dognovel Chapter 3313 High-altitude reconnaissance balloon
Chapter 3313 High-altitude reconnaissance balloon
Chapter 3313 High-altitude reconnaissance balloon
Smith was furious when he saw his two "capable" subordinates acting like this.
How come my subordinates are all idiots? Is this the elite of the United States?
Is it still that elite force of the United States that is comparable to the Alliance?
With such limited abilities, how can we compete with crows, withstand the infiltration of swallows, or protect the great United States?
waste!
At that moment, only these two words were on Smith's mind.
However, among the short ones, these two are still quite usable.
Compared to those guys who got their legs broken while charging into battle themselves, he's passable.
"What about the Alliance?"
Smith suppressed his anger and asked again.
"You've been here for so many days, you couldn't have left without any news at all!"
Upon hearing Smith's words, Jack quickly nodded and said, "Boss, we've gathered two pieces of information here!"
"Say!"
"Yes, the first reason is that the Alliance did not choose the Shetsk launch site this time, but instead chose the southern region of Kazakhstan!"
"According to the intelligence we have gathered, they have been conducting all previous launches at the Shetsk Cosmodrome!"
At this point, Jack glanced at Smith.
The Soyuz satellite and rocket launches have repeatedly encountered malfunctions, either due to minor issues or problems that cannot be identified.
He strongly suspected that one of his own people was behind this.
Unfortunately, his position was too low for him to know.
However, after Jack finished speaking, he paid attention to Smith's expression and sure enough, a look of seriousness appeared on Smith's face.
This further confirmed his inner suspicions.
I just don't know if there are any of our own people at the launch site in Hassa.
"And the second one?"
Smith asked in a cold voice, this time with a noticeable greater caution than before.
Now, not only Jack understood the implication, but Wade also noticed that something was wrong with Smith.
Jack said solemnly, "The second point is that the Alliance used to use computers they developed themselves, called Char's!"
"But recently, all the air launch command centers in the entire country of Kazakhstan have upgraded their electronic computers, and they are all using China's Jiaoyang 75 model!"
"Moreover, there are over one hundred units, and the replacement has already been completed!"
At this point, Wade added, "We also discovered that they are researching their own operating system based on the Sun 75, but we don't know exactly how far they've progressed."
"Finally, we also discovered that the alliance's computer engineers wanted to visit and learn from Beijing. The specific details are still under investigation!"
At this point, Jack glanced at Smith again before saying, "We suspect they might be planning to collaborate with Beijing in order to land on the moon!"
Smith frowned, his bald spot on his head seemed to be widening, and as he pondered Jack's whereabouts, his brow furrowed even more deeply!
"Char I of the Alliance has run into trouble!"
Smith suddenly spoke up, "According to reports from our internal personnel, their Char Aznable One is actually a copy of Dawn One. It's just that the Alliance is lacking in precision instruments, resulting in a high failure rate for the product."
"Moreover, Char Aznable One is a generation behind the Sun 75. Even if their computers are fine, they would still choose the more powerful Sun 75."
"That's not hard to guess!"
Smith's eyes were filled with seriousness. "However, their cooperation with China needs to be taken seriously!"
The alliance has taken a wrong turn in the development of the computer field, so it has failed at many crucial moments.
As a result, many of their devices are from the United States, including computers.
But this time, he didn't expect the league's top management to be so bold as to uniformly switch to China's Jiaoyang 75!
According to the plan, they only needed to occasionally bring up the moon landing to lure the Alliance into jumping into the quagmire, dragging their exhausted bodies up there, only to fail repeatedly and bleed profusely.
Ultimately, this escalated domestic tensions, leading to the dissolution of the alliance.
Everything was proceeding smoothly according to plan.
They had already paved the way for the alliance's actions.
But no one expected that a third party would be inserted into the chessboard where the two were originally playing against each other.
After this third party came in, their plans never went smoothly.
The attempt was to use corn to undermine public opinion in the opposing camp and make corn agriculture the mainstream of the alliance.
As a result, this third party suddenly jumped out and snatched the meat that was about to be eaten.
The key point is that the league still remembers the good things about the third party, to the point that it has abandoned the original spouse.
Then there's the technology aspect.
The alliance's technological development is undeniably strong, but its rudimentary industrial base means it cannot go far in high-tech industries.
