Chapter 222 Three-Step Plan

One week later, the base meeting room.

Lin Mo stood at the whiteboard with a pen, with Li Xiao, Zhao Gang, Section Chief Wu, and a few core members sitting behind him. On the screen, Chen Xueming's face appeared in a video window—he had specifically adjusted the meeting time to align with the end of the workday in Guangdong.

"Everyone is here," Lin Mo said. "Today, I want to talk to you all about the future."

Li Xiao blinked: "The future? How far into the future?"

Lin Mo thought for a moment: "Twenty years."

The meeting room fell silent for a second.

Twenty years.

For this group of people with an average age of over thirty, twenty years means going from youth to middle age, from prime to old age. It means children growing up, parents aging, and gray hairs appearing on one's own temples.

But it also means enough time to accomplish something great.

Lin Mo turned around and wrote the first line on the whiteboard:

Step One (2038-2045): space elevator + Synchronous Orbit Space Station

"This is the core mission for the next seven years," Lin Mo said. "Build the space elevator, and construct the thousand-ton 'Tian Shu' space station in synchronous orbit. Achieve low-cost access to space, reducing transport costs to under two hundred yuan per kilogram."

He paused and looked at Li Xiao: "We already have contingency plans for twenty-three high-risk modes in your fault simulation. Next, we need to implement them one by one."

Li Xiao nodded: "Understood."

Lin Mo then looked at Chen Xueming on the video: "Your orbital parameters have been accepted by the Aerospace Group. The next step is to refine the module design for the space station."

Chen Xueming gave a thumbs up on the screen: "No problem."

Lin Mo continued to write the second line:

Step Two (2045-2052): Lunar Base + Resource Development

"After the space elevator is built, the next step is the Moon," Lin Mo said. "Establish a permanent base at the lunar south pole, utilize local water ice resources to produce hydrogen-oxygen fuel. At the same time, develop lunar mineral resources—especially Helium-3."

Zhao Gang raised his hand: "Dr. Lin, what is Helium-3?"

Lin Mo explained: "The best choice for Nuclear Fusion fuel. It is extremely rare on Earth, but abundant on the Moon. One ton of Helium-3 is enough to supply all of China for a year."

Zhao Gang widened his eyes: "That powerful?"

Li Xiao added from the side: "So we're going mining?"

Lin Mo nodded: "Yes. The Moon is humanity's eighth continent; it has rich resources and low gravity, making it the best springboard for venturing into deep space."

He continued to write the third line:

Step Three (2052-2060): Manned Mars + Outpost

"This final step is the farthest and the hardest," Lin Mo said. "A manned landing on Mars to establish a permanent outpost. Achieving multi-planetary survival for humanity."

The meeting room went completely silent.

Section Chief Wu took off his reading glasses, wiped them, and put them back on:

"Academician Lin, are you saying... we are going to Mars?"

Lin Mo nodded.

Section Chief Wu was silent for a few seconds, then smiled:

"Will I still be around to see this in my lifetime?"

Lin Mo looked at him: "Section Chief Wu, how old are you this year?"

"Fifty-eight."

"Are you retiring in eight years?"

Section Chief Wu paused, then understood:

"Are you saying we'll build the space elevator within eight years?"

Lin Mo shook his head: "Not necessarily eight years, but we'll strive for within ten. Then, the year you retire, it will just happen to be when the lunar base construction starts. Do you want to go see it?"

Section Chief Wu's eyes were a little red:

"I do."

Chen Xueming spoke up from the other end of the video:

"Old Lin, for the Mars step, what will we use to get there? Chemical rockets are too slow; flying for half a year, the people would be spent by the time they arrive."

Lin Mo nodded: "That's why we need to use Plasma Propulsion. Nuclear Fusion power source plus plasma engines can shorten the travel time to within three months."

Chen Xueming asked: "If we start now, will it be in time?"

Lin Mo looked at Li Xiao.

Li Xiao pulled up a document:

"The Aerospace Group's special task force is already pushing it forward. According to current progress, we can produce a prototype within five years, verify it in space within eight years, and operationalize it within fifteen years."

Chen Xueming did the mental math: "Fifteen years, just in time for the third step."

Lin Mo nodded: "Yes. So every step is interconnected. The first step paves the way for the second, and the second lays the foundation for the third."

He turned around, looking at the three lines on the whiteboard:

"Twenty years, three steps. Every step is a path no one has taken before. Every step will have difficulties, setbacks, and times when you want to give up."

He looked at everyone present:

"But I believe we can finish it."

The meeting room was silent for a few seconds.

Then Li Xiao spoke first:

"Senior brother, I'm with you."

Zhao Gang was second:

"Dr. Lin, I'm in."

Chen Xueming smiled on the other end of the video:

"Old Lin, I'm bound to you for this life anyway; wherever you go, I follow."

Section Chief Wu stood up and reached out his hand:

"Academician Lin, this old body of mine can still work for a few years. Whatever you tell me to do, I'll do."

Lin Mo looked at these people and suddenly felt his nose sting.

He reached out and took Section Chief Wu's hand.

Then Li Xiao put her hand on top, and Zhao Gang added his. Chen Xueming on the video placed his hand on the screen.

Seven hands, separated by the screen, stacked together.

Lin Mo said:

"Good. Then let's go together."

After the meeting ended, everyone dispersed.

Lin Mo stood alone in front of the whiteboard, looking at those three lines.

Twenty years, three steps.

space elevator, lunar base, Mars outpost.

Every step is a first for humanity.

He remembered what Wang Zhenguo said:

"You go see it for me."

I will, Teacher.

One step at a time, I will go see it for you.

He picked up the pen and wrote a line of very small text below the last line:

"Maybe one day, go to HD 107146."

After writing it, he stood there for a long time.

Outside the window, the sun was setting over the Gobi Desert, dyeing the entire sky a golden red.

He took a deep breath, turned, and left the meeting room.

A new day begins tomorrow.

In the evening, Lin Mo sent a message to Fang Lin:

"Director Fang, today the team set the plan for the next twenty years. Three steps: space elevator, lunar base, Mars outpost."

Fang Lin replied quickly:

"That's a big step."

Lin Mo said: "Not big enough to live up to this era."

Fang Lin was silent for a few seconds, then said:

"Lin Mo, do you know, the first time I met you, I thought you were a bit dull of a young man. Now, I think you are someone who can shoulder responsibility."

Lin Mo smiled: "Director Fang, are you complimenting me?"

Fang Lin also smiled: "Yes. Keep up the good work. I'll keep an eye on things from the top."

"Thank you, Director Fang."

Late at night, Chen Xueming sent a message:

"Old Lin, about that three-step plan today, I've been thinking, there's a question."

Lin Mo replied: "What question?"

Chen Xueming said: "What about after Mars?"

Lin Mo looked at this message and was silent for a long time.

What about after Mars?

Go to the asteroid belt? Go to Jupiter's moons? Go to Saturn's rings?

Or—go to that star 12 light-years away?

He didn't know.

But he knew that as long as he kept moving, he would eventually know.

He replied to Chen Xueming:

"After Mars, we'll see. Let's handle what's right in front of us first."

Chen Xueming sent a smiley face:

"Alright. I'll listen to you."

Lin Mo put down his phone and walked to the window.

Outside the window, the starry sky over the Gobi Desert was still brilliant.

He looked toward the low sky in the southeast, where that dark star was still flickering.

He said softly:

"Wait a little longer. We'll be there soon."