American Strategic Deception Bureau

　We've walked 380,000 kilometers, risking our lives. Why can't we give the last 100 kilometers a try?

　"

　But if you do that, you'll probably never come back! The moon will become your grave."

　Armstrong said calmly, "...

　…the lunar module's ascent engine had never been truly field-tested. If it had the smallest malfunction—a loose lock, a faulty latch, or you were a few degrees off course while steering—you were done!

　Even if the lunar module's engines performed flawlessly and you made no mistakes, if one of its slender legs hit a rock and broke, or if it landed on a steep slope and flipped over, you would never be able to return home..."

　"Then let me die on the moon! As a pilot and a soldier, I have never been a coward!"

　Aldrin retorted,

　In the last world war and the current Asian war, many of my relatives and predecessors died on the other side of the Pacific Ocean. I don’t think sleeping on the seabed or in the jungle, with the body eaten by fish, shrimps, insects and beasts, would be more glorious than being buried on the moon!

　Compared to dying in some unknown corner, the moon is a glorious cemetery!"

　These words immediately left Armstrong speechless. After a moment, he managed to calm down and said quietly, "Okay, I admit, I'm in a bad mood too - we've already come to the edge of the moon, but we can't even put a foot down!

　So, I understand your feelings, but I still advise you not to act rashly! Even if you truly risk your life and bravely venture to the moon, so what? The truth will still be covered up, and televisions around the world will still be playing that "science fiction film" we dubbed!

　At most, when the spacecraft returns to Earth, the White House will find a stand-in to pretend to be you, and then announce that you "died of an acute illness" during the quarantine and recuperation period!

　Believe me, the masters above are definitely capable of such a thing! And this is already the most merciful approach! If the White House and NASA were a little more ruthless, they would do something when the spacecraft descends into the atmosphere, turning us into a fireball and burning up, leaving no trace at all..."

　"

　Yes, I thought about that, too. I've never underestimated the federal government's bottom line. So I finally came to terms with it and gave up on the unnecessary risk. After all, I still have to consider my family—they would definitely prefer to see me return a hero.

　Aldrin said gloomily, "Don't worry, Neil, I won't move around in the lunar module. I haven't slept well these past few days, and once the lunar module enters silent mode, I can get a good night's sleep to avoid being exhausted on the return trip and causing any problems."

　"Just let it go, man. There are always too many things in life that are not satisfactory. You have to learn to tolerate all kinds of things that you can't stand."

　Collins, the command module pilot, was relatively calm about what was to come because he had to stay in space and couldn't participate in the moon landing. "Think about it, man! Even if you deduct the fraudulent part, your trip wasn't in vain! At least we've come further than anyone else in this world. For at least ten years, no one will be as far away from Earth as we are..."

　——Here, Collins's estimate was wrong. Human beings would not be able to land on the moon within ten years, but within his lifetime.

　Just like that, after a brief private chat and complaints, the spacecraft turned around the back of the moon and reconnected the signal. The three astronauts put on headsets and microphones again and resumed radio contact with the Houston command center.

　A few hours later, it was time for the "performance".

　They said goodbye to each other, Aldrin and Armstrong got into the lunar module, and Collins began to close the passage.

　Next, Armstrong and Aldrin would remain motionless in the lunar module, still attached to the command module, keeping silent and pretending they were actually landing on the moon. Television viewers around the world would watch a carefully staged "space movie"...

　-

　The basement of Fieri's refuge villa, converted into a film studio, in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles

　At this time, the mistress Marita, holding her naked daughter Monica, led seven equally naked female slaves, and like tens of millions of ordinary American families at this moment, gathered in front of a TV with great interest, watching the "live broadcast" of the Apollo moon landing on TV.

　First, the TV host, an old bald man in a royal blue suit, spoke eloquently, "Right now, there are probably hundreds of millions of viewers in front of the TV, perhaps as many as 400 million, watching the live broadcast of this momentous historical event..."

　Next, there is another science program about the universe, celebrity interviews with experts and professors, plus interviews with NASA Administrator Thomas Payne and Kennedy Space Center Director Lieutenant General Phillips, as well as reporters randomly grabbing a few passers-by on the street and asking them about their views on the moon landing, etc.

　A long time later, with hundreds of millions of people on Earth watching, the television screen finally showed the pitch-black darkness of space, the gleaming white surface of the moon, and the dark silhouette of the Apollo lunar module. An "astronaut" was climbing down the lunar module's gangway.

　Even though the gangway from the lunar module only had nine steps, it still took the astronauts three full minutes to complete them, as if they had to pause briefly at each step.

