Great Power Technology.

Chapter 383 Attack on Starlink!
Ugly country, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

A Falcon 9 rocket is ready to go on the launch pad. As long as the final inspection is completed, it will carry 10 NEXT satellites provided by Iridium Communications into the low orbit of space and continue to complete Musk's Starlink system layout , to provide mobile satellite communications for the ground.

This is the second Falcon 9 rocket launched by Tesla this year. In just two months, they have completed a whole process of launch, recovery, maintenance, and relaunch. Last year, it almost doubled.

Musk is very satisfied with this efficiency improvement. He himself is an extreme utilitarian, and he pursues the highest efficiency and the highest degree of completion for everything. Saying it is tantamount to failure.

Everyone in the company has seen his violent temper and tough methods, so no one is willing to disobey his orders-in fact, judging from the current situation, the benefits of obeying his orders are indeed is the highest.

In the main control room, a man in a shirt walked up to Musk who was sitting in front of the observation window, coughed, and said:
"Sir, our rocket is ready for launch. But we've run into a little trouble."

"What's the trouble? Technical?"

Musk's brows frowned instantly, seeing his expression, the visitor couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart.

If it's not that he has no choice, he really doesn't want to come here to report bad news to the other party at this time, because Tesla and SpaceX have encountered enough troubles in the past year.

First, a series of failures of new energy vehicles, followed by the huge impact of China's sulfur-silicon battery technology on the new energy market, and then, just two weeks ago, Ugly officials communicated to him for no reason that the star The intention to slow down the chain plan, NASA's support funds have shrunk suddenly, and the second launch plan of Falcon 9, which has reached the final stage, had to use the company's own funds as a last resort.

He even had to downgrade the production schedule to squeeze enough money to complete the launch.

But what about after the launch?

The construction speed of the Starlink ground base station is far behind the launch speed of the satellites, which means that even if he can launch all the planned 42000 satellites into space within a year, the so-called communication network will not be able to keep up. Impossible to actually work.

The ineffectiveness of the communication network means that commercialization cannot continue.

If the service cannot be sold, there will naturally be no income.

The only solution is to rely on official blood transfusions.

Judging from the current situation, the official blood transfusion will probably stop soon.
The visitor shook his head slightly, and after dispelling the bad guesses in his heart, he answered:

"It's not a technical problem, it's the military. They sent two representatives who seem to want to talk to us about this launch"

"The launch? What's there to talk about? This is just a planned launch. Could it be that they plan to stop now?"

The visitor looked at Musk with some embarrassment, and said hesitantly:
"Judging by their performance...it seems to be the case."

"What are you kidding me?? Call them over immediately! I want to see them immediately!"

"Sir, they are already waiting in the reception room. I'm afraid you need to go there by yourself. They said that what they want to talk to you involves confidential information"

Musk's expression became a little cold. He walked behind the commander-in-chief and patted him on the shoulder, indicating that preparations for the launch would continue, and then walked towards the reception room without looking back.

After pushing the door open, his expression changed instantly.

From the frosty face before the door was opened, it immediately became warm as spring.

"Colonel Louis, Colonel Dani, I didn't expect it to be you. It's been a long time. Why, do you want to witness this historic launch?"

A man and a woman sitting on the sofa stood up and shook hands with Musk, and then the man among them said:
"Musk, you're still so full of life. How is Riley? I hear she's pregnant?"

"That's all lace news made up by tabloid reporters. You know, I don't have the heart to think about having a baby right now--Starlink is enough for me. By the way, Colonel Dany, last time I sent How's your ice wine?"

"not bad."

Dany nodded slightly, with a gentle smile on her face.

"I figured you'd like icewine because I noticed you were drinking mojitos at a dinner party last time - it's weird, my doctor told me sugar would make me age faster, but that doesn't seem to be the case with you It didn't work."

"You're still so good at sweet talk. Well, let's sit down and talk."

The three sat down on the sofa respectively. After a moment of silence, Louis said bluntly:
"Musk, you probably guessed the purpose of our visit today. Actually, I don't want to go around too many detours with you. What I want to tell you is our suggestion."

