"...So, why did you choose me?"

"You participated in the rebellion, so it's inappropriate to place you among the other small groups on the Flintstone. Why do you look so grim? Could it be that you're allergic to remote mind transmission?"

"Hey, don't be so formal! Old Song has never been on a planetary surface mission, so it's normal to have some gravity discomfort. Besides, we're all in the same battle order now. Even if you're a super soldier from ten thousand years ago, we're still comrades! Be polite, or it'll be on your resume!"

"Captain Liu, Lao Song, Zhuangzi, stop chatting. Come over and take a look!"

The terrestrial special forces transport vehicle stopped, the airtight hatch opened, and three exoskeleton warriors in snow camouflage came out one after another. They stepped on the ice surface mainly composed of carbon dioxide, walked to the front of the transport vehicle, and stood in a row.

They were at the edge of a cliff, or more precisely, at the edge of a crater created by an explosion. Below, without the need for additional lighting from a transport vehicle, the still-hot magma was enough to illuminate everything at the bottom. Amidst the occasional bursting of hot magma bubbles, they could see a blackened spire stretching across the magma pool.

The exoskeleton data core quickly analyzed the information they saw visually, overlaying the location of the spire with a digital layer, and then calculating a "structurally stable" label.

"What the hell, how did they blow it up? The information from the forward base said it was buried eight kilometers underground!" Zhuangzi cursed.

Liu Haiyang activated his helmet's eye-tracking function and traced the spire's exterior structure, finding its connection to the surface, accessible by vehicles. "You two, set up the relay at this location," he instructed the other two. He then sent the selected route to the captain of the exploration team's transport vehicle, "Xiao Fan, take us there later." He then returned to the vehicle.

Song Yinglong walked to the rear of the truck and pulled a two-meter-long device from the shelf. He gripped the handle with both hands and applied force. The ice beneath his feet immediately cracked. "What a shady geological structure! Zhuangzi, come and give me a hand."

"Here I come."

"Be careful when you move. The ice outside has been disturbed by the explosion." Xiao Fan's voice echoed in the helmets of the two men at the same time.

"I say, have the guys at the forward base figured out the cause of the explosion? I'm guessing that thing must be related to it."

"Don't worry about it. I won't tell you even if I know anything. Hey Zhuangzi, why do you like asking so many questions every time you are on a mission? Do you still remember the confidentiality regulations? Recite a few sentences for me?" Xiao Fan said.

"It's the sixth sense, the sixth sense, you know? Oh, right, your current body is a mechanical dog, you don't have that feeling."

"You TM..."

"Focus on your work!" Liu Haiyang instructed over the local voice channel, and they immediately fell silent. He was currently operating the tactical information integration window inside the carrier. The screen displayed a dazzling display of lines and markings, but he was familiar with the command system and knew that the preliminary preparations for this operation were basically complete. All that remained was for each team to deploy sufficient automatic machinery in the initially designated areas and then quietly wait for the information to be uploaded.

If Sigma hadn't concealed anything, this operation theoretically shouldn't have been dangerous. However, looking at the low clouds and the starry sky with a pink halo outside the car window, he also felt the unusual feeling that Zhuangzi had mentioned.

If there is really no risk, why not rely on robots to solve the problem instead of sending these biological humans?

"Captain Liu, please pay attention. The repeater initialization failed. The ionizing radiation outside exceeds the standard, and there is a strong magnetic field in the magma pool." Song Yinglong said.

"Then switch to high-power mode. It doesn't matter if the lifespan is a little shorter! We have a spare anyway."

"middle!"

A square pillar extended upward from the erected repeater, which then unfolded to form a structure like a tree branch. Light blue transparent leaves soon sprouted from the branch, from bottom to top. When the leaves climbed to the top, a wave of energy shock was stimulated outward with the repeater as the center.

With a thud, another circle appeared on the screen in front of Liu Haiyang. The mosaic terrain within the circle quickly became more detailed, revealing more information. He saw that many well-preserved passages and rooms had appeared inside the spire, some of which were quite large and showed signs of life.

"How is it, Captain Liu, is it effective?" Zhuangzi shouted loudly in the channel.

"It's a bit of a confirmation."

"I'm glad it worked. I need to get in the car and warm up. It's freezing outside!"

"Leave one outside," Liu Haiyang said, his eyes fixed on the screen. "I'm going to send some drones for close reconnaissance. I need a pilot. Either of you can do it."

"Not in the car? I clearly remember that the signal in the carrier car was stronger?"

"I know, but it's just a little test."

"Let me do it!" Song Yinglong said, "But first, I've only ever played with drones in virtual space."

"It's okay, it's okay. No delicate manipulation is required this time. Just get as close to the lava pool as possible and bring back the photos you take."

"So, where's the drone?"

“Right there!”

Before Liu Haiyang finished speaking, a meteor with a red tail flame immediately appeared in the dark sky. The red light then gradually dimmed and turned into a dazzling blue light. A few seconds later, the blue light suddenly disappeared and shattered. Countless flashing aircraft signal lights spread in a spiral above their heads.

These drones were completely different from those on the mothership. The images captured by Song Yinglong's exoskeleton showed that they were all fist-sized cylinders with several openings underneath, from which a stream of thermal air was constantly gushing out. This was because the FFD-FA.3 had only a thin atmosphere, so these drones were not aerodynamic rotorcraft, but rather powerful jets with their own fuel.

"Are you really going to let me control these—unmanned machines?" Song Yinglong tried his best to control his tone.

"Can't you accept just one combat unit? Hurry up and don't dawdle. Their service life is only fifteen minutes!" Liu Haiyang urged.

"You're using smart cluster bombs as a reconnaissance plane?" Song Yinglong finally couldn't hold back his expression. He frantically clicked on the data link on his arm and firmly controlled those terminal-sensitive bombs that were enough to plow several square kilometers nearby in his palm.