The CX740 shuttle was flying out of the Earth's shadow beyond the arctic orbit, its fuselage covered with a snow-white heat that almost dazzled in the light of the stars.

This is its one hundred and seventy-fifth mission, and its last. These old shuttles, which were born in the last century, are gradually being replaced by a new generation of cargo rockets and space elevators, while a second space elevator is being built in New Guinea and a new airport is being born.

When the shuttle entered the transfer orbit, Tang Xin could see the huge project under construction, like a spot of light in the distant sky, flickering slightly. The new port was built at Chinese expense and has a resounding name – the Ring of the Asia-Pacific.

There were 42 passengers on board, including the crew, but there were no callers, who usually took the military shuttle or went straight to the space elevator. Nowadays, shuttles are rarely used for freight, mainly for transporting tourists, and for the CX740, this is its only historical mission.

When the attitude engine of the huge shuttle machine started to work, a slight sense of gravity could still be felt, but it was difficult to feel the passage of time in space, and for Tang Xin, the meaning of time was that they arrived at Xingmen Harbor at three o'clock in the afternoon.

Of course, it's the East 8th District, Beijing time.

Changing out of the anti-load suit, listening to the sound of the air flow in after the hatch opened, under the guidance of a very friendly young lady, Tang Xin flew into the space with the others.

And as soon as she landed, she saw her friend flying around in a weightless environment like a large doll

"Sugar Candy, this way!"

Looking at the girl who was excitedly waving to her on the gravity-free corridor of the spaceport, Tang Xin shook her head helplessly: "My little princess, uncle and aunt let us go to the embassy area to get a visa, can you come down first?" ”

"What's there to be anxious about," the other party grinned, and didn't care: "This is sightseeing, sightseeing is more to see, right...... What career will you choose later? I've heard that tourists have to choose a profession when they get the crystal equipment, which is different from the one who chooses them. ”

"You're thinking so far."

"Of course," the girl chirped, "By the way, there are souvenirs of Aitalia in the business district, and there are local-style clothes, shall we try them later?" See what kind of professional clothes look better? ”

"I don't think so."

"Sugar Candy, you're really boring."

Tang Xin only smiled lightly, this was not the first time someone had said this about her.

The last time she said this, a certain pigeon was taught by her to be unable to take care of himself.

The girl was flying to the side, putting her face next to the glass on the side of the cloister, and suddenly said loudly: "Sugar Candy, you see how beautiful the earth is, much more beautiful than you have seen on TV—it is our country, and I have seen your home!" ”

Although Tang Xin didn't think that at an altitude close to forty kilometers, the other party could see his home, unless his friend's eyes were sophisticated optical instruments. But she also had to admit that from this point of view, the earth is indeed beautiful.

The huge spherical surface reflected the glowing light, and although Tang Xin knew that it was just the refraction and scattering of light in the atmosphere, it still made it look like a self-luminous body in a lonely universe.

A glowing, light blue crystal ball is full of life, making it dotted with the light of life in this dark starry sky.

What's more, that's home, it's home.

At this time, Tang Xin's gaze suddenly stopped, and the afterglow was sweeping to Si Cape flying out of the crowd, and she was slightly stunned, always feeling that she had seen this woman somewhere.

Of course, Scapet also noticed the girl who was looking at her directly, she floated in mid-air and stopped, subconsciously looked at herself, and after making sure that there was nothing wrong, she couldn't help but look at each other curiously, and said, "Do we know each other, this beautiful young lady?" ”

Tang Xin only shook her head.

Scapet looked left and right again, paused as well, and said politely, "Then don't you mind if I'm in this place, I'll wait for someone." ”

Tang Xin nodded lightly: "Please." "It's a public area, and it's just polite to ask her for advice. And Scarpe looked at these two girls, and couldn't help but sigh a little in her heart for a while, thinking that all the girls in East Asia are so exquisite.

She couldn't help but ask, "Are you tourists?" ”

Tang Xin nodded again.

Probably seeing that the girl in front of him was not talkative, and the other girl's attention had not been here, Scapet saw this and did not ask any more. He only looked down at his communicator, and then stood quietly to the side.

Tang Xin wanted to pull her friend away, but the latter was obviously reluctant, so she could only wait helplessly. After a while, she saw a man walking from the direction of the airport, holding a small box in his hand.

The other party walked over and met with Scarpe, and the two exchanged glances before he handed the box to Scarpe. "Is this it?" Scarpe asked.

The man nodded.

"I'll go first." The man replied, "Those people are keeping an eye on me, so be careful." ”

Scarpe was noncommittal.

Tang Xin saw that the man had only said goodbye to Scarpae, and then turned around and returned the way he came. The latter opened the box and glanced at it, muttering something in a low voice, she was in Russian, and Tang Xin couldn't understand what it meant.

But it was at this time that she suddenly saw a man come out of the crowd in the direction of the cloister and come straight from behind for Scarpet.

Tang Xin couldn't help but be slightly stunned when she saw this scene, and subconsciously said: "Be careful!" ”

She thought it was too late.

