Chen Hao tapped his fingers twice on the control panel, and the star map on the screen was still flashing.

"You're saying that the buoy isn't the source of the problem?" He looked up at Nana. "So that means our ship is just getting old?"

Nana's optical lens tilted slightly, as if confirming the data was correct. "The system shows no signs of poisoning. The energy decay is due to decreased internal efficiency, unrelated to external contact."

"So all our anxiety was for nothing?"

“Not bad.” She brought up a new scanning interface. “Now I can focus on finding supply points.”

Chen Hao leaned back in his chair and let out a breath. The feeling of being secretly watched by something had finally dissipated a bit. He turned to look at the communication channel: "Karl, did you hear that? No need to turn back, keep moving forward."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the channel.

"How much fuel is left?" Carl's voice was low but clear.

“68%,” Nana replied. “That’s 0.4 light-years off the original route.”

“Not enough,” Carl said. “We need to find another place.”

"That's exactly what I was planning to do." Chen Hao sat up straight. "Nana, dig out everything that's usable. No matter how obscure or uncommon it is, as long as it can charge your phone."

Nana initiated the wide-area scanning protocol. The main screen was divided into three sections, displaying gravitational wave fluctuations, thermal radiation distribution, and ionospheric activity trends, respectively. The data stream continuously refreshed, like raindrops hitting glass.

Ten minutes passed, and nothing appeared.

Chen Hao scratched his head. "There's not even a place where it's smoking?"

“Yes.” Nana suddenly stopped. “Southeast, 0.18 light-years away, an unmarked rocky planet.”

The scene shifts, and a grayish-brown sphere slowly emerges. Its surface is uneven, with several rift valleys running across the equatorial region, and its edges glowing with a faint red light.

“Geothermal activity is high,” she said. “The ionosphere is thin but stable, and the atmosphere is almost nonexistent. Preliminary assessments suggest the presence of extractable energy veins or residual heat from underground molten cores.”

Chen Hao leaned closer to the screen. "Looks like an abandoned mine?"

“Highly likely.” Nana nodded. “The old Federation established temporary power stations on such planets, but they were later abandoned due to high transportation costs.”

"So that means—" he grinned, "that someone has done this before, and we can just copy their work?"

“It’s theoretically feasible,” she said, “but it needs to be verified in the field.”

"What about the risks?"

"The geological structure is unstable and may be accompanied by earthquakes or eruptions. The landing site must be chosen to avoid fault zones. In addition, the absence of atmosphere means that gliding landing is not possible, and vertical descent is the only option, which places extremely high demands on the precision of the thrusters."

Are there any other questions?

“Yes.” She paused. “We don’t know if anyone lives there now.”

"Who would live in a place like this?" Chen Hao laughed. "An alien scavenger? Or someone on the run from debt collectors?"

"The possibility that armed groups have seized resource points cannot be ruled out," she said. "There have been similar cases in history."

Chen Hao's smile faded slightly. He touched his chin; the oil stains had long been wiped away, leaving only a little dry skin.

"Then let's observe from a distance first," he said. "Don't rush in headfirst."

The communication channel lit up again.

“I suggest maintaining a distance of 50,000 kilometers for remote scanning,” Karl’s voice came through. “If any man-made structures or defense systems are detected, evacuate immediately.”

“Agreed,” Nana said. “I will activate passive detection mode to avoid revealing my location.”

“I agree.” Chen Hao made the decision. “Adjust course, target that gray ball. Slow down, save fuel.”

After the command was input, the spacecraft began to slowly turn. The thruster power was reduced to minimum, and the cabin lights dimmed by one notch.

The three of them stared at the panels in front of them. Chen Hao glanced at the main screen every now and then; the planet was gradually growing larger.

“If you say it can really replenish energy…” he suddenly interrupted, “could we also pick up some other things? Like parts, tools, or—” his eyes lit up, “a bunch of unwanted batteries?”

“The probability is less than 37%,” Nana said. “These types of planets are usually already cleared out.”

“37% is still hope,” he chuckled. “I’d be happy even if I found half a piece of old solar panel.”

Carl scoffed over the channel. "You're getting ahead of yourself. Let's see what happens when we get to the ground."

"I'm just having a little fun beforehand," Chen Hao shrugged. "Otherwise, I'd be frowning the whole way, and the fuel consumption would go up."

Time ticked by. The spacecraft continued to approach the target, the distance shrinking from 100,000 kilometers to 70,000, and then to 55,000. Nana's scan results were gradually released.

“Traces of ilmenite and uranium ore have been confirmed on the surface,” she said. “There is a persistent heat source in some areas, at a depth of about three kilometers, which is consistent with the characteristics of a small natural reactor.”

Can I pick them?

“Drilling equipment is needed.” She pulled up a structural diagram. “Ideally, a simple extraction device could be set up on the edge of the rift valley to generate and store geothermal power.”

Do we have a drill?

"No."

Do you have any tools?

"There is only one set of repair wrenches and two cutting guns."

Chen Hao sighed. "Then we'll just have to take what's readily available."

“There is another way,” she said. “If we can find the collection stations left by our predecessors, we might be able to use the backup power source.”

