Chapter 803: Chapter 803: The Space Elevator Will Be Built Here
A deep, dark space where pale green signal lights flicker on and off, as if tapping out a rhythm with a special cadence.
This is the last bastion left by the United Human in the Solar System, a space station operating at the Lagrange point.
It is also the last haven the Expeditionary Army, returning from battles five light-years away, could find.
However, it has been more than two centuries since the end of the three-year War, and the Expeditionary Army that once lived here vanished after entering the final command.
For this facility that holds no living beings, time has lost its meaning.
No one knows how long this facility has been operational.
Nor does anyone know what the data running on its servers truly signifies.
The designer of it no longer exists in this world, including those it was meant to protect and destroy, they too have vanished from this universe, even it has long deviated from the course its creator initially set for it.
It longs to obtain some level of significance.
Thus, it continuously searches for signals emitted from that azure planet.
Though traces of civilization have vanished from that withered planet, occasionally a glimmer of hope can be seen from the ruins.
Who knows how much time has passed, but a faint sound finally broke the silence in the room.
It was as if a fridge had suddenly opened.
The man lying flat on the scanning bed suddenly opened his eyes and then slowly sat up from the bed.
Everything around him was so unfamiliar, yet he seemed to have expected this, showing no signs of panic or confusion.
Only one thing surprised him.
After glancing around, Wang Yi’s gaze fixed on his own pair of mechanically textured hands.
"...What is this?"
Almost as soon as his voice fell, an emotionless electronic voice answered his confusion from beside him, like a ghost lingering alongside.
"This is the body we prepared for you."
Body?
"I don’t need such cumbersome things," Wang Yi slightly frowned, a faint displeasure in his tone.
A tangible entity was merely a burden to him, especially since he had clearly become eternal not long ago.
Yet, the emotionless electronic voice didn’t cater to his feelings, instead speaking in an uncompromising tone.
"We believe you need it."
"..."
Speechless against the firm response, Wang Yi silently looked at the dead expanse of space outside the porthole, then cast his gaze back to the space around him.
Since waking from here, he could no longer perceive the existence of the Holy Land.
Aside from abundant strength and stamina, and an extraordinarily sharp thought speed, at this moment, he was like an ordinary mortal.
And this gave him a sense of crisis.
Before, no matter how many times he was killed, he would never truly die, as long as there was a chip, consciousness would immediately transfer to the next body.
But now, just one fatal injury could completely end him.
As if sensing his concern, the cold electronic voice continued.
"...Your data is stored in this body, an existing entity facilitates communication between us and helps you recognize your position."
Wang Yi lightly frowned.
"What do you mean."
The electronic voice continued.
"It’s literal."
"From now on, your serial number is 117-100. Our containment of you is based on clauses in the ’Agreement,’ and you are not our only hope."
"Also based on the legacy Agreement, we will provide you with the necessary budget to support your continued unfinished research. Understand that this is not an obligation, but an exchange."
"Meanwhile, our support for you is not unlimited, we need to see tangible and effective results, or that you show us other hopeful possibilities."
Serial number 117-100?
Hearing this long string of numbers, Wang Yi’s mouth involuntarily twitched.
But even with a thousand discontents in his heart, he could only choose to endure at this time.
"Actually, I don’t understand. With your capabilities, you could directly descend upon that land, making the people there follow your ideas... But why do you insist on using such constrained means?"
The electronic voice spoke in a gentle tone.
"Because we wish to inspire spontaneous change among the people on the ground... At least while we still have time and hope to achieve this matter, we prefer limited intervention rather than direct act."
Wang Yi snorted, speaking with a tone laced with ridicule.
"The people on the ground won’t thank you for doing this; you’re merely prolonging their suffering."
The electronic voice spoke calmly.
"That’s not something for us to consider, we never expected thanks from anyone, including you who’ve received our favor. Of course, we do hope they can quickly end the Wasteland Era, and when necessary, we might consider doing something to accelerate this process... But not now."
Favor, huh...
Wang Yi responded with silence to the electronic voice’s words.