But Scarpe's reaction was quicker than she expected, and she turned around like lightning and kicked the man right in the lower abdomen. If it was on the ground, this kick would only make the person fly and fall back hard.

It's just that in the gravity-free environment, the other party just flew up and flew back to the tourists.

The tourists seemed to have reacted and screamed in fright, and the man rolled on the ground with his strength, and did not look back, but disappeared into the crowd in that direction with a flash.

Scarpe chased a few steps in that direction, but when he saw that the other party was gone, he also stopped and gave up the pursuit. She looked in that direction and shook her head, then turned around, looked at Tang Xin who reminded her, and a smile appeared on her face: "Thank you." ”

Tang Xin closed her mouth.

She had actually done it instinctively before, after all, when had she seen this on Earth, if it was just driven by reason, she might not have opened her mouth before.

It's just that the reaction of her dead friend is much more exaggerated than her, the girl just turned around before, and saw the scene of Scarpe kicking back sideways, and couldn't help but have a light in her eyes: "So handsome!" ”

Scarpe looked at the two little girls and said with a smile: "It's the first time you have been to Xingmen Harbor, in order to show your gratitude, how about I invite you to the Ring Hall for coffee?" ”

Tang Xin instinctively wanted to refuse.

But the friend on the side had already nodded like garlic: "The circular hall, is that the famous sightseeing hall?" I've heard of that place, and I was going to check it out! She looked curiously at the badge on Scarpa's chest, "Ah, you, you, you, the Elector?" ”

Silk Cape glanced down at her brooch, which was the star ring symbol of Stargate Harbor, it was actually just a memorial of the Elector, she didn't expect to make the other party so excited.

However, although she is a caller of the older generation, she also knows that callers have become a popular industry now, and there are many star chasers, so she couldn't help but smile slightly and nodded: "Former callers only." ”

Unexpectedly, the girl was even more excited: "Ah, then you are a pioneer!?" ”

"Not really." Scarpe pursed her lips and smiled.

Tang Xin couldn't help but hold her forehead, and suddenly regretted telling the 'little princess' about the history of the Electors - she knew that her pigeon cousin was the most fond of the era of the forerunners, and she was more or less curious about that era, but she didn't expect to infect her friends.

Scarpe glanced at the two of them, and only thought that the little girl who broke the casserole and asked to the end was a little cute, but compared to it, she was more curious about the somewhat taciturn girl on the side.

After all, it was the other party who reminded her before, and the way this girl looked at her directly before, always made her think more, it was a little strange to say, she looked at Tang Xin more, and vaguely felt that the other party had some familiar feelings.

The feeling was so subtle that it was almost impossible to put into words.

Thinking of this, she spoke again: "Are you going to get a visa?" In fact, the Chinese embassy area is not far from the circular hall, so I can't waste much time, so I'll give you a ride later, and send you directly to the embassy area. ”

"Okay, okay."

"Little princess—"

"What's this, sugar candy, courtesy."

Tang Xin glared at the other party and sighed.

Compared to her companion's undisciplinedness, she was obviously much more cautious, but Tang Xin thought for a while, and finally nodded-it was her companion's insistence, and then Xingmen Port was not small, after all, this is actually a space city that provides tens of thousands of people to live and live, and it is still expanding.

And it's a three-dimensional city, with a labyrinth inside.

If there is no one to guide you, first-time visitors will probably waste a lot of time on the road.

And the time saved must be enough to drink a cup of coffee. And it was she who reminded the other party before, and the other party wanted to thank her, and it was reasonable to say that - after all, if there is a pay, there should be a return, which is also one of Tang Xin's mottos.

After all, unlike her dumb cousin, she never did useless work easily.

Seeing that the two agreed, Scapet led them out of the gravityless corridor.

After entering the artificial gravity zone from the gravity-free zone, the life of Xingmen Port is actually not much abnormal from the ground, but the landscape here is more monotonous and boring.

However, for those who came for the first time, everything was full of novelty, and even Tang Xin couldn't help but look at this Xingmen Port twice - after all, this is the largest, most complex and most systematic project in the history of mankind.

While it may be just the starting point of humanity's space age, it is enough to shine above the history of civilization.

It is only in the midst of this gigantic project that one cannot help but sigh that the crystallization of human ingenuity and creativity, and their transcendence from themselves, are all encouraged.

Compared with her friend's simple amazement, Tang Xin obviously felt a little more emotion in her heart.

Of course, these are just the feelings of newcomers.

As for Scarpe, she has no feelings, and living in such a place day after day only makes her feel bored—it is probably better to meet such two interesting little girls and make her feel novel.

And the circular hall that the three of them are going to is actually a sightseeing hall, which is also a famous space restaurant.

At the beginning of the establishment of Xingmen Port, every gram of rocket capacity was equal to gold, and of course there could be no living and sightseeing blocks. At that time, every inch of Xingmen Port was functional, and almost all of it was used for scientific research and military purposes.

