Top Student at Their Peak-Chapter 817 - 277: Silence Is Tonight’s Theme

Across the ocean, at West University, in the white house at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington D.C.

The leader sitting at the oval office desk was clearly not happy about being unable to sleep at three in the morning.

But there was no choice.

Everyone in the office at this moment were key figures of high standing in the nation.

But that wasn’t the most important thing, after all, he was the biggest among them. However, it was a different matter if many people were paying attention to this event.

As many have said, West University often operates more like a super corporation rather than a country.

So, whether it’s the chairperson or the CEO, they need to be accountable to the major shareholders supporting them from behind.

When the major shareholders deem an event extremely important, he must also take it seriously.

At this moment, a middle-aged man in a dark blue officer uniform, with a badge on his chest, was explaining to the leaders in front of the screen.

"...As everyone can see, a total of seven spacecraft were launched from the aforementioned locations, and after entering the Asian region, they were successively shot down by lasers..."

Hearing this, the leader sitting at the desk finally showed interest and directly interrupted the man’s report, asking, "Wait, Steven, are you saying Huaxia’s exercise-launch of seven spacecraft were all shot down? By whom?"

The middle-aged man giving the report noticed that the leader seemed not to understand the situation yet. After a moment of silence to gather his thoughts, he replied, "They did it themselves?"

"What? Huaxia shot them down themselves?! Are you saying their exercise was to launch the spacecraft and then shoot them all down themselves?" the leader asked in shock.

This sounded somewhat redundant.

When he received the briefing, he already knew about this matter.

However, in his view, similar exercises by Huaxia were not new. It was merely about launching spacecraft and ensuring they fall within a designated area.

Commonly known as hitting the target as pointed out.

The only difference this time was launching seven at once, possibly making it more complex to control.

Yes, that’s what his science advisor told him.

Of course, the science advisor answered this way because when he asked, "Why would Huaxia launch seven spacecraft at once from different global positions?"

So, responding like that was actually fine.

But the resulting situation seemed a bit different from what he had imagined.

"Yes, they shot them down themselves!" the uniformed middle-aged man reiterated.

Then, perhaps considering it might be difficult for the elder’s limited brain cells to understand this point, he immediately explained loudly, "Four years ago, Huaxia made a high-profile announcement to build a Planet-level active space-based defense system."

The leader nodded understandingly.

Although when Huaxia announced this, he hadn’t assumed his current position yet.

Still, the matter caused a significant stir and sparked widespread internal debate, thus it remained in his memos, occupying a crucial spot.

Then the leader quickly realized, exclaiming in surprise, "Wait, you mean they actually developed this so-called Planet-level defense system? These spacecraft were shot down by this system?

I remember the memo mentioned that this system was likely designed to draw us into a space race. And according to their promotion back then, this defense system was intended to shatter potential asteroids heading towards Earth?"

Steven nodded and replied, "At the time they did promote it like that. But sir, you probably only read the comprehensive opinion from most experts in the memo.

If you go through the memo thoroughly, you’ll see that some also noted that if this active defense system were truly completed, it could not only defend against extraterrestrial threats but also endanger all atmospheric flying objects!"

"Wait, you’re saying that once airborne, all flying objects can be threatened by this so-called space-based defense system? Including all our airplanes, as long as they take off, they’ll be within its range of deterrence?"

Hearing this, the leader sitting at the head of the table was immediately alert. All drowsiness dissipated, and he pursued loudly.

Clearly, he hadn’t noticed that part of the content in the memo.

But he couldn’t be blamed for that; it was the responsibility of those around him who neglected their duties.

After all, he was too busy, where’s the time to read so much? Without anyone reminding him, he’d never have noticed.

And ever since Huaxia publicized this so-called Planet-level active defense system, there hadn’t been any updates.

Who would have thought it would suddenly emerge?

But more bewildering to him was why now? Why did Huaxia choose this time to conduct exercises?

Couldn’t they have done it two years earlier?

That way, the responsibility would fall on his predecessor. Being delayed to now, he had to take the blame.

MDZZ!

What could he say? He could only blame his predecessor for being so irresponsible. Knowing such a large-scale project had started during his term, yet there were no countermeasures at all.

Letting Huaxia easily complete this so-called Planet-level defense plan!

No way, this responsibility was too great! He couldn’t bear it.

Indeed, after asking this question, the leader’s few remaining brain cells were already depleting rapidly. After all, shifting responsibility is a grave affair!

However, the question he raised was of concern to everyone in the office.

What a joke?!

If all flying objects were within the deterrence range of this space-based defense system, everyone in the office, without exception, wouldn’t dare to board an aircraft in the future.