Chapter 809 Our names will be engraved on this immortal monument
Looking at his old friend walking down from the open hatch, Chu Guang also extended his right hand with a smile on his face.
"Nice to meet you! Mr. Li, it's been a long time!"
The person standing in front of him at this moment was Li Changkong, the manager of the Construction Department of Ideal Group.
As one of the representatives sent to Shuguang City by the Enterprise Assistance Alliance, Chu Guang had not seen him for some time since the war in Luoxia Province ended.
For a long time, foreign affairs exchanges between the Council and the Alliance have been handled by staff from the General Management Department and Yi Chuan from the Overseas Business Department.
When Li Changkong visited the southern sea this time, he did not represent the corporate council, but the Ideal Group, the oldest "infrastructure king" among the five major corporate groups.
The infrastructure of Ideal City back then was built by Ideal Group. As for the transition to property management and operation and maintenance, that was all a matter after the completion of Ideal City.
As for the purpose of Li Changkong's visit, it is naturally to conduct an on-site inspection of the "orbitless space elevator" project proposed by the alliance at the Adhesion Community meeting.
Maintaining the operations of Ideal City requires a large amount of energy, and this work falls within the business scope of Ideal Group.
If a stable channel from the surface to outer space can be reopened, or even the Earth-to-Moon flights that have been suspended for two centuries can be restored, it will undoubtedly be able to fundamentally solve the hidden danger of energy depletion that Ideal City may face in the future.
It is precisely for this reason that the Ideal Group has shown extraordinary interest since the alliance proposed this plan.
When he heard that the alliance had joined hands with the South China Sea Alliance to start site selection work in the southern waters, the chairman of the Ideal Group immediately sent an application for an on-site inspection to the southern waters to Shu Yu, the alliance's ambassador to Ideal City.
Seeing that the wealthy people in Ideal City were so interested in his plan, Chu Guang was naturally delighted to hear it, and immediately asked Shuyu to approve their application, and even went to greet him personally on the Conch dive mother.
Standing on the solid steel deck, Li Changkong looked around, his astonished eyes half filled with shock and half filled with appreciation.
incredible.
That settlement that was once a dilapidated place with nothing but hope has now completed such an incredible project!
Although Ideal City is located on the coastline and is also developing resources in the ocean, it is not outstanding in shipbuilding technology, at least not as outstanding as their aviation equipment.
It is actually not difficult to understand that such a situation would occur.
After all, in the era of prosperity, the center of development of the People's Federation has been constantly shifting to outer space, and surface logistics and manufacturing are also moving more or less towards the four major industrial zones near the space elevator.
Under this general trend, the market share of rail transportation and air transportation has experienced high growth, while maritime transportation has actually shown a stagnant or even shrinking trend.
Coupled with the restrictive development strategy of marine resources adopted by the People's Federation to protect the marine ecological environment, in more than a century of the Prosperous Era, the navigation technology of human civilization has not actually made any significant progress, and the ecology of the entire industry has basically
It remains as it was in the early Prosperity Era.
Even if some ships have made progress in materials and power sources, most of them have been driven forward passively by other high-growth industries.
Ideal City has inherited the attributes of the People's League Era to a large extent. Although it is not a pedantic continuation of the environmental protection policies of the People's League Era, the investment in marine equipment is far lower than in other fields.
At least among the five major groups, none regards offshore engineering and navigation equipment manufacturing as its main business.
It was precisely because of this that Li Changkong was so shocked.
Although in Chu Guang's view, the strategic significance of the "Overlord" transport aircraft is greater than that of the "Conch" submarine, in Li Changkong's eyes it is completely the opposite.
This thing is much more amazing than the Alliance's aircraft!
"It's really surprising...the mobile airport that can dive, was this designed by you?"
Seeing Li Changkong making such a fuss, Chu Guang laughed and said.
"Don't take it seriously. To be precise, it is a work jointly completed by us and the people of the South China Sea Alliance."
It's really touching to think about it.
Once upon a time, he had the same fussy expression when he saw the Enterprise's Pioneer.
Now the two sides have exchanged positions, and it is the alliance's manufacturing industry that has opened the eyes of the company.
