Chapter 132 X-37B Spaceplane

“Lin Xian, this is the X-37B spaceplane that Kevin Walker intends to hijack.”

At night, in the dormitory.

VV showed Lin Xian a photo on the tablet.

It was a spaceplane much shorter and smaller than the “Little White” that Coach Wei Cheng had mentioned.

With a black and white color scheme, it looked more fashionable than the all-white Dragon Country spaceplane... but the color scheme wasn't just for trendiness or aesthetics.

A national treasure like a spaceplane has nothing superfluous; every detail is the best option chosen after countless considerations.

The black coating on the lower part of the spaceplane is actually heat-resistant tile material. Because the X-37B spaceplane is unmanned and doesn't need to consider the comfort of astronauts, it can perform more dangerous missions in higher orbits.

At the same time.

Precisely because there are no astronauts inside, its return to the atmosphere and the ground can be more aggressive. Therefore, within the precious space of the spaceplane, more room can be given to useful equipment, sacrificing some equipment to protect astronauts. Then, a layer of heat-resistant tiles is installed below to ensure that the spaceplane is not destroyed by high temperatures when it quickly plunges into the atmosphere.

"This spaceplane was launched from Florida on the evening of December 28, 2023, for its seventh orbital mission, codenamed USSF-52, with an expected on-orbit working time of 612 days."

"Currently, after several months of climbing, the spaceplane's orbit has been raised to 1200 kilometers and has been stable at this altitude for more than a month."

…

Lin Xian looked at the picture of the American spaceplane.

In recent days, VV had confirmed that Kevin Walker's target was indeed this spaceplane. VV had become powerful enough to gain the upper hand in the cat-and-mouse game with Kevin Walker.

At least.

Although VV still hadn't found Kevin Walker's real identity and address, it could already detect his activities in the network, without being discovered by the other party.

Now, VV finally looked a bit like a super artificial intelligence.

"But..."

Lin Xian said worriedly:

"But our Dragon Country's spaceplane can't fly to such a high position, and Liu Feng has confirmed that the best location to capture space-time particles is near the Karman line, 100 kilometers from the Earth's surface. Over the past few days, the space-time particles have slowed down again, and now it is only Mach 2, which is twice the speed of sound, and it will likely slow down again in the future."

"The Shenzhou-2 carrier rocket will send us to a 300-kilometer orbital position, and then release the spaceplane, which Wei Cheng will operate, to fly around the Earth, decelerate, lower its orbital altitude, and finally be parallel to the space-time particles at a height of about 100 kilometers, so that Gao Yang can operate the robotic arm and the rice cooker to capture the space-time particles."

"So, in comparison, there's a problem."

He spread his hands:

"Our highest orbital altitude is 300 kilometers, while the altitude of the American X-37B spaceplane is 1200 kilometers. When that space-time particle flies from lunar space to Earth, it must first pass through the orbital altitude of the X-37B before it continues to descend to a height of 300 kilometers."

"Doesn't that mean that if Kevin Walker can really hijack that spaceplane, he can intercept that space-time particle in advance, and capture the space-time particle at an altitude of 1200 kilometers? If that's the case, we'll be doing all this for nothing."

"That's impossible, Lin Xian," VV replied:

"First of all, I have already guaranteed you that Kevin Walker's strength is far below mine, especially now that there is no need to consider concealment at this critical moment, and I can unleash my full strength, Kevin Walker has absolutely no chance of winning, and he can never snatch control of the X-37B spaceplane from me."

"Secondly, and most importantly, capturing space-time particles requires a [Space-Time Particle Capture Device], which is the rice cooker you talk about every day. I have invaded that spaceplane many times and have seen that there is no such device on it, nor any equipment with the same principle that can capture space-time particles."

"In the end, that spaceplane was launched by the American NASA for space experiments... it's not like us, specifically launched to capture space-time particles. Even if Kevin Walker temporarily hijacks it, it will be useless."

"I guess his biggest possibility is to hijack this X-37B spaceplane to interfere with us, or even attack us. His purpose is simply to prevent us from capturing space-time particles... rather die a glorious death than live a wretched life. Since he can't get it, he won't let us get it."

Lin Xian nodded:

"Does the spaceplane have weapons?"

"There certainly aren't any," VV said:

"Neither the American spaceplane nor our spaceplane this time carries any weapons. The original design intention of these two models of spaceplanes was for space experiments and docking with space stations. Weapons and combat were not considered at all."

"So..."

Lin Xian snorted softly:

"So, Kevin Walker is planning to use the American spaceplane as a shell to smash into us? He's got a lot of nerve, and it's a good thing no one in the world can find him or knows who he is... otherwise, neither Dragon Country nor America would spare this kid."

