Spark

"Things are starting to go wrong."

At the NASA headquarters, Nelson looked at the intelligence that had just been sent back from the Middle East with a serious face, and said to Musk in a solemn tone.

"The Las La Keira Metal Hydrogen Plant is clearly not directly related to the Huaxia Lunar Exploration Project, but this incident has bound the two together in public opinion."

"Now, almost all mainstream media are exaggerating the false news that 'the attack was aimed at the lunar exploration project', and even the European camp media are following up."

"This is very unusual. Metallic hydrogen fuel may be very important in the Chang'e-3 project, but according to the technical outline announced by China before, the Long March rocket used by Chang'e-3 is only based on the original liquid hydrogen fuel. It's just an improvement, it doesn't actually upgrade the engine fundamentally."

"That is to say, even if we don't consider the impact of the metal hydrogen plant that has been built in Huaxia, even if they really can't get enough liquid metal hydrogen and return directly to liquid hydrogen fuel, their launch plan will not be delayed."

"But they acted as if the project was going to abort."

Hearing his words, Musk spread his hands and replied:

"If it were me, I might be crazier than them."

"Crying children have milk, and I am the one who loses my interests. Why don't I take this opportunity to exaggerate the losses so as to earn greater benefits?"

"This is what an excellent businessman should do, and it is obvious that Huaxia is such an excellent businessman"

"Don't talk about binding the metal hydrogen plant to the lunar exploration project, I will even bind it to the development of the entire country."

"In short, the bigger the noise, the better"

"It's different."

Nelson interrupted Musk's "imagination", and then he picked up a public opinion report with no confidentiality level and threw it in front of Musk.

"You can see for yourself that the impact of this incident on public opinion far exceeds all the incidents we have monitored before."

"The people are still as irrational as ever, but this irrationality has shown a completely different form."

"Do you know what the scariest thing is? The scariest thing is that almost more than half of the people asked Huaxia to handle it 'personally'."

"You should understand the meaning of the word"

Musk nodded and replied:

"I understand, but so what?"

"The Middle East is too far away from us, and it's not my traditional strategic destination. Even if the opponent really takes full control of that area, I don't see how much impact it will have on me and our business."

"Besides, there's nothing I can do."

"If you can't do it, you wouldn't be sitting here today."

Nelson's attitude was unprecedentedly blunt, and only at this moment did he truly show the authority that a NASA director should have in front of ordinary businessmen.

"Until we find out the truth, we cannot take any unnecessary actions."

"Other departments are pushing as hard as they can, but it's clear they're still too slow."

"So, we have to come up with a way to slow down the ferment of public opinion."

"And this method will come from SpaceX."

Musk looked at Nelson in surprise, and he could fully understand what the other party meant.

The current direction of China's public opinion is that "the lunar exploration plan is hindered, and some countries benefit from it." To prevent such "public opinion" from continuing to expand, there is only one way:

Speak first to get rid of suspicion.

"So you want, let SpaceX work with the Chang'e project?"

"Of course it's impossible!"

Nelson quickly denied it.

"Haven't you guys learned enough from working together on LITV technology? I don't want this to happen again."

"I mean, the Falcon-9 rockets are going to be salvaged and reloaded soon, maybe, we can offer them an olive branch—all they need is a rocket, and we happen to have a rocket, don't we?"

".Using our rockets to transport their probes?"

Musk asked dumbfounded.

In fact, his surprise was not surprising.

Although in history, there have been many cases of borrowing or even renting rockets from other countries to launch satellites and other spacecraft, those cases were either purely commercial or occurred between two alliance countries.

Does Huaxia need to exchange money for technology?

Obviously not.

Are the two parties an alliance?

Obviously not.

Then, such a proposal seems particularly ridiculous.

Before Nelson could answer, he continued to speak:

"It's completely fanciful and there's no way they'd accept such a proposal."

"In fact, such behavior is called 'crowding Buddha's feet' in their language, or in other words, they believe in religion only when disaster strikes. Do you think they would be so stupid?"

"We don't really need to help them transport it."

Nelson shook his head and replied:

"It's just a statement -- or a security statement."

"What kind of security statement is this? Sending their highly confidential detector to us for transportation and letting them bear the risk of leaking the secret, is this also a security statement?"

"Wrong, we handed over the Falcon-9 to them—my plan is to claim that the next launch of the Falcon-9 rocket can be carried out in the waters controlled by China."

".is it really worth it?"

After Musk's voice fell, even Nelson couldn't help being stunned.

Yes, is it worth it?

Just for a "risk" whose final impact has not been determined for the time being, to retreat to this level?

——

But he really can't take the risk.

In other words, Congress really can't afford the risk.

What is the significance of the metal hydrogen project and the lunar exploration project?

Regardless of its significance to China's own development, they also have a common feature.

That is, they all belong to the landmark projects after the establishment of the Arab Commonwealth.

In both projects, the Commonwealth countries have invested huge amounts of money and resources.

Starting with these two projects is going against China's Middle East strategy.

If this incident, as speculated by the intelligence agency, is a third-party organization trying to provoke the relationship between the two parties and want to break the balance that has been maintained with great difficulty, then they must have more follow-up action.

And the only thing our side can do is to completely separate the relationship before those actions land.

Thinking of this, Nelson said:

"Whether it's worth it or not, we have to try."

