Chapter Fourteen: The Star Wars Initiative

“Mr. Zhang, we’ve arrived!”

The pilot’s voice roused Zhang Mingyang from his deep slumber. The endless transfers and exertions of the afternoon had left him both physically and mentally exhausted.

“We’ve arrived? Where are we?”

Still groggy, Zhang Mingyang pushed himself up from his seat.

“Mr. Zhang, we’re on the rooftop helipad of the hotel.”

Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, his vision gradually cleared, and he glanced down—sure enough, they were above the hotel.

He unbuckled his safety harness and leapt down on his own.

Standing atop the hotel, Zhang Mingyang gazed out over the capital at dusk, where the city lights and the lingering glow of the setting sun vied for dominance, each occupying half the sky—a scene with its own unique charm.

Stretching lazily, he descended the steps to the elevator, intent on returning to his room for some rest.

“Grandpa, your grandson is calling…”

His familiar ringtone sounded. Glancing at the screen, he saw it was Grandpa Wang. This ringtone had to go—he could tolerate it alone, but if it rang in public, it would be mortifying.

He answered.

“Hello, Grandpa Wang.”

“You little rascal! Where have you been? It’s nearly half past six and you’re still not here?”

Grandpa Wang’s booming voice made Zhang Mingyang’s ears ring.

“Half past six?” he echoed, puzzled—until he suddenly remembered the dinner invitation Grandpa Wang had extended that morning.

“Grandpa Wang, I’m on my way!”

He hung up hastily and pressed the button for the ninth floor.

As soon as the elevator doors opened, Zhang Mingyang dashed out, scanning the area for Grandpa Wang.

“Mingyang!” called a voice.

In a quiet corner, Grandpa Wang waved him over.

Spotting him, Zhang Mingyang jogged over, then quickly sat down on the sofa and apologized for his lateness, explaining that he’d been busy all day.

“That’s enough, I’m not blaming you. Hurry up and eat.”

Zhang Mingyang nodded with a smile. After such a demanding day, he was truly famished.

As Zhang Mingyang ate, Grandpa Wang sat beside him, watching with gentle, affectionate eyes, as if seeing his favorite pupil.

“Grandpa Wang, please eat too!” Zhang Mingyang felt embarrassed to be watched so intently.

“You go ahead. I’ve eaten already. This is all for you.”

“Grandpa Wang, did you want to discuss something with me?”

Zhang Mingyang sensed that this trip to the capital was not simply for sightseeing.

Hearing his question, Grandpa Wang realized it was time to get to the point.

“Mingyang, have you ever heard of the Star Wars Program?”

“Star Wars?” Zhang Mingyang pondered for a moment, then replied, “Not only have I heard of it, I’ve seen it! That’s the sci-fi movie from last century where people fight each other in space, isn’t it?”

Grandpa Wang was speechless for a moment. “Not the Star Wars movie—the Star Wars Program.”

“The Star Wars Program?”

“Never heard of it.”

Grandpa Wang straightened, glanced around at the nearby diners, and lowered his voice. “The first Star Wars Program was formulated in the 1980s by a superpower as a military strategy to counter ballistic missiles. At that time, two superpowers each possessed enough nuclear weapons to wipe out humanity—the United States and the Soviet Union.”

“Both sides had reached a nuclear stalemate in terms of number and quality of strategic weapons, stuck in an arms race with no end in sight—neither could gain the upper hand.”

“Finally, in 1981, soon after the new American president took office, he assembled over thirty renowned scientists, economists, senior engineers, and military strategists to research the ‘Star Wars’ strategy. The following year, the strategy was officially confirmed. Its primary goal was to leverage domestic technological superiority to build space-based weapon systems—creating a shield against strategic nuclear attacks and eliminating the growing Soviet nuclear threat. At the same time, they accelerated space industrialization to tap into the vast resources of outer space—that was the first Star Wars Program.”

“There was a second Star Wars Program too?” Zhang Mingyang asked.

Grandpa Wang glanced around again, then continued softly, “The second Star Wars Program began after the Soviet Union collapsed, when our nation rose rapidly. To contain us, the United States launched the second Star Wars Program.”

“From the beginning of this century, the US has proposed space-based weapons and satellite weapon systems. But to this day, none have been realized.”

“Instead, progress in space exploration has accelerated—lunar bases, Mars bases, and increasing commercialization of space. Do you know why?”

Zhang Mingyang shook his head.

“Are you done eating?” Grandpa Wang clearly had things to say that were not fit for public ears.

“Yes, I’ve finished.”

Zhang Mingyang wiped his mouth. Grandpa Wang stood, paid the bill, and led him back to the room.

Inside, Grandpa Wang closed the door, left the lights off, and drew all the curtains.

“Grandpa Wang, what’s this about…?” Zhang Mingyang was puzzled by the secrecy.

“Don’t worry. This room is one of our Space Agency’s secure rooms. All the materials are specially made—surveillance and recording devices don’t work here.”

A strange feeling crept over Zhang Mingyang—it felt like a scene from a spy film.

With the curtains drawn, the room was shrouded in darkness. Grandpa Wang pulled a holographic projector from his pocket—the same kind he’d used for his last presentation.

The projection lit up with a field of stars, but this time, instead of the cosmos at large, it was just the solar system.

“Grandpa Wang, what exactly is this…?” Zhang Mingyang began, but Grandpa Wang interrupted him with a question of his own.

“Mingyang, do you know how many space stations and space bases there are in the world?”

“I do.”

Grandpa Wang looked at him in surprise. “Then tell me, what are they?”

Thanks to Grandpa Wang’s last lecture, Zhang Mingyang had researched the number and locations of all the space stations and bases worldwide.

Looking at the virtual solar system, Zhang Mingyang pointed as he spoke: “There are ten space stations in the world. The United States has five—two in low Earth orbit, two in lunar orbit, and one in Martian orbit. There is one International Space Station in Earth’s orbit. Our country has four—two in Earth orbit, one in lunar orbit, and one in Martian orbit.”

“And what about the space bases?”

Zhang Mingyang continued, “There are eight space bases worldwide. The United States has four—three on the Moon, one on Mars. The International Space Base is on the Moon. Our country has three—two on the Moon, and the newly commissioned Mars base.”

“You’re done?”

Zhang Mingyang thought for a moment longer, confirming the numbers from memory.

“Yes, that’s all.”

Grandpa Wang then manipulated the projector, expanding the view beyond the solar system to the broader Milky Way.