VV yawned with the electronic alarm clock:

"It's hard to say whether he's a kid or not. The way he's hiding, his name, resume, and age are probably all fake. But there's no need to consider these things before we catch him."

"In short, Lin Xian, don't worry, with me here, Kevin Walker will never be able to steal this spaceplane. Therefore, the high orbit of 1200 kilometers is no threat to you. You can take off, change orbit, and capture the space-time particles according to the original plan. I'll do a good job of security."

"What about Jask?" Lin Xian asked.

*Swish*—

Several pictures slid across the tablet like a slideshow, VV showing them to Lin Xian one by one:

"See? Still in playboy mode, and in recent days he hasn't even gone to that [Observation Tower] located at the Starship rocket launch center. Under my 7x24-hour surveillance, this old guy is perfectly normal."

"Actually, Jask doesn't seem like a member of the Genius Club at all. His skills are really far behind Kevin Walker... even far behind Huang Que... Huang Que and Kevin are both people with real skills, and they both have skills that far surpass the current era."

"Especially Kevin Walker, from the time you activated me until now, I have iterated and evolved so much, and I still can't find his trace. This guy is indeed a genius! An absolute genius!"

"But on the other hand, Jask, although he does have a lot of technology, these technologies are not much more advanced than the current era. Many things would be done by others even if he didn't do them. Without Jask, there would be Niu Sk, Donkey Sk, Wolf Sk, and so on."

"It is true that he sent ordinary people into space for travel, but in fact, those major countries mastered this technology as early as the last century. Even the rocket recovery technology he is so proud of has now been overcome by major countries. Many times, he just had ideas earlier, and the hype is greater than the actual work, such as his most frequently mentioned Mars immigration plan... in fact, there isn't even a PPT yet."

…

Lin Xian agreed with VV's analysis.

On the surface, Jask is indeed just a world's richest man and a technology fanatic, without any talent or skills that surpass the era.

But.

Existence is fact.

Since he can get that wax block stamp from the Genius Club, whether it is real or fake, it proves that he is definitely not just a world's richest man and a playboy.

"In short, pay more attention, it's better to be careful."

Walking to the window.

Opening the window.

Lin Xian stretched his head out of the window, looking at the round moon in the sky.

Today is March 25, 2024.

The sixteenth day of the second lunar month, which is the day when the moon is at its fullest.

Lin Xian stared at the clean and bright jade plate.

In the fourth dream...

There was still a huge black hand on the moon, spanning the lunar north and south poles, with the black right index finger pointing straight to the sky, arrogant, eerie, and domineering.

"When did the moon become like that?"

Lin Xian couldn't figure it out.

To this day, humans still don't have the ability to return to the moon.

The ticket for lunar travel that he bought for Zheng Xiangyue with Ji Lin's money is still Jask's empty check for the time being.

But even if it is an empty check, Lin Xian is willing to buy it for Zheng Xiangyue.

For her who lost her beloved brother, a hope and motivation to live strongly is more important than anything else.

Lin Xian doesn't care when Zheng Xiangyue will be able to board the moon as she wishes.

He only hopes that she will not give up on herself, not take life lightly, and live as long as possible, either wait for a matching heart, or... like Xu Yiyi, sleep in a hibernation pod and go to the future decades or centuries later when humans can cure congenital heart disease.

But...

Will Zheng Xiangyue, who wakes up from the hibernation pod at that time, still remember her brother Zheng Chenghao, and still remember her obsession with traveling to the moon?

Whenever he thought of amnesia, Lin Xian felt very scared.

Without memory...

Is he still himself?

Waking up with a completely blank brain, not knowing anything.

He can only believe what others say or watch a so-called videotape of himself to retrieve his lost memories...

Would he accept it then?

Would he believe it?

Would he think that the videotape is his real past?

In this way.

There are still too many follow-up problems caused by hibernation. Unless it is absolutely necessary... it is better to stay away from the hibernation pod.

"Lin Xian..."

Seeing that Lin Xian had been silent for a long time, the electronic alarm clock VV showed a worried expression on the display dial, o_o, and said:

"Going to space on a rocket... are you scared?"

"Of course I'm scared."

Lin Xian answered honestly:

"Even if Jask didn't say that we'll meet in the sky, even if Kevin Walker isn't eyeing that spaceplane... even if there are no internal or external troubles, I would be scared if I were to sit on a rocket and go around in space."

He smiled helplessly:

"So, isn't that why every astronaut is a hero? This is space... if something really happens, there is no way to come back. It is inevitable to be nervous and scared."

"But."

Changing the subject, Lin Xian raised his head:

"This is what I have to do, I must catch that space-time particle."