"That means—" his eyes lit up again, "that you have a house?"

“Theoretically, this is possible,” she added, “but the damage rate is over 80%.”

“It’ll probably be a house too!” he slammed his hand on the table. “It’s better than digging a hole in the open.”

Carl's voice broke in: "Don't forget, we still don't know if there are people down there."

"It's good that there are people here," Chen Hao laughed. "At least it means that people can live here."

“It could also be someone who doesn’t want to be bothered,” Carl cautioned. “The kind who carries a gun.”

The cabin was quiet for a few seconds.

“So let’s change the plan.” Chen Hao’s smile faded. “Let’s circle around first and see if there are any buildings or any unusual activity. If we don’t find anything amiss, then we can get closer. If we spot anyone, we’ll pretend to be tourists passing by and absolutely not strike up a conversation.”

“Agreed,” Nana said. “I will shut down all non-essential sources and enter silent mode.”

“I’m ready too,” Carl said. “I can take over manual control at any time.”

On the main screen, the planet already occupied most of the field of view. A long, black crack ran diagonally across its surface, as if it had been slashed by a knife.

"Let's call it 'Scarface Star'," Chen Hao said.

“The name doesn’t make sense,” Nana said, “but it certainly doesn’t look like a graveyard.”

“That’s right,” he laughed. “Where would a graveyard get electricity?”

The spacecraft continued to close in, reducing the distance to 40,000 kilometers. Nana activated high-resolution imaging, zooming in segment by segment on the area near the equator.

Suddenly, her fingers paused.

"Target located."

In the center of the image, at the edge of a flat area, stand several low-lying structures. Their metal casings are severely corroded, but their outlines are still clearly visible.

“A complex of buildings,” she said. “It’s about 200 meters long and wide, with a triangular layout. There are remnants of a solar array on the top, and access passages on the sides.”

"Is anyone there?" Chen Hao asked.

"Infrared scanning detected no life signals." She adjusted the focus. "There is no light source or electromagnetic activity inside. Preliminary assessment indicates it has been abandoned for many years."

"How many years?"

"Based on the degree of weathering, it is estimated to be at least thirty years old."

“Thirty years…” Chen Hao rubbed his hands together. “That’s long enough. Maybe even the lights inside will still work.”

"It could collapse at the slightest touch," Carl said, pouring cold water on the idea.

"Even if it collapses, we have to go down." Chen Hao stared at the screen. "As long as there's a roof, we can find a way to generate electricity."

Nana began calculating the optimal observation trajectory. The spacecraft would orbit the planet's equator, maintaining a distance of over 30,000 kilometers throughout, while collecting basic parameters such as terrain, temperature, and radiation.

"The first scan is expected to be completed in two hours," she said. "After that, we can decide whether to proceed further."

“Okay.” Chen Hao stretched. “I’ll use this time to go through the landing plan. Although we don’t have a drilling rig, we do have a cutting gun. Maybe we can scrape some metal for fuel.”

"You still want to burn metal?" Karl asked.

“Some alloys can release energy when they decompose at high temperatures,” Nana explained. “It’s inefficient, but it can be used in emergencies.”

"I knew it," Chen Hao laughed. "Even trash has its value."

He stood up, walked to the control panel, picked up a pen, and drew a few lines on a sticky note.

“Let’s choose this as the landing site.” He pointed to a high ground on the west side of the rift valley. “It’s sheltered from the wind, has a good view, and is close to buildings. We can escape quickly if something happens.”

"The premise is that we can get down safely," Carl said.

"Of course." Chen Hao nodded. "The thrusters must be controllable throughout the entire process; they can't just crash and flip over."

“I will provide real-time data support,” Nana said, “including changes in the gravitational field and fluctuations in crustal stress.”

"That's good." He laughed. "It's better for the three of us to get together than for one person to stumble around blindly."

The atmosphere inside the cabin was noticeably more relaxed. The previous feeling of stuffiness had disappeared, replaced by a cautious anticipation.

Chen Hao glanced at the screen; the grayish-brown planet hung there silently, with a faint hint of dark red emanating from the depths of the rift.

"Do you think it might suddenly breathe fire?" he asked.

“It’s possible,” Nana said. “There’s a 12% chance.”

“12% is a bonus,” he grinned. “At least it proves it’s still alive.”

The spacecraft slowly entered its designated orbit, its engines humming as it adjusted its attitude. The images on the main screen grew clearer, and the outlines of the buildings became increasingly distinct.

Chen Hao stared at it for a long time, then suddenly said, "Whether there's electricity inside or not, as long as there's a roof, I want to go in and sit for a while."

"Why?" Nana asked.

“Because…” he smiled, “I haven’t slept on the ground in a long time.”

He turned and walked towards the rest area, his steps much lighter than before.

Nana continued to monitor the data stream, while Carl checked the propulsion system status from the driver's seat.

On the main screen, the image of the planet continued to zoom in, and the entrance to the complex of buildings faced the direction from which the spaceship was coming, like a half-open mouth.

The spacecraft is 30,000 kilometers away, its course is stable, and it is ready to enter the next stage of observation.

The indicator light on the console flashed, and a corner of a red alert box popped up, but Nana clicked it off before it could unfold.