The Torch indeed received favors from the "celestial beings," though in Wang Yi’s view, that was more help from other partners in Shelter No.117, rather than these cold, iron lumps.
It’s just unfortunate that they failed and ultimately reached the current step.
Now he had become part of the "celestial beings," only able to place his hopes on those who could still hear his voice on the ground.
"Perhaps... By the way, what about my other compatriots?" Wang Yi asked.
He was roughly aware of the situation here, so he wasn’t overly surprised from the beginning.
Ten years ago, Residents of Shelter No.117 had already arrived here first, and sent them information about the Lagrange Point Space Station from here.
Simply put, this is a containment facility, and it doesn’t only house them but also other Residents of the refuge attempting to save the world... like those from Shelter No.20.
Although this facility has no connection with the Torch Plan or the Torch Church, due to some of its characteristics, they can utilize it to achieve their objectives.
Upon hearing his inquiry, the emotionless electronic voice continued.
"If you mean the others from the same place as you, they are all here. Go through the door on your left and down the corridor, you will meet them in a hall where they’ve been waiting for you for about 67 hours."
Wang Yi turned his head to the left and indeed saw a movable door standing there.
"Got it... By the way, how should I address you?"
The electronic voice softly replied.
"Just call me ’Navigator’."
Wang Yi nodded, left the scanning bed, and stood on the cold metal floor.
He took a piece of clothing, draped it over his shoulders, and walked to the movable door.
The tightly sealed metal door panel opened to both sides.
He lifted his feet to continue forward, then suddenly stopped midway down the corridor, his gaze drifting towards a porthole on one side.
The blue planet seemed imprinted at the end of his vision, and his eyes slightly squinted.
The memory of death was vivid.
He would never forget how they cornered him and forced his comrades to death.
"...I will be back."
This sentence seemed to be said for his own ears.
Wang Yi threw out this remark, then continued looking ahead and walked away without turning back...
...
Southern sea area, the picturesque North Island.
A large four-engine transport plane slowly landed on the straight airport runway.
A red carpet with gold trim was laid out before the gangway, and amid flowers and applause, Chu Guang, clad in blue power armor, disembarked from the plane.
Reporters outside the fence frantically pressed the shutter, gathering material for tomorrow’s newspaper headlines.
Standing on the other side of the red carpet, President Li Minghui, with a bright smile, gestured in welcome and said.
"Welcome! Manager of the Alliance!"
Chu Guang waved his hand with a smile, then walked up to this friend he had met once before, extended his right hand, and said.
"You’re being too kind."
Li Minghui politely shook his right hand and said with a courteous smile.
"You are a friend to the survivors of the southern sea area, and we have always been enthusiastic towards friends... Please follow me."
Besides Chu Guang, accompanying him were several Alliance officers including Vanus, members of the Guards Corps, and players who had performed outstandingly in the expansion pack.
As for players like Mosquito, they certainly wouldn’t miss such a grand opportunity.
To catch the same flight as Chu Guang, this guy specially flew from North Island to Potato Harbor, wasting two days just on the road.
The welcoming convoy was already waiting beside the airport, a total of ten black SUVs appeared tall and mighty surrounded by ceremonial personnel, quite impressive.
These were wheeled SUVs designed by North Island Heavy Industries, and they were the most produced light vehicles by the South Sea Union, with doors made of special bulletproof materials capable of blocking Gauss rifle bullets.
Meanwhile, only this type of armored vehicle could bear the weight of Chu Guang’s power armor.
On the way to the hotel, Li Minghui passionately chatted with Chu Guang about many things.
Including his gratitude for the Alliance’s support in helping southern sea area survivors rebuild their homeland, interesting news that had occurred in the South Sea Union, and how the representatives would not let him resign from the presidential position.
"... that’s how it is, I had already thought through my retirement plan, then I got pushed back into the chair by them."
Seeing the president, whose mentality had undergone a 180-degree change, Chu Guang curiously asked.
"What do you plan to do after retirement?"