"This launch, you'd better cancel it, even if you can't cancel it, you should delay it until at least three months later."

"You should know the reason. Huaxia is also launching low-orbit satellites. They have expressed serious dissatisfaction with your Starlink system. If you continue to launch despite their opposition at such a sensitive moment, we are worried. Relations between the two countries will be affected."

Hearing this, the smile on Musk's face became a little stiff. After taking a deep breath, he said:
"Colonel Louis, to be honest, I don't quite understand what you mean—what do you mean, the relationship between the two countries will be affected?"

"Wait, let me finish. What I want to say is, is there any relationship between us and them?"

"You know, I am a person who pays attention to current affairs. I have also seen the confrontation some time ago. If we hadn't stopped in advance, it is really hard to say which direction things will develop."

"In this case, do we have to think about how to be friends with them?"

"Colonel Lewis, I don't understand. I don't understand why you guys are suddenly weak, just like I don't understand why our aircraft carrier fleet suddenly stopped operating, I don't understand why NASA stopped investing in spacex, I don't understand why we are stationed in Why did the bases in other countries withdraw suddenly and what happened to make you suddenly change your attitude towards our enemies?"

Hearing Musk's words, Louis's originally gentle expression instantly became serious. He looked directly into Musk's eyes and said:
"It's not something you should know, and you shouldn't be asking at all."

"You know, we have come here today to express our sincerity. We are just giving you advice, not forcing the termination of your launch plan."

"What I want to tell you is that your opponent is far more terrifying than you imagined."

"Yes, you can still insist on your idea to complete this launch, but what about after that? Don't you worry about their retaliation?"

"No, even if you are not afraid, we cannot accept such a result. In any case, I must tell you that if you insist on continuing to launch satellites, then all the losses you have suffered after that will be treated as accidents. .”

"It's impossible for us to speak up for you—no one will endorse you anymore, understand?"

After listening to Louis' words, Musk's expression became a little stunned.

What's going on here?
He has never heard such a tough so-called "suggestion" from military personnel. It can even be said that this is no longer a suggestion, but a disclaimer.

As Lewis said, they are unwilling to endorse themselves, nor are they willing to take the risks behind the Starlink project.

Something must have happened.

This incident even made the officials change their judgment on the military interests behind the Starlink project, making them give priority to ensuring the relationship with China even if they give up the monitoring network and information advantages that can almost be said to be established through the Starlink.

In the hands of the other party, what incredible thing did they get?
Maybe, it's time to use some higher-level relationships to obtain information that you don't have the right to have access to.

Thinking of this, Musk said:
"Sorry, Colonel Louis, I didn't expect the situation to have developed to this extent, but as you said, you are just giving me advice, so I also have the right to choose to accept or not."

"You have to know that this is not a single rocket launch at all, but a verification launch of rapid reuse of rockets. We have been preparing for this launch for several years. If we give up now, it means that all our early efforts will be in vain. gone."

"I think even NASA understands the significance of this launch."

"So, I'm afraid I can't accept your suggestion—this launch must be carried out, but after that, we will reorganize the communication and rearrange the plan of the Starlink project."

"Do you think such a plan can be accepted by the military?"

Louis and Dani looked at each other, and after a while, they nodded slightly reluctantly.

Ten minutes later, the two left the launch base. After getting into the special car, Louis said to Dani:

"Fortunately, at least we persuaded him to re-arrange the Starlink project, which can be considered a progress."

"However, he is a lunatic. We must continue to put pressure on him in the future, otherwise, he may really push forward the plan regardless, which is very detrimental to our current situation."

Hearing his words, Dany nodded slightly, and replied:

"I understand, I will communicate with NASA again in the future."

"However, maybe this is also an opportunity to let him suffer a little bit, and we can also test the limits of our opponent's abilities, and we will not be too passive in our subsequent responses."

Louis sighed slightly.

"I hope so"

Moments later, when their car drove out of the base, the huge Falcon 9 rocket rose from the ground behind them.

The smoke rose majesticly, and the flames even darkened the sky.

And the owner of this rocket has no idea what kind of challenges he will face.

Such a challenge may even cause the huge empire he built to collapse.

(End of this chapter)