Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 455 The God of Command Has Arrived

Lisa Carter opened her mouth wide, trying to utter the W sound, but held back, not saying the questioning "What."

Inwardly, he was screaming: What? This can be a good thing?

Then it occurred to me that perhaps my boss had been hanging out with Natarayan for too long and had been brainwashed by the Ganges River, believing that everything was a good thing.

After Bezos left the room, Natarajan immediately noticed Lisa Carter's doubts and explained, "This can certainly be a good thing."

Lisa Carter was not going to be polite to this billionaire. In her opinion, their failure was entirely due to the Tata Group's incompetence. She would never work in India in her life, so she had no respect for Natarayan Chandrasekaran.

Lisa Carter asked, "Why?"

Natarayan explained softly, "General Electric can cooperate with China, NASA can cooperate with China, so why can't we cooperate with China?"

Just because of that damn pride?
Bezos has never been able to get over this hurdle: why should we cooperate with China, why should we cooperate with that company called Apollo Technology, when that young man named Randolph came to me when he was still in America, hoping to get investment from me.

Now, however, I have to turn around and beg him.

Jeff had always wanted to prove something, to prove that he could do it too, so we poached people from General Aerospace and spent five years completing the Saturn V, instead of directly buying technology from Apollo Technologies like General Aerospace did.

We spent more time and resources. The Saturn V could only take us to the moon, but it couldn't keep us there indefinitely. It was an inefficient technological approach. Why didn't we use Apollo technology to save time and resources?

These problems all stemmed from Jeff in the past, but now that he's willing to resolve them himself, that's for the best.

Lisa had no other thoughts; she was shocked by what Natarajan had said about the past: "What? Randolph contacted Mr. Bezos?"

Natarayan nodded and said, "Of course, that brilliant young man once hoped Jeff would help him. Do you know what that penniless young man's boast was? He said he could take people to the moon for just $1 million."

Good heavens, who could have imagined this was real? Even the wildest imagination wouldn't believe it, especially since he's not a famous rocket expert, nor even an aerospace student; he's a PhD in artificial intelligence.

Jeff, of course, would disagree; he would only think that this guy was crazy.

But reality was far more outrageous than Jeff imagined, which reminded me of the saying, "Movies need logic, but reality doesn't."

This is the same young man who once sought out Jeff, and he actually sent people to the moon with only $1 million. In just six years, he founded a super aerospace giant with a valuation of over $5000 billion.

All of this legendary stories began with Jeff's casual "no".

Now, Jeff needs to continue this legendary story himself. He needs to face Randolph, communicate with Randolph, and gain Randolph's support.

Similarly, our project will be the greatest space rescue of this century, a model of international cooperation; whether the protagonists are Chinese is irrelevant.

Lisa was overwhelmed with mixed feelings. She murmured, "The real-life protagonist of 'The Martian' is Chinese? American audiences won't accept such a script. I have to go back to my work."

Natarayan grinned and said before Lisa left, "Ms. Carter, from the moment the Xiaomi logo appeared on NASA's lunar rover, America was no longer the America of the golden age. We need to accept this world with China."

Lisa seemed to understand Natarajan's unspoken message: America is now a giant India.

In reality, Natarayan's subtext was something else entirely: NASA's moon landing also involved cooperation with China, something the higher-ups were aware of.

If NASA can do it, why can't we?
Bezos sat down at the table, took off his coat, revealing a wrinkled white shirt underneath.

He didn't look at the data again because he knew that Lisa's judgment was accurate; from a rescue perspective, China had the strongest technical capabilities.

For the Chinese, the moon is practically their backyard; going there is no more difficult than launching a satellite.

However, this time it's a space rescue.

The time window is only 72 hours.

Bezos is also unsure.

However, we should do our best and leave the rest to fate.

He first called Li Xiaoman, saying that he had an urgent matter to discuss with Lin Ran and hoped to reach him via video conference within ten minutes.