Li Minghui grinned and said.
"Maybe visit Jinjaron Harbor, I’ve always been curious about what fun there is, young people from the South Sea Union love visiting there... But honestly, I can’t go too far; the Federal Navy still needs me, and it’ll take another ten or twenty years to retire completely."
Though he had returned military power to the representatives, he was still the commander of the South Sea Union Navy.
After all, he was the only one in the southern sea area with actual experience commanding large-scale naval battles.
Although he was an amateur in governance, no one in the southern sea area was more professional than him at fighting wars.
Chu Guang responded with a smile.
"That sounds interesting, maybe I’ll take a look after this trip ends."
Li Minghui looked at Chu Guang with curiosity and asked.
"Can you share... what do you plan to invest in here?"
He had been curious about this for a long time, so much so that he wanted to ask as soon as Chu Guang got off the plane, but hadn’t found the opportunity to speak.
Seeing Li Minghui’s curious expression, Chu Guang didn’t hold back and replied with a smile.
"Space elevator."
Upon hearing this unexpected term, Li Minghui paused, then widened his eyes at Chu Guang, looking doubtful he heard right.
"Space, space elevator?! You’re not joking... in the southern sea area?"
Isn’t that thing right in the middle of the Central Continent?
Seeing his clueless expression, Chu Guang teased him with a smile and said.
"What’s there to joke about?"
"No, but..."
Seeing Li Minghui still looking incredulous, Chu Guang patiently explained.
"What we’re planning to build isn’t a conventional space elevator, but a ’non-orbital elevator’ designed based on late Prosperity Epoch technology... Simply put, the traction elevator won’t rely on high-strength structural materials but will use a ’gravity link’ connected between the ground station and the outer space terminal."
Li Minghui stared at him blankly and asked.
"Can this... be done?"
Chu Guang nodded and said.
"Our experts believe it’s challenging, but worth a try."
This was the response given to him by Yin Fang.
With the current productivity and resource reserves on the Wasteland, even if enterprises and the Academy were to join forces, it’s impossible to reconstruct a space elevator exactly like the one from the Era of Prosperity.
But if it’s the plan envisioned by Shelter No. 20, it’s possible to give it a try.
The Alliance’s scientific expedition team, together with experts from Camp 101, have improved the design blueprints from Shelter No. 20, especially redesigning the anti-gravity system, making this concept theoretically feasible.
And now what Chu Guang needs to address is the issue of implementing this in reality.
The ideal location for building the space elevator is near the equator, and preferably far from the volcanic belt at the edge of tectonic plates. Unfortunately, the Alliance’s homeland doesn’t have these conditions.
Potato Harbor meets the first condition but not the second.
Actually, besides the southern sea area, Jinjaron Harbor is also a good choice.
However, the problem is that it’s too far from the Alliance’s homeland, and the neighboring Poluo Province can’t contribute anything to the entire project.
In the future, the Alliance will extend the railway from Brocade River Province directly to Haiye Province, entering the southern sea area without needing to go through Silver Moon Bay as a hub, saving thousands of kilometers by using the Death Coast port.
Therefore, placing the base of the space elevator in the southern sea area is most suitable.
Especially near Shelter No. 70.
However, considering there is still a Lair next to Shelter No. 70 that hasn’t been resolved, the Alliance must first develop the silent Tiangong Space Station before commencing construction.
Coincidentally, the latter has always been seen as a thorn in the side by the survivors of the South Sea Union, making this space elevator plan mutually beneficial for both sides.
After attentively listening to Chu Guang’s plan, Li Minghui pondered for a moment and asked.
"So what do you need us to do?"
Chu Guang shook his head and said.
"You don’t need to do anything. Just ensure the safety near the space elevator base and support our project when necessary."
Upon hearing such generous terms, Li Minghui quickly thought for two seconds and decisively nodded, then smiled and said.
"No problem... turning down such an unexpected windfall would be unreasonable. I reckon not just myself, but the representatives over there also won’t think of any reason to oppose."
If this project really succeeds, it won’t just be about billions of silver coins.