And this is the United States' opportunity.
To this end, they created an embargo list to prevent them from importing advanced technologies.
But now?
Another damn third party has appeared.
The key point is that this third party initially learned from them, and even more importantly, this shameful third party actually succeeded, even surpassing their teachers!
This made them hate the third party.
Now, the moon landing scenario that has been planned for the alliance has been disrupted by a third party.
If the Alliance does land on the moon, what will they do next?
Are we going to continue the moon landing program and then fight the Alliance on the moon?
impossible.
The sheer scale of the costs of the moon landing was too much for them to sustain for long, even with their deep pockets!
Moreover, there's the recent commotion surrounding space-based weapons...
But their plan is already halfway through. If they give up halfway, won't all the massive resources they've invested in the early stages go down the drain?
Sure enough, that despicable third party was a troublemaker who ruined their plans!
"head!"
Seeing Smith in a daze, Jack stepped forward and called out softly.
"Yes, it's nothing!"
Smith quickly regained his senses and looked at the two of them again.
"Continue to monitor the situation of the alliance, especially to confirm intelligence related to China!"
"Yes!"
As he spoke, his gaze fell on the two of them again, and an invisible pressure made them feel uneasy.
"This time, you'd better not let me down!"
The two looked at each other, then nodded vigorously to assure each other, "Yes! We understand!"
Smith waved, and the two immediately turned and left.
After watching the two leave, Smith turned his gaze to the large balloon standing to the side.
At this moment, a group of engineers were debugging the equipment in the suspended basket below.
These devices are the United States' most advanced instruments, and they are their direct source of intelligence gathering!
Since the Blackbird's mission in China was thwarted, there has been a gap in intelligence gathering and reconnaissance efforts targeting China.
Not only did that area become a no-go zone for the Blackbird, but even the MiG-25s equipped by the Alliance could pose a threat to the Blackbird.
As a result, even domestic forces are hesitant to act rashly, fearing further losses…
Nobody wants to bear the consequences!
Smith was speechless at the thought that the Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft, which had cost the country a fortune to build, was now just gathering dust in the hangar.
If I remember correctly, the cost of that Blackbird was comparable to its weight in gold. If only it could be made of gold!
Because of the lack of Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft, there was no intelligence support from the sky, and understanding of the Alliance could only rely on personnel infiltrating the ranks.
But recently, the Alliance's hyenas have been acting like madmen, relentlessly annihilating all intelligence agencies.
Considering the alliance's recent major moves, they urgently need an effective means to investigate the situation within the alliance's territory.
So they remembered the aerial observation methods that had been retired.
High-altitude balloon camera reconnaissance.
They had used this technology more than a decade ago, when they used air currents to release the unmanned high-altitude reconnaissance balloons from West Germany or over the North Atlantic, allowing them to fly over the Union.
However, the camera technology at that time was still somewhat rudimentary, and the control of balloons was also lacking. Therefore, each time they conducted a reconnaissance mission, they would release a dozen or even dozens of balloons, and then go to the Pacific Ocean to retrieve the balloons. Finally, they would search for the intelligence captured along the way using the camera equipment.
However, at that time, this high-altitude reconnaissance technology was not yet perfect.
Many balloons eventually disappeared without a trace, and much of the intelligence gathered was useless!
However, this method also has an advantage: it allows balloons to conduct reconnaissance at altitudes of 30,000 to 40,000 meters.
At this altitude, a balloon with a diameter of 15 meters is difficult for ground-based radar to detect.
Even if they spotted it, the alliance's fighter jets and missiles couldn't reach it at all, and could only watch helplessly as it left.
Now that the Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft has been scrapped, this technology has been brought back into use as an important reconnaissance tool.
They believe that since the league couldn't do anything about this in previous years, it certainly won't be able to now.
Moreover, technological advancements and research into wind belts and air pressure over the years have enabled them to accurately calculate the balloon's flight path. Combined with high-definition instruments, this has increased the success rate of high-altitude reconnaissance to 50%!
This is far more successful than the Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft.
"Since the alliance can't do anything about this thing, then China probably won't be able to either!"
Smith squinted, then looked towards the distant east. "So, we can replan the route!"