　At the same time, accompanied by the noisy sound of electricity, the TV broadcast the vague voice of the spacecraft commander Armstrong, "Now, I am standing at the bottom of the gangway. The legs of the lunar module are only pressed into the lunar surface one or two inches.

　It looks like it's made of fine powder, and the dust underneath is very fine. I'm about to step out of the lunar module!"

　After muttering this for a while, the astronaut cautiously stepped out with his left foot, rubbed the lunar surface with the sole of his lunar boot, and then stepped down hard. Then he followed with his right foot, stepping on the lunar surface and leaving a deep footprint.

　Hundreds of millions of people around the world gathered before their television screens, watching the "first human footprint on the moon" as if it were a sacred object, and listening to the words of Apollo 11 commander Neil Armstrong as if they were hearing a divine instruction: "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind!"

　"In July 1969, humans from Earth, a planet in our solar system, set foot on the Moon for the first time! On behalf of all mankind, we come here on a peaceful journey!"

　Hundreds of millions of people in countries around the world were kept in the dark, watching and listening with rapt attention.

　However, the women in Firi's family were watching the moon landing scenes on TV while looking back at the lunar scenery in the scenery box behind them, which was exactly the same as the TV scene, as well as the same paper astronaut models. They were all laughing so hard that they almost rolled on the carpet.

　"Amazing! This little thing we filmed in our basement fooled 400 million people in front of their TVs!"

　"This isn't just any family movie, it's a true fantasy film—made with magic!"

　"Without Ferry's magic, of course, none of this stuff could be filmed. But as long as there's magic, wouldn't it be possible to have anything you want?"

　"Maybe we can make a few more interesting short films in the future? Like the Apollo spacecraft encountering an alien UFO on the moon?"

　"Ah, praise the great Prince of Lies! Now I finally understand how much fun it is to play pranks!"

　——After years of Ferry's day and night indoctrination and teachings, the women in his family finally began to awaken their talent for entertaining people.

　-

　In short, after experiencing the "24 hours on the moon" that shocked the ignorant people around the world and made the three people on the Apollo 11 spacecraft depressed, Armstrong and Aldrin finally "ended the silence", crawled out of the lunar module, and returned to the command module.

　Looking back at the desolate moon outside the porthole and the lunar module across the passage, Aldrin felt very complicated.

　"Although we can't actually set foot on the moon, this big guy will actually stay on the moon!"

　——When the Apollo 11 spacecraft returned to Earth, it had to travel light.

　Therefore, the lunar module that has completed its mission and the service module that has exhausted its supplies will be discarded one after another, leaving only the command module to re-enter the atmosphere.

　Among them, the lunar module will slowly crash into the lunar surface without any pilot, creating an artificial "moonquake".

　So, Aldrin thought for a moment, then took out the family photo hidden in his pocket and solemnly placed it back in the lunar module. Then he took out the cans of feces and urine from the command module and threw them one by one into the lunar module that was about to leave.

　Seeing this, Armstrong was stunned: "Hey! Hey! Brother, what are you doing? Are you treating the lunar module as a trash can?"

　"Well, it's probably a waste utilization. Since our bodies can't land on the moon, let's throw part of our body onto the moon as a souvenir of our trip here!" Aldrin said as he threw the feces and urine can into the lunar module that was about to separate from the command module.

　"Ugh, you mean, let shit go to the moon instead of you?" Collins' face wrinkled. "How disgusting!"

　"Well, no matter what, being able to clean the excrement out of the command module is also a good thing for improving the environment!"

　Armstrong quickly spoke up to smooth things over, "Let's get the script out and go over the lines to avoid any mistakes!

　Next, we have a scene of micrometeorite impact and space escape to perform!

　Although we hadn't rehearsed beforehand, we still had to work hard to perform to perfection! Otherwise, how would we explain to the world when we return that after our successful moon landing, we weren't able to bring back even a gram of lunar soil or rock?

　Chapter 431: Adding the Escape Script of Apollo 11 and Apollo 13

　On July 21, 1969, just as people on Earth were still immersed in the excitement, shock, and joy of the successful Apollo 11 moon landing, a sudden and unexpected news broke the sense of relaxation that permeated everyone's minds, making everyone tense up all of a sudden:

　The Apollo 11 spacecraft in lunar orbit suddenly encountered an emergency! It might even be impossible to return!

　Just as the lunar module and command module had successfully docked and the three astronauts had just reunited, a loud "bang" suddenly sounded from the spacecraft! It seemed like something had exploded! It was said that it might have hit a micro-meteorite streaking through space!