"Don't worry, Lin Xian."

The electronic alarm clock leaked a smiling face ^_^:

"I will protect you, this is the first principle written into my underlying code, and it is the meaning of my life."

…

*Dong*.

Two days later, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, secret conference room.

Liu Feng put a globe on the conference table and began to talk about the launch plan for tomorrow night.

"Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center is here."

He pointed to a spot on the globe:

"Tomorrow night at 9 o'clock, the Shenzhou-2 carrier rocket will launch from here. About 20 minutes later, it will reach space 300 kilometers from the ground, and then the front compartment of the rocket will open and release the spaceplane we are riding in."

His finger slowly moved up and then stopped at a position, taking out an eraser from his palm:

"This is our spaceplane, Little White. The current height is 300 kilometers. And this glass ball I'm holding in my left hand—"

Liu Feng pinched a glass ball with his left index finger and thumb, and slowly approached the globe from a position farther away from the Earth:

"This is Alpha matter (space-time particle). Because it is not affected by external forces, it will not orbit the Earth under the influence of gravity. It will rush straight to the Earth like this... it's just so magical and unreasonable, completely unrestrained by the laws of physics in our universe."

"But our spaceplane can't do that. When the rocket throws us out, we will have a certain initial velocity, so we will inevitably start to orbit the Earth under the influence of the Earth's gravity and make satellite movements."

As he said.

Liu Feng held the glass instrument in his left hand and approached the globe in a straight line.

And the eraser held in his right hand began to circle the Earth.

Ambidextrous, really awesome.

This straightforward demonstration teaching allowed everyone to clearly understand the movement trajectories of space-time particles and spaceplanes.

"Once our spaceplane enters space, it will immediately decelerate and change orbit, lower its orbital altitude, and after circling the Earth like this—"

Accompanied by Liu Feng's narration, the eraser that circled the globe once again came back around, becoming lower in height and closer to the globe.

And the glass ball that was approaching the Earth in a straight line, that is, the space-time particle, also flew to the same position at this time.

*Pa*.

With a soft sound, the glass ball and the eraser touched each other.

Liu Feng looked at everyone:

"This point in time is about 11:50 in the evening, when we meet Alpha matter in the atmosphere 100 kilometers high, and this time we will officially start the capture plan."

"Before this, Wei Cheng will adjust the attitude of the spaceplane according to the speed and direction of Alpha matter, so that Gao Yang can use the robotic arm to capture it."

"The good news is that the horizontal angle of Alpha matter entering the atmosphere is very small. In theory, our spaceplane can maintain parallel with it in a diving posture. This is really giving us face. If it really plunged directly into the Earth perpendicular to it, with the current level of human technology, there is no way to capture it."

Wei Cheng nodded:

"I piloted the spaceplane Little White during its first flight at the end of last year, and I have performed aerobatic flight tests in the atmosphere and outer space. There is definitely no problem with my driving skills. As long as the dive angle does not exceed 40 degrees, I am confident that I can maintain the balance of the spaceplane, but a larger inclination angle will not work. After all, the spaceplane is not a fighter jet, and the engine's sensitivity and body structure do not allow it."

Commander Huang Que nodded, looking at Lin Xian, Gao Yang, and Chu Anqing:

"The general plan is like this, do you three have any questions?"

*Whoosh!*

Before Lin Xian and Chu Anqing had time to shake their heads, Gao Yang directly raised his right hand high.

"..." Huang Que looked at Gao Yang with [I don't really want to talk to you] eyes, but finally closed her eyes and said patiently:

"Gao Yang, what problem do you have again?"

"After we come back, will there be any kind of honorary medal?" Gao Yang's eyes sparkled.

"No," Huang Que replied coldly:

"This is a secret mission."

"Then you can secretly issue medals!" Gao Yang's mind was very flexible:

"Now the whole company knows that I have been transferred away by the country. I certainly enjoy that knowing but unspeakable pretending, but if I can't come up with something tangible, I won't be able to convince the public after I go back! I still have to establish the majesty of my store manager!"

Huang Que's frowning eyebrows began to tremble.

"Hahahaha... Gao Yang, you can take my medal when I get back." Big Brother Wei Cheng patted Gao Yang's shoulder with a chuckle:

"I have a lot of those things, I'll give you one."

"Moreover, if this mission can really be completed, your contribution is indeed not small, and this is what you deserve."

"Good job, big brother! I've been waiting for you to say that!" Gao Yang laughed and mingled with Wei Cheng.

…

Lin Xian and Chu Anqing silently looked at this happy person.

Chu Anqing blinked:

"Senior Gao Yang... he has a really good attitude, he's always so optimistic."

