Chapter 439 A chaotic era

This technical engineer from NASA is not unreasonably excited, because for several years, their aerospace funds have been cut again and again, and they can't even afford a decent coffee machine, so they work overtime every day and drink instant coffee.

How can you work overtime well if you drink instant coffee? A good coffee machine is the fighting force.

Of course, even so, their space funding is still the largest in the world.

It can easily be several times that of other countries, and even the total aerospace funding of the world is not as much as that of the United States.

But they also spend the most money in the world, and this kind of money is never enough.

Compared with the vastness of the universe, even if the entire earth was thrown out, it would not even be considered a hair.

Now the director of the Counter-Terrorism Intelligence Agency has actually proposed to increase space funding. How can this not make people at the space agency excited?

Moreover, this reason is related to counter-terrorism and national security, and it was proposed by the director in charge of counter-terrorism intelligence. This time it will definitely be successful.

In fact, when their space agency has no funds, they will make up an excuse and create a "strong enemy" to fool the big guys in Congress, and then the funds will come in one after another.

But after the deception for a long time, the big men no longer believed it. In addition, the economy has been poor in the past few years, so the funds were given less and less.

Now it's good. It's well-founded and supported by big bosses. If Falcon International is allowed to develop like this, it will really pose a threat to the United States.

As long as it has strength and is not from the United States, it may pose a threat to the United States. This is certain.

So when the technical engineer heard the last words with stars in his eyes, he finally heard what he wanted to hear most.

"...Then this meeting will end here. I will ask my assistant to sort out the minutes of the meeting and we will all sign on them. Then I will submit the minutes to the President's Office and wait for the think tank to resolve the details. , Mr. President will naturally go to Congress to negotiate."

The technical engineer clenched his hands under the table: OK, I can finally buy a new coffee machine this year, and I no longer have to drink instant coffee when staying up late.

………………

It was already six o'clock in the evening when Hodiman returned to his Special Branch, and because everyone had turned in their mobile phones during the meeting, he called in the intelligence director who had been in the intelligence command room as soon as he came back.

He loosened his tie, took a sip of the freshly ground coffee brought by his assistant and asked the intelligence chief, "In the afternoon you sent a message saying that important information was sent back. What was it?"

"That's right, Director," the intelligence director said, handing the tablet in his hand to Hoddiman. "The intelligence personnel at Arc Light Aerospace have sent back the news, saying that Arc Light Aerospace's space transport aircraft is already being assembled, and according to him It is understood that the aerospace transport aircraft will be ready for test flights soon, and it will not take more than a month."

"Not more than a month? Is it true?"

Hoddiman was a little surprised, because they also discussed arc-light spaceflight at the meeting today. This event was a bit too short.

Although I have seen the schedule of Arc Light Aerospace, everyone knows that plans are used to push forward. Even if the technology is mature, the time should be calculated in years.

"Yes, Director, that's what the intelligence says, and we are also analyzing the accuracy of this statement," the intelligence director said.

"Analysis accuracy..." Hoddiman repeated. Sure enough, he only saw the text report record on the tablet. He raised it and asked, "Is the intelligence this time only text information and no actual images?"

"Yes, Director, they are very strict about the confidentiality of new projects, and electronic equipment cannot be brought in," the intelligence director replied.

"It's difficult to deal with without images. Although I trust my own people, I can't report this kind of information to the superiors, and it's such outrageous information." Hodiman handed the tablet back to him, "This information first File it, then notify the intelligence officer and ask him to find some way to get the photos."

"Okay, Director," the intelligence director agreed, but he hesitated and said, "Director, in this case, their risk of exposure will be greatly increased. Isn't this a bit risky? They are already I have gained trust in Arc Light Aerospace and can participate in some secret projects. As long as I wait for a while, it will definitely be easier to obtain information."

After hearing his question, Hodiman nodded in agreement. He pinched his brows helplessly and said, "There's nothing I can do about it. This time, the intelligence analysis meeting was originally held, but there was no valuable intelligence to analyze at all. , someone also wanted our people to go in and get some information, but I refused because the risk was too high."

"But if we reject that one, we have to make up for it in other aspects of intelligence. It won't work if we don't work hard."

"Are you talking about Falcon International?" the intelligence director asked doubtfully.

"Yes, it is this strange company with very advanced weapons and equipment. It is very similar to the Arc Light Group, but it is more aggressive than the Arc Light Group. It is not simple."

Hoddiman answered him for a moment and stopped talking, but he immediately remembered something. He took out a piece of paper from his briefcase and handed it to the intelligence chief, "Look at these people, are they familiar? "

The intelligence director took it and took a look, "Steve, Banner, Wei...are these...the names of the soldiers on the missing list?"

"I had this thought when I first saw this list, but the names in this list are not complete, and there is a big gap in their images. Carefully compare these names with the previous intelligence, and then tell me I ended up," Hoddiman said.

"Okay, Director."

"Well, let's do that," Hoddiman nodded, took another sip of coffee and said, "As for the arc light space intelligence, let them try their best to get the photos without exposing themselves."

"The current world situation has become more complicated. China's rise is a little too fast. Mao Zi is also preaching force all day long. On the contrary, people can't see the real situation in their country. Europe is also in chaos."

"Furthermore, the Arclight Group has emerged in the scientific and technological field, and Falcon International has emerged in the military field. The important thing is that their scientific and technological strength is too advanced."

"...Just wait a moment, maybe our funds will increase."

"Has it reached the point where the intelligence department has increased funding?" the intelligence director asked in surprise.

"That's right," Hoddiman glanced at him. "Although this meeting... did not achieve the expected goal, it opened up another path. If Congress passes it, I believe many departments will increase funding."

"I just don't know whether the result is good or bad."

After speaking, he looked at the intelligence chief standing there and didn't know what to say. He waved his hand and said, "Okay, go about your business and give me the comparison results as soon as possible."

"Okay, Director, I'll go right away."

After the intelligence director finished speaking, he left the office, and Hoddiman also knew why he was stunned.

The United States has increased funding for its intelligence agencies several times in history. The most recent one was after the US building was hit. In order to investigate that incident and prevent subsequent incidents, Congress suddenly increased funding for the intelligence agencies by 25%. ,Then……

Then, there was the scene of the United States causing trouble all over the world.

If Congress passes the proposal they handed over to the president, then the increase this time will no longer be the intelligence department. The parts involved will only be more than last time. The three parts of national defense, aerospace, and intelligence will definitely be added. If it increases significantly, more funds will be needed.

It's just that the funds that Congress can use are also limited. If the funds on this side are increased, the funds for other places will decrease. I don't know what changes will happen to American society by then.

Some public benefits may no longer be available, and some existing benefits may even be reduced. By then, the country may be unrest again.

But it's not his turn to take care of these things. He just wants information now, useful information.