　The Apollo 11 spacecraft is now leaking and breaking apart, just like the Titanic that hit an iceberg..."

　The news anchor on TV used exaggerated gestures and tone to describe the current situation of the spacecraft in such a vivid way.

　Aldrin, who had just used a hand drill to drill a small hole in the inner wall of the lunar module, said that only the air leak was real...

　It was learned that the Apollo 11 spacecraft was in lunar orbit

　The distress on board the lunar module had rekindled the spirits of American television viewers, and scientists who had been kept in the dark began to offer their advice. But Armstrong's terrified voice echoed from 380,000 kilometers away, announcing that a leak in the lunar module had begun causing the entire spacecraft to tumble uncontrollably. Collins was struggling to control the spacecraft, preventing it from completely losing balance, but it was unclear how much longer he could hold out.

　Collins, the command module pilot, declared that there were bright flashes everywhere and he felt as if he was surrounded by the middle of the Milky Way - the foam and debris flying around after the spacecraft leaked surrounded the spacecraft, and after being reflected by the sunlight, the astronauts could not find the reference celestial body for navigation!

　Aldrin also added that he saw smoke coming out of several gaps in the lunar module, suggesting that something might have caught fire.

　Seeing that the situation was extremely urgent, NASA Administrator Thomas Payne immediately made a decision and ordered the lunar module to be abandoned quickly to save the astronauts!

　In this way, the astronauts on Apollo 11 hastily abandoned the damaged lunar module and its contents, allowing it to separate from the mother ship and, along with the "10 kilograms of lunar rock and soil samples that had not been unloaded in time," become a kite with a broken string, gradually disappearing into the distant sky.

　It is expected that in the near future, it will fall back to the lunar surface like a meteorite, causing a "moonquake" of moderate size.

　Next, the three "shocked" American astronauts adjusted the attitude of the spacecraft and started the rocket engine on the service module, pushing the Apollo 11 spacecraft back into orbit to return to Earth.

　Then came the three-day journey home. Mission Control in Houston worried about the spacecraft's lack of supplies. However, the service module was found to be intact, with sufficient oxygen, water, and power. Even the lunar module's course, which had been deviated due to a leak, was quickly corrected.

　On the way back, the three astronauts were in a mood to "find joy in adversity" - Aldrin said: "It's a beautiful sight to sit here and watch the Earth getting bigger and bigger and the Moon getting smaller and smaller." Armstrong also said: "No matter where you sail, it's always good to come home."

　When the spacecraft entered the Earth's orbit, Collins sent a photo back to the ground. The Earth in the photo was like a dazzling gem: the blue ocean, the white clouds, and the brown earth were all vivid.

　Finally, on July 28, the Apollo 11 spacecraft returned to low-Earth orbit, threw off the empty service module, and rushed back into the atmosphere at a speed of 11 kilometers per second, like a fireball with a temperature of up to 3000 degrees Celsius, splashing into the warm waters of the South Pacific.

　When the voice of the spacecraft commander Armstrong, "We have splashed down", came from the radio and television, thunderous applause and cheers rang out all over the United States. Everyone could not contain their excitement and cheered loudly for this great adventure.

　Then, the long-awaited USS Hornet aircraft carrier scrambled to salvage the command module. Although the module capsized and leaked due to the strong waves upon impact, the Hornet's helicopter arrived in time and hoisted the astronauts from their cabins one by one, transporting them to pre-prepared isolation rooms on the aircraft carrier. As humans still don't know if there are ancient viruses or bacteria on the moon, to prevent the possibility of a "lunar plague," NASA regulations require astronauts to undergo a three-week quarantine upon returning to Earth.

　President Kennedy Jr., who had been waiting on the aircraft carrier, spoke to the astronauts returning from the moon to congratulate them through the glass window of the isolation room.

　At the same time, church bells rang and air sirens blew in almost all cities across the United States to celebrate the return of Apollo 11.

　Even the Soviet Union's Baikonur Cosmodrome sent a congratulatory message to Houston, USA, congratulating the successful Apollo 11 moon landing.

　-

　Houston, Texas, USA

　Listening to the bells from the nearby church, the whistles from the factory, and the drivers' horns, Ferry, sitting on a garden bench, couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief - this cosmic scam codenamed "Operation Avalanche" had finally come to an end.

　His masterpiece was to add the historical accident of Apollo 13 to the Apollo 11 moon landing.

　——Because the lunar module was hit by a meteorite, it was justified to abandon it urgently and return to Earth without any lunar soil or lunar rock!

