Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 326 The Kremlin is in a hurry
Leonid's office is located on the third floor of the Council of Ministers building in the Kremlin. It is a suite that includes an office, a lounge, and other facilities.

The small lounge area is equipped with a refrigerator, medicine cabinet, sofa, and television. The room is not large, but it is as luxurious as a palace, reminiscent of the style of Tsarist Russian nobility.

The television was continuously playing footage of the recovery of Burning One.

On the screen, Huntsville was bathed in the blazing sun, and a silver-gray rocket streaked into the sky with a fiery exhaust plume. The narrator excitedly announced in English, "This is a revolution in human space history! The successful implementation of reusable rocket technology and the feat of launching three satellites in one go put America far ahead in the space race."

After the rocket launch, the scene switched to the separation phase: the three satellites precisely deorbited and entered their preset positions.

Next came the most astonishing part: the rocket booster flipped in the air, ignited its retro-rocket engines, and slowly descended to the designated area on the ground, achieving a successful recovery.

The entire process was played repeatedly on a loop.

Leonard's unprecedented silence, a scene with profound implications, instilled in him a deep sense of crisis.

It had nothing to do with the space race, nothing to do with self-esteem, but rather with the oppressive feeling brought about by the Star Wars program, a feeling that was so intense.

Soviet Russia's Soyuz is still struggling with reliability issues and is burdened with heavy financial costs.

If America could really deploy 10,000 satellites, it would be a strategic nightmare, exposing every secret operation from Moscow to Cuba to their all-seeing eyes.

He stood up abruptly and pressed the red button on his desk.

"Summon KGB leader Andropov, Defense Minister Grechko, and comrades Mishin and Valentin from the Academy of Sciences."

Tell them to come to my lounge immediately!

Inside the room, everyone fell silent after watching the video. The joy brought by the Vietnam War forcing America to make concessions vanished in the face of this scene.

Leonard was the most powerful man in Soviet Russia, but compared to his absolute power, he had two rivals who could share it with him: Kosygin and Podgorny.

Neither of them showed up in the room.

"Look, folks, this is the first video sent back from Washington. The Soviet television stations haven't had time to broadcast it yet, and the Ministry of Truth hasn't decided on its propaganda strategy."

America's rocket was recovered like a toy, and it even sent three satellites into orbit at once.

Johnson's Star Wars program is not just empty talk; they really intend to deploy a network of 10,000 satellites to monitor the globe.

Our intelligence indicates that these satellites will be equipped with infrared sensors and real-time data links, enabling them to lock onto any heat source signal within seconds. We will lose the skies, and losing the skies means losing everything.

After Leonid finished speaking, the room fell silent.

If Andropov and Grechko were worried about the future of Soviet Russia, then Mishin and Valentin were more worried about their own future.

They simply couldn't imagine how the Russian Space Agency could catch up with America in the field of reusable rockets.

If they fail to complete the task, Leonid might send them to Siberia to grow potatoes.

"Gentlemen, this is an unprecedented crisis for us, and I hope you can find a solution."

Historically, Reagan's Star Wars program aimed to use advanced technology to intercept Soviet intercontinental ballistic missiles from space, thereby breaking the nuclear deterrence balance of "mutually assured destruction."

The Russians were scared half to death.

Now, the real Star Wars program has been unveiled, the foundation has been laid, and the threat is as tangible as a physical reality. The high-ranking Soviet officials present felt as if a knife was held to their throats and could fall at any moment.

"Assassination," Andropov said without hesitation. "We must get rid of Randolph Lin. If we don't solve this problem, we're doomed sooner or later."

Korolev's will instructed us to persuade the professor to join Soviet Russia. In fact, from Korolev to Comrade Kosygin, everyone had tried to curry favor with the professor in various ways, but to this day he has not shown even the slightest intention to come to Moscow.

On the contrary, he is more likely to join China than Moscow.

Whether the professor is in China or America, it is an unbearable loss for us, so assassination is the only option.

Slow down America's progress and prolong ours.

Leonid was already interested. "You'll be in charge of developing the plan."

Andropov glanced at his watch and said, "Three days from now. Three days from now is the best time. We don't have time to wait any longer."

Three days later was Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral. In his last will and testament, he asked the professor to give a closing speech at his funeral. His funeral would be attended by a large number of people, so this was the perfect opportunity. We contacted a gunman and arranged to kill him on that day.