Li Xiaoman was also present at the last online fundraising dinner, which is how Bezos got to know this young Asian woman.

After the video call was connected, Lin Ran appeared on the screen.

Bezos said with a helpless expression, "Randolph, we're in trouble."

Lin Ran was somewhat dazed; he had heard similar words in the 60th timeline as well.

The difference is that back then he was in the control center at Cape Calanaville, while now he's in Shen Hai's office.

Lin Ran immediately realized: "The spaceship has malfunctioned? Is there a problem with a component that caused the spaceship to lock up?"

Bezos was somewhat surprised: "You guessed very accurately."

Lin Ran said directly, "When I was reading the global space industry briefing, I saw that you were cooperating with India's Tata Group, and I guessed that this was the part most likely to have problems."

India's industry has only recently developed into a standardized system, and it lacks unified standards. Manufacturing the lunar lander in India inevitably carries corresponding risks.

Bezos said in a low voice, "Yes, it's a gamble, and we've only succeeded halfway."

Half of their success here refers to the fact that they spent five years successfully replicating the Saturn V.

However, the moon landing mission ultimately failed.

"Our Odyssey spacecraft, carrying three astronauts, is in an irreversible deep-space drift trajectory, and the astronauts need your help."

Lin Ran said, "That's not the point. The point is your emergency plan and the remaining capacity of the spacecraft. I need to assess it. We're not even sure if we can save them."

Bezos is much more professional than Tata's Natarajan.

"Okay, we confirm that the Odyssey's main thrusters are destroyed."

The spacecraft will enter an irreversible deep space orbit, and T+6 hours will be the last window for orbit change.

Our plan is that the astronauts will detonate the main module during the window period and use the tiny attitude control thrusters on the Shiva Wing escape capsule to perform a very small-scale emergency separation ignition.

The goal is to use the moon's gravity to propel the escape pod into a highly eccentric free-return orbit.

We must avoid going into deep space.

Lin Ran's eyes were fixed on the shared data screen in the video conference, his mind racing with calculations.

Lin Ran raised questions: "The thrust of the RCS thruster is too small. How much speed increment can it provide? Your escape pod has an extremely high dry weight ratio, but how long can the attitude control fuel support a single ignition? What about the accuracy?"

At this moment, the tech expert sitting next to Bezos appeared on camera after receiving a signal from Bezos and said:

"According to our calculations, the RCS thrust can provide a velocity increment of approximately 1215 m/s."

We have narrowed the error to within 1 meter per second.

However, after this operation, the escape pod will have almost exhausted all its fuel and will be in a passive drifting state, unable to make any corrections.

Life support can only last for 72 hours.

Lin Ran nodded: "15 meters per second, the window is extremely narrow, the risk is extremely high, but it is indeed the only way out." Lin Ran: "Now let's talk about my plan. 72 hours is too short. It may not be enough time to get there from Earth. We need to consider redundancy for emergencies."

If your escape pod successfully enters free return orbit, we will launch a spacecraft from the moon and wait in lunar orbit.

Its new Hall thrusters enable it to perform emergency orbit changes immediately.

I need to know the exact parameters of your final free return orbit.

Our Hall thrusters are highly efficient and extremely precise, but have low thrust.

In order to complete the capture before your life support runs out, our spacecraft must conduct an ultra-long-range interception and deceleration in space.

This puts our long-endurance attitude control and navigation systems to the test.

Moreover, the final capture largely depends on the astronauts' operation. Without human intervention, the spacecraft will extend a rope, which the astronauts must grab themselves while drifting in space after leaving the escape pod and enter our spacecraft.

I also need to emphasize that it is not three astronauts together, but one astronaut per spacecraft.

Our spacecraft on the moon is a small one; it cannot support rescuing three people at once, so we have to rely entirely on the astronauts themselves.

But this is the only rescue force that can arrive within the time window.

A glint of hope flashed in Bezos's eyes: "Randolph, how technically feasible do you think this rescue plan is?"

