Florida, America. Cape Canaveral Launch Site.
Ever since the first launch of a rocket codenamed "Corporal" in July 1950, Cape Canaveral Launch Site had become one of America's most important space-launch bases.
Its low latitude meant that rockets launched eastward could take advantage of the extra speed from Earth's rotation, helping satellites reach orbit. Along the coast, hundreds of acres of broad, level land could accommodate the existing launch facilities of multiple organizations on a large scale.
For nearly forty years, it had handled almost every American mission to geosynchronous orbit.
But just a few years ago, this vast former federal space-launch base by the coast had been completely bought out by the Howlett Group. Aside from some launch missions for the United Earth Aerospace Force, it was now used mostly for the group's own space research.
Experimental Area X-3, one of the three largest integrated test sites at the entire launch base.
A disc-shaped, blue-black spacecraft rested on the ground, filling a field nearly the size of ten thousand people.
Compared with the standard flight equipment used by the Howlett Group or the Order Whip team, the spacecraft was not only extraordinarily large but also looked just like the "flying saucers" of traditional science fiction stories about alien ships.
A dozen or so mechanical arms stood around the alloy platform, rhythmically spraying pale blue light across the ship's outer hull as they carried out the final inspection.
Suddenly, the rumble of mechanical "muscles" rang out. The latest Harley-Davidson Fat Boy, its thick exhaust pipes roaring, sped unobstructed into the test area.
The tall, sturdy biker took off his helmet and leaped off the bike, revealing short, dirty-blond hair.
Chewing gum, he ran up the steps and, joking around with the staff along the way, ducked inside the spacecraft.
"Susan,