Scholar’s Advanced Technological System

Ion thruster propulsion system?

Want me to learn about it?

Director Carson paused for two seconds after hearing Lu Zhou.

Then he spoke without hesitation.

“No, thanks!

“Everything at New Virginia is normal. Our life support system can guarantee that the colonists will survive the crisis.”

There’s no way I’m letting the Chinese save us!

Imagine how embarrassing it would be if they rescued our colonists?

Also, the BFS spacecraft had all of the most advanced technologies from various aerospace companies. The research and development expenses were in the tens of billions of USD, not to mention the expensive life support system on Mars…

He couldn’t trust the Chinese with his technology!

Looking at how resistant Director Carson was, Lu Zhou couldn’t help but chuckle.

He spoke.

“Oh, really? The three astronauts in New Virginia don’t think so.”

Director Carson frowned and said, “What do you mean?”

Lu Zhou cleared his throat and said, “We’re very concerned about the colonists in New Virginia, so we looked at the electromagnetic signals from Mars.”

Suddenly, Director Carson broke out in cold sweat. He wasn’t happy.

“You listened to our communications?”

“Don’t get so riled up, you guys do that all the time, right?” Lu Zhou smiled and said, “Also, we happened to detect the signals during our normal astronomical observation activities.”

“But our communications are encrypted—”

Before Director Carson could finish speaking, Lu Zhou interrupted him, “SOS.”

“!”

Director Carson was dumbfounded.

In the beginning, he thought Lu Zhou was bluffing, but that was clearly not the case anymore.

Director Carson stubbornly replied, “We don’t need your help…”

“No, you do,” Lu Zhou said to Director Carson seriously. “This is three lives we are talking about. Think about it carefully before you answer my question.”

Lu Zhou reached out and tapped on the keyboard, thus ending the call.

Director Carson went silent for a while. He pinched his eyebrows and felt a terrible headache.

Three f*cking lives…

Who cares about three lives?

However, he couldn’t refute Lu Zhou’s words.

If China decided to publish those communication messages…

It would be a disastrous blow to the credibility of the authorities.

Maybe the American public could ignore the death of the astronauts, but the White House couldn’t ignore it, nor could he. Anyone who was personally involved in the Ares program would be impacted by the deaths of the astronauts.

Ten minutes ago, he was thinking about covering up the deaths with an accident or natural disaster, but he didn’t have that option anymore…

If he didn’t try his best to save the astronauts, he could be painted as a murderer!

The secretary looked at Director Carson and gulped.

“Sir? Are you… okay?”

“I’m doing great.” Director Carson looked at the command center and paused for a second. He then looked at the secretary and spoke.

“Get the car ready… I’m going to the White House.”

This was a decision that had to be made by the president.

The secretary paused for a second.

“Now?”

“Right now!”

…

Jinling Institute for Advanced Study.

After the video call, Lu Zhou sighed in relief and leaned back on his office chair.

He wasn’t particularly good at negotiating, but he knew that he accurately conveyed his intentions to Director Carson. If there was no official response from the United States, he would disclose the communication messages.

If the United States still didn’t give an official response, the Lunar Orbit Committee would announce a humanitarian relief to save the New Virginia colonists.

After all, it wasn’t like the United States could prevent other people from saving the colonists.

As for why China wanted to bring the colonists back alive?

Saving lives wasn’t the main reason. Participating in the rescue mission would be a huge boost to the international prestige and reputation of China, even if the rescue mission were to fail.

Lu Zhou was also curious about the technology used in the life support system and the BFR spacecraft floating in Mars orbit. Sending a researcher there would be very helpful.

His computer signal light flickered, and a string of bubbles popped up on his computer screen.

Xiao Ai: [Sir, someone tried to send a Trojan to your computer.]

Trojan?

Is it from an intelligence agency, maybe the CIA?

Lu Zhou wasn’t surprised. After all, Carson was a high-level official. Not to mention Lu Zhou used his personal computer to video call Carson.

Lu Zhou: “Is it a problem?”

[Not a big problem! (≧∇≦)]

Lu Zhou nodded and said, “Help me get rid of it then, and if you can, maybe teach them a lesson. This is a bit ridiculous.”

Xiao Ai: [Okay, Xiao Ai will take care of it!]

The text bubbles disappeared.

The fans on the laptop spun for a while and gradually stopped.

Lu Zhou thought that the Trojan was probably removed. He took out his phone and called Hou Guang.

The phone quickly connected.

Lu Zhou began to send out orders.

“Tell the ground command center to calculate the launch trajectory. Within 12 hours, I need the fastest trajectory to Mars for an ion thruster propulsion system!”

“In addition, assign the rescue mission to Starlight. Tell them to prepare for the rescue mission. And tell them to refuel their resources on the Moon Palace space station, then stand by in lunar orbit.”

Moon Palace had a special cargo bay that stored spare fusion batteries and the propulsion working medium. This space station was originally intended to be a “lunar docking port”, therefore it had plenty of working medium supplies.

After hearing Lu Zhou’s orders, Hou Guang immediately asked, “The United States replied to us?”

“I’m not waiting for their reply.” Lu Zhou shook his head and said, “By the time they reply, it will be too late.”