Mars.
Because of a problem with the Mars capsule's air circulation system, the three astronauts were forced to stay inside the return capsule.
Fortunately, the return capsule contained supplies for a two-month interstellar journey.
Aside from the narrow space, there are no other drawbacks.
"Calling Pathfinder, Pathfinder, please respond!"
Professor Chris's voice suddenly came through the radio inside the return capsule.
Andrew, who had been keeping his head down and remaining silent, suddenly had a glint in his eyes when he heard the call!
He grabbed the radio and excitedly replied, "Pathfinder received! Pathfinder received!"
Then came another long wait.
Just as the three astronauts were getting a little anxious, the radio equipment started beeping again.
"Everyone, I have some bad news to tell you."
"The United States has abandoned its rescue mission for you and has even prohibited us from sending distress signals to Xia."
The three astronauts' expressions changed drastically!
"How could this be?!" Bruno's breathing quickened, his pupils dilating instantly. "Damn it, have we been abandoned?!"
Andrew stared grimly at the wireless equipment in front of him. When he saw the indicator light on it working, he paused for a moment, then quickly stopped Bruno's complaints: "Quiet down, Bruno!"
"The professor hasn't finished speaking yet!"
After a silence that lasted for several seconds, Professor Chris's voice rang out again.
However, compared to before, the sound this time was exceptionally weak and indistinct.
"Andrew, if you want to return to Earth, the only way is to send a distress message to the Mystic Maiden II yourself!"
"We are currently unable to send messages to the Xia Kingdom. Everything depends on you yourselves!"
"Tell Xuan Nu No. 2 that if possible, it would be best to have the Xia Kingdom make this public. With public pressure, you'll feel better when you return..."
"I am leaving the Houston ground control center. Remember, do not answer this communication!"
The indicator light for the wireless equipment is off.
A deathly silence fell over the return capsule once again.
A few minutes later, Andrew slowly exhaled a breath of stale air and said in a low voice, "What should we do?"
Should we ask the Xia Kingdom for help?
Andrew's question immediately drew eye rolls from his two teammates.
"What are you saying?"
"What, do you want to die on Mars?"
Andrew shook his head with a wry smile: "I'm just a little worried about our situation when we get back, if..."
Bruno shrugged slightly: "We'll deal with the rest later. If all else fails, we can apply for Chinese citizenship. I believe that with our experience on Mars, China will accept us."
As Bruno spoke, he stood up, put on the helmet that was placed to the side, slung the oxygen tank over his shoulder, and said softly, "We should get ready to go!"
...
Bottom of the ZHZ72 meteorite crater.
"Holy crap..."
Hong Fan plopped down on the crimson Martian surface: "Damn it, with such a huge crater, how long are we going to keep going?"
Looking at the drilling pits that appeared every hundred meters in front of him, his lips twitched violently.
"Captain, is Professor Lü trying to fool us?"
Bai Yixuan stopped what he was doing and said with a helpless expression, "Regardless of whether Professor Lü is trying to fool us or not, I can only tell you one fact."
"The supplies inside the Mysterious Maiden II can at least support us for another month."
Hong Fan: "..."
"Captain, the radio has received a communication request!"
"Judging from the frequency band, it should be sent from the US Mars capsule."
Just as Hong Fan got up, preparing to head to the next drilling site with Bai Yixuan, Xia Wanyi's slightly solemn voice came from inside the helmet.
Bai Yixuan was slightly taken aback, then said in a deep voice, "I'll be there right away!"
A few minutes later.
Bai Yixuan looked at the wireless equipment with a deep sense of doubt.
"Is this American stupid?"
Why are you looking for us out of the blue?
Hong Fan, who was sitting casually in a chair, said nonchalantly, "Captain, why don't you answer it?"
Bai Yixuan's expression shifted between light and dark.
After all, just yesterday, Professor Lü specifically sent them a message telling them to stop causing trouble...
“Yes, Captain, they’ve come to our door, we should at least listen to them, right?” Xia Wanyi’s voice rang out from the side.
Bai Yixuan glanced at his teammates with a wry smile and slowly shook his head.
"You guys! All you ever think about is watching the show!"
As he spoke, he reached out and pressed the switch for radio communication.
"This is the second Xuan Nu of the Xia Kingdom, please speak!"
"..."
A few minutes later, Bai Yixuan exchanged a strange look with his teammate.
"Ahem... We need to consult with your superiors about this matter. Please wait a moment."
...
Xia Kingdom.
Lu Yongchang sat quietly in his office, his pen moving swiftly across the scrap paper in front of him.
"Knock knock knock!"
A series of urgent knocks came at the door.
"Go in!" Lü Yongchang said without even looking up.
"Academician Fang, what brings you here?" Su Yutong, who was standing nearby, quickly stood up to prepare tea for Fang Xu.
"Ahem, Yutong, why don't you go out for a moment? Professor Lü and I have something to discuss."
Fang Xu's slightly strange tone caught Lü Yongchang's attention.
After Su Yutong left, Lü Yongchang frowned and asked, "Brother Xu, what's all this strange talk about?"
Fang Xu's expression grew increasingly strange.
"Yongchang, if I told you that the American Mars capsule has encountered an accident and the three astronauts are now calling us for help, would you believe it?"
"Pfft! Cough cough cough!"
Lu Yongchang's face turned red. He coughed a few times and looked at Fang Xu with a surprised expression: "Huh? What did you say?!"
Faced with Lü Yongchang's question, Fang Xu shrugged slightly and pointed to the sky with a helpless expression.
"That's not what I said."
"It was Bai Yixuan who said it."
"Why don't they ask NASA for help?" Lu Yongchang took a deep breath and asked after calming himself down.
"..." Fang Xu was silent for a moment, "It is said that NASA... no, the United States has abandoned them."
Lü Yongchang's pupils suddenly contracted.
"What do we do now?"
Should we help with this?
Fang Xu's eyes were full of conflict: "I heard from Bai Yixuan that Albert seems to have forbidden NASA from asking us for help."
"If we intervene now, the consequences will be..."
Upon hearing this, Lü Yongchang, who had been somewhat hesitant, finally managed a smile.
"save!"
Tell Bai Yixuan to set off to rescue them right now!
"I, Lü Yongchang, from the 358th Regiment... cough cough! I must lend a hand!"
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