Chapter 34 - 34: Global Surveillance

"Mason Industries possesses technology akin to magic!" "Five hundred rockets launched simultaneously—are you ready to be amazed?" "Phase One of the Starlink Project has been successfully completed." "Reports indicate multiple people fainted at the launch site due to shock." "It's nothing short of a miracle!" "NASA officials refuse to comment on Mason Industries' rocket launch." "Sources suggest the Department of Defense is preparing to approach Mason Industries for cooperation." "Shocking! A stunning reporter was alone with Gene Mason!" The day after the Starlink rocket launch, the global media was in an uproar. The entire internet was flooded with videos of the previous night's historic event. Many people who had missed the live broadcast due to time zone differences were now watching the footage—and their minds were utterly blown. The sheer scale of the launch, the precision, the flawless execution—it was technology beyond imagination, like something out of a sci-fi movie. "I'm on my knees! This is insane!" "Holy crap, this is unreal!" "Five hundred rockets… FIVE HUNDRED! How is this even possible?" "When can we start using the free internet?" "If only Mason Industries were a company from our country… imagine the benefits!" Online discussions were exploding with excitement, admiration, and even envy. Meanwhile, intelligence agencies and military organizations worldwide were glued to their surveillance feeds, tracking every move of the Starlink rockets as they ascended toward space. NASA Headquarters "Director, we estimate that Mason Industries' rockets will reach outer space in approximately one hour." A NASA analyst reported to his superior, Director Clayson, who sat at his desk looking utterly drained. Yesterday's launch had aged him by at least a decade. "Pull up the video feed," Clayson ordered weakly. As the primary technical supporter of the International Space Station (ISS), NASA had installed high-resolution cameras onboard. At that moment, two astronauts stationed on the ISS were already adjusting their cameras, preparing to record. According to NASA's calculations, five Starlink rockets were scheduled to release their satellites in this sector of space. "Jack, this is insane. Compared to Mason Industries, NASA looks like a bunch of cavemen!" One astronaut couldn't help but exclaim as he fine-tuned the camera. "Hey, let's not get ahead of ourselves. What if the satellite deployment fails?" Jack chuckled, though deep down, he wasn't feeling so confident. Both astronauts had watched the live broadcast the previous night, and the experience had left them with only one thought: This technology is simply too advanced. It's like magic. "Look! The rockets are here!" The other astronaut, Furman, nearly shouted in excitement. On their screens, transmitted back to NASA's headquarters, five Starlink rockets appeared, streaking across space with their distinctive blue exhaust trails. And then, they saw something that made their jaws drop. The payload fairings of the rockets slowly opened—revealing ten satellites inside each. S~eaʀᴄh the NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But these weren't ordinary satellites. Unlike traditional ones, which relied on solar panels for energy, these were sleek, cylindrical objects without any visible solar arrays. And then, the impossible happened. The satellites' rear sections lit up, emitting the same striking blue energy as the rockets. In an instant, the satellites began adjusting their trajectories—maneuvering independently in space. It wasn't just the ISS crew witnessing this marvel. From multiple locations around Earth's low orbit, observatories and military installations were tracking these satellites as they adjusted their positions with remarkable precision. Bathed in sunlight, they gleamed with a silvery-white brilliance—like stars scattered across the heavens. "What the hell?! What kind of satellites are these?" "Why don't they have solar panels?" "My god, the entire low-Earth orbit is filled with these things!" "How many satellites did Mason Industries launch?!" The two astronauts felt their hearts pounding in their chests. On the ground, inside NASA's headquarters, an eerie silence had taken over the room. All that could be heard was the sound of heavy breathing as dozens of experts and officials stared at the screen in disbelief. Then— "F**k!" Clayson finally broke the silence, slamming his fist on the table. "What the hell is Mason Industries trying to do?!" "Are they planning to take over the entire low-Earth orbit?!" The scale of this operation was beyond comprehension. Mason Industries had launched more satellites in a single day than all the world's space agencies combined had launched in decades. … "Director! We've detected an abnormal electromagnetic signal—it's coming from the Starlink satellites!" A technician suddenly shouted, his voice filled with urgency. "Patch it through!" Clayson commanded. A moment later, text appeared on the giant screen: "Welcome to Mason Industries' Starlink Network. We provide free internet access worldwide." "For inquiries, please contact Mason Industries." In the top-left corner of the screen, a barely noticeable logo appeared— Skynet. A chill ran down Clayson's spine. "Test the internet speed," he ordered. A few seconds later, the technician's face turned pale. "Director… the download speed is clocking in at 1 GB per second. That's faster than most commercial internet providers worldwide." Clayson's mind went blank. All he could think of was— "Fk!"** The implications were catastrophic. Around the world, telecom giants and internet service providers were now facing an existential crisis. A free, high-speed global internet network? If Mason Industries went through with this, their entire business model would collapse. "Mason Industries is going to destroy our entire industry!" "Sue them! We need to shut down their Starlink Project immediately!" "What do we do now?" "Check the network latency—maybe there's a weakness!" "Dear God… how did things spiral out of control this fast?!" As telecom executives and world leaders panicked, a notification appeared in Gene Mason's neural interface. [Current active Starlink users: 5 million… and rising.] Considering the service had only just launched, this number was expected to skyrocket in the coming hours. Gene smiled. "Skynet, is the surveillance system ready?" He asked calmly. A moment later, Skynet's voice responded: ""Sir, real-time surveillance has been established for all connected users. We are monitoring calls, messages, and online activities. Additionally, behavioral data is being compiled for advanced analysis."" Gene's smile deepened. Then, another voice interrupted his neural link. "Sir, Miss Romanoff has regained consciousness. Would you like to see her now?" It was Red Queen. -------------- T/N: Access Advance Chapters on my P@treon: [email protected]/MPHFics