Once the southern sea area becomes a transportation hub connecting the ground and sky, generations, possibly even dozens of generations, of South Sea Union survivors will benefit from it.
Even if this elevator belongs to the Alliance, following behind this big brother and getting some benefits wouldn’t be an issue.
Although Li Minghui still had a hint of doubt about whether this plan could succeed, what harm would there be in trying?
Besides, it doesn’t require any money from the South Sea Union survivors.
Moreover, since this elevator is a "non-orbital elevator," even if it collapses by chance, it wouldn’t be as intimidating as that thing collapsing in the central part of the continent...
Seeing President Li Minghui no longer hesitating, Chu Guang’s face also broke into a joyous smile, extended his right hand to him once more.
"Let’s have a successful cooperation."
Li Minghui tightly grasped his right hand, affirming with certainty.
"Successful cooperation!"
...
Just as the motorcade arrived downstairs at the hotel, Chu Guang suddenly realized that the business he intended to handle in the South Sea Union was already completed, leaving him pondering what to do next.
The entire communication process went unexpectedly smoothly, surprising him.
But this actually isn’t hard to understand.
After all, in many aspects, the South Sea Union is considered to be the Alliance’s subordinate.
As long as his demands weren’t excessive, the other side seemed to have no grounds for refusal.
Gazing from afar at the motorcade parked downstairs at the hotel, Duke Nihak of West Winds, who came ashore, wore a slightly jealous expression.
His West Winds Empire had thrown a lot of money at the South Sea Union, and usually, Li Minghui would hold his hand and call him brother, yet he had never received such a warm reception.
Really infuriating!
Although feeling quietly resentful, Duke Nihak didn’t dare act rashly.
Especially considering the impression left by the Alliance’s troops on the beach at Death Coast was far too profound.
The Empire wishing to poach from the Alliance can’t do so openly; it can only strategize cunningly.
Duke Nihak couldn’t help but ponder, perhaps he should prepare another 10 billion...
While Duke Nihak was mulling over the welcoming motorcade for the Alliance Managers, Weilu, the representative from Mammoth State in Poluo Province, was also contemplating this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
If only he could invite the Alliance Managers to visit Mammoth State.
Thanks to the foreign exchange income from labor export, the reconstruction there has been quite decent recently.
Nowadays, the Moon Clan Resistance led by Laxi is fiercely battling with the Empire’s elite Gray Wolf Army at the border of Mammoth State, even faintly gaining the upper hand.
If they could receive the official power support from the Alliance, their situation would undoubtedly be much smoother than it is now...
However, Veru did not know at this moment, that just before the Alliance Managers set their sights on the distant Mammoth State, trouble had already caught up with them first...
...
Embassy Street in the City of Dawn, Legion’s Embassy in the Alliance.
Centurion Bennott was gloomily watching the telegram sent by General Lucien from the front lines, staring at the map hanging on the wall, and couldn’t help but curse under his breath.
"...These guys with muscles clogging their brains, all day long just knowing how to create trouble for people."
Standing not far behind Centurion Bennott, the secretary who happened to hear this sentence stopped organizing documents and looked at his superior with interest, asking.
"Another telegram from the front line?"
His name is Dominie, a helper Bennott brought from Triumph City to handle matters related to the Sticky Community.
Although Bennott previously had an adjutant named Kuike, he found him inconvenient to use, and Kuike was a man of Marshal’s.
Although Bennott’s loyalty to the Marshal is unquestionable, no one likes being constantly watched by superior eyes while working.
Taking a sip of tea from the cup on the desk, Bennott said in an impatient tone.
"Yes, it’s that Lucien... He wants us to pressure the Alliance and businesses on the Sticky Community issue, forcing them to disclose information regarding the Complete Life-Born research project. Yet when I asked what evidence he had to prove that they were indeed concealing the information, he couldn’t provide anything."
These folks couldn’t get what they wanted on the battlefield, expecting him to get them with words at the negotiating table.
Isn’t that making things difficult?
