"So you are really one of the first core members of Starfire?"
"Yes, this organization was actually just an ordinary scientific research group similar to an independent research group at first - of course, later we produced a lot of results, and after gradually expanding in scale, we began to gradually transform into a comprehensive institution."
"But the core of it is technology research and development."
"To put it simply, you can think of it as a Chinese version of the Illuminati? That's probably it."
Chen Nian's statement "Xinghuo is mine" was a bit exaggerated. There is no doubt that he still has to go back and make up for it.
Just pretend to be cool. To reveal your identity unscrupulously is something only a fool would do.
"Who is in this organization?"
Qiu Mai continued to ask, his eyes full of curiosity.
"This is confidential information. Even if you join Starfire, there is a high probability that you will not meet anyone who has nothing to do with you."
Chen Nian replied.
“Understood a block-like centralized structure.”
"This is indeed similar to the organizational form of the Illuminati, but is it more like some coordinating departments in the early Soviet Union? It seems that the information on the Internet is correct. I thought they would hold back when the official made it public."
"No, the existence of Spark is not a big secret. Like I said, its projects are basically semi-public."
"The biggest confidential information is personnel information."
"Okay, can I join now?"
Qiu Mai had an expression of relief on her face. This problem had really been bothering her for too long. Today it was finally solved, and she felt relieved.
After all, no one really likes the feeling of "being manipulated".
But when I know that this is not the so-called "manipulation", but actually following a planned chariot rolling forward, the feeling is completely different.
She was even a little impatient.
"Someone will contact you. Just keep it confidential."
"Actually, even if you don't mention it today, there is a high probability that someone will contact you after a while."
"After all, high-voltage technology will definitely become mainstream in the future, and you are considered a strong man in the new generation. It is inevitable to be included in unified management."
"Is this why you have a showdown with me today?"
Chen Nian smiled awkwardly and replied:
"That's not true. You've already guessed it anyway. It's safer this way."
"Actually, to be honest, you have always been an unstable factor."
Being called a factor of instability by Chen Nian, Qiu Mai did not show any displeasure, but said thoughtfully:
"Indeed, our relationship is too close. We must either completely cut it off, or we can only join the same front - do I think I have taken advantage of you?"
"In a sense, yes."
Chen Nian answered calmly and did not shy away from it.
This is actually a basic rule - let alone his identity, even if he was just an "ordinary" academician, the privileges he could enjoy in his previous life were not small.
He once saw a question about "Can an academician have the ability to let his children work in the system?" The answers below are all strange, but in summary, the core is the same, that is:
Not to mention the children, even if the three aunts and the seventh aunt want to solve work problems, it is something that can be easily solved.
After all, the benefits a scientific researcher brings to the country far exceed the costs consumed by those "vassals" throughout their life cycle.
In a sense, this is a necessary means to maintain the stability of the research scholar when the favor is indelible.
However, what is different from this example is that Qiomai's own technical ability is not bad.
Qiu Mai on the opposite side thought for a moment, and then continued to ask:
"After joining Xinghuo, will the subsequent work methods change?"
“There won’t be much change, but you can share higher-level scientific research resources and gain stronger scientific research connections.”
"At the same time, the degree of freedom will be reduced to a certain extent. When Starfire needs you, you can't refuse."
"I'm OK."
Qiu Mai said firmly.
"Then, you are welcome to join. I hope you can adapt to our way of working and continue to contribute to China."
These two sentences were extremely official, and Qiu Mai's attitude was also very solemn.
She still doesn't fully understand what Spark is, but she can vaguely realize that her career may be about to change dramatically.
After talking about the topic related to Spark, Chen Nian explained the situation to Chen Guo on his mobile phone. The latter was not surprised by his decision and immediately launched the relevant plan and took over the subsequent disposal.
This process is actually extremely mature, and Chen Nian doesn't need to spend any more energy.
"So, let's go back to our original topic - will you stay at AH forever?"
"uncertain."
Qiu Mai shook his head.
"The staffing here is actually excessive. As you know, compared to the aerial platform project in the north, although the complex project is larger, it is also more mature."
"Objectively speaking, it does not require so many high-level researchers, but more children who work."
"So, after the initial cold start problem is solved, I will probably be transferred."
“But I don’t know where exactly I’m going.”
"It may be scattered to small projects in various places, it may go to the Nantianmen project, or it may go to Qatar."
"Qatar? If you go there, you won't be able to come back for a while."
"It doesn't matter, there will always be someone who wants to open up wasteland."
After hearing her words, Chen Nian nodded slightly.
Speaking of which, Wang Jiancheng will also go to Qatar in the near future - about Zhanlu.
This exercise will be the first actual military exercise of the Zhanlu system. As a core technical staff, he will accompany the team to provide support.
However, according to the current situation, the exercise is mainly held in IRAN, and Qatar is just a "military parade" transit station. The two of them probably have no chance to meet.
They are all land reclamation, but the forms are completely different.
But the same thing is that they are very likely to become the protagonists of the future era.
"It's up to you - if the Qatar project can be done well, it will not be as simple as a factory."
"I know this is the first step in technological output."
“Or to put it more bluntly, this is the first step in influencing output.”
Having said this, Qiu Mai paused for a moment, and then continued to ask:
"Do you think we are also competing for hegemony?"
"Maybe. New technologies have turned the already developed land around the world into white land again. It's up to you how to fill these white lands."
