The last part of the journey is always the hardest.

After more than a dozen hours of flying, the direct flight from Shangjing to the west coast of North America finally landed slowly on the runway of Los Angeles International Airport.

As early as a day ago, this international airport has been arranged in advance.

The road from the VIP entrance to the airport runway is covered with the flags of China and the United States.

Local state legislators, representatives of civic groups, and White House and NASA officials from Washington, D.C., stood in a black-pressed row next to the gangway, under the lens of media reporters, welcoming the astronauts returning from tens of millions of kilometers away.

"Welcome home, our warriors......" stepped forward with open arms to greet Johnson as he walked down the ramp, and the vice president hugged the weather-covered astronaut and said to him in a deep voice, "You've suffered for half a year." ”

"Thank you......" Letting go of the vice president, Johnson asked in a somewhat tired voice, "What about my wife?" ”

"She's here, and your kids."

With that, the vice president stepped aside half a step to the side.

The little guy with beautiful blonde hair on his head ran up on his calves and threw himself into Johnson's arms.

"Daddy!"

"Hey, my little one...... Did you miss your dad? Rubbing his little daughter's head, Johnson, who was half-squatting on the ground, finally stretched a smile on his tired face.

That angelic smile made him feel tired all over his body, and he was healed in an instant.

Looking at his wife, who was walking towards him with teary eyes, and his two sons, he stood up half-crouched on the ground and gave his sons and this great woman a hug.

Lying in her husband's arms, Julian muttered.

“…… You're finally back. ”

Burying his nose in his wife's hair, Johnson took a deep breath and said in a slightly trembling voice.

"Sorry to worry you......"

Not far away, the cameras in the hands of the reporters recorded this touching scene and moved it to the TV screen, touching more American families.

For Johnson, though, none of that matters.

The important thing is that the hardships along the way have not been in vain.

He's finally home......

After letting go of his wife, Johnson shook hands with everyone who came to greet him, and then hugged them.

Although Project Ares failed, no one would blame a hero who had challenged the forbidden zone of life.

Being able to return safely from tens of millions of kilometers away is a remarkable thing in itself.

Since he is the one who is saved.

Sitting in the stretch car waiting outside the VIP aisle, Johnson leaned back in his chair and relaxed, but as he waited for his wife and children, he saw that it was not his family who walked up next, but Director Carson and the vice president.

The doors closed and the car started slowly.

Raising his eyelids and glancing slightly at the vice president sitting across from him, Johnson asked.

"You're going to take me and my family back to Arizona by car?"

"Of course not, we'll put you in a hotel in Los Angeles first, and the flight home will be a week later." The Vice President smiled and clasped his hands together, then glanced at Director Carson, who was sitting next to him, "I'm sorry to disturb your reunion with your family, but our Mr. Carson...... He wants to talk to you about something. ”

"About the Moon Palace and the Xiaguang...... And everything you see," Carson added, squeezing a smile out of his face, "You know, there are some things that are inconvenient to talk about in the Chinese communication channel. ”

Johnson smiled and said, "Actually, there is no need...... I don't think the Chinese people will care, otherwise they won't let me come back, will they? ”

Director Carson and the Vice President exchanged glances, looked at Johnson and opened his mouth, asking tentatively.

"Maybe you need a break now? If so, we can talk about it tomorrow as well......"

"No," Johnson shook his head, "let's talk now, it won't take much time, and I don't want to waste a whole day tomorrow discussing this." ”

"OK, thank you for your cooperation," Director Carson clapped his hands and gave him an encouraging look, "then we'll ...... Let's start with the Glow. ”

Johnson nodded: "No problem, but I can only tell you what I saw...... And, I hope you don't get too surprised. ”

Closing his eyes and reminiscing for a moment, Johnson slowly spoke to the vice president and NASA administrator Carson, who was sitting across from him, about what he had seen and heard on the way from the orbit of Mars to the return to Earth.

"The Chinese ship is huge, with blue fire spewing behind two pairs of open wings...... Or maybe not fire, xenon plasma? Probably this. When we sat in the return capsule and looked out, we felt like a lifeboat sailing next to a giant ship. It didn't take much effort for them to recycle us and then provide us with fresh water and food...... Even the bathroom for cleaning personal hygiene. ”

"The cabin of the Xiaguang is probably a modified cargo hold, but the facilities on it are quite complete, and the most shocking thing is not this, but their attitude towards energy. The amount of energy on board the Glowing is almost limitless, at least no one reminds us how much electricity or water we can only use in a day. Aside from returning to the room at the allotted time, they did little to limit our freedom...... Compared to the harsh conditions on board the BFS spacecraft, being on board the Glowing is like a tour. ”

"The most surprising thing is not these, but the Moon Palace." When talking about the Moon Palace, Johnson's slightly tired pupils unconsciously showed a hint of shock, "That's like a fortress...... A fortress floating in the sky. The open solar panels and heat sinks are like farmland, and standing in front of it, any spacecraft is as small as a speck of dust floating in the universe......"

Compared with the Xiaguang, the shock that the Moon Palace brought to Johnson was obviously much greater.

For the remaining ten minutes, his narration was basically focused on the life of the Moon Palace.

Until he uttered the last word, neither of the two people sitting across from him could speak.

The atmosphere of silence lasted for a long time in the car.

Sitting next to the silent Director Carson, the vice president took a deep breath, stretched out his trembling fingers and took off his glasses, took out a cloth to wipe them, and whispered to himself.

"God...... Unbelievable. ”

If everything that the astronaut said was not exaggerated......

The aerospace technology of the Chinese people has reached an unimaginable level!

Hearing this, the corners of Johnson's mouth tugged slightly, and he said with a self-deprecating smile.

"It's unbelievable......"

Looking out of the car window boredly, looking at the scenery that flew by along the way, and the dome-shaped buildings standing not far from the country road, Johnson narrowed his eyes slightly and asked in a somewhat curious voice.

"What's that?"

The last time I was in Los Angeles was five years ago.

He didn't remember anything so odd on the road to the airport.

"That's what you say? That's our national ignition, California's 'artificial sun,'" the Vice President smiled, his tone regained a little refreshment, and he looked at Director Carson, who was sitting next to him silently, and said, "Alright, my man, there's no need to be so frustrated. Although the Ares program has suffered a setback, the federal government and the American name will not change their determination to space. ”

"California's Little Sun...... Is it? Johnson smiled, his tone tinged with pessimism, "Maybe by the time we're done, they've moved the fusion device to the moon." ”

Although he didn't say who they were, the context was pretty obvious.

After hearing this, the vice president, who was sitting opposite him, was slightly stunned and subconsciously retorted.

"It is impossible for them to conduct a nuclear test on the moon."

"Perhaps," Johnson replied casually, not interested in arguing the subject, "but if they do, who can stop them?" Is it our Director Carson, or is it Mr. President? Or the budget committee of Congress? ”

I'm afraid it doesn't matter which one it is......

I can't do it.