Chapter 130
131
Chapter 131 A Gathering of Heroes: Military Science Expo
The San Francisco Bay Area.
East Bay.
The first Militech Exhibition Hall Strategic Expo.
The venue was bustling with activity, both inside and out, with crowds of people.
Inside the venue, security was tight, with a large number of police officers on high alert.
The main venue for this year's Military Science and Technology Expo is a square-shaped building.
It is surrounded by lush, neatly arranged green belts, flower beds, and fountains.
Amidst a multitude of venues showcasing military sub-businesses in various styles and exquisite details, each vying for attention, this building, in terms of appearance, can only be described as unremarkable. It hardly befits the identity of a high-tech enterprise that leads the world in Militech; it is essentially a neoclassical traditional building constructed entirely of reinforced concrete, marble, and plaster.
The only highlights are the several thick, round stone pillars at the bottom of the entrance, and the huge video screen on the wall facade projecting the bust of Ms. Vera Adelheid, CEO of the Military Science and Technology Association, as well as news from the sub-venues of the Expo and advertisements from sponsors, all in holographic projection.
A combination of old and new.
Tradition and novelty, classicism and science fiction—these seemingly disparate styles are strangely yet perfectly blended together, giving every visitor a magnificent aesthetic that is both materialistic and idealistic.
I don't understand it, but it looks amazing!
"Wow, that's cool."
Under the giant parasol storage pillar in the square, a team from the military research institute's directly affiliated charitable welfare institution stood, and a white boy with a buzz cut looked on with curiosity.
"Hey, Shirley, your mom must work for Militech, right? Is she at the military science headquarters in San Francisco?"
As he spoke, he shifted his gaze from the thick walls of the main venue. His slightly immature face, with a touch of roguishness, made him look like he was eleven or twelve years old, but he was much taller and not thin than his peers.
He looked behind him.
A girl with short, golden hair was looking down, holding something in her hands... what appeared to be a business card? She was carefully stroking and examining it.
"I'm not really sure either."
The girl, called Sherry, gripped the small silver-plated card in her hand—black with gold trim and embossed with bright red patterns—and shook her head, looking at the boy. She said, "Maybe, maybe not."
"Ha?"
The boy asked in surprise, "Then what are you doing in San Francisco? Doesn't your mother work here? Are you planning to use this business card to meet the CEO of the military science department and ask her to help you find something?"
"Fool!"
Shirley poked the boy in annoyance. He was a classmate she had met at the military science welfare home school.
"It's not like we necessarily have to meet. I'm not one of those troublemakers in Hollywood movies. Can't we try our luck? Besides, don't you want to come and see the expo?"
Before she finished speaking, she pointed to the huge video screen on the neoclassical-style facade of the main stadium.
"I have my reasons for coming to San Francisco. Sigh... it's all because of the war on terror, which has turned into a new war on biological and chemical weapons. You've seen the news about Afghanistan, right? My Mummy... well, you just need to know that she works in this field. Her leave was canceled, and she must be very busy right now."
The screen displayed a message: "Senior White House officials and the President's National Security Advisor will be present at the Militech Expo."
"Oh."
The boy shrugged, looked at the screen, and muttered aloud, "National Security Advisor?"
This is a high-ranking official.
Drake C. Simmons...
Sherry murmured to herself.
She had seen this man before.
My mother works in one of his confidential departments.
Although she didn't know whether her mother worked for Ms. Vera of the Military Science Institute or Mr. Simmons of the White House, or what kind of work she was doing.
Having experienced such a profound childhood trauma, she, far more mature than her peers, wouldn't ask about such sensitive issues, and her mother, Annie, wouldn't proactively tell her either.
Since Annie was always extremely tired when she called back, Shirley would avoid calling Annie unless absolutely necessary to bother her and make her worry or distract her.
But if it's military science...
Currently, the top-tier, most effective T-Virus vaccines, serums, and inhibitors on the market all originate from the Military Science Institute. Given that Mommy is a virologist, and considering the military's setbacks in Afghanistan, and with Simmons as National Security Advisor, he will undoubtedly seek deeper cooperation with the Military Science Institute, especially regarding BOW and novel virus inhibitors. Mommy will likely also attend subsequent meetings...
Thinking this, just as Shirley was carefully putting away her business cards, a commotion arose from some unknown direction, and the crowd in the venue began to rapidly converge.
Bodyguards in black, armed security personnel, and police officers on duty moved in groups. Amid the shouts of reporters and flashing cameras, dozens of gleaming black special police cars stopped with a slight braking sound in front of the red carpet extending from the private internal passageway on the side of the venue.
Amidst the convoy was a stretched Cadillac sedan. A bodyguard in black bowed to open the door, and a foot emerged from the car. A woman with light blonde hair stepped out, removed her sunglasses, and waved to the media reporters, military science supporters, and fans present. Her demeanor was dignified and elegant, and she exuded charm.
It's Vera Adelheid!
Shirley's classmates couldn't help but whistle and cheer. From the most basic and normal value perspective, the other party was their benefactor who sponsored them.
Only Shirley's eyes were fixed on the middle-aged white man with slicked-back hair, a high hairline, and a forehead that shone slightly in the sunlight as he stepped out of another extended Cadillac.