This was sudden enough, catching them completely off guard.

Grechko nodded and said, "I agree with Comrade Andreibov's opinion. This has seriously threatened our strategic balance!"

If America can indeed monitor all our missile bases, our counterattack time will be reduced to minutes.

The nuclear balance will be disrupted.

More importantly, the professor's very existence was a disruption to the Cold War. If it weren't for the professor, we would be enjoying the benefits of the Vietnam War now, without having to worry about America's threat.

Comrade Leonid, let's take action!

Leonid nodded noncommittally. "Comrade Andrupov, you are in charge of the preparations. It must be a success on the first try."

He then turned to look at Mishin and Valentin: "Comrade Mishin, when will there be any progress on our reusable rockets?"
I remember the professor telling us the secret to orbital recovery.

Mishin wiped the sweat from his brow: "From a professional perspective, recovering rockets requires advanced gyroscopes and computer control. Our OKB-1 design bureau has the foundation, but lacks funding."

Their three-satellite launch used a multi-stage separation mechanism and precise orbital injection, which we can learn from, but it will take at least two years to catch up, no, it may take longer.

As for the scale of Star Wars' satellite deployment, it's 10,000!

This is equivalent to a low-Earth orbit constellation network, covering the Earth like a swarm of bees.

We only have a few dozen spy satellites, covering less than 10% of the area. It will take us at least ten years to achieve our goal.

In the short term, developing anti-satellite weapons would be a more suitable solution.

Leonid did not get angry, but said, "Give me a Soviet version of the Star Wars program every week."

He then ended the meeting.

When news of Lyndon Johnson and Lin Ran's press conference reached Moscow, and Lin Ran claimed that he could launch 33 satellites in one rocket, Leonid no longer had any reservations about assassinating Lin Ran at Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral.

I won't be able to sleep if you don't die.

In the corridor, Grechko and Andrupov walked side by side. Grechko reminded him, "Comrade Andrupov, be sure not to send American people on missions."

Andropov didn't understand. "Why?"

Grechko took a deep breath and said, "There aren't many chances to assassinate the professor. If we fail the first time, the second time will be much longer and more difficult. We must succeed the first time."

The professor's prestige in America is too high, and he is also a representative of humanity's journey into space. If we use someone from America, what if they think someone like the professor shouldn't die, or what if they'd rather expose themselves as SPY than notify Washington? Then we'll miss a golden opportunity. In short, his high reputation—his identity as a scientist, his peace-loving image, and the fame he gained from promoting space exploration—would risk causing SPY agents recruited from America to defect.

Those sent to America from Moscow or Eastern Europe would face much lower risks.

Andropov nodded and said, "Understood, Comrade Grechko, we will definitely kill him in one blow!"

They were drinking at an upscale bar outside the Kremlin that day, and their last words were:

"For the Professor"

"The White House's Star Wars program has taken a giant leap forward, with reusable rockets and multiple satellites launched at once. NASA, led by the professor, is turning the president's blueprint into reality."

In a bar on Long Island, the television was showing footage of the Burning One rocket being recovered, which, along with the death of Martin Luther King Jr., was one of the hottest news stories at the moment.

Both news items are related to Lin Ran. The former needs no further explanation, while the latter refers to Lin Ran, who is considered a close friend of Martin Luther King Jr., the last person he mentioned before his death, and the person King Jr. designated to speak at his funeral.

In some ways, Lin Ran's candidacy for president, representing a minority group, is more legitimate than Obama's candidacy.

Sergei Viktorovich Petrov, the Russian translator for the United Nations, sat in his usual bar, watching the news reports, and felt utterly distraught.

He received a mission from Moscow to assassinate Randolph Lin at Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral.

Petrov wondered if Moscow had gone mad.

It's not that assassinating the professor was crazy; as a Russian, he also felt that Lin Ran had to die. If Lin Ran didn't die, the Soviet Union would be in a very passive position.

The problem was that Moscow's instructions were flawed; sending him to assassinate Martin Luther King Jr. at his funeral was essentially sending him to his death.

why?
Because this was Martin Luther King Jr., a famous Black social activist. His funeral was attended entirely by Black people. In addition to Black people, the white people who could attend were all well-known figures.