It is only with the process of commercialization and the rise of tourism and tourism that these humanized modules have gradually increased. For example, the circular hall was actually renovated from the original headquarters, and today's command center has been moved to the central area of Xingmen Port.

Today's Xingmen Port, receiving thousands of tourists every day, of course, there is more than such a sightseeing hall, but to say that the most famous is the circular hall.

After all, it was the first space restaurant in human history to officially open, and it was also a time-honored restaurant for nearly half a century, both in terms of historical significance and brand effect, and its popularity was not comparable to other tourist destinations.

The trio each ordered a cup of the famous space coffee in the hall.

This kind of coffee is actually a famous gimmick, and if you are an airport resident, you will definitely not order such an expensive and unpleasant thing. But since it's a reception for newcomers, Scarpe doesn't do anything special.

After all, it's like buying a souvenir, but it's actually a mood to drink.

The bartender obviously understood it, and directly gave the two little girls a 20% discount. When the three of them came to the seats on the observation deck with coffee cups of space materials, Scapet quietly told the two: "Don't look at them as just waiters, but the operators here are actually military and government people-"

She looked back: "Governments all have investments and shares in this port, this is a big cake, there are actually many ways to see here, I have to warn you." ”

She also introduced the history and many traditions of the airport to the two, as well as the precautions.

After all, this is not a tourist mecca in the ordinary sense, this port has gathered countless interests and eyes, and the peace on the surface cannot hide some of the things underneath. On weekdays, of course she wouldn't say it in such detail, but firstly, it was to express her gratitude, and secondly, it was also because of the inexplicable good feeling in her heart.

She always felt like she had seen the little girl in that place.

Tang Xin looked at her friend and listened with relish.

But then she couldn't help but ask: "Is it like before?" ”

Silk Capet was slightly stunned, he didn't expect the other party to be so sensitive, and nodded after thinking for a while.

Tang Xin asked again: "Why didn't you catch up at that time, Xingmen Port should be very strictly controlled, right?" If you really want to chase him, you may not be able to catch someone. ”

Hearing this, Scapet shook his head slightly: "It's useless to catch it." However, she did not intend to go further into this topic, because it had nothing to do with the two little girls in front of her. Of course, she knew which side the person was on, but it wasn't the first time.

She had dealings with Chinese embassy personnel, and Russia had granted her asylum to Quelod.

But in private, there are always people who don't give up.

Because of this, she and Quelod have also recently reduced their contact with Fang Ou.

The topic came into a dead end for a while, and the three-person room seemed a little silent. Scarpe took a sip of unpalatable coffee, but Tang Xin looked at the airport scene outside through the huge floor-to-ceiling window in the sightseeing hall.

She thought to herself that this place didn't seem to be as safe as it had been rumored.

Outside, the gravity-free zone of the harbor, where staff in hazmat suits go up and down, and several ships are moored in the harbor, shimmering in the sunlight with a dazzling white light. It's just that this direction is a cargo area, so you can't see the CX740 carrying them up.

She looked up at the dark starry sky in the distance and the blue arc of the earth, and the glowing atmosphere seemed to have only a shallow layer of glitter. Against the backdrop of Earth, there is also a massive composite frame at the far end of Stargate Harbor.

Judging from the scale of that framework alone, it is almost twice the size of Xingmen Port.

But when the sunlight shines over the back of the frame, it casts a huge shadow on the glass façade of the circular hall.

So even the girl on the side noticed this scene and couldn't help but ask vaguely, "What is that?" ”

"Zone C Plan."

Scapel replied, "A plan to build a new area of the Xingmen Port, and when the construction is completed, the Xingmen Port will be twice the size it is now. At that time, the number of Electees entering Stargate Harbor will increase even more, and this plan has been on the agenda since thirty years ago. ”

"It's huge."

"It's huge." Scapet looked at the shadow and nodded: "But it's almost finished, and after the new space elevator is completed, the construction here will be further accelerated, and it is expected to be officially completed in two years." ”

Tang Xin listened to the conversation between the two on the side, but she couldn't help but recall the scene she had seen on the earth.

Protests against the further expansion of the Xingmen Port project have grown louder on social media, and protesters have even taken to the streets in some parts of Europe.

But on the other hand, governments are still bent on expanding the size of Stargate.

However, she was a little surprised to hear that the glow mining areas of the asteroid belt were close to depletion, and now many of the Electors are still using the glow equipment that was mined and manufactured ten years ago, and the governments of various countries plan to further expand the size of the Electors?

Where does the glow come from?

She was thinking.

Suddenly, there was a commotion in the hall.

She couldn't help but look over there - since the circular hall was expanded and renovated from the old command center, this hall was actually quite large, and when she looked in that direction, she could only see some people gathered together.

But Scarpe held the two of them to the side.

"Leave it alone."

She replied, "It's just a guild conflict. ”

That being said, she couldn't help but glance in that direction and frowned.

In the crowd, she saw the people of the Star Gate Harbor Special Task Force.

……