A few minutes ago.
Xia Wanyi breathed a slight sigh of relief as she listened to the conversation coming from the communication device.
Fortunately, the worst-case scenario did not occur.
The hematite comes from Saturn, which drastically reduces the probability of an advanced civilization on that planet.
"drop!"
A crisp reminder sounded inside the planetary lander.
Current outside wind speed: 25 km/h!
Xia Wanyi, sitting in the passenger seat, was stunned for a moment.
She remembered that the wind speed was 20 km/h just now.
Although she didn't know the reason, a faint sense of vigilance still arose in her heart.
On Dawn Star, whose atmospheric density far exceeds that of Earth, any change in wind speed would attract the attention of these crew members.
The next moment.
Feng Yuanliang's loud shout came through the communication device!
"...Run! Run!!"
Xia Wanyi's body trembled violently, and her heart, which had been somewhat relaxed, was once again gripped by fear.
She quickly raised her head and looked at her two teammates who were a hundred meters away.
Perhaps due to the increased wind speed, more yellow sand fell from the stone wall.
Amidst the swirling yellow sand, two figures appeared and disappeared.
It could be vaguely seen that, with the help of their exoskeleton armor, they quickly grabbed the drilling equipment on the ground and ran rapidly toward the planetary landing vehicle.
"Academician Feng, what happened?!"
Without a moment to think, she turned on her communication device to ask Feng Yuanliang a question, while simultaneously unbuckled the passenger seatbelt and climbed over to the driver's side.
"Hiss..." Perhaps due to the sandstorm, the electromagnetic communication signal became unstable, and the communication device emitted bursts of electrical noise.
At this moment, Xia Wanyi was already sitting in the driver's seat.
She quickly fastened her seatbelt and expertly flipped several switches on the control panel.
[Switched to long-range communication channel; communication protocol switch successful.]
[Planetary lander starting up...]
[Switching power modes...]
A few faint lines of text appeared in the holographic projection.
"...Earth calling Expedition Team 19, please respond."
Fang Xu's voice came through the communication device.
"Academician Fang, please speak!" With that, Xia Wanyi stepped on the gas.
The hum of the engine came from beneath my feet.
The powerful recoil instantly pressed everyone firmly into their seats!
"Emergency situation!" Hearing Xia Wanyi's response, Fang Xu breathed a sigh of relief. "A storm is about to form. Bring the team members back immediately!"
Xia Wanyi responded without hesitation, "Yes!"
"Bruno, move to the airlock and prepare for the rescue!"
"Joey, locate the nearest safe spot on the map!"
"..."
After issuing a series of orders, she pursed her lips tightly and stared intently at her teammates in the distance.
Beneath the endless yellow sand, the two figures appeared exceptionally small.
...
Current wind speed: 39 km/h
[Exoskeleton Armor Power Output: 99%]
[Danger! Please return to the planetary landing vehicle immediately!]
The helmet's AR display showed bright red warning text flashing continuously.
Hong Fan ignored him, simply crouching down and gripping the drill rod in front of him tightly with his exoskeleton armor.
"quick!"
His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the planetary landing vehicle speeding towards him, his face flushed, and several thick veins bulging on his neck. He growled in a low voice, "Hurry up!!"
【warn! ! 】
Current wind speed: 41 km/h!
[Exoskeleton Armor Power Output: 100%!]
The numbers in the AR display started jumping again.
"Click..."
Hong Fan heard a faint sound coming from the exoskeleton armor.
Andrew's voice came through the communication device: "Captain Hong!!"
"The drill rod can't hold on any longer!!"
Hong Fan suddenly turned his head to look in Andrew's direction.
Perhaps due to the soil conditions, Andrew's drill rod has tilted slightly.
Furthermore, the tilt is increasing at a rate visible to the naked eye!
Hong Fan quickly glanced in the direction of the planetary lander.
Due to the increased wind speed, the planetary lander's speed has decreased significantly compared to before.
"Hong Fan! Hold on for another 5 seconds!!"
Xia Wanyi's voice came through the communication device: "Just five seconds!!"
Through the swirling yellow sand, Hong Fan could vaguely see that the hatch on the side of the planetary lander was already open!
“Captain Hong!!!” Andrew’s voice was filled with terror.
Hong Fan turned his head again.
Countless grains of yellow sand and fine pebbles poured onto the helmet like raindrops, making a series of clattering sounds.
Although he knew the helmet wouldn't cause any problems, the scene before him still terrified him!
Through the curtain of rain-like pebbles and sand, Hong Fan could see Andrew's condition clearly.
With just one glance, his heart felt as if it had sunk to the bottom of the sea.
The drill rod in front of Andrew has reached its limit in terms of tilt angle!
To reduce wind resistance, Andrew lay as close to the ground as possible, with the transparent part of his helmet pointing directly at Hong Fan.
Although he couldn't see the person inside the helmet, Hong Fan could picture Andrew looking at him expectantly.
"grass!"
"Damn it!"
He gritted his teeth and cursed under his breath.
The next moment, he released one hand that was tightly gripping the drill rod and stretched it out towards Andrew with all his might!
“Andrew!”
"Come!!"
The short but powerful words from the communication device rekindled a glimmer of hope in Andrew's heart!
He looked up and quickly surveyed the terrain.
The wind is coming from ahead, specifically from the A2 plain.
Hong Fan was behind him, and the planetary landing vehicle was behind Hong Fan, which was in the direction of the A1 plain.
Soul Painter.jpg
Given the current wind speed increase, even if he reaches Hong Fan's side, their exoskeleton armor won't last long!
Moreover, as wind speed increases, the planetary lander's speed will decrease again.
The original five seconds may be extended to ten seconds, or even fifteen seconds!
With their fortunes shifting, only death awaits them!
He lowered his head, looking at the sand in front of him, and a crazy idea gradually surfaced in his mind.
We absolutely cannot sit idly by and wait to die!
They need to take the initiative!
"Captain Hong, I have an idea..."
Time was of the essence, so he quickly explained his thoughts.
Hong Fan glanced at the increased wind speed displayed on the AR screen, then at the planetary landing vehicle whose speed had slowed down again, and decisively said, "Okay!"
"Let's take a gamble!"
"Xia Wanyi, turn the planetary lander sideways!" Hong Fan shouted into the communication channel, "Have the hatch facing us!!"
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