I live in the Martian wilderness!

[Mars Day 8, 22:13]

Just as Gu Yu was about to put on the custom-made eye mask again and enter the next rest cycle—

"Beep! Beep! Beep!"

A piercing alarm suddenly blared throughout the shelter! It wasn't an alarm for any equipment malfunction, but rather the highest-priority "external communication request" alert!

Gu Yu sprang from the bed, his heart pounding: "Xuan! It's it?!"

"Yes, Captain!" Xuanjian's voice was filled with unprecedented excitement. "The Zhurong has captured the downlink signal from Tianwen-1! The communication window has opened!"

Without a second thought, Gu Yu rushed to the control panel.

On the main screen, the green indicator light on the Zhurong antenna is flashing wildly, indicating that a stable high-gain link has been established!

[High-bandwidth downlink data stream received!]

[Source: Deep Space Network (DSN) -> Relay: Tianwen-1 Orbiter]

[Data size: 2.4G]

"2.4 GB?!" Gu Yu was stunned for a moment. "How many messages did they leave us?"

"Xuan, never mind that! Let's send out our answer sheet first!"

"Understood! The [Shennong Project Phase One Results Briefing] has been placed with the highest priority... being sent via uplink... transmission complete!"

Only after completing his own report did Gu Yu breathe a sigh of relief and focus all his attention on the "message in a bottle" from Earth.

"Decode it immediately! I want to see what they said!"

"Executing, Captain. The data packet uses military-grade encryption. Based on current computing power, full decoding is expected to take... 8 minutes."

Gu Yu leaned back in his chair, his clenched fist slowly relaxing.

He stared intently at the slowly climbing decoding progress bar on the screen, his mind completely blank.

He dared not think about the contents of the letter, because any possibility was enough to make his heart race.

Time passed by, second by second.

When the progress bar finally reached 100%, a crisp notification sound rang out.

"Decoding complete," Xuanjian reported. "The contents include: one Class A encrypted text file, one 3D engineering animation (Project Kuafu), three high-bitrate video files..."

"Read the text first!"

The next second, the HUD interface in front of Gu Yu instantly turned into a deep black...

Only rows of green, warm Song typeface characters floated silently against the desolate Martian backdrop.

[Information: From the Supreme Command of the "Mars Alliance Special Mission"]

Captain Gu Yu:

"We have received your reply of 'disobedience.' We have also received the report on the 'Shennong Project.'"

"The command pays the highest tribute to your outstanding engineering capabilities and tenacious will to survive! You have proven through your actions that you are worthy of the name 'Spark'!"

"Regarding the rescue plan, after an emergency overnight assessment by all the experts in the 'Building Alliance Group,' we have decided—to respect your opinion."

Upon seeing this, Gu Yu suddenly loosened his clenched fist, and a huge warm current surged into his heart.

But the next line of text made his nerves tense up again.

"However, we also have our bottom line."

"You have four Martian days from the date you receive this message."

"In these four days, you need to demonstrate to us through concrete actions that every aspect of the Shennong Project is feasible."

"We require you to provide continuous, real-time progress reports on key steps via the Zhurong satellite."

"If your Shennong project is still on paper or any key link has stalled after 4 Martian days."

"Earth will no longer consult your opinion; immediately implement the 'Kuafu Chasing the Sun' one-time interception plan."

"That's an order."

"at last,"

At the end of the letter, the originally cold and serious tone of the military command suddenly softened.

"Son, everyone in the command center is proud of you, and we have absolute faith in your abilities."

"But please believe that your motherland will stand by you, in your determination to fight against the laws of physics and the vast cosmos!"

"—Zhang Jianguo"

Gu Yu stared at the letter silently for a long time without saying a word.

That was not a simple reply.

It was a trust, an expectation, and even more so, a weighty respect and responsibility.

......

Meanwhile, on Earth, at the National Space Flight Control Center.

The entire deep space exploration command center fell into that suffocating silence once again.

Commander-in-Chief Zhang Jianguo and all the core members of the "Jianlian Group" have been guarding this place for almost two full days.

Suddenly, on the main screen, the signal indicator light representing "Tianwen-1" instantly changed from gray to green!

"Signal acquired!"

"It's Captain Gu Yu! His window of opportunity has opened! He's contacted us again!"

"Decoding... This data volume... it's video!"

When the progress report, which included a package of pictures and text and several high-definition operation videos, was displayed on the big screen, the entire command hall fell silent.

They witnessed how Gu Yu used readily available materials to forge the first piece of steel on the Martian wasteland.

How did Tissot's drill bit tear through the permafrost and reach that crystal-clear ancient ice?

Inside that small shelter, the reactor was emitting a light pinkish glow, and green life was flowing within it.

"Two days..." Academician Song, his hair white, adjusted his glasses with trembling hands. "He completed all the work we estimated would take at least a week in just two days..."

"Incredible..." Professor Zhang Heng, who was in charge of scientific support, murmured to himself, "He not only solved the problems of water and food, but also established a sustainable micro-industrial system."

All eyes eventually turned to the commander-in-chief, Zhang Jianguo.

Zhang Jianguo stared silently at the young man on the screen, who, though tired, still had sharp eyes, and remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he slowly raised his hand.

"Everyone has it." His voice wasn't loud, but it carried throughout the entire hall.

"Regarding the one-time interception plan for 'Kuafu Chasing the Sun,' I propose—permanent termination."

"Those who agree, please raise your hands."

Swish-!

In the conference room, from the elderly academicians with white hair to the young technicians, everyone raised their hands high at the same moment.

Passed unanimously.

Zhang Jianguo nodded and turned his gaze to Zhang Zixuan, the chief engineer of the transportation system beside him.

"Chief Engineer Zhang, now that we're not going to use suicidal charges, how quickly can our Long March 9 heavy-duty version reach Mars?"

Chief Engineer Zhang Zixuan adjusted his glasses and announced a number that had been calculated countless times:

"Report to the Commander-in-Chief: We will use a rapid transfer trajectory via Earth-fire, while retaining full orbital braking and partial return capability."

"The Long March 9 rocket can safely deliver a 50-ton extended module to Mars orbit within 180 days."

"180 days..." Zhang Jianguo pondered for a moment, "Six months. I believe our soldiers can wait."

He whirled around, facing everyone, and issued a new order: "Pass the word! Everyone in charge, get to work immediately!"

"Six months from now, we must welcome our heroes home!"

"yes!!!"