Chapter 1,236 They Are Obstructing Academic Freedom!

In a conference room of the White House in Washington, USA, the atmosphere was subtly depressing. W. 』⒉３

Since last year's conflict in the Western Pacific, there have been many instances of this gathering of senior advisers, ministers and the president in the same room to discuss national affairs. The only difference is that there is a new face sitting in the Secretary of State's seat.

The Earth Defense Alliance is rising, and has even faintly shaken NATO's status as the world's number one military organization. Politically, economically, and even culturally, the United States is facing unprecedented challenges. Even in the era of Truman and Kennedy, it had never been so severe.

After all, at that time, the United States was only facing a muscular but terminally ill giant, but now standing in the ring competing with the United States is an Iron Man who has armed himself to the teeth with technology...

No, this statement is not accurate enough. After all, Iron Man's technology is probably more realistic than theirs...

"Star Halo Trade plans to hold a biotechnology summit in Halo City at the end of January to exhibit the trophies from Mars. What's that called? Devil's Bug? Damn it... Curiosity has been running on Mars for so many years, but it hasn't seen one yet. The shadow of a cell." NASA Director Bolden looked at the report in his hand with a tired face and made the report weakly.

The NASA director sat at a table with the Secretary of State, the President, the Secretary of Commerce, and even the Secretary of the Interior to discuss issues. This was probably only possible during the Cold War era of the space race. However, Bolden was not happy at all, because neither the space elevator nor the lunar colonization plan was in sight.

Faced with the unreachable gap in aerospace technology, even the genius Elon Musk and his SpaceX are powerless and can only take a sip of soup from the back of Starlink Trading.

"Can you find a way to get qualified to participate in that biotechnology summit? The United States must have first-hand information about Martian species! Otherwise, the technological gap between us and the star ring trade will only get wider and wider." The Department of Defense Minister Carter said solemnly.

"Eligibility to participate in the summit? Haha, of course. The New York Times, the Washington Post...any media you can name has received invitations," the chief of staff leaned on the chair and turned the ballpoint pen in his hand with an ugly expression. , "The problem is that no American scientific research institution or university has received an invitation to conduct joint research, and we are completely excluded."

"They are obstructing academic freedom!" Sitting next to Secretary Carter, the director of the Advanced Projects Agency of the Department of Defense cursed.

"Professors from Harvard University and MIT have already condemned it for us," Hillary glanced at the officials present, and finally her eyes rested on the face of the Secretary of State. "What we need now is a solution."

"I'll try my best,

But don’t hold out too much hope,” the newly appointed Secretary of State rubbed his sour eyebrows, “The Star Ring Trade has been blocking our space technology for more than a day or two, and it is really unlikely that they will make concessions today... Kerry is the expert on New Zealand, but you know—"

"This guy Kerry resigned from the position of Secretary of State at this time." The Democratic Party whip cursed in a low voice.

"Can you convince him to come back?" Hillary asked, looking at the party whip.

"It's difficult. He insists on participating in the March preselection and has even written a speech. You know, there are people supporting him. The most terrible thing is that the opinions in the party are now divided, and there are no voices supporting him. Small. Thank God, now we have to face the Republican Party and the New Country at the same time, this damn Wall Street..."

Hearing these words, the crow's feet at the corners of Hilary's eyes wrinkled with a trace of bitter helplessness.

She no longer knows what to do next.

At this moment, Bolden suddenly spoke.

"How about we start the Mars landing plan in advance?"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the conference room looked over.

Facing the eyes of the president and ministerial officials, Bolden took a deep breath and continued.

"If we can't break the ice diplomatically, we will have to try technically."

"The question is, is there any problem with our current technology? Hasn't SpaceX terminated the research and development of manned rockets?" Defense Secretary Carter frowned.

"MCT, Mars immigration transport aircraft. SpaceX has never stopped its Mars colonization plan. Now the most critical technology has made a breakthrough." Bolden looked at Hillary and said seriously, "There is no problem in sending a one-way ticket."

After a long silence, Hillary spoke.

"Tell me, what's the point of doing this?"

If she can't find a suitable reason to persuade Congress to fund it, it won't make any sense no matter how much she agrees with the plan in her heart.

"It's of great significance," Bolden said. "The moon has been monopolized. We cannot let the star ring trade continue to monopolize the future of mankind. Even if we plant a flag on Mars and throw a few people to live on it, it can help We have added a lot of leverage.”

Several craters with large reserves of lunar ice and rare earths were shamelessly occupied by the first-comer star ring trade.

Even if there is no mining, a pretentious research station is built on it. Although various countries have begun to build their own lunar research stations due to the craze of moon landing, they cannot solve the most critical problems of drinking water and oxygen, and it is almost impossible to develop a colony.

In particular, Starlink Trading arbitrarily refused to sell drinking water, oxygen, and electricity to research stations outside the Earth Defense Alliance member states, citing limited resources. High maintenance fees make these research stations unable to make ends meet, let alone expansion.

But the most important thing is not this...

After pausing for a moment and looking at the president who was still hesitating, Bolden continued.

"In addition, I suspect that the discovery of the Star Ring Trade on Mars may be more than just a bug."

Hillary suddenly seemed to think of something, took a breath, and looked at Bolden in shock.

"You mean..."

"Yes, I'm afraid it has something to do with extraterrestrial civilization." Bolden nodded and seriously suggested, "If they don't agree to our participation in the research, then we can go up and have a look ourselves."

There is more than one way to Mars.

If Halo Trade is not willing to sell tickets to Mars, then it would be better to build an "ocean-going ship" of its own.

While the U.S. White House was making preparations for the attitude of the Star Ring trade, on the Mars colony tens of millions of kilometers away, only 9 soldiers and the only infantry fighting vehicle were left at the gate of the colony. The assembly was completed and preparations were made to rescue the trapped engineers at the 071 mine site.

It would take two weeks for reinforcements from Halo City to arrive, and the oxygen on the rover could only last that long for two weeks at most. The stakes of the rescue were high, and everyone knew that. However, no one among the soldiers sitting in the infantry fighting vehicle, ready to go, questioned the rescue.

The Star Ring Trade has never had a tradition of abandoning its own people and running away.

No matter who the opponent is.

No matter if the opponent is human or not.