With that in mind, Smith walked to the side and found a middle-aged man who was also exceptionally intelligent.
"Professor Hogg!"
Smith stepped forward and spoke, but the middle-aged man, who was holding documents, only glanced up when he heard the voice before continuing to direct people's work.
"Professor, when will this be ready?"
Smith didn't mind and continued to ask.
"It will be ready to use in one week!"
Professor Hogg said coldly, then stood up and stared at the other party, saying, "But I still have to remind you!"
"The best time is November, when the sun's direct rays shift southward, and the high-latitude regions of the Northern Hemisphere receive significantly less solar radiation, causing the Earth's surface to cool rapidly."
"In this way, cold air from high latitudes sinks and accumulates due to its high density, forming a powerful cold high-pressure center with high-altitude airflow near the ground!"
"With the help of this airflow, our balloons can fly along the predetermined route and complete the mission..."
Professor Hogg spoke without any politeness, waving the folder in his hand in the air.
However, Smith simply watched calmly, even taking out a pack of Marlboro cigarettes from his pocket and lighting them, until the other person finished speaking before saying, "That's not what you said when you took the money!"
Professor Hogg was speechless.
"Humph!"
Turn around and look at the busy workers again!
Smith seized the opportunity to say, "Professor Hogg, I'd like to ask if it's possible to take this thing south along the way!"
Professor Hogg looked up abruptly, his eyes narrowing as he was about to refuse, but before he could speak, Smith leaned closer and whispered, "One hundred thousand dollars!"
"Internal allowance, and it's tax-free!"
"Will it work?"
Professor Hogg scoffed again, "As a freedom-loving citizen of the United States, my professional ethics do not allow me to do this!"
Smith didn't seem to care and continued listening, occasionally blowing a few smoke rings into the sky.
Seeing this, Professor Hogg took a deep breath, then lowered his voice and said, "However, for the benefit of the United States, I am willing to sacrifice my principles!"
Smith immediately smiled and nodded, "You are truly great, with great integrity!"
"Damn it, it's about integrity!"
Professor Hogg gritted his teeth; if it weren't for the money, he would have thrown the folder in Hogg's face long ago.
"Okay, okay, it's about integrity!"
Not wanting to provoke the other party further, Smith asked again, "So, is it possible?"
Professor Hogg revealed an arrogant expression, "Don't worry, we just need to adjust the coefficients and make some preparations."
"However, the landing site may need to be changed!"
Smith laughed and said, "You don't need to worry about the landing site; we can handle that ourselves."
"Then it's settled!"
He turned and left.
After receiving a definite answer, Smith picked up the phone in his office and dialed the number.
On the other side, Jack and Wade, who had just left the scene, went limp as soon as they turned the corner, and then stood up against the wall, looking like they had just escaped death.
"We've finally made it through this hurdle!"
Jack took a few deep breaths, then looked at Wade beside him.
At that moment, Wade was wiping the sweat from his forehead when he saw Jack looking over and nodded quickly, "You should have passed!"
"Luckily we spent some money, otherwise this would have been a real challenge!"
"Shut up, are you trying to get us killed?"
Jack immediately reprimanded him, and Wade subconsciously looked around to make sure no one had heard before he breathed a sigh of relief.
But thinking of the woman's taste, Wade felt his body regain sensation, then licked his lips and said, "Jack, what do you suggest we do next?"
"I never want to go to China again; there's no news there anyway."
"But the Alliance is a den of dragons and tigers, are we really going to go to Hassa?"
Jack felt uneasy too. Smith's words were clear: failure to complete the mission would definitely have dire consequences.
Moreover, since they joined Smith and boarded Lord Lawrence's ship, they have no way out.
This time, if they fail to complete the mission, they will be abandoned, and then…
Thinking about those big players in China who went bankrupt because of computers makes me feel even more bitter!
"How about we go ask that woman again?"
"After all, she used to be an ace!"
Jack asked tentatively, and Wade's eyes lit up, and he immediately nodded.
"Yes, we'll find her!"
The two reached an agreement, but the next second they both gave a wry smile.
"We don't have much money left!"
Jack muttered to himself, "That Black Widow isn't cheap!"
Wade nodded, then gritted his teeth and said, "We may not have money, but others do!"
"Who?"
"Dawson!"