Chapter 796: Finesse

Chapter 796: Finesse

After Starlight recovered the escape capsule, Starlight continued to orbit around Mars for a couple of days. It then began the return flight procedure and started to switch orbit.

Xu Zhenghong took out a key, inserted it into the console, then twisted it. A black item was released from Starlight’s cargo storage and began to fall toward the fiery red planet.

Liu Biao caught a glimpse of the black object. He looked out the porthole, but he couldn’t see anything.

“Did you see something outside the window just now?” he asked.

Xu Zhenghong stared at the speed diameter on the console. He reached out and pressed the main engine button.

“I didn’t see anything, you must be imagining stuff.”

Liu Biao was sure he saw something.

He was an ex-fighter jet pilot. He had the eyes of an eagle.

“Did they drop something?”

“No.” Xu Zhenghong casually changed the topic, “Once we finish accelerating, go say hi to them. Give them a quick rundown of Starlight’s components and place them in the guest cabin. Oh yeah, make sure to turn on your recorder and keep the black box safe.”

Liu Biao smiled and gave a thumbs-up gesture.

“Roger that.”

…

It took less than ten minutes between the escape capsule breaking through Mars’ atmosphere and it being recovered by Starlight. The camera installed on the outside of the Starlight cabin captured this beautiful moment.

This twenty-minute long video was transmitted back to Jinling ground command center. It was then sent to the CTV “Mars Rescue” editing room, marking the end of the documentary.

The documentary was finally complete.

The day after the Lunar Orbit Committee announced the successful rescue mission, CTV released the full version of the “Mars Rescue” documentary.

The total length of the documentary was 120 minutes. After some digital processing, the distress signal from Mars detected by the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope was restored. Everything from the White House’s call for help, to the Communist Party of China giving instructions, to Starlight beginning its rescue mission within 15 minutes of receiving the distress signal… They were all captured in the documentary.

A digital version of the documentary was released on major video and social media sites in China.

The comment section of the documentary exploded.

[Starlight is nutty! Professor Lu is nutty! (national flag)]

[Fifteen minutes response time!]

[I want the Moon Palace to be open to the public! I want a chance to go to the Moon!!]

[The Americans sent someone to Mars, but we had to rescue them, hmm… Does this count as a victory for us?]

[I think it does…]

[I noticed that the rescue mission costs were US$1.714 billion. The Americans only paid US$1 billion. Why did we have to spend US$714 million to save their people? Aren’t we competing in a space race right now? If I were the chief designer, I would definitely force the Americans to pay the full amount!]

[Well then, thank goodness you’re not the chief designer.]

[…]

The wave of comments flooded the website. The “Mars Rescue” was soon uploaded to YouTube.

Even though NASA’s inefficiency throughout the entire debacle angered many netizens, the White House calling for help at the right time still earned them a lot of brownie points.

The generous and responsible attitude shown by China during the rescue mission also added a touch of respect and prestige to the country’s image.

Even though there were competitions between the different nations on Earth, in space, everyone was from the same planet.

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Regardless of the unknown motives behind this mission, being able to rescue someone from tens of millions of kilometers away was something worth remembering in history.

Of course, the Lunar Orbit Committee was the one that deserved the most praise.

With a fifteen-minute response time, the efficiency and speed of execution shocked everyone around the world…

Three days after the press conference.

Lu Zhou was drinking tea with Director Li inside his Jinling Institute for Advanced Study office.

They happened to talk about the comments on the Internet when Lu Zhou spoke emotionally.

“Sometimes I think that if you don’t influence public opinion, someone else will. We have been too passive in this regard.”

The space race had been going on for more than 1 year and a half.

The Lunar Orbit Committee had been established for quite some time. They even sent a space station into lunar orbit. However, this was their first time receiving global praise.

Director Li nodded and spoke emotionally as well.

“Yeah, but that isn’t something we can change overnight.”

Lu Zhou nodded and didn’t say anything else.

Just like Director Li had said, some things couldn’t be changed overnight.

Whether it was constructing a tower or building up one’s public reputation, it all required time.

Director Li paused for a second. He then suddenly asked, “Oh yeah, speaking of which, did you get the BFS spacecraft black box?”

Lu Zhou nodded and said, “We did.”

Director Li went silent for a while and said, “I’m afraid this isn’t easy to deal with.”

They couldn’t conceal the truth.

There was no reason for the three Martian colonists to keep this a secret.

Even though they knew that this wouldn’t be a huge deal, it would still damage their reputation.

Lu Zhou smiled and said, “There’s nothing difficult. Just copy the data and give them the box back.”

Director Li suddenly replied, “Do an accident appraisal. Then send the accident appraisal report together with the black box.”

Lu Zhou didn’t know what Director Li meant at first, but he quickly caught on.

“You’re quite good at finessing.”

Director Li frowned and replied, “What is finessing?”

Lu Zhou coughed and said, “Nothing… It’s kind of like street smart.”

“Damn you millennial, speak normally.” Director Li smiled and stood up from the sofa. He said, “Okay, I won’t bother you anymore, I still have to go to a meeting at the launch site. Do you want to come as well?”

Lu Zhou finished his tea and stood up as well.

“I’ll send you out.”

“I knew you didn’t want to go.” Director Li smiled and said, “I’ll go by myself then.”

“Take it easy.”

After Director Li left the office, Lu Zhou took out his phone and looked at the time.

The black object he dropped on Mars should have landed by now…