Chapter 1429: The Last Card
At the cleaning warehouse of the Mars colony, .
Bris pushed a cart of mops and brooms into the warehouse, signed his name hastily on the tablet terminal, and locked the movable door of the warehouse.
He had been doing janitorial work for some time.
It was worth mentioning that Celestial Trade did not make him do any work. He applied for these jobs on his own. After all, in this environment, work became a kind of pastime. If there was nothing to do, despite the availability of entertainment facilities in the base, it would still drive people crazy.
Since he was not allowed to touch anything sensitive, then he could only work in janitorial or catering roles.
After he had lived on Mars for half a year, Bris had become accustomed to the life here.
To be honest, his feelings towards this colony were rather complicated.
He saw with his own eyes how this colony gradually regained its advantage from the attack of the Devil Worms and how it developed and grew tenaciously under harsh conditions…
Admire?
Maybe a bit.
But Bris knew that he probably felt more awestruck.
The more he learned, the more he realized how terrifying of an opponent his country faced. Even prehistoric species more than three billion years ago were not enough to defeat them. Even the barren Mars could not stop them from progressing, what else could really stop or threaten them?
Bris had also paid close attention to the approaching general election.
If possible, he hoped that Joseph Kennedy could win, as promised in the campaign pledge, he would push the UA to join the Earth Defense Alliance. Contrary to the views of the nationalists, he did not think it would be a compromise to the fact that the UA was losing its hegemony, but a compromise of history.
After work, Bris was planning to go to the bar for a drink.
Just then, the indicator light on his watch flashed.
After a moment of pause, Bris took out the Bluetooth headset from his pocket and put it in his ear.
“h.e.l.lo?”
“Come to my office.” Without any nonsense, Hong Zewei, the governor of the colony, said concisely.
…
“How is the memory extraction work going?”
“Very smoothly,” Dr. Amos smiled, “We almost overcame the side-effects, and I am going to apply to return to Celestial Trade very soon.”
“There is a flight in two days, you can hitch a ride.” Hong Zewei smiled.
Just now there was a knock on the door, and the two ended the topic simultaneously.
“Then I will go now.”
“Mhmm, go ahead.”
Amos quickly picked up the doc.u.ments on the desk, put them back in the sealed doc.u.ment bag, and walked to the door.
The moveable door slid open, Bris, who was walking in, pa.s.sed by Dr. Amos who was heading out.
Hong Zewei looked at the UA astronaut in front of his desk with a smile, then he said.
“How’s it going? Are you getting used to life here after half a year?”
“Getting used to it.” Bris nodded and said helplessly, “I just feel homesick.”
“Let me tell you some good news. Probably the day after tomorrow, the flight between Celestial City and the colony will official commence. Although it is temporarily closed to the public, from the perspective of the friends.h.i.+p between the two countries, we have decided to let you board the s.h.i.+p first with your companions. You will be home soon.”
Bris processed the information for a moment, but quickly, an ecstatic look replaced his expression.
“Is it true? We can go home in two days?”
“Of course, it’s true,” Hong Zewei smiled, “Except for the person suspected of espionage that we can’t release for the time being, all of you can go home! Go back and pack your things and get ready.”
“I have to go and tell my companions the good news immediately. Also, thank you!” Bris said sincerely.
“You’re welcome, go now.” Hong Zewei smiled.
…
Amy Qa.s.sim was a reporter for The Was.h.i.+ngton Post.
SS Origin recently arrived in the Kuiper Belt, which created an earthquake in the UA. From the financial world to ordinary citizens, everyone was discussing the impact on the UA and the future of mankind.
Following the trend and at the request of the editor-in-chief, Amy was currently writing a report on Origin and Celestial Trade’s aeros.p.a.ce technology. Just as she was contemplating at the word doc.u.ment in front of her, someone knocked on her door.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and her immediate boss, Editor-in-Chief Wood, came in.
“Stop all the work at hand, I have another more important job waiting for you to deal with.”
“I don’t understand, what is more important than SS Origin?” Amy leaned back against the chair, took a sip of her coffee, and then said with her arms folded in front of her chest.
“Of course it is the election.”
“Oh, G.o.d,” Amy sighed exaggeratedly. “The entire media is covering this farce. Even if a certain candidate has a scandal with someone, we cannot attract more eyeb.a.l.l.s with this. People are numb, why don’t you think about it again—”
“The flights between Celestial City and Mars will commence by the end of the year, and the UA astronauts stranded on Mars are about to come home. The other thing is the diplomatic meeting between Joseph Kennedy and the Xin Amba.s.sador some time ago, and there have been many private exchanges. I want you to report on these two pieces together.” Wood gestured as he put his fingers together. “Do you know what I mean?”
“You mean,” Amy frowned slightly, and then her eyes lit up. “Credit the astronauts’ return home to Mr. Kennedy? Is the source reliable for the private exchange?”
“No, no, you got it wrong.” After Wood stopped Amy’s words, Wood stared at his top reporter’s eyes, smiled, and emphasized it again, “Celestial Trade wants to give the credit to Joseph Kennedy, do you understand what I mean?”
Amy Qa.s.sim rolled her eyes and suddenly showed a look of realization, “I understand what you mean.”
“I trust you.”
When Wood saw his subordinate was so sensible, he did not say more and looked rather pleased. He patted her on the shoulder before he left the office.
After he walked to a secluded place, Wood took a deep breath, took his phone out of his pocket, and dialed an unfamiliar number.
The phone rang twice and soon someone picked up.
“I have finished our arrangement. The report will be written by Amy Qa.s.sim, our top reporter. I have done as you requested, do you think…”
“Don’t be nervous, Mr. Wood,” through the phone, the person’s hoa.r.s.e voice carried a hint of lightness, “I promise, as long as you do what we say, no one will know about your deal with Senator Davis…”