Chapter 32 - 32: A Thousand Stars Rise

"Can someone please tell me what the hell is going on?!" "How did those Starlink rockets just take off like that?" "This… how is this even possible?!" "Shouldn't a rocket launch be accompanied by an earth-shaking roar?" "What kind of propulsion system is this?" — The crowd at the scene stood in stunned silence, watching as five Starlink rockets smoothly ascended into the sky. What they were witnessing completely defied their understanding of modern spaceflight. But this was only the beginning. Just as everyone assumed the launch was over and the journalists started drafting their headlines, the ground beneath the first five launchpads shifted—splitting open like a blooming flower, just as it had when Gene Mason made his grand entrance. Then, from below, another five Starlink rockets emerged. Launch sequence initiated. Five more rockets lifted off, leaving behind a trail of shimmering blue light. And then… another five. And another. And another. Before long, the sky above was filled with neatly arranged formations of Starlink rockets, soaring in synchronized precision. Yet, the launch showed no signs of stopping. People stood frozen, their mouths agape, eyes wide in disbelief. Some even dropped the items they were holding, too stunned to care. "What… what is happening?" "My God…" "This… this isn't human technology, is it?" "Is this some kind of alien tech?" — Every aerospace agency representative present was glued to the sight, their minds unable to process what they were witnessing. Their countries spent billions to launch just one satellite. The logistics, the funding, the years of planning—yet here was Mason Industries, launching Starlink rockets like they were throwing paper airplanes. Clayson stood motionless, staring at the sky as more and more Starlink rockets joined the already growing formation. He couldn't even speak—his breath came in ragged gasps as if the air itself had been sucked from his lungs. Meanwhile, in the bustling streets of New York, citizens were beginning to take notice of the strange sight above. "Hey, look! What's that in the sky?" "Those blue lights… where are they coming from?" "Isn't that right above Mason Industries' headquarters?" "Wait, don't you guys watch the news? Mason Industries is launching Starlink satellites! They've already launched over seventy!" — All across New York City, people stopped what they were doing, looking up in awe at the dazzling spectacle above them. At the same time, intelligence agencies worldwide scrambled to access live satellite footage. "Hurry, pull up the latest images over U.S. airspace!" "…What the hell is this?" "Reports indicate Mason Industries has already launched seventy-five Starlink rockets!" "The number is still climbing—eighty now!" — Inside S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Triskelion, Agent Maria Hill spoke urgently. "Director Fury, Mason Industries has launched ninety Starlink rockets. And they're still going." Nick Fury narrowed his one good eye, staring at the live footage. His instincts screamed at him—something about this wasn't right. A private corporation, launching this many satellites in a single event? It felt… ominous. "Damn sci-fi movies must be messing with my head," he muttered to himself. Just then, Hill's voice rang out again. "Director! The count has reached one hundred! It looks like the launch is finally complete!" Nick Fury walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows of his office, looking out at the sky. From this vantage point, he could see exactly what was happening. One hundred Starlink rockets. Each moving with military-level precision. Each maintaining identical speed, altitude, and distance from the others. A perfect formation. It wasn't just a launch. It was a display of power. — Back at Mason Industries' headquarters, the rooftop erupted into thunderous cheers and gasps of amazement. "My God…" "Am I dreaming?" "Did they really just launch a hundred satellites? A hundred?!" "This is the single greatest aerospace event of the 21st century!" "Mason Industries is… unstoppable." — But just as the shock was starting to settle in— Something even more unbelievable happened. A loud gasp came from the crowd as someone pointed to the sky. "Look! Look at those rockets!" All eyes turned skyward. Then, a collective wave of disbelief swept through the rooftop. The rockets were shifting position. One by one, the Starlink satellites adjusted their flight paths. Slowly, they started forming an image. A symbol. It was the Umbrella Corporation logo—a perfect rendition of the infamous red-and-white emblem, floating in the sky, made entirely of Starlink satellites. For a full sixty seconds, the world watched in stunned silence. Then— The formation changed again. This time, the satellites reassembled into a network of interconnected points and lines—the unmistakable logo of Skynet Corporation. For a moment, there was only silence. S~eaʀᴄh the NôvelFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then— The world lost its mind. — "What kind of flight control system is this?!" "This level of precision is inhuman!" "I declare Mason Industries the undisputed number one aerospace company in the world!" "This isn't just innovation—this is a revolution." "Gene Mason… is a legend." — Across the globe, audiences erupted in hysteria. Some were in awe. Some were terrified. But one thing was clear— The entire world was now looking at Mason Industries. And no one knew what would happen next. -------------- T/N: Access Advance Chapters on my P@treon: [email protected]/MPHFics