Chapter 217 All on Alert
Three days later, Fang Lin flew to the base.
She hadn't notified anyone in advance, nor did she use the normal channels—she had arranged a military transport plane directly from Beijing, landing on the backup runway on the north side of the base. Zhao Gang personally led a team to meet her, providing a clear path all the way to the conference room.
Lin Mo was already waiting. Sitting beside him were Li Xiao, Chen Xueming (joining via video), Section Chief Wu, and several core team members.
Fang Lin entered the room, skipped the pleasantries, walked straight to the podium, and turned on the projector.
A photo appeared on the screen—a white male in his fifties, bald, wearing glasses, with an ordinary appearance.
"This man is named Hans Müller, from Germany. His cover identity is a technical consultant for a precision instrument company," Fang Lin said. "In reality, he is a senior CIA agent specializing in technology theft."
The conference room fell silent.
Fang Lin switched to the next photo—the gate of a factory, with the words "Huadong Precision Machinery Factory" written on it.
"Three days ago, he went to this factory under the guise of a technical exchange. This factory is one of our secondary suppliers, responsible for producing some of the components for the Carbon Nanotubes reactor."
Lin Mo frowned.
Fang Lin continued to switch photos—a contract with signatures and stamps.
"He proposed buying a batch of 'special specification' graphite electrodes. The specifications were exactly the same as the ones we use. The factory felt something was off, and per our previous instructions, they reported it."
Li Xiao gasped. "Is this aimed at us?"
Fang Lin nodded. "Yes. And the technique is very sophisticated—he doesn't make direct contact with core personnel or ask about sensitive information; he just purchases components. On the surface, it looks completely legal."
Zhao Gang spoke up. "What about that Müller?"
"He's still in the country," Fang Lin said. "He's staying for two more weeks under the guise of a 'technical inspection.' The Security Bureau is already watching him, but we won't move against him for now."
"Why not?" someone asked.
Fang Lin glanced at the person who asked. "Because we want to see who else is behind him."
The meeting continued.
Fang Lin reported more details—there had been seven similar suspicious contacts in the past month. They involved five suppliers, two research institutes, and even a young man who had come to the base for an interview.
"Regarding the applicant," Fang Lin pulled up a resume, "a master's graduate from Tsinghua University, relevant major, excellent grades, and performed well in the interview. But a background check revealed three large, unexplained deposits during his graduate studies."
Li Xiao blurted out, "A spy?"
"Not necessarily," Fang Lin said. "He might have been exploited. But regardless, we cannot hire someone like that."
Zhao Gang nodded. "Understood. From now on, we'll add two more layers to the background checks for recruitment."
Fang Lin looked at everyone, her expression serious. "Everyone, I called you here today not to say how terrifying these things are, but to let you know—we are being targeted."
She paused, her voice rising slightly. "Although the news of the space elevator hasn't been publicly announced, some people internationally have already guessed it. The breakthrough in Carbon Nanotubes cannot be hidden. The success of Nuclear Fusion is known to the whole world. You know better than I do what conclusion can be drawn when you put these things together."
Li Xiao whispered, "China is making big moves."
"Correct," Fang Lin said. "And they are unprecedented, big moves. Therefore, from now on, everyone's vigilance must be raised by one level."
She took out a document. "This is the new security regulation. Everyone must sign it, and read it carefully before signing. It specifies what can and cannot be said; what can and cannot be brought in; where you can and cannot go. Violators will be transferred at best, or prosecuted at worst."
The conference room was silent for a few seconds.
Someone took the document and began to flip through it.
Li Xiao also took a copy, flipped through it, and suddenly laughed. "Director Fang, this says we can't talk to strangers casually. So, if I start seeing everyone as a spy from now on, what should I do?"
Before Fang Lin could speak, Zhao Gang spoke first. "Xiaoer, this is not a joke."
Li Xiao froze for a moment and looked at Zhao Gang.
Zhao Gang's expression was very serious, with no hint of a smile. "I've been in security for twenty years, and I've seen too many incidents caused by 'jokes.' Some thought the other party was just 'curious' and let something slip, only for core secrets to be leaked. Some thought the other party was just 'friendly' and had a meal, only to be photographed. Others thought the other party was just 'kind' and did a favor, only to be trapped."
He looked at Li Xiao, enunciating every word. "This is not a joke. You really need to be careful."
