Chapter 234: Display of Strength

As Ning Shuangshuang spoke, the smart screen displayed scenes of U.S. special forces being annihilated during their attack on the industrial park in South Sudan.

It also showed videos of the U.S. Navy and Air Force simultaneously launching air strikes on the Dream Technology Industrial Park in South Sudan.

Another video depicted the evacuation of terrorists in trucks from the Berlin attack, with their final destination being a U.S. military base.

At the same time, there was footage of U.S. Special Forces entering and fiercely battling with the Tanga Federation National Defense Forces at several border locations in the Tanga Federation.

In an instant, not only were the committee members in the venue shocked, but even the entire civilian population at the base was stunned by the actions of the United States.

The Americans were clearly aiming to push Dream Technology to extinction.

Ning Shuangshuang’s words resonated with many people, as most had, owing to their family members working in research, enjoyed at least a middle-class lifestyle in the past.

However, during the economic depression that hit two years earlier, many researchers had experienced unemployment, and the hassle of struggling for daily necessities was still vivid in their memories.

Now living comfortably within the base, where survival was no concern and the community was safe, many of the elderly even picked up hobbies they’d abandoned long ago, and there was even a dedicated department in the base collecting their diverse creative outputs.

While initially they were excited and grateful for the benefits provided by the company, they gradually felt more entitled to them.

It was only after listening to Ning Shuangshuang that they suddenly realized the weight of the sacrifices made for such benefits.

Considering the United States’ presumed strength, especially their fearsome nuclear arsenal, the base residents grew even more fearful at the thought of the U.S.’s calculated attempts to eradicate Dream Technology.

Ning Shuangshuang seemed to anticipate the people’s thoughts, and amidst the fervent discussions, she continued, “The base will take this opportunity to declare to the whole world that we are venturing into space!

From now on, we will live in space, establishing a new realm, maintaining peaceful coexistence with Earth.

Our technology for constructing a permanent space city has matured, different from the rudimentary space stations currently in existence; this will be a genuine city in space.

We have named it ‘Heaven Realm’, and you will have the honor of being among the first citizens to settle there, becoming members of a new humankind.

Do not worry; this battle with the United States will be the founding battle of Heaven Realm, and we will undoubtedly achieve a great victory.

We have already established a powerful space-based combat system, along with a full-fledged aerospace fighter fleet.”

As Ning Shuangshuang finished speaking, the screen showed a lunar landscape, where over ten Wyvern fighters roared past, launching attacks on some lunar peaks.

Brilliant particle beams flashed and the peaks collapsed, with lunar rocks flying in every direction, and even though the vacuum of space nullified sound, the spectacle still shocked all the base civilians.

It was an especially rousing sight for many researchers.

“My God, Dream Technology actually possesses such space fighters and has even begun live firing exercises on the far side of the moon!”

“I feel that not a single American fighter can stand up to just one of these space fighters!”

“Damn, the space warship design task our group received yesterday is real, not a game! I thought it was something from the gaming department.”

…

Some astronomers couldn’t contain their excitement, wondering if they might now apply to go to the moon, considering that aerospace fighters were training there.

The display of strength instantly ignited the passion and confidence of the base’s civilians, and with all their technological advancements seeming to lead the world, the supposed military threat from the U.S. Army vanished into thin air.

More people began discussing what the Heaven Realm space city might look like.

Ning Shuangshuang’s image appeared once more, issuing another statement: “From now on, we will be accepting everyone’s imaginative designs for the space city.

Whatever your vision of Heaven Realm space city is, pick up a pen and depict it, then submit it for a community management committee review.

Each community will select the top ten designs, which will then contend with designs from other communities, and eventually, ten finalists will be selected to enter the grand finale.

All citizens will vote again, and the design with the highest votes will be chosen as the facade of our Heaven Realm space city.

Remember, everyone in the base is entitled to submit one facade design, even children, as long as they can hold a pen and draw it personally.”

This opportunity to contribute to the exterior design of the space city they would soon call home greatly excited many, with the prospect of earning a place in history if their design was selected.

While the young brimmed with excitement, some of the older folks began to worry, especially those from China with rural backgrounds.

Having worked with the land all their lives, the thought of leaving the solidity of Earth for the intangible realm of space created a profound sense of unease.

Nevertheless, the earlier panic induced by the potential U.S. military strike was soothed, and many looked forward to the day they would transfer to space, each mulling over their concept for the space city’s appearance.

At the base command center, Ning Shuangshuang walked down from her seat and approached Du Qiu.

The televised address to all base residents, display of the Wyvern space fighters’ capabilities, and the public solicitation for space city designs had all been Ning Shuangshuang’s suggestions.

Originally, Ning Shuangshuang wanted Du Qiu to give the speech, but Du Qiu felt that Ning Shuangshuang’s demeanor would be more comforting to the public.

Du Qiu was relieved that after arriving at the base, Ning Shuangshuang helped him uncover some of the latent social issues within it.

It seemed he truly had a capable partner, easing his concerns for the rear.

With a population now exceeding 800,000, the jobs provided by Dream Technology were mainly for researchers, test production personnel, and various support staff, accounting for about 100,000 of the population.

The rest, forming a micro-society, were family members of these employees.

Maybe Du Qiu placed too much emphasis on research and neglected the social needs of the community, initially keeping an experimental mind-set and not clarifying the base’s belonging, allowing the family self-governance committee a measure of self-inflation.

After Ning Shuangshuang’s arrival, by utilizing her mother’s descriptions, she quickly identified problems and threw herself into fixing them.

As the head of the base’s security department, she visited most communities and made frequent contact with the self-governance committee.

Regulatory loopholes were swiftly closed, and the committee members were restrained.

Ning Shuangshuang felt the need to inform the entire population about the war with the U.S. and announce the construction of the Heaven Realm, incorporating the self-governance committee more directly into the base’s unified management in the process.

Du Qiu hadn’t anticipated Ning Shuangshuang’s managerial talents and promptly delegated these tasks to her.

“Your speech today must have scared many of the elderly; they never imagined they’d have to move to the boundless reaches of space,” Du Qiu said, smiling as he held Ning Shuangshuang’s hand.

Ning Shuangshuang glanced at Du Qiu, “If you had kept silent until Heaven Realm was completed and then sent them there, wouldn’t they be even more panicked?

By telling them now, along with collecting the space city designs, everyone’s focus will shift from worrying about the U.S. military strike to this new topic.

Later, I will arrange for a group formed by marketing staff transferred from Dream Technology and Dream Technology to distribute some of Heaven Realm’s construction tasks within the communities.

Getting them involved in work they can handle will naturally unify the community spirit.”

Du Qiu admitted defeat jokingly, “Okay, okay, I acknowledge I’m a rookie in management, but with you, my capable partner, I am truly relieved.”

Ning Shuangshuang shook her head, “I’m pushed to it as well. Actually, Mr. Brühler, the president of the self-governing committee, is a great manager.

I think he would be very suitable as the future administrator of Heaven Realm and that retired judge Dong Sucheng would be an excellent choice for the chief justice…”

“Stop!” Du Qiu, seeing Ning Shuangshuang’s endless stream of plans, quickly gestured and said, “Shuangshuang, just give me a list of potential administration candidates for Heaven Realm when the time comes.

Right now, let’s focus on preparing for the U.S. military retaliation.”

Special thanks to ‘I Love Prince’ for the generous donation of 2000 coins!