Chapter 142: Shooting Down Our Own Satellite

Du Qiu reminded, “Ten million in cash is not a small amount. You can check which bank in Magic City withdrew such a sum of cash around the time Sun Hongming received the money.”

“Um, I will check, but I can’t guarantee that this cash was definitely withdrawn from a bank in Magic City. The difficulty of the search increases if we broaden the scope.”

“No problem, I will help you.”

“By the way, where exactly do you plan to go?”

Instead of answering, Du Qiu asked another question, “Shuangshuang, has anyone recently asked you about the specifics of your contact with me?”

Du Qiu remembered that Ning Shuangshuang once said that ever since it became known that she could contact Ning Shuangshuang, certain parties have been treating Ning Shuangshuang as a liaison to him.

After Du Qiu realized that he had indeed been framed for a crime, he gained a new understanding of his domestic enemies.

This force was probably much more difficult to deal with than Fu Guochen and Huang Zifeng—at least it was very well hidden, and had not yet shown its true colors. Du Qiu could trust Ning Shuangshuang, but after all, Ning Shuangshuang was part of the security department, and there were certain disciplines to be followed; he couldn’t implicate Ning Shuangshuang in an unjust situation.

One could say that after being double-crossed by both domestic and foreign forces, Du Qiu gained certain insight into the terrifying nature of people’s hearts.

In this world, people of all kinds have their own positions and interests. The things they do are not necessarily intended to harm you, but at certain moments, they can become the sharpest knife that cuts at you.

For example, Kim Zhenan, Sun Hongming…

“What’s wrong, do you suspect something?” A shadow passed through Ning Shuangshuang’s heart.

She could feel Du Qiu’s guardedness and understood why he had changed.

For instance, she knew that this software actually supported video calls, but Du Qiu had never video-called her.

“I don’t suspect you, I suspect that the black hand might find some way to inquire about my whereabouts from you.”

“I understand. From now on, I won’t ask where you are, but…”

Ning Shuangshuang paused before continuing, “But I hope you can keep in touch with me. I need to know that you are safe.”

“Um, I will keep you informed.”

“Du Qiu, remember, I will wait for you to come back!” Ning Shuangshuang’s voice was still clear and persistent.

“Alright, wait for me to come back!”

++++++++

While Du Qiu was strolling on Fifth Avenue, over at the NASA Command Center in Hughes City, USA:

“The Star Capture operation begins, all units be alert.”

In the hall, everyone was closely watching the screen.

On the screen, a star capturer released from the International Space Station was approaching six out-of-control satellites orbiting above the airspace of the United States.

This was a plan devised by NASA, controlled by American astronauts at the International Space Station, using the star capturer to capture the out-of-control satellites.

This type of operation had been tested before and was a way for the U.S. to deal with other countries’ satellites.

This time, six commercial satellites lost control and formed a network over U.S. airspace, which surveilled everything on the ground in the United States.

How could the U.S. government stand this?

As a result, the United States even communicated with Tang Country over the phone.

Although Tang Country would never admit to controlling the six satellites, the United States at least communicated their intention.

The implication was that the United States would not let Du Qiu go easily and was determined to catch him.

In space, the star capturer was speeding toward one of the six satellites, beginning to slow down under the astronauts’ remote control.

It would synchronize with the target satellite, gradually approach it, and eventually, under the control of the astronaut, capture the satellite.

However, the fuel in the star capturer was limited; if it failed to capture all six satellites at once, there wouldn’t be enough fuel to return to the space station.

So, it was an all-or-nothing deal.

In the NASA Control Center, various tracking missions were also being performed intensively, synchronizing data to the space station to allow astronauts to adjust the attitude and angle of the star capturer promptly.

At that moment, in the hall, the head of the U.S. was sitting in person, with the Director of the GIA by his side.

“Cesar, can this star capture be a success?”

“Mr. President, the space agency has tested this method before, there should be no problem. Now we’re just worried that we can’t capture all six satellites at once.”

“And if some are left?”

“No worries, the remaining ones can serve as target stars, allowing the military to test anti-satellite strikes, which would also provide data for the domestic missile defense system.”

“This is an embarrassment for the United States!” The President smacked the armrest of his chair and muttered.

He then looked toward Director Cesar and emphasized, “We’ve surely paid a hefty sum of money for this, and it must be charged to Du Qiu and Dream Technology. If we find that Dream Technology has assets in the United States, we must freeze them.”

“Yes, that’s already underway. Dream Technology has just started to expand and hasn’t invested in the United States. This Dr. Du Qiu is also visiting the United States for the first time.”

The President’s eyes slightly closed as he said, “It seems that Tang Country still has differing opinions on Dr. Du Qiu. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have framed him with a crime.

Such a person should not only be suppressed. We should also use various other enticing methods. It would be more beneficial than detrimental to keep him in the United States.”

“Yes, our GIA plan was originally just that. We did not expect him to disappear from our sight.”

“No matter what, as long as Tang Country is willing to take control of our commercial satellites and expose this method, it’s clear that those who value him are on the winning side.”

As he said this, the President’s eyes suddenly widened, “If we can’t keep him, then no one else should have him. Someone has to bear the wrath of the United States.”

The Director of the GIA understood and said, “Understood, I will make the arrangements.”

As they spoke, the screen showed the star capturer successfully catching a satellite, and a round of applause erupted in the hall.

The President also waved his fist in time.

But before the applause could subside, the screen showed a sudden change.

Another of the closest satellites to the star capturer and the captured satellite began to accelerate.

This 1.5-ton behemoth kept speeding up, seemingly unconcerned with its dwindling fuel supply.

“My God, is it going to hit the star capturer?” someone in the hall finally exclaimed.

“Notify the space station, immediately control the star capturer to evade!” the person in charge at NASA immediately issued an instruction.

Following this, everyone watching the screen held their breath in shock as the hall suddenly fell silent enough to hear a pin drop.

In the outer space of Blue Star, the star capturer, dragging one satellite, had just changed its angle when it saw the other rapidly approaching satellite do the same.

It was as if the satellite had eyes to see the changes in the star capturer.

In this way, the astronaut at the space station executed three changes in direction, and the other satellite did the same.

Moreover, the distance between the two had further closed, and the astronaut could no longer make the fourth change in direction.

In the silent expanse of space, three massive objects collided with incredible speed, igniting a burst of fire – the remaining fuel had exploded.

There’s no oxygen in a vacuum, so the flames quickly extinguished, but countless fragments and pieces formed a rain in this orbit.

At this altitude in the orbit, there were three experimental satellites from the United States, a remote sensing satellite from the Rasha country, two satellites from the Japan, and one satellite from the A3 country…

This rain of fragments, orbiting Blue Star, would soon encounter these satellites.

For these normally operating satellites, this fragment rain was a terminator.

“Damn it, notify the tracking station to change the orbit of those three satellites!” the person in charge at NASA shouted.

“But, after changing orbits, there won’t be much life left…”

“Would you rather they have a little life left, or end it right now?” the person in charge nearly burst with anger and yelled.

“Understood, changing orbits now.”

Seeing NASA’s turmoil, the President’s complexion turned ashen. He glanced at the Director of the GIA and said, “Notify the military to test immediately and shoot down the remaining satellites! They have become the enemy’s weapons!”

After saying that, he left without looking back.