Lu Yongchang's words clearly startled Cao Liangcai, who was standing to the side.
"Professor Lü?"
Are you sure you want to put three astronauts at such a great risk?
"How about... we bring them back and discuss this further?"
Lu Yongchang looked at the data on the report with an uncertain expression.
Danger is definitely present.
After all, nobody knows what those black circles are.
What if it were some kind of highly radioactive material...? Even with the protection of spacesuits, these three astronauts would still perish on the moon.
However, the current situation facing the Xia Kingdom does not allow them to make long-term plans!
Lu Yongchang gritted his teeth, a resolute glint in his eyes, and then gently pressed the radio communication button.
"This is ground command center, please respond!"
...
Bai Yixuan stared at the black concentric circles in the meteorite crater, a chill involuntarily creeping down his spine.
"Do you think this could be a trace left by an extraterrestrial civilization?"
silence.
There was no response in the team voice chat.
After a long silence, Hong Fan's distinctive husky voice rang out on the radio channel: "I think so."
"Perhaps we are being monitored by this alien civilization right now..."
Xia Wanyi, who was standing to the side, suddenly shivered and subconsciously looked up at the sky.
It was pitch black.
Apart from the twinkling starlight, she could not see anything unusual.
"laugh……"
Just as Bai Yixuan was about to say something, a static sound came through the radio.
"This is the ground command center. Please respond!"
Bai Yixuan's expression immediately became serious: "Bai Yixuan has received your message. Please speak!"
A few seconds later, Lu Yongchang's slightly hesitant voice came through the radio: "Captain Bai, after technical analysis, we have basically confirmed that the black concentric circle pattern in front of you is a man-made object."
Bai Yixuan's pupils dilated slightly, and his breathing became a little more rapid: "Then... Professor Lü, is there anything we need to do?"
The surge of adrenaline made his voice sound somewhat hoarse.
A sigh came through the radio from Lü Yongchang.
"Captain Bai, we need to analyze the truth behind this black circle, so I hope you can go and take a look at it."
"Of course, this is not mandatory."
"After all, we don't know if it's dangerous."
"If danger arises, perhaps..."
At this point, Lü Yongchang paused abruptly: "Therefore, everything is based on the principle of voluntariness."
Bai Yixuan's breathing became increasingly rapid.
He understood what Lü Yongchang meant.
They are, after all, on the moon, 400,000 kilometers away from Earth.
If anything unexpected happens, their fate is basically sealed.
“Professor Lü…” Bai Yixuan’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, “I’m willing to go and check it out.”
"Alright." Lü Yongchang's voice was filled with complex emotions. "Xia Kingdom will remember you!"
"If anything happens, I assure you, on behalf of NASA, that your family will receive the best possible treatment!"
Bai Yixuan took a deep breath, turned to look at his two teammates beside him, and smiled in a forcedly relaxed manner.
"You two, stay here and help me hold the safety rope."
"If anything happens, just bring me back."
Bai Yixuan's words were transmitted to his two teammates via radio.
Xia Wanyi's eyes instantly reddened: "Captain, maybe... we shouldn't go?"
Hong Fan hesitated for a moment before speaking up, "Captain, I'll go with you. If anything happens, I can help you."
Faced with the dissuasion of his two teammates, Bai Yixuan chuckled and shook his head: "This is already considered second-kind contact, and the level of danger is very high."
"As the captain, this is my duty. You two, just stay on the sidelines."
Seemingly sensing the tense atmosphere, Bai Yixuan chuckled and patted Hong Fan on the shoulder: "What? You're not trying to steal my military merits, are you?"
"I'm telling you, kid, no way!"
After saying that, Bai Yixuan tied the safety rope from the lunar rover around his waist, turned around, and walked down into the crater!
...
The crater is small, and the slope of the crater walls is not very steep.
Bai Yixuan jumped to the bottom of the pit in three quick steps and carefully walked towards the black circle in the center of the meteorite crater.
"Professor Lü, can you see this?"
Just in case, Bai Yixuan stopped and asked softly.
A few seconds later, Lü Yongchang's voice came through: "I can see that the camera is working properly, you can continue."
Bai Yixuan walked very slowly, taking a full half hour to cover a distance of several hundred meters.
Looking at the outermost black circle less than a meter away from him, Bai Yixuan was slightly stunned: "Unbelievable..."
"What's wrong?" Lu Yongchang, who was 400,000 kilometers away, asked immediately.
"This is... a glassy substance?" Bai Yixuan slowly lowered his body and reached out to touch the black circle.
Seeing this from afar, Hong Fan couldn't help but tighten his grip on the safety rope.
He was ready.
If anything unusual happens, he will immediately pull Bai Yixuan back!
Researchers around the world were also on tenterhooks.
Bai Yixuan's right hand gradually touched the black substance on the ground.
Nothing happened.
He gently rubbed his fingers together.
Even with the thick spacesuit blocking his view, he noticed that the ground near the black circle was significantly smoother than the surrounding area.
"Professor Lü, it's somewhat like moon dust that has solidified after being melted by high temperatures."
“…Received.” Lu Yongchang’s solemn voice rang out. “Captain Bai, could you please help me dig up some samples?”
"Also, I need detailed modeling data for this impact crater!"
...
Two hours later.
Detailed modeling data and sample photos of the meteorite crater were transmitted back to Xia Kingdom.
Looking at the clear photos on the computer screen in front of him, Lü Yongchang sighed deeply.
"Professor Lü, the Speaker of the Council has arrived!"
Cao Liangcai's voice came from the side.
Lü Yongchang quickly stood up and looked towards the gate.
Councilor Li walked quickly toward him with a serious expression: "Yongchang, what happened?"
"I heard they've discovered traces of extraterrestrial civilization?"
Faced with the Speaker's question, Lu Yongchang nodded slightly, a hint of bitterness in his eyes: "Speaker, I'm afraid so."
As he spoke, he turned to the side and showed the screen on the computer to Representative Lee.
"Based on my speculation, this concentric circle pattern is most likely a trace left by the high temperature when the Hall thruster was activated."
"Considering the size of the engine nozzle, the only possibility is extraterrestrial civilization."
Representative Li's expression grew increasingly solemn.
"Besides this trace, have any other traces of extraterrestrial civilizations been found?"
Lü Yongchang slowly shook his head.
"Then... is the change in the sun related to this extraterrestrial civilization?"
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