"At least, give us our attitude."

Hearing his words, Musk also realized that there was no longer room for discussion on this matter.

He could only pray secretly in his heart, hoping that China would be more cautious.

After all, he didn't want to take the risk of letting the Huaxia people use the Falcon-9. Although it was only one launch, who knows what they could get?

"Okay. But I still hope that this is just a compromise of public opinion."

In the Middle East, within a certain mountainous area.

Ahong Chade hurriedly packed his luggage in the camp, and put the passport he had prepared long ago into his pocket.

Relying on this "special pass" issued by the US, he can pass the border to Turkmenistan within two hours, and then take a plane there, leave this land full of yellow sand and violence, and fly to the place in his heart. Another home in .

At this time, his heart was extremely calm, not even a trace of "betrayal" guilt.

Yes, he did believe in Allah, the One who gave him guidance and comfort.

However, he could no longer serve Allah.

Because, just in the past few hours, after the white man who connected with him left, he suddenly wanted to understand one thing.

That is, everything that seems incomprehensible must have a reason behind it, or in other words, it must be manipulated by some kind of interest.

Leaving aside, let’s just talk about the organization I believe in, and the various wars and attacks they launched, are they really purely for the so-called lofty beliefs and for the so-called revenge?

of course not.

After all, isn't the purpose of the organization to establish a so-called "heaven on earth"?

And as long as "politics" is involved, it must not be pure.

Even if you take a step back, satisfying your own religious needs is essentially a non-secular interest.

Therefore, although the attack on the oil pipeline in Las La Keira was weird, it seemed reasonable if he speculated in the most malicious way he was used to.

What does Huaxia want in the Middle East?

Don't you just want to get a stable, obedient, and safe alliance?

So, what resistance stands in their way?

Those countries who oppose them are part of the resistance, especially the turkey chicken who is clearly opposed to the Arab Commonwealth.

But the problem is that Huaxia wants to eliminate such resistance, but it must not do it as recklessly as its own side.

They need a perfect reason, a motive that is unassailable in terms of international legal principles and universal values.

Thinking of this, Ahong Chade let out a long sigh.

He silently apologized to Allah in his heart and found an absolutely irrefutable reason for his "betrayal".

Faith really can't stop DF-21.

After packing the last piece of luggage, he looked outside the house vigilantly.

The location he was in was just a small camp, and there were only twelve militants gathered here. Because they were far away from the "front line" conflict area, everyone was very relaxed, and no night watch was arranged.

This brought a lot of convenience to his plan, mainly because he successfully left the camp and drilled into the mountains in the north, so that no one could find him again.

After the plane flies to Morocco, I will start a new life with a new identity.

Hope is at hand.

Ahongchad put on his backpack and checked the passport in his pocket again.

Afterwards, he cautiously opened the door, poked his head out, and glanced at the nearby rooms.

The light of the campfire was faintly visible, but there was no sign of any activity.

Holding his breath, he took the first step of escape.

The sand under his feet made a slight rubbing sound, which was a bit harsh in the silent camp, but fortunately no one was awakened by this sound. After moving for two minutes, he had already arrived at the periphery of the camp.

The camp behind him remained silent, and his mood gradually relaxed.

He quickened his pace again, bypassing the last low wall, and he was already standing in the wilderness.

The moon was low, illuminating his path so clearly that he could hardly bear to run.

——

However, at this moment, his movements suddenly stopped.

Even the whole person froze in place.

Opposite him, a figure appeared.

And this person, he is very familiar with.

The "leader" of this camp, Haqqani.

The other party had obviously spotted him, but at the first moment, he didn't react, nor did he realize that Ahongchad appeared here to "escape".

He just asked suspiciously:

"Ahongchad, where are you going?"

"Why don't you bring a light? It's too dark in here and you're going to get hurt."

Ahongchad's mind was blank, and great fear surged in his heart. After a few seconds of silence, he answered:

"I just wanted to relax - you know, things have been rough lately."

"Yeah, it's not good."

Haqqani on the opposite side sighed and continued:

"The Las La Keira incident is like a joke. It is said that Omar has come forward to deny our responsibility, but no one believes it at all."

"Why don't they understand? We don't care about things there at all."

"In AFghan, our operations have made great progress, and we are even one step away from success. How can we make trouble for ourselves?"

"Maybe they don't know us."

"Yes, they will never understand our beliefs."

Ahong Chad replied in agreement, and at the same time, he had slowly approached Haqqani on the opposite side.

The other party still didn't notice the backpack he was carrying behind him—maybe the long-term guerrilla life damaged his eyesight, or maybe malnutrition caused him to suffer from severe night blindness, but no matter what the possibility was, it was Chance for Ahongchad.

"However, the pain will eventually pass, and this is just a short-term twist."

Ahongchad continued to distract Haqqani, who spread his hands and said reverently:

"May Allah bless us."

"May Allah bless you."

Ahongchad said in a low voice.

Then, his right hand was quickly withdrawn from his waist.

In the next second, a sharp dagger pierced Haqqani's throat.

Haqqani pushed Akhonchad away in disbelief. There was a "cluck" in his throat, but other than that, he couldn't make any sound.

Ahong Chade took two steps back, looking at Haqqani who was struggling on the ground with pity.

"Go to heaven."

"Our end is coming at least, you won't have pain."