The Launch Site Construction
Senior Sangwook fell into deep thought for a moment before looking up. "It's technically possible, but... I'm not the only one developing this, am I?"
"Hyung! You have plenty of close friends at Misung Electronics, right? Bring them with you!"
Senior Sangwook glanced at Miso, hesitant. "My sister-in-law is from the Misung Group. Is it really okay for me to poach their personnel?"
Miso laughed. "I'm a Starlink person now. Don't worry about it."
"Just how many communication satellites has Starlink launched so far?"
"About 220 to date. And once the construction of the launch site is complete, we can keep increasing the number of satellites."
"It's technically possible since we just need to integrate satellite communication functions into existing mobile processors, but... how are you going to handle production?"
"If Misung Electronics won't produce them, we can just produce them overseas!"
Senior Sangwook looked at Miso again before asking, "So, this is a scout offer... what about the salary and the position? Just so you know, I'm a core talent at Misung Electronics, so I won't be swayed by just any offer."
Taesik smiled. "I'll give you the position of Head of the Mobile Processor Research Lab! Your rank will be Managing Director!"
"Cough...! A... a Managing Director? What about the salary?"
"What's your current salary?"
"Including incentives, it's a little over 150 million won."
"I'll give you 20% more than that, no questions asked! But don't come alone—bring your trusted colleagues with you! You'll need to develop the communication chips for our UAM projects alongside the mobile processor design!"
"Hahaha! Finally, I can escape from that team leader who keeps looking down on me! Here, drink! Drink up!"
Senior Sangwook was ecstatic, continuously pouring soju into his glass, while Miso looked around the noisy pork belly restaurant, seemingly amused by the atmosphere and playing along.
Eventually, Senior Sangwook blacked out. Taesik booked a nearby hotel, had a driver help him get Sangwook into a room, and then headed home with Miso.
The next morning, Senior Sangwook called with a voice thick with a hangover. "Ugh... Taesik! Did I make any mistakes yesterday? I really shouldn't have been sloppy in front of the third daughter of the Misung Group..."
"Puhaha! That's why you shouldn't have pushed yourself so hard. Why did you go so crazy?"
"I finally had a chance to escape that crazy team leader, so of course I had to celebrate! But, what you said yesterday... was it for real? The 20% salary increase and the promotion..."
"Of course! Starlink Communication is already producing satellite communication terminals. All you have to do is join and develop the mobile processor for satellite communication, and that's it."
"Got it. I'll go to work today and find people who are willing to join me. When do I need to move?"
"That's up to you! I'll have an office ready for you as soon as you're prepared!"
"Okay! Finally, I get to hand in my resignation! Thanks, Taesik."
After hanging up with Senior Sangwook, Taesik immediately called President Ryu Gwang-su to inform him that a mobile processor expert from Misung Electronics would be joining them, and that they would be developing a new communication method using existing artificial satellites. President Ryu questioned whether it was possible to develop something similar to a smartphone with current technology, but upon hearing that Taesik was pushing it as a new business, he began taking notes on what needed to be prepared.
Seeing President Ryu nodding at his words without any objection, Taesik asked, "President Ryu! Why aren't you opposing this?"
"Hahaha. Has there ever been a project you pushed for that failed, Representative? I naturally assume this will be a success as well."
Taesik was taken aback by President Ryu's blind faith and provided further explanation. "The mobile phone market is now at a point where consumers choose based on service rather than the call quality of the carrier. Every time we go abroad, roaming is inconvenient, but with the introduction of budget mobile services, we can easily use existing communication lines at a low cost. If we can just develop the terminal, we can collaborate with carriers that own ground base stations in each country, and there will be many places that need artificial satellites."
At Taesik's explanation, President Ryu Gwang-su nodded. "So, the concept is that we embrace the existing carriers."
"Exactly. A company that owns communication satellites can dominate the global communication market. Ultimately, it's a strategy to expand our market in connection with Starlink's internet communication."
"I understand. It's highly likely that Starlink Communication's revenue will increase. If you give me the contact information of the person you are recruiting, I will prepare what is needed in advance."
While Taesik's senior, Sangwook, was preparing to change jobs, Taesik received a call from Section Chief Choi Jae-ho of the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
"Representative. Did you have a good trip to the U.S.?"
"Isn't the NIS busy preparing for the Inter-Korean Summit? What brings you to call me?"
"First, I must ask for your discretion. You are aware that we have recently begun preparations for the Inter-Korean Summit, right?"
"Yes. I've seen speculative articles in the media suggesting that a summit will take place in the first half of the year."
"We have set North Korea's denuclearization and the dismantling of ballistic missiles as the agenda for the Inter-Korean discussions, and we have decided to hold a North Korea-U.S. summit once the details are solidified."
Taesik knew that the Inter-Korean and North Korea-U.S. summits had failed in his previous life, but he feigned ignorance. "That's a faster approach than I thought."
"Thanks to Starlink's help, we have identified the fixed launch sites for the ballistic missiles, but we have yet to locate the nuclear test facilities. I am calling to ask for your cooperation in identifying these nuclear test facilities with Starlink's assistance."
"Don't you already have a rough idea of the location through HUMINT?"
"It is, quite literally, just a rough location. We know where the explosion tests are conducted due to the multiple nuclear tests, but we haven't been able to accurately pinpoint the reprocessing facilities or where the relevant research personnel are located. We are in a situation where we specifically need information on the reprocessing facilities."
