"Things are starting to go wrong."

At NASA headquarters, Nelson looked at the intelligence that had just been sent back from the Middle East with a serious face, and said to Musk in a solemn tone.

"The Lasrackela metal hydrogen plant is obviously not directly related to the Huaxia Lunar Exploration Project, but as soon as this incident came out, the two were bound together in public opinion."

"Now, almost all the mainstream media are playing up the fake news that the attack was aimed at the lunar exploration project, and even the European camp media are following suit."

"It's unusual. Metallic hydrogen fuel may be important in the Chang'e-3 project, but according to the technical brief released by Huaxia before, the Long March rocket used in Chang'e-3 is only a certain improvement on the original liquid hydrogen fuel, and in fact, the engine is not fundamentally upgraded. ”

"In other words, even if we don't consider the impact of the metal hydrogen plants that have been built inside Huaxia, even if they really can't get enough liquid metal hydrogen and directly return to liquid hydrogen fuel, it will not delay their launch plan."

"But they acted as if the project was about to be aborted."

Hearing his words, Musk spread his hands and replied:

"If it were me, I would probably be crazier than they were."

"The crying child has milk to eat, and it is I who suffers from the benefits, so why not take this opportunity to exaggerate the losses and earn greater benefits?"

"This is what a good businessman should do, and obviously, Huaxia is such an excellent businessman"

"Not to mention tying the metal hydrogen plant to the lunar exploration project, I will even tie it to the development of the whole country."

"In short, the bigger the trouble, the better"

"It's different."

Nelson interrupted Musk's "imagination", and then he picked up a public opinion report without a level of confidentiality and threw it in front of Musk.

"You can see for yourself that the impact of this incident on public opinion is far greater than all the events we have monitored before."

"The people are still irrational as always, but this irrationality has taken on a completely different form."

"Do you know what's the scariest part? The most terrifying thing is that almost more than half of the people asked Huaxia to deal with it 'personally'. ”

"You should understand the meaning of the word"

Musk nodded and replied:

"I understand, but so what?"

"The Middle East is so far away from us that it's not my traditional strategic destination, and even if an adversary does take full control of that area, I don't see how much of an impact it will have on me and our business."

"What's more, I can't do anything about it."

"If I couldn't do it, I wouldn't be sitting here today."

Nelson's attitude was unprecedentedly blunt, and it was only at this moment that he truly showed the prestige that a NASA administrator should have in front of ordinary businessmen.

"We can't do anything superfluous until we get to the bottom of it."

"Other departments are already doing their best, but it's clear that they're still too slow."

"So, we have to come up with a way to slow down the fermentation of public opinion."

"And this method has to come from SpaceX."

Musk looked at Nelson in surprise, he could fully understand what the other party meant.

At present, the direction of the fermentation of public opinion in China lies in the fact that "the lunar exploration program is blocked, and some countries benefit from fishermen", and there is only one way to prevent such "public opinion" from continuing to expand:

Speak first and get rid of suspicion.

"So you want SpaceX to work with the Chang'e program?"

"Of course not!"

Nelson hurriedly denied it.

"Haven't you learned enough lessons from working together on LTV technology? I don't want that to happen again."

"I mean, the Falcon-9 rocket is going to be recovered and reassembled soon, maybe, we can throw an olive branch to them-—— all they lack is rockets, and we happen to have rockets, don't we?"

"With our rockets, transport their probes?"

Musk asked, dumbfounded.

In fact, his surprise was not unusual.

While there have been many cases in history of borrowing or even leasing rockets from other countries for the launch of satellites and other spacecraft, those cases have either been purely commercial or have occurred between two alliance countries.

Does Huaxia need to exchange money for technology?

Apparently not.

Is the two sides an alliance?

Apparently not.

Then, such a proposal is particularly ridiculous.

Before Nelson could reply, he continued:

"It's all whimsical, there's no way they're going to accept such a proposal."

In fact, such behavior is called 'cramming' in their language, or in other words, when disaster strikes. Do you think they'll be stupid to this extent? ”

"We don't really need to transport it for them."

Nelson shook his head and replied:

"It's just a statement-—— or a security statement."

"What kind of security statement is this? Putting their highly classified detector to us for transport and letting them take the risk of leaking the secret, is this also called a security statement? ”

"No, we handed over the Falcon-9 to them - my plan was to claim that the Falcon-9 rocket could carry out the next launch in the waters controlled by China."

Is it really worth it?"

Musk's words fell, and even Nelson couldn't help but be stunned.

Yes, is it worth it?

Just for the sake of a "risk" whose final impact has not yet been determined, to this extent?

——

But he really couldn't take the risk.

Or rather, Congress really can't afford to take the risk.

What is the significance of the metallic hydrogen project and the lunar exploration project?

Regardless of their significance to China's own development, they also share a common characteristic.

That is, they are all landmark projects after the establishment of the Commonwealth of Arab States.

In both cases, the countries of the Commonwealth have invested huge amounts of money and resources.

To start with these two projects is to go against Huaxia's Middle East strategy.

If this incident is really a third-party organization that is stirring up relations between the two sides, as speculated by the intelligence services, in an attempt to upset the balance that has been maintained with great difficulty, then they must have more follow-up actions.

And the only thing you can do is to completely dissociate yourself from the relationship before those actions land.

Thinking of this, Nelson spoke:

"Whether it's worth it or not, we have to try."

