[Chapter 934: Success and Failure]
"10, 9, 8... 1, rocket engine ignition."
Silence approached from every corner; even the faint explosions from afar couldn't break the unusually quiet launch hall.
"Haha, don't be like that. Success like this never cos easy. Everyone, achieving success is never simple--it's filled with hardships and sweat. Let borrow this phrase to encourage all of you. At the very least, it seems our escape pod got launched; go and retrieve that thing."
A group of engineers in uniforms stood up and applauded. At this mont, so encouraging words were indeed needed.
William White comforted each one before beginning his tour of the rocket launch base.
If he wasn't a little disappointed, that would've been impossible--Motorola's satellites had successfully been sent into space, delivering several in a single launch. Here, though this was only an experintal model, not a single rocket had left the ground yet.
Damn Earth's gravity--it not only ages the ladies prematurely but also kept the rocket grounded. It was downright frustrating.
"Filson, looks like I'm getting a bit anxious."
"Yes, I just checked; before the launch, they were unhappy with the simulation results. There were many issues with the engine configuration."
"Yeah, and the rocket's landing gear, such a pity. I only wished for more data."
William had never expected to get the Falcon rocket done in a year or two. Seeing sothing take shape within five years was already an impressive achievent.
"We will always rember them. We won't forget this morning's last mont seeing them. They were ready, waving to us as they broke free from Earth's stubborn grip and soared toward the heavens, nearing the loving face of God."
Mr. White also quoted John Denver's soaring flight. In a recent interview, Dr. Wayne of Tesla Rocket Dynamics said the escape pod test was very successful; in the near future, astronauts' lives would be guaranteed.
"Ladies and gentlen, this is Tesla Rocket Launch Center. This is NBC special correspondent Lillian reporting live."
"Ha, a staged failure?" Buffett almost spat a mouthful of blood, knowing William White was shaless but never expecting he'd be shaless to such a degree.
"Haha, Warren, you're not composed enough."
Looking at his good friend, Buffett was speechless. He actually enjoyed watching William White's misfortune. He didn't care for Charlie Munger's sarcasm.
"Charlie, do you seriously think he's not shaless? Failure is failure, yet he makes it sound like so escape pod project."
"Cough, Warren, they admitted the failure but said the experint had three phases.
If successful, they'd launch a simulation satellite and then the Falcon 0 rocket would return. If failed, they'd test the escape pod."
"Man, that works?"
"Look at the poem he quoted; during the Challenger disaster, the president also cited this poem."
"Alright, so Charlie, do you believe their nonsense?"
"Not a word. This was just a failure. But to use a failed launch to infinitely boost their reputation--gotta admit, that's genius."
Buffett shook his head and chuckled bitterly. This wasn't William White's doing; he had a crisis PR firm working behind the scenes. Honestly, it was impressive.
"We've taken note of Tesla's launch. Actually, we've been in communication with them about the escape pod.
If there's a breakthrough, trust us--human life is the top priority."
Amid the overwhelming criticism, NASA had no choice but to clarify. Well, they knew long ago; they just chose to keep quiet.
As their boss left, Tesla's employees were thrilled. They really didn't understand how a failed launch got tied to humanity's space exploration dreams.
But none of that was important--their funding just increased again. On top of that, the boss didn't set any titable.
"Al, should I go check it out?"
Looking at the briefing, Clinton was speechless. Looking at their crisis PR team compared to theirs--night and day, amateur level.
Al snorted. "Your goal is crisis PR, right? Once you get it, the whole world will know."
"Bill, this timing isn't right. I think their solar array project is more feasible."
Clinton was stunned. Of course, he knew this. Tesla planned to build an efficient, clean energy system. But wasn't it just talk?
"Al, is this really feasible?"
"It is. And it has so real promotional value. Current oil prices are low, but that won't last. As far as I know, they're developing even more advanced collectors."
"Hmm, seems we do need to check it out. So it's not just a show?"
Al Gore shook his head; initially, he was skeptical. But after witnessing that stunning scene, there was nothing to argue.
William White always knew few would believe him. Those so-called investnts seed more like political ones.
"George, why does he want to see ? Didn't they say all oil companies hated the Koch family?"
"Man, you got that from a history book? That's nonsense. Koch Enterprises cooperates with those oil giants."
"Don't joke. Such a big enterprise not even public? Not willing to share wealth, and you expect good relations?"
Truthfully, William White worried about Bush Jr.'s intelligence. This was all nonsense, a complete blunder.
"Cough, ever heard of the Cato Institute?"
"Haha, now I get it. Weren't those idiots the ones clamoring to open the market?"
"Idiots? You sure you know them?"
"Of course. I could teach those free-market theories to them as a professor. Showing off with so knowledge--is that really good?"
Bush Jr. was miffed with no real retort. Claiming to teach economics was no joke.
Let's see who's got more money.
"No big deal. Oh, this agency might be useful to ."
"Alright, alright, I can't promise anything."
"Of course, business is business."
William White hung up, wanting to chuckle a bit. The Rockefeller family's moves seed to have scared so people.
Koch Enterprises was arguably Arica's largest private company. Politically, their stance was clear. Big governnt like Clinton promoted wasn't popular.
Though an old family, they weren't embraced by society. Entering politics was practically a pipe dream.
William White had moved too fast; by the ti so families realized, the best timing was lost. The Koch family was one of them.
They initially ignored him, then tried to suppress him, then were stunned and confused. When they ca to terms, it seed equal footing was impossible.
Talking social standing, with bestselling authors and philanthropists raising the bar, anyone complaining would be schooled into questioning life. Talking business scale: even in oil, Koch Enterprises was only on par.
*****
spatreon/Sayonara816.
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