Lin Ran remained silent for less than two seconds, during which he calculated all the risks, all the errors, and all the possible technical failures.

Lin Ran replied, "If your astronauts can successfully complete that ultra-precise separation ignition at 15 meters per second and successfully send the escape capsule into the predetermined free return orbit, your astronauts will be able to successfully grab the rope."

Therefore, the technical feasibility of our rescue operation is over 90%.

Upon hearing this number, Bezos's tense shoulders finally relaxed a little.

He knew that Lin Ran's 90% carried more weight than anyone else's 100%.

Lin Ran: "Now, let's talk about the deal."

Bezos nodded and said, "Of course, according to our estimates, the actual cost of one of your space rescues should be around $100 million per person. We are willing to pay $1 billion per person, and we are willing to pay a total of $3 billion."

A tenfold premium.

Lin Ran handed the camera to Li Xiaoman: "Jeff, the specific price will be discussed with you by my negotiating representative, Ms. Li."

Li Xiaoman extended his hand, his voice devoid of any emotion: "50 billion per person. We're saving Blue Origin's reputation, saving this company."

“Five billion in total.” Bezos didn’t hesitate. “The rescue cost isn’t that high.”

"The cost of the rescue is certainly not high."

But this is a strategic cost.

We invested hundreds of billions of dollars to develop technology that can precisely intercept objects in near-lunar orbit, not to earn a little fuel money.

This price reflects our technological monopoly and strategic value.

50 billion per person.

This is not a simple rescue; it's a risk buyout of your entire project.

This price doesn't just save the spacecraft, it saves Blue Origin and your present and future in the commercial space industry.

Bezos's eyebrows suddenly shot up.

$150 billion! That's three times the upper limit he could accept.

He felt angry, but his anger was quickly replaced by the harsh reality.

Because the escape pod only has about 60 hours of life support left.

Bezos's tone was heavy as he quickly did some mental calculations: "Ms. Li, 50 billion per person? That's too high."

We don't have time to haggle.

My final offer is $9 billion in total, $3 billion per person.

This price is thirty times your rescue cost.

At the same time, I am willing to sign a ten-year technology sharing and procurement agreement, under which we will purchase technology and equipment from Apollo Technologies, with a minimum annual purchase of $20 billion.

Bezos locked in a total offer of $9 billion, while also incorporating long-term strategic leverage, essentially using long-term orders totaling at least $20 billion to reduce one-off expenditures.

Li Xiaoman's eyes flickered. She looked towards the direction outside the screen, where Lin Ran could be vaguely seen, and received a barely perceptible nod of confirmation.

Li Xiaoman decisively and straightforwardly said, "Deal."

$90 billion, plus the long-term procurement agreement you mentioned.

Please transfer the first installment to the designated account immediately, and also provide us with the data immediately.

We will begin rescue operations immediately.

Before the negotiations were even over, Bezos added, "I have another question: can Randolph direct the course change for us?"

I'm willing to add another $10 billion.

Li Xiaoman asked, "You mean the emergency separation ignition of the escape pod?"

Bezos nodded and said, "That's right. We will share the data and interface with you, and you will be in charge of the escape command, just like Randolph remotely commanded NASA's moon landing last time."

In this timeline, NASA's moon landing in the 21st century was also directed by Lin Ran.

Li Xiaoman did not answer because Lin Ran had already reappeared in the frame.

"Okay, Jeff, this is the best decision you've ever made."

"The God of Command has appeared," Lin Ran thought to himself.

Li Xiaoman was thinking, at most one hour, 10 billion US dollars, what industry's consulting fees can compare to that?
After Lin Ran finished speaking, he hung up the phone without giving Bezos any chance to speak again.

The collaboration has begun.

In Florida, Bezos shook his head in exasperation.

He lost $100 billion, but bought back three lives.

The negotiation lasted less than three minutes.

"This money has to come from the Indians!" Bezos thought to himself.

(End of this chapter)