"At the very least, give us our attitude."

Hearing his words, Musk also realized that there was no longer room for discussion in this matter.

He could only secretly pray in his heart, hoping that Huaxia would be more cautious.

After all, he didn't want to risk letting the Huaxia people use the Falcon-9, although it was only a launch, but who knows what they could get?

"Okay. But I still hope that this is just a compromise of public opinion."

Middle East, in a mountainous area.

Ahonchard scrambled to pack his belongings in the camp, his passport already in his pocket.

With this "special pass" issued by the United States, he can cross the border to Turkmenistan within two hours, and then take a plane from there to leave this land full of yellow sand and violence and fly to another homeland in his mind.

At this time, his heart was extremely calm, and he didn't even have a trace of guilt for "betrayal".

Yes, he did believe in Allah and in Allah, who gave him guidance and comfort.

However, he can no longer serve Allah.

Because, within a few hours, just after the white man with whom he had been talking had left, he had suddenly figured out something.

That is, everything that seems incomprehensible must have a reason behind it, or in other words, it must be manipulated by some kind of interest.

Not to mention it from afar, let's just say that the organization they believe in, the various wars and attacks they have launched, are they really simply for the so-called noble belief and the so-called revenge?

Of course not.

After all, isn't the purpose of the organization to establish a so-called "kingdom of heaven on earth"?

And as long as it comes to "politics", it must not be pure.

Even if you take 10,000 steps back, satisfying your own faith needs is essentially a non-worldly benefit.

So, the attack on the Ras Larackeira pipeline is strange, but it makes sense to speculate in the most malicious way of thinking to which he is accustomed.

What does China want in the Middle East?

Don't you just want a stable, obedient, and secure alliance?

So, what resistance is there in their way?

Those who oppose them are part of the resistance, especially the Turk-eared chicken, which is clearly opposed to the Commonwealth of Arab States.

But the problem is that Huaxia wants to eliminate such resistance, but it must not act as unscrupulously as its own.

They need a perfect reason, a motivation that is unassailable in both international legitimacy and universal values.

Thinking of this, Ahunchard let out a long sigh.

He silently apologized to Allah in his heart and found an absolutely irrefutable reason for his "betrayal".

Faith really can't stop the DF-21.

Packing his last luggage, he looked out of the house warily.

His location was only a small camp, where only 12 militants had gathered, and because it was far from the "front" conflict zone, everyone was relaxed and no vigil posts were arranged.

This brought a lot of convenience to his plan, mainly because he managed to leave the camp and burrow into the mountains to the north, and no one would ever find him again.

When the plane flies to Morocco, I will start a new life with a new identity.

Hope is at hand.

Ahunchad strapped his backpack and checked his passport once more in his pocket.

Then, cautiously, he pushed open the door and poked his head out, glancing at several nearby rooms.

The light of the campfire loomed, but there was no sign of activity.

He held his breath and took the first step of his escape.

The slight grinding sound of the sand under his feet was a little harsh in the silence of the camp, but fortunately no one was awakened by the sound, and after two minutes of movement, he was already on the outskirts of the camp.

The camp behind him remained silent, and his mood gradually relaxed.

His pace quickened again, and he rounded the last low wall, and he was already standing in the wilderness.

The moon was low, and his path was clear, and he could scarcely resist running.

——

However, at this moment, his movements suddenly stopped.

Even the whole person was directly frozen in place.

Opposite him, a figure appeared.

And this person, he is extremely familiar.

The "leader" of the camp, Haqqani.

The other party had apparently discovered him, but at the first time, he did not react, nor did he realize that Ahonchard appeared here to "escape".

He just asked, confused:

"Ahonchard, where are you going?"

"Why don't you bring a light? It's too dark in here, you're going to get hurt. ”

Ahonchard's mind went blank, and great fear welled up in his heart, and he was silent for a few seconds before he answered:

"I'm just trying to distract myself — you know, it's been a bad situation lately."

"yes, it's not good."

Haqqani, on the other side, sighed and continued:

"The matter of Laslaqueira is like a joke, and it is said that Omar has come forward to deny our responsibility, but no one believes it at all."

"Why don't they understand? We don't care about what happens there at all. ”

"At AFghan, we have already made a lot of progress in our operation, and we are even one step away from success, how can we go and make trouble for ourselves?"

"Maybe they don't know us."

"Yes, they will never understand our faith."

Ahunchard replied in agreement, and at the same time, he was slowly approaching Haqqani on the other side.

The other party still did not notice the backpack he was carrying-—— perhaps his long-term guerrilla life had damaged his eyesight, or perhaps malnutrition had caused him severe night blindness, but either way, it was Ahonchard's chance.

"However, the pain will eventually pass, and it will only be a short-lived twist and turn."

Ahonchard continued to distract Haqqani, who spread his hands and said reverently:

"May Allah bless us."

"May Allah bless you."

Ahonchard whispered.

Then, his right hand was quickly withdrawn from his waist.

In the next second, a sharp dagger pierced Haqqani's throat.

Haqqani pushed Ahonchard away in disbelief, a "gurgling" sound coming out of his throat, but beyond that, he couldn't make any sound.

Ahunchad took two steps back and looked at Haqqani, who was struggling on the ground with pity.

"Go to Heaven."

"Our end is near, at least, you won't have pain."

(End of chapter)