Chapter 402

Chapter 402: I Disagree!

Although Lin Mo could not see the machine gun bunkers or blockades at the entrance, he felt a subtle sense of high alert in the air.

“No problem! Please report to Building 2.”

The soldier pointed to a newly created map beside the duty room, which displayed the floor plan of some openly accessible areas, providing guidance and assistance for the newly arrived astronaut candidates.

In every military zone, strict speed limits were enforced. The soldier reminded Lin Mo, who was riding a motorcycle, “You cannot exceed 30 kilometers per hour inside.”

Lin Mo’s motorcycle had no license and no registration; it was just a temporary ride, costing a mere four thousand yuan. Although he had taken many detours along the way, he still managed to arrive a day before the reporting deadline.

“Alright, thank you!” Lin Mo nodded. His eyesight was excellent; even from five or six meters away, he could clearly see the map.

He engaged first gear and gently twisted the throttle, making the 125cc motorcycle smoothly accelerate into the training center at a speed of five kilometers per hour.

As he passed by the large wolfdog that was staring at him, Lin Mo reached out to pat the furry big head.

Seeing Lin Mo’s movement, the guard soldier’s expression changed dramatically, and he shouted urgently, “Don’t touch it; it will bite!”

The wolfdog guarding the entrance was indeed a genuine Kunming military dog and not the kind of pet one might find at home.

These military dogs are not for casual petting. Anyone who approaches without the owner’s permission should be prepared for a possible bite.

However, the two soldiers on guard did not witness the bloody scene they had imagined, nor did they hear any cries or fierce growls from the military dog. Instead, they saw Lin Mo’s hand safely reach out to the fuzzy dog’s head, rubbing it and enjoying the softness, before accelerating further into the training center.

What was going on here?

The military dog remained unguarded, still maintaining its sitting position, allowing Lin Mo to touch its forehead as if receiving affection from a familiar person rather than a stranger. It even seemed to want to extend its tongue to lick Lin Mo, showing signs of friendliness.

The two soldiers exchanged glances, bewildered by what they were witnessing. This was a military dog, not a domesticated pet; why was it behaving so amicably? Normally, such a dog would bite the intruder’s hand and pull him off the motorcycle, which was what the soldiers expected.

Could it be that this new arrival knew the dog from before? How could that be possible?

This dog had been carefully selected from a military breeding station and rigorously trained. Ordinary people couldn’t just approach it, and after two or three years of training, it wasn’t just a rookie anymore. People who came to report here should not have any connections to military breeding facilities.

This was truly perplexing as they watched Lin Mo’s figure fade away.

The two soldiers on guard were left scratching their heads in confusion.

The earliest individuals to report arrived a week ago, and the training center had given those reporting a twenty-day window. Even those from the most remote and inconvenient mountain areas had made it here long ago.

By the time Lin Mo completed his reporting, more than thirty people had already arrived at the aerospace training center before him.

Most of the reporters had backgrounds in the Air Force, but not everyone was a pilot like Lin Mo; some were ground crew or involved in political propaganda.

Aside from the Air Force personnel, there were a few young and energetic aerospace technology experts. Although most research scientists didn’t focus on physical fitness, making their overall condition average and sometimes even weaker than ordinary civilians, the government and military could easily find a few individuals who met the physical fitness requirements when they were determined.

These technical experts had solid knowledge bases and strong foundations. They could be specifically trained for operations, which did not require much time or expense, just a bit of effort to boost their physical fitness to meet the demands of aerospace work.

Though men constituted the majority of those reporting, women were not absent either; there were six female reporters considered candidates for the next generation of astronauts.

Since this was an aerospace training center, even though the candidates had not yet officially become astronauts, their treatment was not only world-class but also among the best domestically.

On reporting day, each person was provided with a private dorm room. Although the training center didn’t look particularly impressive from the outside, its interior design and facilities took ergonomics and psychology into account. The accommodation area was not only warm and quiet but also fully equipped, offering ample convenience for both entertainment and exercise.

There was a small park and a large swimming pool, making it feel like a luxurious vacation resort.

After another thorough health examination and interview, everyone received meals specially prepared by nutritionists, using the finest ingredients, meticulously cooked to match the standards of national leaders.

