Chapter 771 - 737: The Legacy of Mars_2

Dozens of industrial firms, including leading corporations and internet companies, filed a joint request hoping to lift some of the current import-export restrictions to facilitate American high-end products entering the Chinese market.

Also under consideration were suggestions submitted by multiple environmental organizations, human rights institutions, and welfare funds, which indicated that lowering tariffs on light industrial goods could significantly improve the quality of life for the lower strata and reduce household living costs.

The two propositions were discussed seriously together, something that was absolutely impossible in the past.

While the members of the legislature were engaged in heated discussions, several cars stopped outside the legislative house, and two distinctly different teams got out.

Niu Yanping scrutinized the building in front of him before leaning closer to his assistant and translator.

"Could this really work? Pfizer would have to be crazy to agree."

"Director, how will we know if we don’t try? The foreigners won’t laugh at us, and domestically we won’t be sabotaged."

Despite these words, both of them looked at the Pfizer delegation with some wariness, although the latter waved back in a friendly manner.

Niu Yanping felt even less assured, nervously fidgeting with his briefcase.

He was about to undertake an epic mission, discussing with American legislators the transfer of patents for Pfizer’s cancer and ALS treatments—patents for expensive imported drugs not yet domesticated or controlled, and not included in medical insurance coverage.

His superiors had spoken to him with encouraging "go for it" expressions, but the thought of potentially making a fool of himself gave Niu Yanping an urge to flee.

He couldn’t understand the international situation, nor even the domestic one. If America really agreed, wouldn’t they become philanthropists?

Yet, judging by the reaction of the Pfizer team, it didn’t seem like they were making fun of them?

...

Anomalous events are bound to have demons behind them; this is a common consensus among humanity.

If Lin Ju were to describe America’s current reaction, he probably would throw out an expression pack of Donnie Yen from years later, captioned with the words "He’s in a hurry, he’s really in a hurry."

This wasn’t an exaggeration; the shock brought by the Enterprise had far exceeded expectations, or rather, it became the final straw that broke the camel’s back.

...

"If this were a year ago, I would say this is because they got the Union’s secret technology. Now, I think there’s an equal probability it’s related to an extraterrestrial civilization."

David Usno stood in front of the whiteboard covered with information known about the Enterprise, as well as technical parameters deduced from it, with numerous discarded paper drafts scattered below.

"A technology never emerges out of thin air; it can always be traced back to a certain project, an idea, or a failed experiment. Just like Pratt & Whitney’s cutting-edge F115 engine, its core capability is blood-related to Luo Rode’s aero-engine from over sixty years ago; it’s the result of countless generations of engineers improving it to today’s high-performance.

What about the Enterprise? We haven’t even heard a code name for its engine, and only the A100 can be considered somewhat associated with it. But the origins of the A100 are also shrouded in mystery.

The A100 has no connection with any past nuclear engine research that we know of, and it’s even less likely that the Chinese People developed it themselves; their investments in aerospace technology were minimal before the ’90s, lacking the capacity to develop such technology.

The nuclear technology of the XAP appeared out of nowhere, the confirmed development time being only 12 months, only enough time for us to restart the JFT test site."

In the direction he was facing, John sat silently in his chair.

David: "Why did our Mars probes fail to lock onto the signal source after several attempts to receive signals, yet the Chinese People found the transmission location on their first try?

The fact that they launched five probes suggests they were fully able to confirm the reliability, or are our Mars probes completely incapable of this ability?"

As soon as David finished speaking, former NACA Director Claire took his place, placing the spy photo of the Enterprise at the center of attention.

"This is the Enterprise’s exterior, along with the previously seen Chapter 9 and Zhu Rong. They look almost identical; what does this tell us?"

Without waiting for John or other onlookers to respond, he answered himself:

"Such spacecraft are produced one by one. Logically, each batch should undergo various degrees of improvement, especially for these previously unseen types of new products; any team would encounter a series of unexpected issues.

However, these three ’shuttle’ designs are virtually identical and so far, none have exhibited fatal flaws. We also analyzed the exterior design, and supercomputers along with wind tunnels tell us that the shape was designed with atmospheric flight in mind, and every edge has meticulous aerodynamic design.

As we all know, the first shuttle, Chapter 9, was not usable in the atmosphere."

Someone got it, not a technical expert but sharp-minded enough to sort through the meaning, voicing their speculation:

"I guess that’s why the Enterprise was the original target, and that’s why the previous two continued with this design. Also, the reason there’s no need for improvements is that its design is quite mature and doesn’t necessitate major changes."

Claire: "Exactly, a spacecraft that appeared for the first time and was extremely mature. Now let me see its parameters; they’re completely suited for Earth’s gravity and atmospheric conditions. If it was designed for landing on other planets, this wouldn’t be necessary.

Considering all the Solar System bodies worth human landing that NACA can think of, none are more difficult than Earth. It’s totally unnecessary to go to these lengths; an Aero-Space Plane is sufficient for Earth. Why then must it have this capability?"