"Maybe he's simple-minded."

Lin Xian replied:

"Indeed, from childhood to adulthood, I have never seen him panic, he is always so cheerful. This is actually a skill, to be calm in the face of danger, to be fearless in the face of danger."

Huang Que clapped her hands, signaling everyone to be quiet, and then scanned everyone:

"Well then, everyone should go back to rest early tonight. Thank you for your hard work during this period of training. Tomorrow will be the moment to test the results. Everyone should not take it lightly."

"Okay, dismissed."

Everyone dispersed and left.

Chu Anqing turned her head and found that Lin Xian was still standing there:

"Senior Lin Xian? What's wrong?"

Lin Xian looked at her:

"Anqing, you go back first, I have something to tell Huang Que."

Chu Anqing blinked her eyes... nodded, turned around and trotted, following Gao Yang, Liu Feng, and Wei Cheng's pace.

Huang Que was still standing there with her arms crossed, watching Lin Xian walk slowly towards her:

"What's wrong?"

Lin Xian stared into her eyes.

Still bright blue.

"Tell me the truth, is there any danger in this operation?"

Lin Xian's expression was very serious:

"I hope you will answer this question seriously, don't be a riddler anymore, since you know everything, and you know everything in your heart, just like a time traveler from the future."

"Then... you should know how all this will develop, what will happen, and what will be the ending."

"I hope you tell me the truth. I can guarantee you that even if you tell me there is indeed danger, I will definitely go, but let Gao Yang, Wei Cheng, and Chu Anqing stay. VV... you know, my super artificial intelligence, it can operate everything, including driving the spaceplane and the robotic arm, which is much more reliable than humans."

"If you can't say it because of space-time elasticity, then I hope you don't let the three of them go to space in other ways. Space-time particles are useless to them, you only need Liu Feng to point the way for VV. Only Liu Feng and I really want this space-time particle... [Even, if there is really danger, I hope you don't go either.]"

…

Huang Que listened to Lin Xian's speech, lowered her head and smiled.

Then she looked up at the rocket launcher outside the window, tucking the broken hair on her cheek behind her ear:

"You've changed, Lin Xian."

She turned her head and looked at Lin Xian:

"You've become... caring."

"I've always been like this," Lin Xian said:

"So, stop beating around the bush and just tell me the answer."

Huang Que breathed out a long breath.

The smile on her face disappeared.

Her face became serious:

"[I don't know.]"

She paused and continued:

"[All of this... has long deviated from the history I know.]"

Lin Xian narrowed his eyes and looked at her.

As expected.

During this period of time, the space-time elasticity should have increased.

If it were the Huang Que of the past, she would never have given such a clear answer... although this answer is still unclear, at least it can be understood and communicated with normally.

She did not deny it.

She also used the word history.

So...

There is no need to question it.

[Huang Que is a time traveler from the future.]

"Including all of this?"

Lin Xian pointed to the launcher outside and pointed to the globe that Liu Feng had demonstrated just now:

"So you know the existence of space-time particles, and maybe you've seen them. But you are unfamiliar with this incoming space-time particle. So from the spaceplane, from the beginning of our team's formation, all of this... is a brand new history."

"No, it's not history." Lin Xian looked at her:

"[We are moving towards a brand new but unknown future.]"

Huang Que was expressionless.

There were no words and no answers.

"Okay."

Lin Xian nodded.

He knew that if Huang Que could speak, she would have said it long ago.

"One last question."

Lin Xian said softly:

"In this team, Wei Cheng is the pilot and cannot be replaced; Liu Feng and I have to go; Gao Yang may have been called by you as insurance for operating the robotic arm, or if I hadn't taken the initiative to call Gao Yang, he wouldn't have had to come, but the facts prove that he is indeed useful."

"But only Chu Anqing is not irreplaceable and is not indispensable. Her arrival is strange, and you specifically called her over, but you didn't arrange any specific tasks for her. She is completely dispensable, so why specifically call her here?"

"As a mascot? As a source of happiness? Obviously not, right? Why must there be a mascot on the spaceplane? But since she is on the spaceplane, there must be a meaning for her being here, right?"

"Moreover, using a spaceplane to chase a space-time particle that is not affected by external forces and has no normal trajectory, I have always felt that this plan is too crazy. It is very easy to lose track, miss, and lose the target."

"I thought about it for a long time. As I have learned more and more about this space-time particle during this period of time, I have increasingly felt the strangeness of this series of events. Putting all these irrationalities together, after thinking about it, I can only think of one possibility—"

"Huang Que, look at me."

Lin Xian called this woman's name directly and looked directly into her blue eyes:

"[That space-time particle... came to find Chu Anqing, right?]"