The spaceship remained in place, unchanged.
On the main screen, the several semi-transparent, enormous objects formed a circle and slowly rotated. The sounds they emitted, one after another, were spaced exactly eleven seconds apart, the same frequency as the signal used to clear the level before.
“They’re learning from us.” Susan stared at the waveform, her voice a little strained.
Chen Hao leaned back in his seat, tapping his fingers on the joystick. "It's not learning, it's a warning. We fooled them once, and now they're going to settle the score."
Karl pulled back out of the outer hatch and tightened the sealing valve. "This is no joke. That shout just now made my helmet buzz."
Nana stood in front of the control panel, swiping her finger across the screen to bring up a series of data. "According to database records, these types of plasma-state colloidal organisms rely on electromagnetic resonance to maintain group movement. They are now emitting synchronized sounds to establish a coordinated field, preparing to approach collectively."
"So, if we don't take action now, we'll be surrounded and killed?" Chen Hao grinned. "Fine, I wasn't planning on making friends with them anyway."
He sat up straight and pressed a button. "Don't wait for them to make the first move; we have to be one step ahead."
"You have an idea?" Susan looked up.
“Yes.” Chen Hao turned to look at Nana. “Robots, don’t you know everything? What are you afraid of with something like this?”
Nana didn't turn around and continued flipping through the documents. "High-frequency irregular electromagnetic pulses can interfere with their movement mechanisms. They move based on a stable frequency, and if the surrounding magnetic field is disordered, their movement will become unbalanced."
“Then let’s create some noise.” Chen Hao turned to Susan. “Set the radar to random frequency transmission mode. Don’t scan at the normal pace. Let it shoot out signals haphazardly.”
Susan immediately got to work. "It's been changed. The pulse interval is random, and the intensity fluctuation range is maximized."
"Karl!" Chen Hao called out again.
"Here!" Karl was checking the power interface.
"Activate the backup energy module, briefly overload it, and create a strong magnetic field burst point, positioned at the left rear of the spacecraft."
"Understood." Carl pressed a few switches. "Starts in thirty seconds, lasts for eight seconds."
"That's enough." Chen Hao nodded. "Once their attention is diverted by the blast, we'll retreat. Don't accelerate too quickly, lest it look like we're running away, and if we provoke them, they might catch up."
Nana added, "I suggest releasing a low-frequency trailing signal as a decoy to simulate the trajectory of a spacecraft's afterimage."
"You're such a bad brain," Chen Hao laughed. "Let's do it this way."
Time passed second by second.
The swarm of creatures on the main screen continued to rotate slowly, roaring incessantly, but the rhythm began to become slightly off. One creature on the edge suddenly veered off course, wobbled, and then rejoined the group.
"The interference worked," Nana said.
"Ready." Chen Hao placed his hands on the control stick.
Karl counted down: "Five, four, three..."
The energy module is activated.
In an instant, the space to the left rear of the spacecraft seemed to be stirred, and the magnetic field reading on the monitoring instrument jumped sharply.
The three creatures stopped simultaneously, with two of them turning towards the point of explosion, their internal light filaments flashing violently.
"Now!" Chen Hao gently pushed the control stick, and the spaceship slowly reversed.
The thrusters operated almost silently, at a minimum speed. Simultaneously, the system automatically released a gradually weakening signal and drifted in the opposite direction.
The roars of the creatures became chaotic.
One tried to chase after the remaining signal trail, while the other two remained in place, adjusting their posture. The previously tight encirclement completely disintegrated.
"They've separated." Susan breathed a sigh of relief.
"Don't let up." Chen Hao's eyes didn't leave the screen. "Let's talk again after we've gone back 200 kilometers."
The spacecraft glided smoothly, gradually increasing the distance between them.
Ten minutes later, the main screen showed that the airspace behind them had returned to calm. The creatures did not pursue them, but slowly retreated to the vicinity of the resource pod, circled a few times, and finally came to a stop.
“Scan confirmed.” Nana brought up the remote monitoring screen. “No tracking signs, electromagnetic activity has returned to normal.”
"Are we safe now?" Susan asked.
"For now." Chen Hao finally released the joystick. "At least they won't suddenly pounce on us and bite our butts."
He stood up and stretched. "Did you get everything back?"
Susan opened the record board. "All in storage. Seventeen sets of energy crystals, six packets of nano-repair gel, sealing process complete."
"Okay." Chen Hao walked to the supplies monitoring interface and confirmed that the reserve warehouse was locked. "This risk wasn't in vain. We've made a profit."
Carl walked back from the power area, wiping away sweat. "The new crystal has been connected to the main power supply line, and the estimated range will increase by 60%. The hull structure has also been self-inspected, and no hidden damage was found."
"Not bad." Chen Hao nodded. "We have the money to repair the boat, and the journey home is now secure."
He turned to look at the three of them. "We've been through so much for this moment. Now that we've achieved our goal, what's next?"
Nana pulled up the flight path map. "Based on the current coordinates and fuel reserves, three return routes can be planned. The optimal route is expected to take four months and seven days, passing through three transit and resupply points along the way."
"Four months?" Chen Hao stroked his chin. "That sounds like a long time, but compared to drifting aimlessly before, it's like a high-speed train."
Susan smiled. "As long as the direction is right, going slowly is fine."
"Then it's settled." Chen Hao sat back in the driver's seat. "Let's take the best route home."
He activated the cruise system, the spacecraft slowly changed direction, and the engines entered a low-power operation state.
Outside the porthole, the starry sky flowed silently.
The atmosphere in the control room relaxed a bit. Susan started organizing the logs, Carl went to inspect the engine room, and Nana connected to the navigation system for final calibration.
Chen Hao leaned back in his chair, glanced at the energy readings, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
"At least I don't have to live on compressed biscuits anymore."
He had just finished speaking when the alarm light suddenly flashed.
Everyone paused.
"What's going on?" Chen Hao immediately sat up straight.
Nana looked at the screen. "Slight energy fluctuation detected, source unknown, relatively far away."
"Are those creatures from before back?" Susan asked.
“It doesn’t look like it.” Nana shook her head. “The signal characteristics are different; it’s closer to the aftershocks of a mechanical device in operation.”
"Where did this machine come from?" Karl frowned.
“I don’t know,” Nana quickly analyzed, “but the direction… is right ahead of our flight path.”
Chen Hao was silent for two seconds, then suddenly laughed. "What a coincidence! We just received a benefit, and another one pops up?"
He stood up and walked to the control panel. "Expand the detection range and see what's ahead."
Nana inputs the command.
The star map on the screen slowly unfolded, and a faint spot of light in the distance began to flicker.
“I found an object,” she said. “It’s not large, has a regular shape, and has metallic reflective features on its surface.”
"An artificial creation?" Susan leaned closer.
“Very likely.” Nana zoomed in on the image. “Its shape resembles a cabin or container, but its design style is inconsistent with known human spacecraft.”
"Wait a minute." Chen Hao squinted. "That thing... is it moving?"
In the image, the spot of light is changing position at an extremely slow speed.
It's not floating.
It's moving.
And the trajectory... seems to be going in circles.
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