Chapter 1052
Killing Three Birds with One Stone: An Exchange of Interests
For wealthy people like this, their lives in prison are not much different from their lives outside.
The so-called punishment is more symbolic.
Or perhaps some people have managed to scrape together the money, and releasing them wouldn't be a bad idea.
Ultimately, we must leave some hope for others, right?
This tradition has lasted for quite some time and has even become a custom.
Every president signs a large number of pardons before leaving office.
As for what crimes those prisoners committed, they obviously wouldn't care. Just pay the money, that's all.
While making money is one thing, if the chieftain can genuinely achieve some political success in the process, he would be quite willing to do so.
The chieftain looked serious as he watched the meeting room gradually calm down.
“We have no better options. For us, the conventional path is no longer viable.”
His words effectively ended the debate.
"Mr. Reeves, I can provide you with the resources you need, even the personnel, supplies, and launch sites you require!"
"I have only one requirement: this time, success is the only option; failure is not an option."
"If you succeed, you will get everything you want."
The Great Chief certainly knew what this so-called new elite wanted.
What he wanted was nothing more than upward mobility, to become a part of their social class.
If Reeves can really do what he says, then the Great Chief wouldn't mind treating him like a dog and giving him a couple of bones to gnaw on.
"You can even become a national hero!"
"But if you fail..."
The chieftain didn't finish his sentence, but the pressure in his eyes said it all.
“Of course I understand, Your Excellency the Great Chief.”
Levi gave a slight bow, neither humble nor arrogant.
Deep space frontier.
This is the name of Reeves' company.
He went from being unknown to being known throughout the world in just one day.
That might not be entirely accurate.
Because, strictly speaking, Deep Space Frontiers is not a truly unknown company.
Reeves, no matter what, has a certain background and means.
Otherwise, how could a truly poor boy possibly get involved in such a high-tech business as aerospace?
His father was an engineer, and his biological mother was a model.
Strictly speaking, Reeves's background was already better than that of 90% of the Eagle Tribe people.
However, in the eyes of those powerful and wealthy people, he was still just a poor boy from the bottom of society.
Thanks to taking on this mission, the world immediately learned about this previously unheard-of airline after the Eagle Tribe government announced the news.
All eyes were on Reeves, this middle-aged man.
Born in the 1970s, he is already over 40 years old this year.
He's not young at this age, but his story is truly inspiring.
Although his father was an engineer, he was only slightly better off than the average person, at best belonging to the upper-middle class.
They are still quite a distance from being truly wealthy and powerful.
It is truly inspiring that such an "ordinary person" was able to establish such a large company in just a few decades after starting his business.
What might seem like a large company to the average person is just a roadside business to these established aerospace companies.
At this very moment, the headquarters at the Deep Space Frontier has entered a state of war!
Within the company, Reeves prominently named this mission "Operation Homecoming."
He personally took charge, drawing on the best engineers, programmers, task experts, and doctors.
Because of the support of the Great Chief, some aerospace companies were forced to share all their design drawings, current system status data, and communication keys with Deep Space Frontier.
The conflict was quite complex. Strictly speaking, these things were trade secrets and could not possibly have been handed over to Levi's.
However, the current Great Chief still holds real power, and the power struggles and related games are not for outsiders to know.
If we were to really talk about it, I'm afraid we could talk for three days and three nights and still not finish.
After obtaining this relevant data and information, Reeves was finally satisfied.
As a savvy businessman, Reeves knew that he should always have a backup plan.
So this time his goal is not just to climb into that so-called elite class.
More importantly, if they can obtain this information, they can avoid many detours when carrying out related development in the future.
After enduring wave after wave of ridicule in the conference room, Reeves had completely given up on the idea of joining the so-called elite class.
Before actually meeting these people, Reeves still harbored certain illusions about these so-called upper-class individuals, believing that as long as he achieved enough, he would gain their recognition and even become one of them.
He had met people from this circle before, but perhaps because his level wasn't high enough, the people he met were all relatively low-level, or for some other reason, in any case, Reeves had never experienced such malice before.
All of this was simply because of his skin color and because he wasn't born into a good family.
So after this incident, Reeves has completely given up the idea of becoming one of those people.
Or perhaps he simply didn't want to associate with these so-called old-money types.
Obtaining this data and information was another of Reeves' objectives.
Even if both of these goals come to nothing, Reeves will still be able to get to know some powerful and influential people through this opportunity.
Although he was furious at being ridiculed, ignored, and even questioned and insulted, this did not stop him from fawning over these people when he was weak.
Reeves has always been a profit-driven individual.
Face? Dignity? How much are those things worth?
No, I should say, can these things be exchanged for money?
If he could, Weiss would not hesitate to sell himself out there!
In addition, the Air Force provided top priority airspace and telemetry support, and the Civil Aviation Administration's special envoys were stationed 24 hours a day, with all approval processes compressed to the limit.
Reeves knew that this so-called special envoy was actually an informant sent by the Great Chief.
If it is discovered that Reeves cannot do what he says, the special envoy will probably report this news back soon.
At that point, Reeves may face liquidation and asset seizure.
This is also the biggest difference between him, a newly rich man, and those old money people.
The wealthy can embezzle budgets with impunity, deducting from them at every level. Even if they fail to meet their targets, they will at most face public condemnation for a while.