"It's incredible..."
Looking at the flat deck under his feet and then at the tall bridge, Li Changkong still had an expression that couldn't calm down. He looked at Chu Guang in confusion and asked.
"Our ship will grow barnacles and oysters after being at sea for several months. How do you prevent those things from climbing onto the deck?"
This is not a secret worth hiding in the first place, Chu Guang said in a casual tone.
"Psychic interference devices can not only be used to drive away alien species, but are also effective against some more difficult shellfish creatures."
Li Changkong had a surprised expression on his face.
"I see."
Although he is not a professional, this new approach does have something to it.
"What's even more incredible is yet to come," Chu Guangdan smiled and continued, "Come with me, I'll take you to the cabin to have a look."
With that said, he walked in front, and together with the guards beside him, he led Li Changkong and his party towards the bridge.
The entrance to the cabin was just below the bridge. The group of people stood on the elevator, and with a slight movement, they quickly descended into the interior of the submarine.
I saw more than twenty Alliance carrier-based aircraft parked in a column in that wide space.
Among them are vertical take-off and landing transport aircraft like the Viper, fixed-wing aircraft such as the Lightning and Thunder, and even the Ornithopter ornithopter imported from Ideal City.
The guide rail of the electromagnetic ejection is directly connected to the upwardly tilted door at the front end, and a straight trunk rail is connected to multiple branch rails connected to the fixed-wing carrier-based aircraft.
Once a battle breaks out, the Conch submarine carrier can immediately launch all the aviation equipment stored in the cabin into the air after surfacing, form an air attack formation in a very short time, and use the outer deck runway to provide land-based aviation
The team provides a springboard for transit.
In addition to the aviation equipment, the ammunition reserves inside the submarine carrier are equally impressive.
I saw that the missile rack next to the guide rail was filled with missiles of different models.
Judging from the quantity alone, the current ammunition reserve of this submarine carrier is more than enough to meet the consumption of three battles!
And not only that, in the spacious mezzanine of the dome, there are folded "King Crab" amphibious engineering armors waiting for them.
When not in use, they sit quietly on the charging pile and hang up.
Once a deployment order is issued, they can immediately be hoisted and placed on the inner deck through a robotic arm fixed on the guide rail, and can go out for combat through a special buffer channel.
From the moment he entered the cabin, Li Changkong was shocked.
This is simply a mobile maritime fortress!
And it’s the kind that can dive at any time!
However, what Chu Guang wanted to show him was not the abundance of martial virtue in the alliance, but something else, so he pulled him reluctantly and walked straight to the observation cabin located at the front of the submarine.
On the way to the observation cabin, Li Changkong seemed to finally remember why he came here, looked at Chu Guang who was walking aside and asked.
"Speaking of which, how is your site selection work going? Is it going well?"
Chu Guang said with a smile.
"The site selection was done last week, and now it has entered the experimental demonstration stage."
Li Changkong looked at him with surprise and said in surprise.
"The site selection has been completed? So quickly?"
He originally thought that the alliance would wait until the discussions at the General Conference of the Sticky Community came to fruition, and at least attract some investment before starting the next phase of work, but he did not expect that the project had already advanced to the stage of experimental demonstration.
No one else has this efficiency!
Not surprisingly, Li Changkong was surprised. Chu Guang stopped at the door of the observation cabin, glanced out the wide panoramic window and continued.
"We believe that there is no precedent for such an unprecedented thing like a trackless elevator, and no results can be reached through discussion. We can only know if it is feasible by trying it."
Regardless of whether it can ultimately obtain the support of the Sticky Community, the alliance will advance the project as planned.
Not only because of the threat from "celestial beings", but also because of the future of human civilization.
Simply inheriting the Alliance's legacy is not enough to get out of the wasteland.
In order to truly end the Wasteland Era and allow the fire of civilization to continue burning, the Alliance must face various problems left over from the United Nations era.
Rebuilding the space elevator is just one part of his plan, and there's never been a better time to do it than now.
Of course, although he will continue to do it regardless of whether anyone supports it, it would be good if he can get some "investment".
