Great Power Technology

Ugly Country, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

A Falcon 9 rocket is already ready for launch on the launch pad. As long as the final inspection is completed, it will carry 10 NEXT satellites provided by Iridium Communications into low orbit in space, continuing to complete Musk's Starlink system. , providing 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 the entire process of launch, recovery, maintenance, and re-launch. The efficiency is compared to Last year, it almost doubled.

Musk is extremely satisfied with this efficiency improvement. He himself is an ultimate utilitarian, pursuing the highest efficiency and highest degree of completion in everything. If he cannot do something perfectly, then for him To say so is tantamount to failure.

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

In the main control room, a man wearing a shirt walked up to Musk who was sitting in front of the observation window. After coughing, he said:

"Sir, our rocket is ready to launch at any time. However, we have encountered a little trouble."

"What trouble? Technical?"

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

If he had no choice, he would really not want to come and report bad news to the other party at this time, because Tesla and SpaceX have encountered enough troubles in the past year.

First, there were a series of failures of new energy vehicles, and then there was the huge impact of China's sulfur-silicon battery technology on the new energy market. Then, just two weeks ago, Ugly officials informed him without any reason that they were going to use the star. Due to the intention to slow down the chain plan, NASA's support funds suddenly shrunk, and the Falcon 9 second launch plan, which was in the final stage, had to use the company's own funds.

He even had to cut production plans to squeeze out enough funds to complete the launch.

But what about after the launch?

The construction speed of Starlink ground base stations is far behind the launch speed of satellites. This means that even if it can launch all 42,000 planned satellites into space within a year, the so-called communication network will not be able to keep up. It can't really take effect.

The ineffective communication network means that commercialization cannot continue.

If services cannot be sold, there will naturally be no income.

The only solution is to rely on official blood transfusions.

Judging from the current situation, official blood transfusions may soon stop.

The visitor shook his head slightly, and after dispelling the bad guesses in his mind, he answered:

"It's not a technical trouble, it's the military. They sent two representatives, and they seemed to want to talk to us about this launch."

"The launch? What's there to talk about? This is just a planned launch. Are they planning to stop it now?"

The visitor looked at Musk with some embarrassment and said hesitantly:

"Judging from their performance, it seems so."

"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 launch commander and patted him on the shoulder. After indicating that launch preparations continued, he walked towards the reception room without looking back.

After opening the door, his expression changed instantly.

The face that was as cold as frost before opening the door immediately turned into 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 come and 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 are you, is Riley okay? I heard she's pregnant?"

"Those are just tidbits made up by tabloid reporters. As you know, I don't have the time to think about having children right now - I'm already busy enough with the Starlink. By the way, Colonel Dany, last time I sent How’s your ice wine?”

"very nice."

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

"I figured you'd like ice wine because I noticed you were drinking mojitos at the last dinner party - which is weird, my doctor told me that sugar makes me age faster, but that doesn't seem to apply to you. It didn’t work.”

"You are still so good at sweet words. Okay, let's sit down and talk."

The three of them sat down on the sofa respectively. After a moment of silence, Louis said bluntly:

"Musk, you probably guessed the purpose of our visit today. In fact, I don't want to make too many detours with you. What I want to tell you is our suggestion."

"You'd better cancel this launch. Even if you can't cancel it, postpone it to at least three months."

"You should know the reason. China is also launching low-orbit satellites. They have expressed serious dissatisfaction with your Starlink system. If you continue to launch despite their objections at this 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 Lewis, 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 a minute, 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 also saw the confrontation some time ago. If we hadn't stopped in advance, it's hard to say in which direction things would have developed."

"Under such circumstances, should we still consider how to be friends with them?"

"Colonel Lewis, I don't understand. I don't understand why you suddenly became weak, just like I don't understand why our aircraft carrier fleet suddenly stopped moving, I don't understand why NASA ended its investment in SpaceX, I don't understand why we are stationed in Why did the bases of other countries suddenly evacuate? What happened that made you suddenly change your attitude towards our enemies?"

Upon hearing Musk's words, Louis' 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 ask at all."

"You know, when we come here today, we have expressed our greatest sincerity. We are just giving you suggestions, not forcing the termination of your launch plan."

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

"Yes, you can still stick to your idea and complete this launch, but what happens after that? Aren't you worried about their retaliation?"

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

“We can’t possibly advocate for you – no one will endorse you anymore, do you understand?”

After hearing what Lewis said, Musk's expression became a little stunned.

What's going on here?

He has never heard such a tough so-called "advice" from military personnel. It can even be said that this is no longer advice, but some kind of disclaimer.

As Lewis said, they are no longer willing to endorse themselves, nor are they willing to take the risks behind the Starlink project.

Something big must have happened.

This incident even caused the officials to change their judgment on the military interests behind the Starlink plan. Even if they gave up the surveillance network and information advantages that they could almost easily establish through Starlink, they must prioritize ensuring their relationship with China.

What incredible thing did the other party get in his hands?

Maybe it's time to use some higher-level connections to obtain information that you don't have access to.

Thinking of this, Musk said:

"Sorry, Colonel Lewis, I didn't expect the situation to have reached this level but as you said, you are just giving me advice, so, I also have the right to choose to accept it or not."

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

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

"So, I'm afraid I can't accept your suggestion - this launch must go ahead, but after that, we will reorganize communication and rearrange the plan for the Starlink project."

"Do you think the military can accept such a plan?"

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

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

"Fortunately, at least we convinced him to rearrange the Starlink project. This 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 advance the plan regardless, which is very detrimental to our current situation."

Hearing his words, Dany nodded slightly and replied:

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

"However, maybe this is also an opportunity - let him suffer a little loss, and we can just test the limits of our opponent's capabilities, and we will not be too passive in future responses."

Lewis sighed slightly.

"I hope so"

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

Smoke rose in majestic proportions, and the flames even darkened the sky.

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.