When Nana's voice rang out again, the main screen in the command center had switched to a 3D terrain map. The red dot was still there, but the surrounding contour lines had changed, as if they had been pushed a small square towards the base by an invisible hand.
“The signal source location has been updated,” she said. “The distance has decreased by 300 meters, and the movement trend has been confirmed.”
Chen Hao stared at the crystal, which lay quietly on the testing table, its blue light flashing on and off, the frequency of which was more stable than yesterday.
He didn't say anything, turned around and walked to the whiteboard, crossed out the original question mark, and wrote two words next to it: **Departure**.
Susan walked in through the door, carrying a stack of printed papers. "The ocean current model is finished. If that thing maintains its current speed, it will enter the warning zone in fifty-eight days."
Carl followed closely behind, carrying a toolbox on his shoulder. "The hull material test results are in. The composite board can withstand 8,500 water pressure, but we can't guarantee it will withstand any higher."
Nana brought up the data panel: "The navigation system reconstruction is complete. The dual-frequency detection module has been integrated and can maintain positioning accuracy in strong magnetic field environments."
Chen Hao nodded and slammed his hand on the table: "Then let's not wait any longer. The expansion project is suspended, and all personnel are transferred to the deep-sea preparations."
No one objected.
The last meeting was filled with debate about whether it was worth it, but now nobody brings it up anymore. The pulse frequency changed, the red dot moved, and things went from "possible" to "sooner or later."
"Code name 'Deep Vision'," Chen Hao said. "The objective isn't fighting, it's to see what that thing actually looks like. Anyone have a problem?"
None of the three people said a word.
“Okay,” he said. “Let’s split up and get to work.”
---
Nana returned to her workstation and accessed the deep database. A list of directories popped up on the screen. She clicked on "Deep-Sea Sensor Array," then brought up the "Nonlinear Navigation Compensation" module and began integrating the algorithms.
Traditional detection relies on sound wave reflection, but at that depth and under magnetic field interference, the error becomes increasingly large. She had to teach the system to "guess"—to predict the direction of signal distortion based on environmental changes.
Six hours later, the simulation test began.
The virtual detector descends, passes through the thermocline, and enters the dark region. The primary frequency scans the terrain, while the secondary frequency captures resonance fluctuations. When abnormal disturbances occur in the simulated field, the system automatically switches to a backup frequency band and adjusts the receiving sensitivity.
Test passed.
Error rate 0.27%, maximum support depth 9,000 meters.
She packaged the program, labeled it "DeepVision - Navigation Core v1", and uploaded it to the list of programs to be installed.
The next morning, the new equipment arrived at the maintenance bay. Nana personally supervised the installation, connecting each wire to the main control panel and finally plugging it into the main power supply.
The screen lights up, and the green progress bar slowly advances.
"System self-check in progress."
---
Chen Hao's first task was training.
He stepped onto the treadmill, set the incline to 15 degrees and the speed to 5 kilometers per hour. In less than ten minutes, he started panting, sweat beading on his forehead, and his t-shirt stuck to his back.
“Your stamina isn’t up to par.” Carl stood beside him, holding a stopwatch. “If something happens when you go down there, we’ll have to drag you back up.”
"I know," Chen Hao said through gritted teeth, "that's why I have to train."
For the next three days, he trained for two hours each morning and evening. The training included weighted ladder climbing, oxygen acclimatization in a closed chamber, and emergency escape drills. The most difficult part was the simulated decompression test; his ears were ringing, his head was throbbing, and he almost collapsed to his knees when he came out.
But he didn't stop.
On the fourth day, he remained in the sealed chamber for forty minutes, breathing steadily and with a normal heart rate.
Susan's situation is a little different.
She wasn't afraid of technical issues, but she was afraid of the dark. The deep sea had no light; that utter, oppressive darkness made her chest tighten just thinking about it.
She tried meditation, but it didn't work. Later, she found a clumsy method—recording the sounds of a lakeside morning: birdsong, the wind rustling through the leaves, and a child calling for his mother in the distance.
Before each time she enters the simulator, she turns on this audio file, keeping the volume low enough to just cover the machine's hum.
After practicing five times, she was able to complete the entire operation in complete darkness.
After the final test, she took off her headphones and found that her palms were not sweaty.
---
Carl's task was the most difficult.
The first hurdle in building a ship that can sail at depths of 8,000 meters is the materials.
With insufficient metal and the wood unable to support the weight, he had to find his own solution. He recalled a batch of ore powder he had brought back from an outer island, which, after being mixed with resin and cured, showed promising strength test results.
He and his team made thirty samples, tested each one under pressure, and selected the optimal ratio. The final composite board they chose had a compressive strength more than five times that of ordinary wood.
The ship's hull structure was also modified.
The original design used a solid frame, but this time it has been changed to a honeycomb structure with cushioning material filling the middle. Shock-absorbing pads have been added to key joints to prevent resonance from tearing the hull.
The entire ship took eighteen days to build.
The keel is formed, the outer shell is sealed, and the internal pipelines are laid. The final step is a seal test, which involves introducing high-pressure gas and observing whether the pressure is stable.
Twelve hours later, the pressure gauge remained completely still.
Carl signed the acceptance form and handed over the navigation permit card.
The ship was named "Explorer One".
---
Susan was in charge of supplies.
She made three rounds of lists and finally decided on a few essential items: a high-pressure first aid kit, a sonic jammer, a backup oxygen recirculation device, an emergency lighting system, and a deep-sea sampling container.
Each item was resealed and placed in a waterproof compartment. The compartment was then secured to the middle of the hull, near the main control room, for easy access.
She also prepared an extra set of manual operating tools so that basic functions could be maintained even if the electronic system failed.
After all the supplies were inventoried, she stood at the warehouse door, looked around, locked the door, and returned to the command center to submit a report.
---
On the morning of the sixth day, the four of them gathered at the port.
Sunlight shone on the "Explorer One," making its paint reflect light and appear brand new, as if it had just rolled off the assembly line. The deck was clean, the equipment was complete, the green light on the main control panel was constantly lit, and the navigation system was in a standby state.
Chen Hao went to the bow of the ship and checked the communication equipment one last time. The signal was normal and the channel was clear.
Nana stood behind him, and the terminal displayed "All subsystems are ready".
Susan confirmed that the supply compartment was locked and the tags were clear. She stood in front of the hatch, looked up at the sky, and took a deep breath.
Carl walked around the ship one last time, climbed onto the deck, and put away his toolbox.
“The ship is fine,” he said. “It can withstand the wind and waves, and it can withstand the pressure. The question is—are you ready?”
Chen Hao didn't turn around, but stared at the southeastern sea.
The horizon is far away, and there's nothing there.
But he knew that the red dot was still moving.
He raised his wrist and pressed the communication button.
"Attention all personnel," he said. "Project DeepVision is officially launched. Objective: Determine the nature of the signal source, acquire on-site data, and return safely."
After he finished speaking, no one responded.
The only sound was the wind blowing across the deck.
Nana said softly, "The system is synchronized, and we can leave port at any time."
Susan untied the safety rope, wrapped it up, and put it in her pocket.
Carl walked to the stern and stowed away the last gangplank.
Chen Hao stood still, his fingers resting on the control lever.
His thumb brushed against the edge of the start button, leaving a faint sweat mark.
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