Scholar’s Advanced Technological System

Mars.

Above the surface.

A spare Mars car arrived at the destination, and two scientists in space suits quickly jumped out of the car.

“We have reached our target location…” Han Kangyu's face was covered with weight and turned on a communication channel to report to the base, "No Dr. Van was found nearby, nor did he see his Mars car. ”

This is coordinates 15 ° south, 128.1 ° west, which is where Dr. Van stated in the last message he sent before disconnecting.

Nevertheless, don't say it's human.

Even the tire impressions left by the Mars car are not visible here.

Soon there was a calm voice in the communication channel.

“Possibly moved elsewhere while avoiding dust storms, and the location system caused errors under the influence of dust storms… searching around the neighborhood. ”

“Yes.”

As soon as Leung was instructed by his captain, they glanced at the nearby mountain called the Gate of Hell. If you're trying to escape a dust storm, that's definitely the best place to go compared to a dune in an open area.

To think of it, the two men immediately launched an operation and found new clues.

“The Mars car is here...”

The Mars car used by Dr. Van was found next to a steep rock wall, and Ming Wenchel opened the door and looked inward, his eyebrows slightly wrinkled, “There was no one in the car, nor was the toolbox. ”

Immediately after hearing the sound, Han Kangyu walked to his side and looked at the empty driver's seat. Cold Khan slipped down from his forehead.

With a hammer on a high tire, he couldn't bear to curse.

“Damn... where the hell is this guy? ”

He is the deputy captain of this research brigade to Mars, and if something happens to someone on Mars, his responsibility with Leung is the first.

Of course, it's nothing compared to a living life.

If someone dies here, it will undoubtedly be a heavy blow to those who are jealous of the achievements of China, an excuse to attack them, and certainly to the entire Mars colonization program!

And now, they don't even know what's going on.

At this time, Ming Wenche, standing at the door of the car, suddenly said.

“There is a possibility. ”

Han Kangyu immediately looked at him and asked.

“What's possible? ”

“According to his message on the Mars car… before losing contact, he should have witnessed that faulty structure disappearing in the vicinity. Given the sandstorm and low visibility outside the car, the cracks should not be far from here. ”

Watching the ugly look on Deputy Han's face, Ming Wenche was silent for a while and continued to say that speculation that was difficult for everyone to accept.

“But now, the crack is gone. ”

“You mean, he jumped under the crack by himself, and then the crack closed quickly after he went down? ”

Ming Wenche quietly took a place at the bottom.

“That's the only way. ”

Though knowing this is the most likely scenario, Han Kangyu couldn't bear to say a word.

“What structured movement is so fast that it closes… in an instant? No chance of climbing? ”

“I don't know, I'm not a geologist.” The look on Ming Wenche's face is a little bitter. “Honestly, I feel a little evil here. Is it because it's called the Gate of Hell? Why don't we rename this mountain. ”

The communication module for the two is open on a public channel.

Liang Zheng, standing in the base communication room, has been listening to the communication between the two.

After a moment of reflection, he silently gave the order.

“It's no use rushing now. ”

“Dare to guess, if that crack was randomly around 128 anomalies, there should be a lot of free space underneath the area. From this perspective, Dr. Fan's probability of falling is still alive. Of course, I am not an expert in this area, but I can only say that everything is thinking in the most optimistic direction. ”

“Expand your search along the edge of the mountains, and if he's still alive, he won't be sitting there waiting to be rescued, not at the opening of the next seismic crack. ”

“In addition, I will request support from the ground command centre. ”

“… no matter what the end result, we have to bring people back. ”

It may not be difficult to drill a core of rock on the surface of Mars, but it is still quite difficult for the conditions prevailing in the Mars colonies to dig through rock formations over 20 metres deep and fish people from below.

There may be this kind of engineering equipment on the moon, but it can't be here, so all they can do is ask for backup.

Actually, it's just a consolation to ask for backup.

Even if Lunar Palace's support really came all the way here and brought reliable excavation equipment, all they could do was collect his body.

After listening to the captain's instructions on the communication channel, Han Kangyu squeezed his fist and remained silent for a long time.

Eventually, he released his fist and sighed.

“… that's all we can do now. ”

"I would like to apply for permission to use the Xu Fu Optical Observation Module. ”

Liang Yucheng: “It has been assigned to you, and we will help you keep an eye on whether there are new ground cracks in the vicinity. Remember, if you spot that... unusual crack again, don't act rashly, especially if it's forbidden to explore down! ”

“We cannot afford a second loss, regardless of his current situation. ”

……

Just the first time Liang Cheng returned the scene and the distress message to Earth, the entire ground command center had entered a state of emergency because of that sudden situation.

An astronaut is missing!

Less than a week after the colonial class had landed, such a serious incident had taken place, not only in space but also in politics.

The country is still celebrating the successful setting on fire.

If this gets out, where do they put the face of the ignition office?

In the office.

Upon hearing the Permanent Director's report on the scene, the whole ship was stunned.

Although he had previously considered the possible risks of this "128 anomalies” research project, he had no idea that it would actually appear in this form.

Were the cracks closed when people went down?

Sounds like something alive “ate” it.

After a long period of silence, the ark could not help but ask.

“Is man still alive? ”

“Life and death are uncertain," the Permanent Director continued with a bitter expression on his face. "The problem now is that the Mars base is sending a call for reinforcements, but I'm afraid even if we send help now, it won't help. ”

That is indeed a problem.

Even considering the most optimistic scenario, Dr. Van Tong's supply can last up to about three days. Even if their Magpie is now departing from the Moon Palace, it will take at least two weeks to reach Mars.

This is not yet a discussion of whether the problem can be resolved after it has been done.

After all, the environment on the Moon is quite different from that on Mars, and engineering equipment tailored for the Moon may not be perfectly compatible on Mars.

After a moment of thought in his heart, the Ark made a decision and said.

“Do not send reinforcements for now. ”

“But...”

“I know what you're worried about," he said with a calm look on the face of the permanent director, “but what's most taboo now is that we messed up ourselves. ”

“Now that we are only missing and have not confirmed that our astronauts are dead, let us not disclose this for the time being. ”

“At the same time, let our outposts on Mars use all available resources to carry out search and rescue of missing astronauts. ”

“If in the end it still turns out to be irreversible...”

“I will take all responsibility. ”

When he heard that, the permanent director shook his shoulder and couldn't believe looking at the ark.

It took a while for him to look down.

“… Yes. ”

The office door is closed.

In the spacious room, there was only one person left on the ark.

Listening to the stepping away from the door, the ark, sitting behind the desk, was silent for a while and finally sighed softly and looked at the smartphone placed on the desk.

“Em. ”

The light flashed slightly and a message appeared on the screen.

[Master, are you calling me? o ("'") o]

“You must have heard the conversation, right?” After a pause, the ark continued, "Connect me to the 'crawler' and start a search and rescue for the missing astronauts. ”

Less than a second later, it was filled with reliable dialog boxes that popped up again.

[Yes, master! (๑ • ㅂ •)✧]