No, in fact, even public opinion dares not condemn them. After all, these mouthpieces were cultivated by them.
But Reeves, this newly rich man, had already taken a bite out of those people.
Now, if they want to make even more money, it's obvious that those people won't allow it.
But Reeves didn't mind.
This single order is enough to bring huge profits to his company, not to mention the various intangible benefits such as enhancing the company's commercial value.
Reeves doesn't need to resort to any tricks with this budget.
He only needed to raise the price slightly to make a fortune.
As the modification progressed at an accelerated pace, the Great Chief also received intelligence relayed back by the special envoy.
He was also quite satisfied with Reeves' work.
At least his progress is visible to the naked eye!
The modification process took place at the California factory of "Deep Space Frontier".
Strictly speaking, everything Reeves said in the meeting room was pure boasting.
Because the prototype they prepared did not actually have any real commercial value for space tourism.
There is more than one reason, and cost is only one of the most significant aspects.
More importantly, not just anyone can go into space.
Let alone ordinary people, most healthy people cannot withstand the gravitational acceleration of flying into space without rigorous training.
After such a journey, I'm afraid I'll lose half my life.
Then consider who are the people willing to pay for so-called space tourism?
Would wealthy people be willing to undergo years, or even more than a decade, of rigorous training just to take a trip to space?
If something goes wrong during the launch, Reeves probably wouldn't have enough lives to fill the void.
So, while the space tourism business looks very promising on the surface, it's actually just a lie that Reeves fabricated to attract investment.
However, he does have real skills; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to persuade those investors.
Now that it has received more funding and technical support from relevant departments, the space tourism project is clearly not going to be realized.
But with this opportunity, Reeves is able to make a perfect transition.
By leveraging the technical resources provided by relevant departments, a conceptual commercial project can overcome its shortcomings and be transformed into a truly feasible aerospace project.
This was Reeves' plan—killing three birds with one stone!
Although he abandoned his goal of integrating into that circle, he perfectly achieved the latter two goals!
The prototype of the "Starsail" spacecraft, originally intended for commercial space tourism, was ruthlessly dismantled by Reeves.
The comfortable cabin seats that were originally installed have been removed and replaced with an enhanced life support system.
In addition, Reeves was equipped with oxygen and carbon dioxide scrubbing tanks, as well as a special medical restraint and monitoring system designed for astronauts in long-term weightlessness.
After acquiring the technology related to robotic arms, the entire company immediately began working day and night on research and development.
Three weeks later, a robust and sturdy mechanical capture arm was installed at the front of the spacecraft.
According to normal industrial processes, such a short time is definitely not enough to manufacture another usable mechanical capture arm.
After all, even assembly line production in a factory takes time.
But Reeves received the Great Chief's permission and support.
He made a big fuss about nothing, demanding that those aerospace companies provide him with relevant technical and equipment support.
These people certainly won't just hand over everything so easily.
But Reeves was too lazy to engage in these open and covert struggles with them.
Since giving up on the idea of integrating into this circle, Reeves has stopped pretending to be friendly with these people.
He went directly to the chief.
Reeves' attitude is clear.
If these people don't cooperate, there's nothing I can do.
He wasn't spanking me on the butt; he was clearly slapping Your Majesty's face!
Although the chief was very unhappy about this, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and help Reeves.
After all, he had promised to provide Levi's with the support he wanted.
If the project really fails, Reeves can easily shift the blame onto him.
There's no turning back now; the Great Chieftain, pressured by sunk costs, has no choice but to help Reeves.
But this made the Great Chief even more dislike Reeves.
"Those of lowly blood are destined to achieve nothing great."
After installing the robotic arm, Reeves added a deployable rigid docking adapter with a buffer seal to the spacecraft.
In addition, he conducted several rounds of internal testing to ensure that the robotic arm could be replaced and the interface repaired in the environment of space.
While Reeves was busy modifying the spaceship, a complex political and interest-based exchange was taking place behind the scenes.
The selection of Reeves has greatly displeased traditional space interest groups and some members of Congress.
Even though the current chieftain is a powerful chieftain, he cannot withstand so many dissenting opinions.
In order to secure the continued support of traditional space interest groups and some members of Congress, the Grand Chief had to make some concessions.
But these concessions did not satisfy these people, and the Great Chief was unwilling to pay these costs alone.
So in the end, all these costs fell on Reeves' shoulders.
Reeves had no objection to this.
He knew he couldn't possibly get all these things for free, so he was prepared to pay the price.
But he knew those people were the type to not act until they saw a benefit, and if he agreed too readily, they would soon be the ones to devour him.
So Reeves played along with these people while gradually backing down, even stating several times that this was his final bottom line.
In the end, he made it seem like he had no choice but to concede and reluctantly agreed to those people's demands.
He promised that, following a successful rescue, the airline would award Deep Space Frontier a series of future space station cargo and crew contracts.
In addition, they will share some of the key technical data they develop with the main contractor.
In addition, the government's regulatory framework for commercial spaceflight will be adjusted to be "innovative."
This rule only applies to Reeves.
Those established airlines will naturally not be affected in any way!
Finally, the Grand Chief also pledged that after the midterm elections, he would push forward a massive space infrastructure upgrade plan.
These traditional contractors also receive a considerable share. (End of Chapter)