After all, for this kind of century-old project, whether from a political perspective or a brainstorming perspective, the more power can be concentrated, the higher the probability of final success.
Putting away his surprise, Li Changkong calmed down, looked at Chu Guang and continued to ask.
"I agree with your point of view. But... from a practical point of view, how do you plan to solve the problem of garbage floating in orbit? That is an astronomical level of debris, which cannot solve this problem. Let alone a space elevator, just want to launch
It’s always a problem for spacecraft to go up there.”
It is not that companies have never tried to launch spacecraft into outer space, but basically they became part of the garbage after crossing low-Earth orbit.
Just take out the trash.
There are also ultra-long standby automated defense equipment cruising on the track, which can identify external intruders.
Although the enterprise has cracked a few of these orbital weapons, it is still a drop in the ocean compared to the astronomical level of debris.
Compared with whether the idea of "trackless elevators" can be realized, he is more concerned about this more practical issue.
Not surprised by Li Changkong's question, Chu Guang responded fluently.
"We have already considered the issue you mentioned, and we are considering using 'gravity wells' to remove debris from orbit."
"Gravity well?" Li Changkong frowned slightly, with a confused expression on his face.
Chu Guang continued.
"The gravity well I'm talking about is not a natural gravity well, but an artificial gravity well. Simply put, it uses graviton manipulation technology to interfere with the earth's own gravitational field and create a downward depression in a specific area.
The well-shaped graviton channel guides the orbital garbage that moves to this area to actively fall to our designated area."
Li Changkong stared at Chu Guang in confusion for a long time before he spoke.
"Can such a thing be done?"
He was simply unheard of!
Chu Guang smiled sheepishly and said.
"We are actually in the idea stage, just like the 'trackless elevator'. As for the specific implementation, it may still be quite difficult. After all, the graviton-related technology we have is too limited. The only 'prototype machine'
It was captured from the legion."
Graviton-related technology is a relatively cutting-edge technology even in the prosperous era, but its application scenarios are not many.
For example, the most classic FTL engine, hyperspace channels between massive celestial bodies, as well as anti-gravity technology and even deflector shield technology, etc., are actually all achieved through the manipulation of gravitons.
Although the alliance's current manufacturing level has risen to a new level with the help of the manufacturing center on the B7 floor, it has only reached the level where it can produce deflector shields. If you want to reproduce the one on the Heart of Steel,
"Frigate core" is still quite difficult, let alone interfering with the gravitational field of large celestial bodies, a black technology comparable to "forbidden spell-level magic".
To be honest, when the experts from the scientific expedition team proposed this idea to him, he couldn't help but wonder if the expert's head was broken.
Before that, Chu Guang was actually more inclined to the ideas on the forum——
That is, launch N rockets into low-Earth orbit, throw some large nets into the sky, just like flying kites, and net as many as you can. Every once in a while, shoot another rocket up to retrieve things, that's all.
Carry the garbage to the ground bit by bit.
Although the method given by the experts of the scientific expedition team sounds more convenient than the foolish old man's method of moving mountains, the theoretical part is too difficult for him to understand.
However, after hesitation, Chu Guang finally did not make the mistake of a layman commanding an expert, and left the demonstration to the experts of the scientific expedition team.
At present, the preliminary opinion given by Yin Fang is that "the technology is feasible to implement, but the difficulty of implementation may not be small." However, it has not directly rejected this possibility.
Li Changkong was obviously stunned by this wild idea. He was silent for a long time before he smiled awkwardly and said.
"This... is really beyond the scope of my knowledge. I'm afraid I have to go back and ask the professors at Yunjian University. But I really didn't expect that you have even considered such a special method. It seems that Mr. Chu Guang is really optimistic about the outside world."
Prospects for layer space development.”
Chu Guangdan smiled and said.
"Of course, I believe I don't need to tell you the meaning behind it."
Li Changkong sighed and said.
"That's what we say, but our board of directors is actually more focused on the interests at hand."
Chu Guang continued in a gentle tone.