"Hmm... so you want me to find the location of the reprocessing facilities by monitoring the vehicles moving between nuclear facilities?"
"Yes. That's correct. We suspect the reprocessing facility is in the Yongbyon nuclear complex, but our HUMINT cannot get close enough, so we need the exact location of the building."
"That won't be an easy task."
"Our analysts tried to identify it manually using the satellite photos we secured, but it was nearly impossible to track the vehicles by time of day. We need the help of the object recognition software that Starlink possesses. If it's difficult for you to help, would you be willing to sell us that software?"
Taesik answered immediately, as he didn't know how the NIS would utilize the technology if Starlink handed it over. "I will speak to CEO Cha Young-jin of Starlink Deepmind. We will cooperate."
"Thank you for your help. Let's have a meal once this Inter-Korean Summit is over."
After finishing the call with Section Chief Choi Jae-ho, Taesik immediately called CEO Cha Young-jin to convey the NIS's request for cooperation, and CEO Cha said that as soon as the clues needed for vehicle tracking arrived, Starlink would immediately begin tracking using the satellite photos they had secured.
Once the matter regarding the NIS's request for cooperation was somewhat settled, CEO Cha sighed and complained to Taesik. "Representative. The U.S. side's hacking of the facial recognition and object recognition technology we supplied to the U.S. is becoming too severe. I programmed it to automatically delete the software if someone tries to access it, but the software has already been deleted twice. Can we continue the business like this?"
"It seems the U.S. government has stepped in. I suppose the FBI is in desperate need of our program."
"I declared that if it gets deleted one more time, we won't provide A/S, but with the U.S.'s technical prowess, our security measures could crumble quickly."
"Then let's change the method. How about we keep the core software related to facial recognition and object recognition on our servers and store the saved files in the U.S.? How much time delay would that cause?"
"Then there would be a minimum delay of 60 to 180 seconds. And it's too dangerous because the program might not work properly depending on the internet situation."
"Then let's notify them that A/S will be unavailable if the seal on the components equipped with the existing program is damaged or if the program is deleted due to illegal access to the S/W."
"Understood. I felt safe because it was the U.S., but I didn't know they would steal technology so openly."
After finishing the call with CEO Cha, Taesik headed to Sacheon, where Starlink Aviation was located, at the request of CEO Jo Yun-je. Starlink Aviation had been conducting flight tests for next-generation aircraft and the Loyal Wingman, and they were at the stage where they had collected almost all the data needed for development test and evaluation. And since they had requested that he come in person, saying that the launch vehicle test site was nearing completion, Taesik headed to Aviation after stopping by Defense.
When he arrived at Starlink Aviation in Sacheon, the TA50 aircraft supplied to the Air Force and the next-generation aircraft were taking off one after another to conduct flight tests, and employees were moving back and forth through the factory in the noisy environment. CEO Jo Yun-je was waiting, as if security had notified him of Taesik's arrival, and CEO Jo guided Taesik not to the office, but to the runway.
"Representative. You need to take a short flight; would that be alright?"
"Where are we going?"
The place CEO Jo guided him to was where a Surion helicopter produced by Starlink was prepared, and he guided Taesik to a passenger seat.
"Where are we going?"
"We plan to tour the launch vehicle test site. It would have been nice if we had built the launch site on an island in Sinan-gun as we planned, but it's a shame that we had to settle for Goheung because of strong opposition from the residents. Instead, it's convenient because we can move directly from here by helicopter."
As the pilot turned on the auxiliary power unit and started the main engine, their voices were buried in the noise, and CEO Jo reported to Taesik using a headset. "Representative. For now, the test facilities completed so far are the launch pad and the assembly building. We decided to build the rest of the facilities sequentially, and we focused on the basic facilities for launching the solid-fuel rockets we prepared."
The helicopter headed to Goheung via the South Sea, and Taesik fell into appreciation as he watched the sea scenery from the helicopter. "The scenery from the helicopter is wonderful."
"Hahaha. I also show the South Sea area by helicopter whenever there is a VIP client visiting Starlink Aviation. Everyone seems satisfied."
As the helicopter arrived over Goheung, a place where construction was well underway on an island opposite the Naro Space Center could be seen, and CEO Jo Yun-je continued to explain the buildings and roles that would be placed at each construction site next to Taesik. Among them, the launch pad and the combustion test site were already completed, so Taesik asked a question during the return flight.
"The launch vehicle base seems to have no problems considering the current progress, but what is happening with the launch vehicle?"
"We are currently producing the launch vehicle using a new production method using a 3D printer. The progress is slower than I thought, but if we succeed, it seems possible to reduce the launch cost by more than 50% compared to before. However, launch vehicles using solid fuel cannot be recycled, so it is difficult to catch up with Space Y's costs."
"It doesn't matter. We are in a situation where we need special-purpose launch vehicles, so there is no need to compete with Space Y, which has already occupied the market."
"It's a bit of a shame. Representative. The initial combustion test is scheduled for next month; would you like to see it?"
"I'll check my schedule then and decide."
"Understood. And the next-generation aircraft and the Loyal Wingman only have the armament tests left, which are scheduled to proceed around next week."
"Is that so? Are those the armament tests that were previously supplied?"
"Uh...? Didn't CEO Park In-tak tell you?"