The smile on Li Xiao's face slowly faded. She nodded, her voice dropping. "I understand, Brother Zhao."
After the meeting ended, Fang Lin asked to speak with Lin Mo alone.
The two stood by the conference room window, looking out at the base.
"Lin Mo," Fang Lin began, "what do you think?"
Lin Mo was silent for a few seconds, then said, "They come with ill intent."
Fang Lin nodded. "Yes. And this is just the beginning. Once the news of the space elevator is made public, more people will come, their methods will be more covert, and their tactics will be more ruthless."
Lin Mo turned to look at her. "Director Fang, are you worried about something?"
Fang Lin looked at him, her gaze complex. "Lin Mo, do you know what I worry about most?"
Lin Mo shook his head.
Fang Lin said, "What I worry about most is not what they might steal, but what they might destroy."
She paused, her voice low. "During the Nuclear Fusion incident, the Ghost almost caused the Cooling System to collapse. If we hadn't stopped it that time, the entire device could have exploded. What about the space elevator? With a 36,000-kilometer-long cable, if someone plants a bomb in the middle section—"
She didn't continue.
Lin Mo's pupils constricted slightly.
Fang Lin patted his shoulder. "Therefore, security is not just Zhao Gang's business, nor is it just mine. It is everyone's business. You need to make the people on your team understand this."
Lin Mo nodded solemnly. "I understand."
In the evening, in the Canteen, the atmosphere was even heavier than in the past few days. People sat in small groups, rarely talking while eating, their eyes occasionally drifting toward the door.
Li Xiao carried her tray and sat down opposite Zhao Gang. "Brother Zhao," she whispered, "about this afternoon, I'm sorry."
Zhao Gang glanced at her. "Sorry for what?"
"For saying 'I see everyone as a spy,' and you criticized me."
Zhao Gang shook his head. "I wasn't criticizing you. I was reminding you."
He put down his chopsticks and looked at Li Xiao. "Xiaoer, in all my years in security, I've seen too many smart people fall because of 'carelessness.' Thinking it's fine, thinking it won't happen, thinking it's impossible—and then disaster strikes."
Li Xiao nodded. "I understand."
Zhao Gang continued, "You are a good girl—smart and capable, and Dr. Lin trusts you. But the more that is the case, the more careful you must be. Because those people are targeting exactly your type."
Li Xiao froze.
Zhao Gang said, "They won't go to the cleaning lady to fish for information. They will come to you, to Chen Xueming, to Dr. Lin, to those who know the core secrets. They will use all kinds of methods—money, sex, favors, threats—to pry your mouths open."
His gaze became serious. "Xiaoer, promise me one thing."
Li Xiao nodded. "Go ahead."
"No matter what happens, no matter who it is, as long as you feel something is off, tell me immediately. Don't try to handle it yourself, don't make your own judgments, don't think 'maybe I'm just overthinking it.' Do you understand?"
Li Xiao looked at him and nodded solemnly. "I understand, Brother Zhao."
Late at night, the light in Lin Mo's office was still on. He was reading the security regulation left by Fang Lin, flipping through it page by page, scrutinizing every clause.
His phone rang—it was a video call from Chen Xueming. "Old Lin, I heard there was a meeting today?" Chen Xueming's face appeared on the screen, his expression somewhat tense.
Lin Mo nodded. "Director Fang came and briefed us on the situation."
"Is it serious?"
Lin Mo thought for a moment. "Serious. Someone has already started taking action."
Chen Xueming was silent for a few seconds, then said, "Old Lin, I'm here in Guangdong; should I strengthen security?"
Lin Mo said, "Yes. Although you are far away, you are also a target. The technology for the Nuclear Fusion power station is equally valuable."
Chen Xueming nodded. "I understand. I'll coordinate with the local security department tomorrow."
Lin Mo looked at him and suddenly asked, "Xueming, are you afraid?"
Chen Xueming froze for a moment, then laughed. "What's there to be afraid of? What kind of storms haven't we seen? We caught the Ghost, we caught the Black Sparrow, are we really going to be afraid of a few spies?"
Lin Mo also laughed.
Chen Xueming added, "Old Lin, watch your safety over there. If anything happens, call me anytime."
"Okay."
Hanging up the video, Lin Mo continued to read the document. Outside the window, the night over the Gobi Desert was still quiet. But he knew that beneath this quiet, undercurrents were surging.