Jinling Space Launch Center.

The sudden bad news from the front line caused the entire ground command center to be in chaos.

Earthquake!

It was an earthquake!

In the aerial footage of the satellite, the raging wind and sand rose into the sky, rolling out a circle of arc-shaped shock waves. Swept by the raging currents, the surrounding sand dunes were leveled and the craters were filled in, leaving only a deep scar on the surface of the Mars. From afar, the entire mountain range was in shambles, crumbling into ruins in the dust that obscured the sky......

Fortunately, there was no sea on Mars, and there was no lava to erupt, and the Martian research station a few kilometers away was only jolted by the shaking of the earth for a while, except for the knockover of some cabinets and potted plants.

Worryingly, however, the collapse of Hell's Gates has triggered a chain reaction, including regional sandstorms.

At this time, the center of the epicenter is dozens of kilometers in radius, and everywhere you can see is a gray dust.

Looking down from the satellite, it is impossible to see what is happening on the ground, nor can it receive any signal from there.

In the command room of the ground command center, the voices of reports came and went.

Everyone's hearts were in their throats, and they prayed in their hearts for their compatriots on Mars.

"An earthquake was found in the area of 15° south latitude and 128.1° west longitude! According to the observation results of the Mars scientific research station, the magnitude of the earthquake was preliminarily judged to be above 9.5! ”

"The Hell's Gate Mountains have collapsed! The entire area is currently covered in sandstorms! ”

"The sandstorm is expected to last for about a week ......"

"What's new! Two personnel lost contact during the operation! ”

“…… its, one of them...... It's Academician Lu. ”

When he heard this bad news, Director Li's blood pressure rose in an instant, and his eyes were full of bloodshots.

stepped forward and grabbed the staff member sitting in front of the console, the old man in his sixties seemed to be crazy, grabbed his collar, and said with spittle.

"What's going on! Academician Lu is missing?! What the hell is going on! ”

The researcher who was grabbed by the collar trembled, let alone spoke, and the whole person did not dare to gasp.

It's not that I'm afraid of being beaten up by this old man.

Purely because he was afraid that after he confessed honestly, the old man's heart would not be able to bear the bad news.

Now Academician Lu's life and death are uncertain. Heguo itself is a painful loss, and if he walks an old leader who has come all the way from the Pangudui era, the loss will be too heavy.

Looking at the excited Director Li, Director Chang Hezhi, who was standing next to him, hurriedly grabbed him.

"Lao Li, calm down, don't be so impulsive! It's unclear what's going on on Mars right now, what if it's a false positive? ”

"Calm down! You tell me how to calm down! Throwing the staff member aside, Director Li looked at Director Chang, who was holding him, his beard trembling with excitement, "That's Mars!" Not on Earth! ”

If it was on Earth, let alone an earthquake, or a world war, they would take him home at all costs.

However, on Mars, even if they want to do this, they are willing to do it at all costs, and they simply do not have the conditions to do it......

As soon as the anxious mood came up, the already aging cardiovascular system suddenly couldn't bear it, Director Li's eyes widened, and he suddenly became short of breath.

Seeing that the situation was wrong, Director Chang hurriedly helped him, and the staff next to him also rushed over.

"Lao Li! What's wrong with you, Lao Li! ”

"Director Li fainted!"

"Quick! Call an ambulance! ”

"Medic! Someone has fallen here! ”

The Space Launch Center, which was already in chaos, suddenly fainted in the command room because Director Li suddenly collapsed, which made it even more chaotic.

Looking at Director Li, who was carried away on a stretcher, everyone's hearts were stained with a layer of gloom.

This is definitely the darkest moment in the history of China's aerospace industry.

There's never been a day like today......

……

"Okay...... I know. ”

Jinling Institute for Advanced Study.

Yang Xu, the vice president sitting in the office, put down the phone in his hand with a heavy face. Standing next to him, Director Qian Zhongming, who served as the director of the Institute of Computational Materials, immediately asked.

"What's going on now? Is there any news from the Space Launch Center? ”

Just 20 minutes ago, the Institute of Astronomy of the Jinling Institute for Advanced Study observed a regional sandstorm on Mars through an astronomical observation satellite deployed in a synchronous orbit.

Because there was no warning, the experts of the institute preliminarily judged that it was caused by an earthquake based on the available information.

And the magnitude of the earthquake is probably not small.

Considering that Academician Lu was on a mission over there, Yang Xu immediately called the Jinling Space Launch Center. Unexpectedly, the space launch center, which has always been familiar with them, is silent this time.

Although he didn't ask for any useful information, his intuition told Yang Xu that what he was most worried about might have happened.

“…… All launch activities were suspended, presumably because of the earthquake on Mars. After being silent for a while, Yang Xu continued, "Although the people over there are reluctant to reveal more inside information, according to the schedule previously announced by the Manned Fire Office...... That expedition is probably more than lucky. ”

A hint of surprise appeared in his pupils, and Qian Zhongming's expression gradually became solemn, and he continued.

"How so? Could it be that extraterrestrial civilization......"

"I don't know, I can't say it," Yang Xu shook his head, "I'm afraid there is another hidden story behind this fire plan, we don't have any news now, it's better not to guess." Not to mention ......"

Speaking of this, the tense expression on Yang Xu's face suddenly relaxed slightly, and he smiled in a relaxed manner.

"What's more, it's Academician Lu's words."

"I believe that with his ability, even if he encounters big trouble, the problem will not be very big."

There's Mars.

If only that were the case......

Qian Zhongming smiled bitterly in his heart.

Although he knew that Vice Dean Yang was comforting himself, he didn't feel too much comfort in his heart. After sighing softly, he retracted the expression on his face and asked solemnly.

"So what do we do now?"

After thinking about it, Yang Xu said.

"Let's block the news for the time being, so that the experts at the astronomical institute don't talk nonsense. Regardless of the current situation over there, we will follow the information from the manned landing office. ”

Qian Zhongming said in embarrassment.

"I'm afraid the lockdown won't last long, and it's not just us...... I'm afraid the whole world is watching the situation on Mars, and I'm afraid that by tomorrow at the latest, someone will feel that something is wrong. ”

Academician Lu is the spiritual pillar of the Jinling Institute for Advanced Study.

At least eighty percent of the researchers gathered under this ivory tower because of his aura. If he had an accident, although these people might not have left, the blow to morale would undoubtedly be quite heavy.

In particular, the Institute for Computational Materials is a world leader.

The reason why he was able to punch MIT and kick Stanford basically relied on Lu Zhou, the originator. If they lose the aura of Academician Lu, although they will not fall from the altar, it is obviously difficult to achieve this world's number one throne if it wants to be as stable as before.

"You can block it for as long as you can," Yang Xu looked at the wall clock on the wall, and after being silent for a moment, he continued, "The situation on Mars is still uncertain. ”

"At least, we can't mess up the mess ourselves."

Almost at the same time.

Star Technology Headquarters.

Chen Yushan, who was sitting at the desk dealing with the work at hand, suddenly frowned lightly and pressed her hand on her left chest.

"Strange ......"

The inexplicable throbbing made her mouth murmur softly.

"Is it because you've been too busy at work lately?"

"It's the end of the year...... It's time for me to think about developing a successor. ”

Sighing softly, Chen Yushan raised her right hand and pressed it on her eyebrows and rubbed it, then picked up the ballpoint pen on the table and regained her energy.

Obviously, she slept fairly well last night, but for some reason, there was a heart-wrenching pain in her chest.

It's like......

Somewhere in her heart, a piece was gouged out......