The other side of the sea.
White House.
After the EAST project was successfully ignited, the frequency of regular meetings originally planned to be once a month was accelerated to once a week, but even with this intensity, the white-haired old man still felt that countless problems had not been solved.
The impact is too great
Less than a week has passed, and the power of this technology has been fully demonstrated.
The changes in the situation in Qatar and the Middle East are only a very small part of it. On a larger scale, the strategies of almost all countries in the world are adjusting in a seemingly disorderly but unified way. .
No country in Europe has received the first batch of technical authorizations for metallic hydrogen and nuclear fusion devices. However, thanks to the accumulation in the EAST project, countries that still have sufficient national finances have begun to launch new projects. .
Moreover, Britain, France and Germany, as established powers, have confirmed the establishment of joint projects, and the EU, which was originally on the verge of bankruptcy, has once again united.
However, this time the alliance is a little weird in form.
With fusion technology as a link, the interests of multiple countries are firmly bound together. However, at the same time, due to the different technical focuses of the three parties, each country has the right to "veto".
Fusion and differentiation exist simultaneously and maintain a fragile balance.
It is conceivable that with such a starting point, if there is an absolutely dominant force that adds fuel to the fire, the composition of the entire Europe will undergo earth-shaking changes.
Interest alliances no longer exist, and will be replaced by "chain-like" "industrial alliances." As long as one link is destroyed, the entire chain will collapse.
At the same time, the results of Russia, which should have gained the most benefits, are also unsatisfactory. Judging from the current situation, their future development direction has almost been locked, that is, as a source of raw material supply for China and a secondary technology transfer destination. .
The gas pipeline project started quickly, and along with this project, there was even a jaw-dropping ultra-long-distance power transmission project.
It is a fusion power station that spans most of Siberia and supplies part of the electricity needs of Northeast China and Russia and Eastern Europe.
In the face of this project, the strategy of "transferring power from Asia to Europe to achieve power peak regulation" that was told as a joke has become a reality.
But more importantly, it has far-reaching political significance.
Similarly, within Asia, China's influence is also expanding rapidly.
The Asia-Pacific strategy has completely come to naught. After all, instead of taking a huge risk to grab a sip of soup, who wouldn’t want to gnaw on the meat and bones that have not been eaten at all?
Looking at this series of unabashed movements, the white-haired old man behind the desk let out a long sigh.
Then, he raised his head and looked at everyone in the room, and asked the question he was most concerned about:
"Has their attitude changed so far?"
After the words fell, there was silence in the office.
And the silence of everyone is actually the answer itself.
The old man shook his head slightly and was about to continue talking, but at this moment, Bob, who was sitting in the corner, suddenly spoke.
"I think having no new news is the best news for us."
"They have indeed shown no change in attitude, but this at least shows that they have no intention of completely restricting us in this technology."
"Otherwise, they can completely cooperate with Europe and Russia and at the same time impose restrictions on their technology transfer conditions. Once that happens, the entire American continent will become a completely 'abandoned land.'"
"You know, I'm a soldier, so it's easier for me to judge some things from a conflict perspective."
"In my opinion, this is actually a positive sign."
"Positive sign?"
The old man had a confused look on his face, and then asked:
"Make it clearer."
Bob took a deep breath and continued:
"I don't think the other party is waiting for our bid. On the contrary, they already know the price we can offer."
"What they really want to do is test our bottom line."
"We always thought that they wanted to know, 'When the losses reach what level, we will compromise with them,' but in fact, their real strategy should be more aggressive."
"It was, 'When the losses reach this level, we will go to war with all our might.'"
“Only by working backwards from this point can they get the results they really want.”
"So, for us, the strategy is actually clear."
At this point, Bob paused for a moment.
He looked at the people in the conference room and read their expressions carefully.
Obviously, there doesn't seem to be much market for this idea.
In the eyes of these people, the era of conflict has passed, and the era of being able to obtain benefits by force and deterrence has also passed. The exchange of benefits is now the mainstream.
But how is this possible?
Human beings are inherently aggressive creatures. As long as there is still the concept of "individual" in this world, conflicts will never stop.
Thinking of this, he seemed to have made up his mind, so he continued:
"We have to make them realize that war is not the only way to disrupt the entire world order."
"Or more specifically, we have to make them see our importance in the future."
"A very good idea."
The old man nodded encouragingly and said approvingly:
"It's good that you can think from this perspective. So, what is the specific strategy?"
"Helium 3."
Bob said bluntly.
"We're going to get helium 3 from the moon."
"Aerospace technology is the only technology we currently have that has overwhelming advantages, and it is also the only technology that has the potential to break the global distribution pattern of nuclear fusion technology."
"If we can achieve cheap access to helium-3 materials, they have to bring us into the fusion technology cycle."
"Because, compared with the heavy water they use now, helium 3 has great advantages in terms of energy density and cleanliness."
"So, I think it's time for us to make a decision."
"After fifty years, we should go to the moon again."
"Why not just use aerospace technology to exchange with them?"
Someone asked.
Bob had a sarcastic smile on his face.
"The Chinese people think the same way - why don't we just hand over all our aerospace technology in exchange for the development opportunities of nuclear fusion?"
"But I would say it's the stupidest thing to do."
"When you have a shotgun in your hand, it is best not to hand it directly to your companions, but to use it to hunt down prey and place the prey in front of them."
(End of chapter)