It's Simmons.
Shirley continued to look around hopefully, her gaze moving across the convoy in all directions.
Finally, she saw—
Annie stepped out of an ordinary special operations car and was talking with a bookish, golden-haired woman who looked like a scholar.
With a delighted expression, Shirley took out her Junke V23Gs mobile phone from her handbag, opened the contacts on the 3.5-inch LCD screen, and dialed the only number pinned to the top.
Beep...
"Huh, Sherry?"
"Mommy! I see you, I'm here..."
As soon as she got out of the car, Yani, who had just taken out her phone to answer, froze. Listening to the location her daughter described on the phone, she looked in the direction of the voice, "Shirley..."
After a quick scan, under the conspicuous giant parasol storage column, Yani spotted a group of students, whose average age was not very old, following their teacher. When she saw her daughter skipping and waving at her, a smile involuntarily appeared on her lips, as if her daughter's happiness and well-being were enough to soothe all her weariness.
Annie hung up the phone and looked at her colleague beside her.
"Excuse me, Radames, my daughter is here."
She smiled and said, "It must be the expo that came with the school's spring outing group from the Military Science Welfare Institute. Please ask Mr. Simmons for me."
"Um."
The blonde woman, called Radames, glanced at the little boy waving in the square not far away and nodded with a smile.
Thanks.
After explaining the situation to the Militech Security who had set up the cordon and the local San Francisco PD, Annie quickly walked towards Shirley.
The accompanying teacher knew Yani, a single mother, and therefore did not object.
After the hug, Annie smoothed Shirley's collar and glanced at the boy who had been standing beside Shirley in a daze. Just now, her daughter seemed to have waved to her and affectionately patted his shoulder?
"Hey Shirley, aren't you going to introduce him? This student is..."
"Well..."
Before Shirley could speak, the boy with the buzz cut scratched the back of his head shyly and said, "I can do the introductions myself."
"Hello, Auntie, my name is Jack Mueller."
On the red carpet.
"What a feast for the eyes, Vera."
Simmons turned to look at Vera.
"I'm not going to pop champagne halfway through, Mr. Security Advisor. Whether this 'feast' can be held successfully depends on the results."
Vera stepped onto the marble steps covered with a red carpet and said.
"Then I'll wait and see... um, Kara?"
At that moment, a blonde woman in a tube skirt walked up. She had a scholarly air about her and a beautiful face. She whispered in Simmons' ear.
"...Annie, yes, I understand. It just so happens to be the expo, so let her spend more time with her daughter at the venue today. The meeting won't start until tomorrow."
After saying that, noticing Vera's curious gaze, Simmons smiled and explained Annie's situation. Then, he turned to introduce her, "This is my right-hand man, the genius virologist, Carla Radames."
"Ms. Russell."
Carla Radames, still in his original, natural state, bowed slightly.
Vera nodded in acknowledgment, but a fleeting hint of amusement flickered in the depths of her eyes.
Interesting.
"Ms. Radames, I hope you have a pleasant week at the Military Science and Technology Expo."
A casual acquaintance.
"Please."
Vera said.
"Please."
Simmons also said.
"..."
Watching Vera stride confidently into the dedicated entrance to the stadium, her back to Simmons, walking side by side, chatting and laughing, a picture of harmony unfolded.
As one of the large entourage, Carla Radames' smile faded, and he lowered his head slightly. His drooping hand clenched quietly, then relaxed as if deflated.
Walk through the marble corridor to enter the VIP reception hall backstage of the venue.
It is a tall and large space.
From this vantage point, one can clearly see the massive T-shaped stage and huge LCD video backdrop built in the center of the venue, along with various lighting, projection, and audio equipment...
Rebecca Chambers, from the BSAA Organization's technical department, was seated at the front of the audience.
There are also state governments, city governments, and the Pentagon.
Competitors. Including military industry, pharmaceuticals, military contractors, and Silicon Valley high-tech companies.
Mainstream media.
It can be described as a gathering of stars.
"Consultant Simmons, Ms. Russell..."
As Vera and Simmons walked toward the center stage of the arena, chatting and laughing, a deep, resonant voice broke in.
Vera turned around and saw an elderly man in a suit and tie walking in, holding a cane.
Time has left rough marks on his face, and his hair and beard are all white, but it does not affect his upright and robust physique in the slightest.
"Mr. Morgan Lansdale."
... No, I'll update more today...
132
Chapter 132 Vera's San Francisco Bay Area and Militech Expo.
An older man in a suit and tie, carrying a gold-plated cane that only old-fashioned respectable people would carry when going out, walked forward with an upright gait.
"Ms. Russell."
He extended his right hand, gently brushing his thumb, index, and middle fingers across his temple, then raised one hand to his chest, greeting Vera with a very solemn bourgeois gesture.
Well, his demeanor is very classic British, and his appearance is imposing and dignified. He has a thick, bushy white beard, thick and neatly trimmed, and with his cold gray eyes and hooked nose, he looks like a tough, Hawks, traditional old white man.
With the other party showing such support and goodwill, Vera wasn't about to make enemies out of thin air.