Qiongzhou Island, Wenchang Temporary Center.

The 10th International Multilateral Symposium on Mars Rescue.

“We call this place ‘Whale Bay’,” said Liao Changtian, director of the teaching and research office, pointing to the screen. “These ‘whales’ in the photo are formed when magma erupted from underground cooled in the water and fractured due to the combined effects of water pressure and buoyancy. The cooled magma rocks have a large number of pores inside, and some of the magma rocks float to the surface of the water as a result, forming ‘whale pods’.”

“Based on the size and number of the ‘whales’ in the photos, we can estimate the extent of the gap in the ‘wall’ of the underground magma chamber.” Liao Changtian drew a circle on the screen. “It’s a gap with a diameter of about 5 to 6 meters, much smaller than we originally expected.”

"The magma flow shot out from the gap, forming a jet of immense pressure, powerful enough to break apart the magma rocks solidified on the surface and push away the solid ice formed by the 'depth charge.' If I had to make an analogy..." Liao Changtian held up a straw and put it into the cup in his hand, "it's like there's a straw inserted into an underground magma chamber underwater."

"So, according to you, 'depth charges' can't plug the breach?" Xiao Yimin asked.

"It can't be plugged." Liao Changtian shook his head. "The gap is too small."

"If the gap is too small, it can't be plugged?" Yang Jiandong was somewhat surprised.

“That’s exactly right.” Liao Changtian nodded. “The smaller the gap, the stronger the magma jet, which makes it impossible for the magma rocks and ice blocks produced by low-temperature freezing to effectively adhere to the gap.”

"Isn't there any other way?"

"Yes. By concentrating the power of the 'depth charge' on one point, the resulting low temperature can block the 'straw'."

“But as you just said,” Xiao Yimin continued, “the magma erupted from the breach, forming a powerful jet, making it impossible for a depth charge to be dropped into the breach against the current.”

“Yes.” Liao Changtian sat down, his face full of frustration. “The proposal we submitted to Mars Boy can, in fact, be declared a failure.”

"Don't be like that." Yang Jiandong patted Liao Changtian on the shoulder. "We are more than 60 million kilometers away from Mars. It is already remarkable that you can come up with a solution based solely on estimation and speculation."

"Is there no other way?" Xiao Yimin was also somewhat lost in thought. "How much time do we have? Maybe we can still give Mars Boy a Plan B."

“We have 24 hours, Mr. Xiao.” ESA Director Brosnan placed a photograph on the table. “This is the conclusion we reached after analyzing the current distribution of water on the Martian south polar ice cap. In 24 hours, the flood will begin.”

"This, such a short time?" Xiao Yimin was stunned. "Even if we come up with a new plan, we won't have time to tell Mars Boy."

“No, no, Mr. Xiao.” Brosnan shook his head. “In fact, we found a new solution with Mr. Liao last night.”

"Oh? So fast?" Xiao Yimin was somewhat surprised, then looked at Liao Changtian, who hadn't reported to him last night.

“Mr. Liao believes that Plan B is not mature and should not be told to Mars.” Brosnan placed a plan document on the table. “However, it is the only feasible plan at present, so I took the liberty of sending out the plan on behalf of the European Space Agency.”

When Xiao Yimin reached for the plan on the table, he glanced at Liao Changtian, who lowered his head and remained silent.

After reading the proposal, Xiao Yimin put it back on the table and remained silent.

Yang Jiandong felt somewhat confused. He picked up the plan on the table, looked at it once, put it back, and remained silent.

silence.

Brosnan looked left and right, and finally sighed: "Mr. Xiao, maybe I made a mistake. I shouldn't have sent out this proposal."

“No, neither of you is wrong,” Xiao Yimin said, shaking his head. “Your job is to provide any solution to the problem—anything, and you did it, and you did it very well.”

“I have another question,” Xiao Yimin continued. “Judging from the different photos you provided, Mars Boy has been staying in the same place for a long time. Why doesn’t he move?”

“He can’t move,” Liao Changtian replied. “The ‘Beetle’ is trapped under the ice.”

"He's stuck there."

...

Mars, the Antarctic ice cap.

Through the ice above, Zhang Fan could see the shadows of Phobos and Deimos in the sky.

But even at such a close distance, he couldn't break through.

He had been stuck under the ice for a whole day. He had tried everything, restarting the titanium drill bit hundreds of times, but there was still no response.

Zhang Fan even considered opening the hatch to go outside and clean up the debris that had seeped into the drill bit, but the surrounding ice water had already re-frozen, making it impossible to open the hatch and leaving the "Beetle" unable to move forward or backward.

As time passed, Zhang Fan grew increasingly anxious. If he did nothing, the resources inside the "Beetle" would be enough to last until the ice cap completely melted, allowing him to emerge from the ice.

But by then, a massive flood will be raging. Even if the Beetle survives unscathed in the flood, what's the point of having only one Beetle if the Bird's Nest base is lost?

Zhang Fan had also considered detonating the "depth charge" inside the "Beetle's" abdominal cavity to blast open the ice surface. The specially reinforced manned cabin could withstand the impact of the explosion, but this was the last "depth charge"; without it, the breach in the underwater magma chamber could not be sealed.

Zhang Fan now regrets that he should have listened to Liao Changtian's advice and surfaced on the ice immediately after each bombing, regardless of whether it was successful or not.

Just when Zhang Fan was at his wit's end, a huge roar came from the ice. He looked up and saw a huge black shadow hovering in the air with a long tail of flame.

Soon after, the dark shadow hovered directly above where the "Beetle" was, flames scorching the ice below.

The ice melted rapidly in the flames, and the melted ice water formed a small pond on the ice surface, in which the "beetle" floated.

Zhang Fan activated the propeller thrusters, drove the "Beetle" onto the ice surface, and then opened the hatch and stepped out.

The enormous black shadow circled once more in the air.

The landing gear deployed, the boosters deactivated, and the Apollo spacecraft landed on the ice.

The spacecraft hatch opened, and the astronauts descended the gangway.

"Ivanka?" Zhang Fan looked at the person approaching, his feelings complicated. "Why are you here?"

"How could I not come when I saw you like that?"

"Then how did you..."

Zhang Fan found it strange. Ivanka didn't have the authority, so she shouldn't be able to leave the "prison." Even Katerina and Yui didn't know the unlock code for Living Pod 2.

“The people over there let me out.” Ivanka walked straight into the driver’s seat of the “Beetle” without saying a word. “What are you standing there for? Clean the debris out of the drill bit.”

"oh."

Zhang Fan picked up a shovel and removed the gravel mixed into the drill bit. Ivanka restarted the "Beetle," and the drill bit began to spin rapidly again.

Zhang Fan tried to open the cockpit door of the "Beetle," but found that the door was locked from the inside.

"You stay on 'Apollo' and keep watch; I'll take care of dropping the bombs."

“No, this is the last one…” Zhang Fan, who was locked outside the car, was a little stunned.

“It’s precisely because this is the last ‘depth charge’ that I’m going to drop it. You’ve already wasted two.” Ivanka looked at Zhang Fan with a hint of disdain. “I forgot to tell you, before becoming a Mars astronaut, I was a pilot of a B-4 stealth bomber.”

"..."

Zhang Fan had nothing to say and could only obediently climb onto the Apollo spacecraft to wait.

The "Beetle" resumed its burrowing mode, plunging headfirst into the ice.