"...In view of Comrade Mingzhao's irreplaceable and strategically significant outstanding contributions to the development of the 'Tianyin' strategic communication system...after deliberation by the Military Region Party Committee and with the approval of higher authorities: Comrade Mingzhao is hereby awarded the title of 'Military Region Scientific Research Pioneer'! He is awarded a First-Class Merit! He is transferred to the newly established 'National Advanced Communication Technology Research Institute' as its chief scientist!..."
The order to confer medals echoed throughout the hall, each word carrying immense weight.
Below the stage, a sea of officers and researchers focused their attention on the young figure on the stage.
Howard was among them.
He looked up at his nominal wife on the stage.
Mingzhao was wearing a brand-new civilian military uniform. Although there were no shining stars on his shoulder insignia, the special insignia that represented the chief scientist of the national research institute shone brightly under the lights.
He wore a gleaming first-class merit medal on his chest, his posture upright like a drawn sword.
Su Xuan and other core members of "Tianyin" stood behind him, also wearing military medals, their faces beaming with excitement and pride.
The ceremony ended. The crowd dispersed.
Deputy Commander Zhao Zhenbang did not leave. He walked up to Lu Chen, the veteran general who had fought countless battles. At this moment, his eyes were unusually deep, carrying a power that seemed to see into the future.
He dismissed everyone around him, leaving only the two of them in the large auditorium.
“Comrade Mingzhao,” Deputy Commander Zhao’s voice was deep and powerful. He raised his hand, the hand that had commanded thousands of troops and was as steady as a rock.
At this moment, with a solemn force, it pressed heavily on Lu Chen's shoulder.
Mingzhao felt a weight on his shoulders; it was trust, but also a responsibility as heavy as a mountain.
"Well done!" Deputy Commander Zhao's eyes were full of admiration.
Then, his gaze seemed to pierce through the roof of the auditorium, reaching towards the boundless sky, his voice carrying an unprecedented solemnity and hope:
“We have all witnessed the ‘heavenly sound’, and the sound quality is excellent! But this is just the beginning, just… the first step on this land beneath our feet.”
He withdrew his gaze, staring intently into Lu Chen's eyes, as if trying to etch some kind of belief into his soul:
"The capital city. A group of people, like you, who are unwilling to just look at the land beneath their feet, are preparing a top-secret plan. Code name 'Galaxy'."
The two words "Galaxy" shone like two stars in Lu Chen's mind! The memory fragments of the Interstellar Federation's Deep Space Communications Laboratory surged instantly!
Deputy Commander Zhao's voice continued, carrying a heavy weight of entrusting the future:
"Its goal is the stars and the sea! It's to let the voice of the motherland, the eyes of the motherland, break through the shackles of the sky and see further! There, lies the true commanding height of the future battlefield!"
His hand on Mingzhao's shoulder tightened, carrying an unquestionable entrustment:
"We need a pair of eyes! A pair of eyes that can see through the fog of the stars and guide the way for our motherland!"
"Comrade Mingzhao!"
The old general's voice suddenly rose, like a bugle call to battle, echoing in the empty auditorium:
"Are you willing to accept this challenge? With your wisdom and these hands, for our motherland! To see through the galaxy! To pave this information road leading to the stars and the sea?!"
Mingzhao slowly raised her head. The dome of the auditorium was high and far, as if it led directly to the vast universe.
The calm depths in her eyes now seemed to reflect an endless sea of stars, with brilliant light flowing and converging within them, ultimately transforming into a blazing light as steadfast as the core of a star.
Mingzhao stood with his feet together, his spine straight, and gave a perfect military salute to the old general before him and to the boundless starry sky.
The voice was clear and resonant, decisive and firm, like a sharp sword piercing the sky:
"Always be prepared, Commander!"
"For the motherland, see through the Milky Way!"
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