"There is nothing wrong with focusing on the interests at hand. Only by walking the path well can you go further. But in my opinion, you have actually developed the land under your feet very well. In this case, why not expand your ambitions a little bit?
?You obviously have this ability, why bother to stick to a small ideal city."
Hearing these words, Li Changkong's eyebrows couldn't help but twitch.
"Is the ideal city still small?"
He felt that this guy was somewhat aloof.
Although he admitted that Shuguang City has developed well, it would be too arrogant to compare it with Ideal City.
However, Mr. Chu didn't give him any face and continued speaking unceremoniously.
"Small, and not just you, including our alliance, and even the legions that span half of the continent, are just a drop in the bucket compared to the territory of the People's Alliance era. In fact, let me tell you, you can definitely make the business bigger.
For example...how about opening a branch of Ideal City five light years away?"
Li Changkong was stunned, but he forgot about his previous unhappiness.
"...Five light years away?"
"That's right."
Chu Guang nodded and continued in a gentle tone.
"Further than Nanmen 2...don't you have the coordinates of the new world on the core of your colony ship? After we finish dealing with the troubles on the planet below us, sooner or later we will have to continue the unfinished business before."
Li Changkong said with a smile.
"That kind of thing is too far away."
Chu Guang shook his head and said.
"Actually, it's not that far away. We can start preparing for that day now. I think that the reason why your parents turned around and came back was not to let their descendants be trapped forever on this planet that has lost hope.
, they probably believed that new hope could be born here and that you could start again, so they turned back without hesitation."
In fact, it was inappropriate for him to say this. After all, those people were the ancestors of Ideal City, not his.
But Chu Guang didn't know why, when he told the stories of those people, although he felt admiration in his heart, he didn't have the slightest sense of awe. He even easily entered their perspective and stood on their side.
Think in perspective.
This is actually somewhat self-righteous.
However, he said these words naturally.
Maybe because I am an outsider.
When he mentioned that period of history, he seemed to be telling a common story, just like describing the plot of a game.
Li Changkong looked at him blankly, and after a while he smiled and said.
"……maybe."
The residents of Ideal City actually do not shy away from others mentioning and commenting on their ancestors. They are not as sensitive as the Legion.
But with that indifferent expression, it was obvious that he didn't take the cake Chu Guang drew to heart.
However, what Li Changkong didn't know was that the speech that didn't cause any waves in his heart had inadvertently planted a seed in his heart.
The construction machinery of Ideal Group has indeed been parked in the warehouse for so long that the equipment is almost rusting.
The ideal group once created incredible miracles in the wasteland, but now they can only make some repairs based on the work of their predecessors.
Although he was just a manager of the construction department, he had indeed longed for the great achievements accomplished by his predecessors two centuries ago.
Chu Guang said something that touched his heart.
The reason why the Zhiyuan colony ship turned around in the first place was definitely not to keep his descendants trapped and moldy on this planet.
They must have believed that their descendants would be able to pick up their unfinished mission one day in the future, so they chose to turn back without hesitation and save those people who still had hope to save.
If you think about it...
That big cake hanging five light years away actually smells pretty good.
"I'm very interested in your proposal, but...can you let me see something practical?" Following Chu Guang's line of sight and looking out the panoramic window, Li Changkong looked at the endless sea level and continued,
"The surprise you mentioned to me on the phone...is it just the Conch?"
Before coming here, he had a phone conversation with Chu Guang, and Chu Guang promised him on the phone that he would give him a surprise when he received him.
He was looking forward to it at the time, especially now that he learned that the alliance had advanced the project to the experimental demonstration stage.
However, standing in this observation cabin, he saw nothing.
Although this Conch is quite amazing from an engineering point of view, after all, he did not come here specifically to learn about the alliance's maritime power.
Maybe the council would be interested, but after all, it has nothing to do with the purpose of his trip.
"Of course not. As for the surprise I mentioned, you will find out later." Chu Guang smiled mysteriously, then looked at the captain who was following him closely, and ordered, "Get ready to dive!"
After receiving Chu Guang's order, the captain immediately stood up straight and gave a neat military salute.
"yes!"
The captain who took the order took off the walkie-talkie hanging on his shoulder and gave the order sonorously and forcefully.