　Otherwise, a batch of lunar soil and rocks would have to be fabricated in advance, and then subjected to repeated scrutiny and research by countless experts and professors around the world. The risk of being accidentally exposed would be too high: therefore, this bug must be plugged!

　In addition, during the previous video production process, he has tried his best to make up for other bugs that are easily discovered by skeptics.

　For example, the American flag inserted on the moon was changed from a thin nylon material to a thick tapestry, and was stretched out with a scroll so that it would not "shake in the wind."

　In addition, when the grayish-white lunar soil is turned over by footprints or support frames, a dark "icing effect" will briefly appear, which was also added during the filming.

　As for the relative positions of stars and the earth as seen from the moon, since it is difficult to calculate accurately, a black background can only be used instead.

　Finally, he deliberately made the background sound of the moon landing video very vague and filled it with electrical noise to prevent anyone from noticing any mistakes.

　Moreover, he was alone at home the whole time.

　The film was shot using magic special effects without hiring any outside actors or directors to prevent leaks.

　Of course, such a terrifying scam would be bad enough if it happened just once, there is no need to deceive the world several times in a row.

　Because the more times you set up a scam, the more loopholes may be exposed, and the risk of being exposed will increase exponentially.

　Therefore, according to the previous agreement, the Apollo moon landing in this dimension will only be a one-time event, and there will be no follow-up, otherwise it will be really unbearable.

　In short, Firi has pushed the limits of everything he could think of and do to perfect the moon landing scam.

　All that remains is to leave it to fate and watch how things develop.

　Just as he was sitting on a bench, looking tired and relaxed, stretching leisurely, Dr. Kissinger came over with two cups of coffee and handed one to Fieri. "The moon landing is finally over. You've worked really hard these past few days."

　"Oh, it's really tiring!" Fili took the coffee and took a sip. "What will happen next?"

　"What's next? Well, after Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins come out of quarantine, in September and October of this year, all state capitals and major cities across the United States will hold float parades to celebrate the 'Triumphant Return of the Moon Astronauts.' The President of France and the Queen of England will probably also invite NASA to let the three of them travel around the world like Soviet astronaut Gagarin did..." Kissinger said excitedly.

　"I'm not talking about those three space idols! Or space scammers! They have nothing to do with us anymore!"

　Firi rolled his eyes, "I was talking about politics, Doc!"

　"Politically? Oh, yes, the President will announce the termination of the Apollo moon landing program soon after returning to Washington.

　The "success" of Apollo 11's moon landing fully demonstrated America's strength, while the numerous dangers involved during the landing also demonstrated the immaturity of today's space technology, with high risks and low returns. Therefore, the federal government doesn't need to continue spending tens of billions of dollars on prestige-boosting projects like the moon landing during these difficult times of fiscal deficits and soaring prices.

　After the cancellation of subsequent moon landing missions, the Apollo 12 spacecraft and Saturn V heavy rocket that have been manufactured will be used for NASA's next project - the space station "Skylab" that will be permanently stationed in Earth orbit.

　Compared to a space journey that only takes a few days, it is obviously much more valuable to have a few astronauts floating in the sky and monitoring the earth.

　In addition, I will invite familiar members of Congress to propose that we take advantage of the victory of the moon landing to issue a peace proposal to the Soviet Union, use the Apollo spacecraft to dock with the Soviet spacecraft in space, let the astronauts of the two countries shake hands and make peace in space, and put an end to the costly space race..."

　"

　That's not what I'm talking about, Doctor. You don't really want to be a space consultant forever, do you? You're not studying astronomy!"

　Fili sighed and got straight to the point. "I'm talking about the triangular diplomacy between the US, the Soviet Union, and China that you proposed to the president before! While easing tensions with the Soviet Union and cooling the Cold War, initiate secret diplomatic engagement with China in an effort to end the Vietnam War!"

　Didn't our president say at the time that he agreed with your opinion? But because he came from an unorthodox background and was new to the presidency, his power was unstable, so he didn't dare to rashly break the ice with Red China. Do we have to wait until the moon landing is complete and reputation is built up before we can start?

　Now, the Apollo moon landing is almost complete, and the president has gained the reputation he wanted.

　So, isn't it time for you to change your position to National Security Advisor and start looking for ways to connect with Beijing?"

　"

　Ah, about this...how should I put it? Starting next month, I'll be transitioning to Assistant Secretary of State and National Security Advisor. But engagement with China will probably have to wait a little longer. The President said he doesn't have the right diplomatic leverage for now, and the White House can't unilaterally make concessions.

　Dr. Kissinger shrugged. "Because of the left-wing nature of the Democratic Party, a Democratic president can only be tougher on the Reds."