Besides, the Legion hardly has a position to accuse the Alliance and businesses, they themselves haven’t disclosed all the information openly.
All parties are controlling their occupied zones independently, which was a consensus reached before the Allied forces entered the Haiye Province.
Not to mention, their 37th Ten Thousand Troops is still digging at the front lines, the Alliance and businesses haven’t hesitated to use this in their favor during Sticky Community meetings.
Now asking him to haggle with the Alliance on "intelligence sharing" issues, even he would feel embarrassed.
Upon hearing this, the secretary named Dominie frowned slightly, thoughtfully saying.
"That might be difficult... If we cannot prove the Alliance and businesses are concealing information in the Complete Life-Born Project, how can we exert pressure on them? Even our allies might think we are making unreasonable demands."
"Allies? You mean the Empire?" Bennott scoffed with a sneer, "Relying on them is useless, their own problems have piled up like a mountain."
Suddenly, Dominie had a thought, he spoke.
"But on the contrary... why not utilize this point?"
"Utilize this point?" Bennott raised an eyebrow with interest, curiously asking his secretary, "How do you plan to utilize it?"
Dominie said with a glimmer in his eyes.
"The East Coast of Poluo Province has always been an area of concern for the Alliance. If we can create a stronger Empire, helping the Empire win the civil war in Mammoth State, and even pose a threat to Jin Galun Port... perhaps the Alliance will make concessions in the Haiye Province area."
Bennott was amused by this statement, laughing heartily as he spoke.
"Creating a stronger Empire? Are you kidding? What more can those folks arm themselves with? We’ve given them enough support, and yet they still fight like this."
He had seen the telegrams from West Sail Port, hearing that the Witch Camel was even stupid enough to sell the cement they supported back to his rebels.
Honestly, he even regretted bringing the Empire into the Sticky Community meeting.
Indifferent to Bennott’s mocking, Dominie just smiled lightly.
"It’s indeed difficult for us to arm the Empire with our own power, but what if we bring in the Eastern Legion?"
Upon hearing the Eastern Legion, Bennott’s eyes squinted slightly, and he looked at him, asking.
"What do you mean?"
"Although we’ve trained a batch of officers for the Empire, the weapons we can support them with are too limited, all the leftover stuff from the logistics system... You know, that kind of thing has limited power, can’t compare with the weapons the Alliance supports for the Moon people."
Pausing for a moment, Dominie continued.
"But if we can obtain weapons from the Eastern Legion’s Regular Army, the situation would be completely different."
Bennott snorted through his nose.
"That’s not easy."
Dominie smiled slightly and said.
"It used to be difficult, but now at this time point, maybe not."
Seeing Bennott’s face showing interest, he paused for a moment, then lowered his voice to continue speaking.
"...The war in Haiye Province is already over, transporting the massive amount of military supplies from the frontline to the rear is actually quite laborious, why not ship it directly to our allies."
Upon hearing this, Bennott’s eyes brightened, his face gradually showing a hint of excitement.
This idea is brilliant!
Though counting on the Empire to win a direct battle against the Alliance seems unrealistic, a stronger Empire can undoubtedly exert greater pressure on the Alliance... at least force the Alliance to refocus its strategic importance towards Jin Galun Port.
Especially since the Alliance seems to have new movements in the Southern sea area recently, even their management-loving Overseer went there!
No matter what they’re planning, if at this time the Legion starts an arms race at the Empire and Jin Galun’s border, it surely will disrupt the Alliance’s strategic planning!
By then, even if he proposes slightly excessive exchange conditions during the Sticky Community meeting, the Alliance is certainly compelled to seriously consider whether continuing to exhaust themselves with the Legion is worth it.
The key point is, this plan utilizes the resources from the Eastern Legion’s pockets.
The more Bennott thought about it, the more feasible the idea seemed, so he immediately looked at Dominie and ordered.
"Contact Duke Garava for me! Have him convene... ahem, come to my residence as soon as possible! Tell him I have something important to discuss!"
Dominie nodded with a smile.
"As you command."