As a white man, and a Slavic one at that, if he dared to show his face in the area, he would be followed by the BI and would never have a chance to make a move.

A white man, an ordinary, unknown white man, appearing at Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral, even just in the vicinity, would be as captivating as a firefly in the night.

(A crowd of people mourning Martin Luther King Jr. lined the sidewalks in Memphis, Tennessee, from the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.)
(Memphis sanitation workers march the day before Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral)

Petrov felt that the Kremlin had given him an absolutely impossible task.

When he conveyed this request to Moscow, Moscow provided unprecedented support.

It gave him the ability to mobilize all of the KGB's resources in America, but the problem was that it was useless.

What use is it for you to give me all of KGB's resources in America?

The last Black KGB officer was Nelson Drummond in 1962, who had already been arrested.

If you don't hire Black people to carry out the mission, even if you tell me a bunch of white people could storm into Memphis and kill the professor among more than 40 Black people, it's impossible, even with a mowing-down-the-grass buff.

Finally, Leonard personally made the decision to inform Petrov about John Edgar Hoover, the top Soviet figure in America, codenamed Shark.

The Star Wars program has deeply provoked the Kremlin, and they are willing to sacrifice even figures like Hoover.

Prior to this, in all of America, only Dobrynin knew that Hoover was one of their own.

"Assassinate Randolph Lin?"

After waiting for a long time in a bar on Long Island, Petrov was taken to a secluded location where he met this truly important figure.

Even with countless pieces of evidence suggesting that the other party was involved in President Kennedy's death, the big shot who remained unmoved in the FBI seat was actually one of our people.
This is similar to how Andropov is America's man; Petrov's confidence in Moscow is unprecedented.

So what if you've mastered reusable rockets? You can master the technology, but we can master the people!
The moment Petrov met Hoover, he immediately gained confidence.

(Edgar Hoover meets with the Kennedy brothers in the Oval Office)
Hoover frowned deeply, then turned and left the office, leaving Petrov alone.

He made a direct call to Moscow via a secret phone and spoke directly with Andropov.

Hoover had always maintained a one-way communication with Moscow in this manner.

"I can't do it! It's not that I don't want to kill the professor, but if I do, I'll die too!"

"There's only one way to create an opportunity for you: let him work for the BI, sneak into Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral, and then suddenly fire a shot."

The problem is, he'll definitely be caught if he fires.

"What did you say? You mean he shot himself and then FBI agents threw acid on his face to cover his identity?"

"That's an idea. You're saying this is the last mission? And you won't contact me again after that?"

"Okay, okay, let me think about it."

A cold voice came from the other end of the phone: "It's not just a thought, it's a must, otherwise we will expose everything about your cooperation with us, including the secrets you've tried so hard to hide."

Hoover revealed a sinister look. He wanted Moscow destroyed more than Lin Ran, but he couldn't control the situation.

Since boarding Moscow's pirate ship, he has accumulated more and more incriminating evidence against him by the Soviet Union, to the point that he himself has lost count.

Hoover returned to his room and said to Petrov, “Go to Atlanta now. Go to the St. Catherine Club and Community Center in Atlanta. Once you get there, someone will contact you.”

Petrov asked, "Isn't it Memphis?"

Hoover waved his hand: "The funeral will begin in Memphis, but Martin Luther King Jr.'s body will be transported to Atlanta, where Randolph Lynn will give his final speech. In short, all you have to do now is go to Atlanta!"

The time was too tight; Moscow only had three days to prepare. The time was so tight that Moscow didn't even know where Lin Ran would appear.

This also demonstrates the immense pressure that Burn 1 put on the Kremlin, so much so that they were eager to eliminate it, even unwilling to wait six months until the New York Mathematicians' Congress at the end of the year.

The funeral procession began in Memphis, near the assassination site.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s body was transported to RS Lewis Funeral Home, where it lay in state for public viewing.

This was a small, private memorial service, attended primarily by his wife and family.

Ralph Abernathy presided over the prayer service.

The body was then placed in an open bronze coffin and transported to the airport under the escort of police and National Guard troops, bound for Atlanta.

The funeral was held at the Ebenezer Baptist Church there, which is also his family church, where Martin Luther King Jr. himself served as pastor.

When Lin Ran arrived on the presidential plane, he had no idea that there would be a conspiracy against him.

(End of this chapter)