"The whole ship dives!"
At the same time as the order was issued, the majestic steel body pushed away waves and slowly sank into the sea level.
Looking at the panoramic window sinking into the sea, Li Changkong suddenly remembered that his plane was still on the tarmac, and quickly looked to Chu Guang aside and said.
"My plane—"
"Don't worry." Knowing what he was worried about, Chu Guang gave him a reassuring look, "We have helped you take the plane in."
The apron itself is an elevator. When they stood on the elevator just now, the transport plane that looked like a "Viper" sank into the cabin with them.
After hearing these words, Li Changkong finally calmed down and looked out the panoramic window.
At this moment, the picture that came into view made him freeze on the spot.
I saw in the blue depths, flashing arcs of light like "elves" dancing under the sea.
A majestic alloy giant structure is surrounded by countless flashing "elves" in the center, and the metal structures extending outward gather and take shape little by little as the light flashes.
Li Changkong's eyes widened in surprise. He was about to ask Chu Guang, who was standing next to him, what this was, but the latter seemed to see the surprise in his eyes and waved to the captain beside him.
The captain understood immediately and ordered his men to turn on the searchlight on the front of the submarine.
As the milky white light lit up, the entire pitch-black space was illuminated. Only then did Li Changkong see clearly what the flickering elf was.
I saw manta-shaped mechanical bodies flapping their huge pectoral fins, surrounding a construction site under construction.
The flashing light is the low-temperature arc emitted from the welding equipment above their heads.
Under the flash of the arc, metal pipes and plates were quickly welded to the pre-assembled metal frame.
And around the metal skeleton, there are many crab-shaped mechanical bodies that are busy, replacing the "manta rays" to complete some more detailed work.
"...The guy who looks like a manta ray is called an electric ray. It is an underwater automatic welding unmanned boat that we developed not long ago. I have forgotten which company's product it is. Those crabs are based on the 'squid' type
You are engineers, so you should have heard of the 'Engineered Armor Improved Crab'."
Li Changkong nodded blankly, and after a moment he sighed sincerely.
"sharp."
Although the company does not lack innovation, the alliance's terrifying innovation speed really opened his eyes.
This development speed is simply too fast!
Even snowballing cannot describe this speed!
Although some of this is due to the enterprise, everything here at this moment obviously has nothing to do with the enterprise, and was completely created by the alliance's shelter residents and wastelanders.
He was not only disbelieving, but also filled with admiration from the bottom of his heart.
These people are truly amazing.
In the past two centuries, everything the ideal city has done is just a repetition of the prosperous era without taking a step forward on this basis.
However, a survivor alliance that was only born a few years ago has the courage to challenge a peak that they have never imagined - building a new Tower of Babel that has never been built in the era of prosperity!
No wonder the council favors them!
With these people holding torches walking in front, even the lazy residents of Ideal City can't help but take steps forward.
Including myself——
That’s why I’m standing here!
Looking at the man in front of him, Li Changkong suddenly saw an unimagined possibility in him.
If it were him, there might really be hope to end this wasteland!
"...Before I came here, I actually had some doubts in my mind, including but not limited to whether it was too early to rebuild the space elevator at this point in time."
After a pause, Li Changkong looked at Chu Guang and continued in a serious tone.
"But after seeing what I saw before me, I just feel ashamed for my previous doubts."
"It is an insult to use the return on assets to calculate the value of this project. This is a project that can usher in a new era!"
"As you said, if we can really rebuild the bridge between the earth's surface and space, we may not be able to regain the entire territory of the United Nations era one day."
"This magnificent monument should have the names of the citizens of Ideal City. Please use our strength too!"
Kang's impassioned speech made Chu Guang so embarrassed that he almost couldn't help but blush.
However, he is now considered a veteran, and has long developed a face like a city wall.
Staring into those sincere eyes, Chu Guang solemnly took Li Changkong's right hand and shook it heavily.
"On behalf of all the survivors who have united and are uniting, I want to say thank you!"
"Thank you for joining us!"
"I promise you, our names will be engraved on this immortal monument!"