<h4>Chapter 52: Hope Specialized Hospital</h4>
Seeing the questioning and confused expressions of the Raynor elders, Eleanor calmly exined, "I still have tounch 120 satellites in theing months. This was only the first. And I haven’t even finished building the full infrastructure to control them. My AI system is still iplete. There’s so much more to do. If you want to throw a party, please wait a few months. Once the entire satellitework is live, we’ll be able to provide inte ess around the globe and seamlessly connect countries under a singlework. That’s when we can celebrate and let the world see what the Raynor n has achieved."
Fiona nodded thoughtfully. "Oh! So you mean after the entire project isplete. That’s fine with me. But you mentioned something earlier about providing security services to NATO nations. You never told me about this n to provide global inte."
Eleanor smiled slightly. "That’s because the inte coverage is part of the first implementation phase. Initially, we’llunch 120 satellites to cover the globe, allowing anyone, no matter where they are... on the ocean, deep in the forest, or in remote viges, to ess ourwork. Most corporations focus on providing services based on country-specific licensing, which limits them. We’re aiming bigger. It might sound mad or even reckless from a business standpoint, but we have arger goal. Imagine the power NATO could hold if theirmand centers could be connected to any country’s surveincework... with that country’s permission, of course.
"I’m not selling this technology to individual governments. I’m aiming directly at NATO. I’ve already selected a location in Norfolk, Virginia, close to NATO’s Allied Command Transformation base. If all goes ording to n, I can establish our NATOmand center there within a month."
Fiona raised an eyebrow. "And the global inte service is your bargaining chip?"
Eleanor nodded. "Exactly. On the surface, we’ll present ourselves as an inte service provider. That’s the public image. But behind the scenes, we’ll gradually integrate security systems, satellite surveince, encryptedmunications, and other ethe services. Once we’re in ce, if a country permits it, we’ll link their surveince data to NATO’s centralmand. That level of real-time global awareness will be unmatched."
Fiona tilted her head. "You said 120 satellites. But I recall granting you permission tounch 150. That approval wasn’t easy to get, especially across 72 NATO-supported countries and various international zones."
Eleanor nodded. "I only need 120 to establish full coverage of the Earth. The remaining 30 satellites are reserved for additional functionality... such as redundancy, upgrades, and experimental features. I haven’t finalized their use yet."
Fiona tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I assumed this would take longer. But youunched your first satellite two years after starting your spacepany. How do you n tounch the remaining 119 in just a few months?"
Eleanor grinned. "Grandma, you don’t know the full extent of my operations. In the name of research, I purchased materials from NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA, CNSA, and ISRO... everything from outdatedponents to surplus modules. Nobody suspected a thing. I used those parts to build over 100 satellites after careful recycling and repurposing.
"Our teams also bought tons ofponents from formal suppliers and the ck market. All 120 satellites were constructed simultaneously in multiple underground facilities. And because we voluntarily granted inspection rights to NATO for our main production site, they never felt the need to visit. Not even once."
Fiona blinked, thenughed, "That’s... brilliant. Now I understand why you’ve been so confident. Alright, we’ll hold off on the celebration. But when yourwork is up and running, you better let me throw the biggest party in Raynor history."
Eleanor smiled warmly. "Thank you, Grandma. I won’t let you down."
After wrapping up their discussion on the project and a few other current issues, Eleanor left the Raynor Estate with Freya.
***
Eleanor’s convoy came to a halt in front of Hope Specialized Hospital, a towering structure of ss and steel nestled in the heart of the city. The hospital gleamed under the moonlight, its pristine facade reflecting the sky. Inside, its immacte white halls exuded a calm and some sense of eternal peace.
Eleanor entered the building with Freya by her side. They stepped into a silent elevator, the doors closing with a soft hiss. The scent of antiseptic was thick in the air, making Freya wrinkle her nose in difort.
As they exited onto the general ward floor, the echo of Eleanor’s heels rang out across the polished tiles. Freya clung to her mother’s hand, her wide green eyes flitting nervously between the white walls and overhead lights. It was her first time in a hospital.
They moved swiftly down the corridor toward Ward 12B, the room where Isabe Thomas had chosen to stay after declining a VIP suite offered by her butler. As they approached the door, they heard raised voices from the ward.
"You’re lucky we even let you in," snapped a nurse in a sour tone. "This is a general ward. You’ll get what you pay for. If you want special treatment, go to a VIP cabin."
"I’m just asking for a vegetarian meal," Isabe Thomas replied weakly. "I wrote it on my admission form. If you just call the food service, they’ll change it."
The nurse’s badge read ra Vane. She crossed her arms and red. "Who do you think you are? You’re getting treatment from top doctors for a minimal fee, and instead of being grateful, you’reining about soup?"
Eleanor stepped into the room just in time to hear the end of the exchange. Her eyes quickly found Isabe, who looked pale and frail in the hospital bed. Despite her condition, she wore a determined expression.
"I didn’tin," Isabe tried again, "I only asked for a vegetarian meal..."
Eleanor’s voice was calm but firm as she addressed the nurse. "Patients have the right to request meals in ordance with their dietary restrictions. As a nurse, it’s your duty tomunicate with the appropriate department and ensure those needs are met. Instead, you’re insulting and intimidating your patient."
A murmur of agreement came from other patients nearby.
"This nurse is always like this," one woman whispered. "She scolded me yesterday for calling her."
Another patient added, "She doesn’t like being asked for help."
ra turned to Eleanor, her face reddening with fury. "And you? Who do you think you are? Barging into a hospital ward like you own the ce!"
"I came to see her," Eleanor said calmly. "She’s my aunt."
ra’s tone became even sharper. "This is not visiting hour! Get out ande back tomorrow at visiting hours!"
Freya tightened her grip on Eleanor’s arm. It was the first time she had seen someone speak so rudely to her mother, and she didn’t know how to react.
Eleanor saw the confusion in her daughter’s eyes and made a decision. It was time to teach her how to handle conflict without losingposure. She smiled inwardly and thought, "I should use this opportunity to show Freya how snobbish people can be."
So, she kept her tone measured and professional.
"Miss Vane," she said, "if word of your behavior reaches the public, the reputation of this hospital, which is known as the most reputable private hospital in the region... will be at risk."
ra’s mouth twisted as if to retort, but before she could speak, a calm voice rang out from the doorway.
"This sister is absolutely right. We do have a reputation to uphold here."
All heads turned. A tall, slender girl stood in the doorway, dressed in a doctor’s white coat and wearing thick-framed sses. She looked young, but her presence was impressive.
ra narrowed her eyes. "And who are you now?"
The girl stepped forward. "My name is Dr. Annabelle Gresham. I’m the night-duty doctor for this ward. I witnessed your conduct, Nurse Vane, and I will be reporting it to my superiors."
ra’s face flushed red with outrage. Without missing a beat, she pulled out her phone and dialed quickly.
"Darling," she said sweetly, "save me. The night-duty doctor has ganged up with some ungrateful patients and is bullying me..."