capable of satellite launches.

Since then, the UK’s rocket technology tree had come to a halt, either in America or the European Space Agency, and their only remaining connection to rockets was the "Trident" missiles on their nuclear submarines, which were not capable of sending a nuke to the Moon.

The Big Shot said, "The launch vehicle is the last remaining Ariane 5 in the European Space Agency’s stockpile. The France People are currently shipping the rocket, and it will be ready to launch in Guyana by the end of January."

"What will the France People themselves use?"

"VV-1, of course. The first rocket has actually been completed, but they’re so afraid of it crashing that they’re still checking it; they’re probably launching in January as well."

Lin Ju said, "Isn’t this just ’saving face at the cost of suffering’? An Ariane 5 costs at least 300 to 500 million USD, right? Can they really afford that price?"

"They definitely can’t stand losing that money. Moreover, the capability of Ariane 5 is overkill. They are also loading a European Space Agency lunar orbiter, what’s it called, ’Peregrine Falcon’?

The bomb is supposedly a disassembled existing model weighing only 300 kilograms, while the detector is over two tons. It’s more accurate to say that they are hitching a ride on the rocket."

"..."

Without a single usable launch vehicle, the UK’s face is utterly lost!

After musing this thought, Lin Ju suddenly slapped his forehead. If the launch was at the end of January, that meant the preliminary survey tasks had about been completed, meaning the detonation could happen in February, just in time for the Spring Festival?

Now he knew what to watch for the New Year celebrations. This year’s fireworks show would be an original UK import.

He shared this thought, then the Big Shot thought about it seriously before answering:

"I’m afraid the spectacle won’t be great in space; there are no magnificent fireballs and mushroom clouds to watch, still not as interesting as the 200,000-ton explosions on Earth. You’ll have to think of something else."

"Almost forgot... Is the date set?"

"Yes, it’s been decided, the day after tomorrow at noon."

"That soon? I thought it was from December 15 to 20, why is it moving up..."

Lin Ju suddenly came to his senses, then asked with confusion:

"Did IAEA agree to move the schedule up?"

The Big Shot’s expression became serious, and he sat upright as he said:

"According to the predictions of our meteorological experts, after December 15, changes in ocean currents and monsoons might increase the risk of polluting and spreading in the oceans. IAEA approved this proposal; the next suitable window is too far away, so it’s better to move it up.

Anyway, all the preparations are done, bringing it forward by a day or two will not pose any safety risks."

"That’s true... Shall we go together this time? I’ve actually chartered a yacht."

"That won’t do—" the Big Shot shook his head vehemently:

"You’ll still go with Yuanwang Seven; we’ll have a fleet there at that time, they will protect you, and besides, no one else will know you’re on the boat."

...

Futaba District.

The US2 seaplane exclusively for the Emergency Security Rescue Team once again landed at Futo Airport. Teams of international coordinators and IAEA experts came out in succession to be decontaminated, clearly having completed another surveillance mission in the radiation zone.

After changing clothes, Zhang Meng stepped out of the decontamination barracks and saw a modified Bomber-6 Observation Plane fly low overhead, stirring up a gale on the ground.

Within minutes, a P8A swooshed by, and then the noisy sound of turboprop engines working could be heard in the distance.

It was only when his ears were buzzing numbly that a Tu-142 lumbered past with a swagger.

The Bomber-6, P8, and Tu-142 conducting joint patrols in the Futo Controlled District to survey the area and check for safety risks had become the norm these days.

These crews, usually intensely competing with one another, would occasionally fly in formation a few times, a spectacle that was unprecedented.

However, the patrols by these large planes were mostly symbolic. The real work was mainly carried out by drones; apart from getting weak signals too close to the radiation zone, they had almost no drawbacks and could cruise for long periods of time searching for lingering individuals.

The ground teams mainly handled the aftermath and actually got decent rest, with not much to do apart from fixed patrols.

"Captain!"

Zhang Meng greeted Tian Zhan, who had come to meet him, then excitedly asked:

"Have all the people been evacuated?"

"They have, by tonight at 6 p.m. all the observation points within the affected area will be withdrawn."

Tian Zhan also smiled, officially withdrawing from those observation points meant that the cleanup plan the day after tomorrow would not be delayed, and that was certainly good news.

"And what about you guys? Are you confident you can hit it in one go?"

"Definitely!"

Zhang Meng patted his chest:

"If we miss, I’ll never be able to hold my head up high again for the rest of my life!"