AWB Chapter 709 The Third Encounter
Chapter 709 The Third Encounter
Inside the metal passageway of Qinglian Fort, Meng Chuan stood with his hands behind his back in front of the observation window.
Outside the window lies the unchanging red wasteland of Mars.
Three full days have passed since the production base was struck by that beam of light.
For the next three days, that silvery-white halo did not reappear in the Martian sky.
The radar at Qinglianbao also failed to detect any unusual signals.
It was as if what happened that day was just a hallucination caused by excessive tension.
But Meng Chuan knew that it was not an illusion.
"Master, the starship's fuel and supplies have been checked and it is ready to depart at any time."
Zhan Yi's voice suddenly came from behind Meng Chuan, carrying a hint of melancholy.
Meng Chuan is returning to Earth; everything is ready.
In the past three days, following Meng Chuan's instructions, he urged the delivery list of tunnel boring machine parts three times.
He even personally went to the warehouse to inventory the alloy plates used for defense.
Because whenever he has a moment of free time, the light that was hanging over his head that day will appear in his mind.
Therefore, Zhan Yi could only force himself to work, work, and work some more.
It's as if being busy allows you to forget everything!
Meng Chuan turned around and looked at Zhan Yi:
"Keep a close eye on the tunnel boring machine. Also, the protective cover for the energy compartment must be modified according to the parameters Wei Ping gave us; not even the slightest deviation is acceptable."
After returning from the production base, Meng Chuan requested additional funding for the protection of the energy compartment.
Because the people living here rely on energy cells to survive.
Furthermore, Meng Chuan also requested that key parts of Qinglian Fort be reinforced.
Although such measures may not be very effective.
But that's all Meng Chuan can do now.
"Don't worry, Master, I will personally oversee the construction."
Zhan nodded, then couldn't help but say:
"Are you really not going to wait? What if... what if you leave and that thing comes again?"
Zhan Yi was in a state of great inner conflict at this moment.
He neither wanted Meng Chuan to leave, nor did he want Meng Chuan to leave quickly.
He didn't want Meng Chuan to leave because Meng Chuan was there; although he was afraid, at least he had someone to talk to if anything happened.
The reason they wanted Meng Chuan to leave was because Meng Chuan was the troupe leader.
The Green Gang can do without anyone, but it can't do without Meng Chuan, its leader.
"Waiting won't help."
Meng Chuan gave a wry smile.
He had only planned to stay on Mars for three days.
It would take nearly three months to go back and forth. If it drags on any longer, I'm afraid I won't be able to make it back to Earth in time for the Chinese New Year.
More importantly, the Green Gang still has its roots on Earth, and its members are waiting for him to make a decision.
He can't stay on Mars forever.
"After I leave, if that thing comes again, ignore it as long as it doesn't cause trouble. If it does cause trouble, then surrender and do not resist."
Meng Chuan's tone turned serious:
"Also, the sooner the underground fortifications are completed, the better. Don't wait until the last minute to panic. If the aliens really make a move, Earth is thousands of miles away from here. Even if I fly back, I can't save you. You can only rely on yourselves."
The Mars mission has come this far, and giving up is not an option.
Moreover, even if they give up, Zhan Yi and the others might not be safe even if they all return to Earth.
If that thing can get to Mars, it's impossible that it can't get to Earth.
All Meng Chuan can hope for now is that thing won't cause any trouble.
Zhan Yi gritted his teeth and nodded emphatically:
"I see."
At this moment, Yingdie walked out from the other end of the passage, holding a tablet in her hand:
"I've compiled the initial plans for weapon development and left a copy for Lao Pao. I've also had the technicians check the emergency equipment on the starship again."
She handed the tablet to Meng Chuan, a hint of worry in her eyes:
"However, weapons development is not something that can be done overnight..."
Shadow Butterfly's biggest worry is that Mars or Earth will be gone before the weapon is developed.
Moreover, developing new weapons doesn't necessarily mean we'll be a match for aliens.
"It's alright. All we can do now is do our best and leave the rest to fate."
Meng Chuan said somewhat dismissively.
What else can we do but give up?
Earthlings are completely helpless against a civilization capable of achieving highly efficient nuclear fusion.
After giving Zhan Yi a thorough and detailed reiteration of many things, he gave him further instructions.
Meng Chuan and Ying Die then put on their spacesuits and boarded the starship for their return journey.
On the way back this time, only Meng Chuan and Ying Die were there.
The scientists who came with Meng Chuan are still busy with their research.
They won't be able to go back for at least another month.
As the starship slowly ascended, Meng Chuan looked down through the porthole.
Qinglianbao is like a gray reef embedded in red soil.
Zhan Yi and several of his gang members were still standing in the open space waving.
He suddenly felt a little heavy-hearted, as if there was something he hadn't let go of.
"Don't worry, Zhan Yi and the others will take good care of themselves."
Yingdie, standing beside him, patted Meng Chuan's hand to comfort him.
Meng Chuan nodded, but his eyes remained fixed on the view outside the window.
As the starship ascended higher and higher, the outline of Mars gradually became clear, with a pale pink atmosphere like a thin veil covering the planet's surface.
He counted the time until the starship broke through Mars' gravity and entered the predetermined course, only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.
Next, the two of them would face a long and lonely voyage of about 45 days alone.
Normally, Meng Chuan might have been quite interested in having a zero-gravity encounter with Ying Die.
But what Meng Chuan and Ying Die saw and heard on Mars made them lose interest.
Having just left Mars, Meng Chuan and Ying Die didn't want to enter hibernation so soon.
The two sat down and began to chat aimlessly.
They talked about aliens, and also about the future of the Green Gang.
They even talked about their children.
Yingdie's four children all have great talent for cultivation.
In addition, he is also quite outstanding in other areas.
By the standards of children on Earth, their children are absolute geniuses.
Yingdie hopes that when the children grow up, they can take over from them, especially to share the burden with Mengchuan.
However, as they talked, both Meng Chuan and Ying Die shuddered.
Because that feeling of being watched reappeared without warning.
Almost simultaneously, the two looked towards the porthole.
Sure enough, outside the porthole, in the dark space of space.
There was a light.
The speed of light is the same as the speed of their starship.
It looks as if it's still.
Most importantly, the light was very close to the starship where Meng Chuan was.
It was so close, it felt like I could reach out and touch it.
But the light was not dazzling.
This time, the feeling of being spied on was even stronger.
It's not the fine, needle-like feel of a production base.
Instead, it's a deeper, more direct form of surveillance.
It's like a pair of eyes peering through the porthole of a starship.
"Shadow Butterfly! Don't move."
Meng Chuan suddenly spoke.
Because Meng Chuan sensed that Ying Die had taken out her signature weapon—a short stick.
In such a situation, a short stick is useless.
It might also provoke the other person.
Yingdie's face had already turned pale, and her voice was trembling:
"It's following us! What does it want?"
It's driving Yingdie crazy.
Come on, do whatever you want to me!
What's the point of calculating like this?
But even more terrifying things were yet to come.
While Meng Chuan was holding down Ying Die and not giving her Lian's weapon.
The console suddenly lost signal.
The console, resembling a computer screen, began to flicker with "snowflakes."
Yingdie hurriedly pressed the buttons on the control panel, but nothing happened.
Even the navigation lights outside the porthole were off.
"Oh no, we...we've lost contact with Earth's control center..."