"Boss Wu! How could you..." Chu Bu, Cheng Lao, and others at the ground control center were nearly on the verge of collapse, their voices trembling with disbelief. Their core figure, the chief technical officer, had actually boarded the space shuttle without a trace, and even then, during this stage of testing, which hadn't been fully publicized!
"Return! Return immediately!" someone practically shouted, their voice filled with anxiety and panic. Wu Tong's importance was self-evident. She was the soul of the entire project and an absolute national treasure.
If anything happens to her, the consequences will be disastrous and no one can afford it!
However, Wu Tong smiled faintly, gazing out the window at the diminishing outline of Earth in the distance. Her voice remained calm, yet with an undeniable firmness: "Please rest assured, everyone. I have repeatedly verified the safety of the space shuttle, and simulation results show that the risks of this flight are almost negligible. I believe in my design and I believe in our team."
She paused, her tone softening. "Please forgive my willfulness. This has been my dream for years, and it's the ultimate test of our progress. I want to see with my own eyes what our home planet looks like in space, to see just how vast and boundless the universe truly is. I also want to experience for myself how far and how stable the space shuttle we've worked so hard for can actually fly."
There was silence in the ground control center, and everyone was shocked by her words.
They knew that Wu Tong was never impulsive and that every decision she made was carefully considered. But even so, her "willfulness" this time still caught everyone off guard.
"Mr. Wu, you...you should at least tell us in advance!" Chu Bu couldn't help but say, with helplessness and worry in his voice.
Wu Tong chuckled, a hint of mischief in his tone: "If I had told you in advance, would I still be able to go up? You would definitely try your best to stop me."
The atmosphere in ground control had eased slightly, but tension still hung heavy in the air. Everyone knew it was too late to say anything now; the only thing they could do was to do their utmost to ensure the safety of the flight.
"Mr. Wu, we will monitor the flight data throughout the entire process to ensure everything is normal." Cheng Lao and the others finally calmed down, their tone carrying a hint of tolerant helplessness and admiration. "Mr. Wu, please be careful. If there are any abnormalities, please notify us immediately."
Everyone knows that you cannot return home at will. The flight control and avionics systems are set up in advance, and making random changes will increase the risk.
"Don't worry," Wu Tong nodded, a hint of determination in his eyes, "I will."
At this moment, Lu Xiao's voice came from the communication system: "Boss Wu, you really scared all of us this time!"
Wu Tong turned her head and glanced at Lu Xiao who was sitting in the passenger seat, her lips curled up slightly: "Thank you, Mr. Lu, for risking your life to accompany a gentleman! Do you regret it?"
Lu Xiao smiled bitterly and shook his head: "I don't regret it, but I think... you are a little too bold."
Wu Tong smiled but didn't answer. Instead, he turned his gaze back out the window. The outline of the Earth was clearly visible. The azure ocean, the white clouds, and the vast land formed a stunning picture.
"Lu Xiao, look," she said softly, "this is our home planet. How beautiful and magnificent it is."
Lu Xiao followed her gaze, and an indescribable emotion welled up in his heart. He knew that at this moment, they were not only completing a flight mission, but also realizing a dream, a dream that belonged to all mankind.
On the large screen at the ground control center, all the space shuttle data was normal. Everyone held their breath, staring intently at the screen, as if afraid to miss a single detail.
"Mr. Wu, the flight altitude has reached the predetermined orbit and all systems are operating normally." A technician reported with a hint of excitement in his voice.
Wu Tong nodded, with a hint of relief in her tone: "Very good, continue monitoring." She prepared the space suit in advance as a backup, and there happened to be two backups, which were used by her and Lu Xiao.
She took a deep breath, feeling the lightness of her body in the weightlessness, and an unprecedented and shocking sense of freedom surged in her heart.
She knew that at this moment, she was not only flying for herself, but also for all those who were fighting for it, for that distant sea of stars that belonged to mankind.
"Please rest assured," she said again, her voice filled with tenderness and determination. "I will be back safely. This time, please allow me to be willful for once."
Everyone in the ground control center fell silent. They knew Wu Tong's decision could not be changed, and all they could do was to fully support her and ensure the success of this flight.
"Boss Wu, I wish you a safe flight." Captain Chu finally spoke, his voice firm and powerful. "We await your triumphant return." This time, death is imperative! Even if he had to give up everything, he would still ensure Boss Wu's safe return. He turned his gaze to the two astronauts. This was a death order!
Wu Tong smiled slightly, a hint of gratitude in his eyes: "Thank you everyone. I will."
The space shuttle flew slowly through space, like an eagle spreading its wings, soaring towards the unknown distance. And on the ground, the hearts of countless people also flew towards the vast starry sky.
When the space shuttle successfully entered its planned orbit and steadily circled Earth, Wu Tong and Lu Xiao almost simultaneously held their breath. Outside the porthole, the azure planet, home to countless lives, quietly hovered in the pitch-black universe, like a gem embedded in the endless darkness, emitting a soft and mysterious light.
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