Through the issued health monitoring wristbands, physiological parameters such as heart rate, blood pressure, and endocrine changes were gathered 24 hours a day to adjust their diets accordingly. There were also dedicated psychological experts for routine discussions, and specialized trainers offered guidance in the fitness center.

Here, there are no communal meals; each person’s diet, including snacks, is strictly controlled. Even a sip of water is monitored. The rooms receive disinfection and cleaning services every three days, making this arrangement almost like being caged.

This method of "raising" candidates, as the mischievous Health Department head, Director Nie, from Night said, is certainly a prime place to cultivate "stud horses" that can directly enhance the genetic quality of China’s population, ensuring that the "raised ones" are always in their best condition.

Those who can come here and ultimately remain are undoubtedly among the best people out of the 1.4 billion Chinese, excelling not only in physical fitness and mental resilience but also being the smartest individuals.

By the last day of the reporting period, there were no late astronaut candidates gathered in an indoor sports hall.

The ground was covered with soft wool carpets, and the temperature and humidity were controlled to a comfortable level. Sixty selected candidates from all over the country either stood or sat, forming a fan-shaped arrangement, creating a relaxed atmosphere. Too much seriousness and tension do not suit astronauts.

The training center requires astronauts to maintain a calm and composed mind, even if they are holding a grenade about to explode.

Within the angles of the fan shape, an Air Force Major General held a list while calling out names.

“Lieutenant Zhang Cheng!”

“Present!”

“Captain Chang Zhizhi!”

“Present.”

“Major Qi Songchun!”

“Present!”

“Major Lin Mo!”

“Present!”

“Captain Li Rong…”

The Major General called out names one by one. Each person acknowledged received the focused gazes of the others, as if they were trying to memorize each other’s faces within the brief pause between names.

The Major General intentionally slowed his pace while reading the names, thus providing everyone time to remember faces.

This was a great arrangement, allowing everyone to quickly become familiar with one another. Astronaut missions typically require teamwork, and the sooner they understand each other, the better the mutual understanding that can be established early on. Whether in training or during formal missions, this is very beneficial.

Although a Captain might seem unremarkable now, once selected as an astronaut, whether as a first captain or a backup, they would directly be upgraded to a rank above major. The rank promotion happens almost faster than taking an elevator.

Only officers, not junior-ranked soldiers, can go to space; as long as they are military personnel, they will all be commissioned officers. The aerospace center is indeed a golden sanctuary, and it’s genuinely made of real gold.

When Lin Mo heard his name called, he suddenly felt a gaze from the other candidates that was different from the rest, carrying an air of curiosity. He turned his head to look and saw a youthful lieutenant with a baby face staring at him.

When the Major General called this young officer’s name, Lin Mo realized that his voice resembled that of his new trainee "Tabby Cat," whom he had been flying with this month.

The baby-faced lieutenant was named Meng Yinan, a name that sounded artistic. He lacked the sharp or steady demeanor typical of pilots and instead resembled a cheerful neighborhood boy, radiating sunlight and a fearless, adventurous spirit.

The cockpit of a fighter jet is typically very noisy, filled with static. Mike, tasked with audio capture, also had to manage noise reduction. This often resulted in distorted sounds. Lin Mo and the young lieutenant exchanged glances for two seconds, seemingly confirming something, and they shared a knowing smile.

It was indeed "Tabby Cat," still carrying the mutual understanding developed during flight training.

“Now we will assign numbers, and for better management, we will split into three groups.”

After finishing the name roll call, the Major General scanned everyone and continued, “Please remember your code names; during training, our coaches and staff will only use these, as your names are meaningless here. Only those who stay till the end will be called heroes!”

Using code names is also a means of maintaining confidentiality.

Everyone perked up their ears. Although they had been living comfortably in the aerospace training center for the past few days, they learned from various sources that the elimination rate here is impressively high. Space missions allow no room for error; naturally, the standards for selection are quite strict. Everyone hopes to pass the screening perfectly, leaving no regrets.

“Number 1, Lin Mo…”

“I object!”

Before the Major General could finish calling the first code name and name, a candidate in front of him loudly raised a question.

“What do you object to, Major Wang Xuejun?” The Major General’s face darkened, showing his displeasure.

A candidate who looked to be about twenty stood up, pointing at Lin Mo and loudly stated, “Why is he number 1?”