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Chapter 469 And Answers They Shall Have
469 And Answers They Shall Have
“Any questions?” Aron asked.
With that, every reporter in the audience raised their hands, all of them eager to ask the first question the emperor would answer since his investiture.
Aron wasted no time in casually pointing to a random reporter in the audience. “You, ask.” He was obviously still dissatisfied with the media and wouldn’t bother treating them kindly at the moment.
“Thank you for the opportunity, Your Majesty.” The reporter bowed, then asked, “How will the effects from Ceres gravity be mitigated so they don’t have any impact on the tides and weather?”
“We’ll use the same technology that you saw in the rescue ships following the terrorist attacks. Our researchers discovered artificial gravity some time ago, and that opened up an entirely new branch of physics dedicated to manipulating gravitational fields. Part of Ceres has already been prepared for habitation, and the internal structure reinforcements and walls all incorporate gravity plating, which allows the controller to manipulate Ceres’ gravity well. Thus, it will have no effect on Earth’s weather or tides,” Aron explained.
After Aron finished answering, the reporter that asked the question unceremoniously disappeared from the briefing, his press credentials revoked and his continued employment in journalism in limbo pending an investigation into him. Draconian as it may be, the newly formed empire had enough controversy already and didn’t need more people stirring the pot and drumming up negativity in the populace, so “bad” reporters like that one would be plucked from the press pool as they were found.
Aron continued, “In addition to the space elevator, Hephaestus Heavy Industries will also be responsible for the construction of our fortress cities, as well as any other defense-related construction in the future, at least until ARES expands to a point that they can field construction battalions. Next question.” He pointed at another random reporter in the audience.
“What are the chances, if any, of catastrophic failure of the gravity plating, and if it fails, what would the consequences be? What plans are in place to deal with a catastrophic failure to ensure that it doesn't fall out of orbit and impact the planet?”
"The empire has space tugs capable of pulling Ceres out of orbit in case of a catastrophic malfunction. Failing that, there are scuttling charges that ensure that, if it were to suddenly fall out of orbit, it would be broken up into harmless pieces and become nothing but a pretty meteor shower. Still, the chances of that happening are so slim as to basically be zero. Next question..”
“Will citizens be able to watch the capture and orbital insertion as it takes place?”
“Yes, it will be livestreamed to everyone interested in watching it. Humanity’s first space elevator is a milestone in the development of the species, and We plan to handle it with all the pomp and circumstance it deserves.”
The question and answer segment of Aron's press briefing continued until the reporters began repeating questions, or simply rephrasing them and asking them as new ones. Aron, though he was internally furious with the media, continued answering them in great detail, sometimes providing additional visuals that made his answers easily understood by everyone, whether they were knowledgeable in the subject or not.
Finally, the time came for him to end it. “As usual, more information can be found in the Akashic Record for those interested in learning more about our space elevator.”
With that, Aron disappeared from behind the podium, leaving behind billions of curious people and a whole host of online discussions and wars of words.