Chapter 422: Chapter 207: Expedition Army Crisis (Part 2)_2
"Actually, I have a question. According to what you said before, there were quite a few identical things at the initial discovery location. But why is it that when we went again, we couldn’t find a single one?" Gu Ningzhi suddenly joked, "Could it be that they felt us approaching, grew legs, and ran away? Or perhaps the planetary coordinates were recorded incorrectly?"
Li You was left speechless by the other’s unserious remark, and after holding it in for a long while, he finally blurted out, "Absurd!"
Gu Ningzhi’s luck was evidently not so good. After another half month of travel and exploration of two planets, the Expedition Army discovered a planet with supply resources! This discovery allowed the slightly tense Expedition Army to collectively breathe a sigh of relief.
"Prepare to analyze the atmospheric composition, establish planetary coordinates, and determine the existence of intelligent life!"
Li You stood expressionless in the main command room giving orders, while Gu Ningzhi stood behind him, looking at the virtual screen displaying the planet, which was mostly light green with some parts blue. He felt inexplicably restless, yet couldn’t pinpoint the source.
The results of the exploration were extremely encouraging. The atmosphere of this planet was very suitable for intelligent life and had ample water sources.
According to the imagery taken from space, there seemed to be hints of life forms on this planet. However, the members of the Expedition Army couldn’t determine if these life forms were harmless. Even though they hadn’t found their mission target, the discovery of another inhabitable planet was still a huge gain.
Gu Ningzhi watched the people in the main command room busily preparing to enter the atmosphere of the unknown planet, and the vague shadow in his heart seemed to grow thicker. He had a persistent feeling that this mission would encounter quite significant trouble... Was this merely his illusion?
"What’s going on? You’ve been quiet since earlier. Do you have something on your mind?" Li You, having finished organizing all matters, instinctively turned to look at Gu Ningzhi and found him deep in thought, appearing as if he had encountered a huge problem.
"No... I just feel that this planet appeared at a very inconvenient time," Gu Ningzhi said half-jokingly, "You know, in half a month, we could have returned home. Just when this energy-supplying planet shows up, all hopes are dashed... Under these circumstances, if I were in a good mood, that would be what’s strange, right?"
Li You felt a cold sweat on his forehead. Although he had known for years that Gu Ningzhi was quite out of tune, he didn’t expect him to keep lowering the bar, "The warship is about to enter the atmosphere, so make your preparations! What’s done is done, your complaints won’t help."
Gu Ningzhi was currently a member of the first exploration team of the Expedition Army. Every time they reached an unknown planet, the preliminary exploration tasks fell on this small team. Over the years, Gu Ningzhi had continuously hidden his skills, always showing just enough competence during missions, which was why he hadn’t been promoted and remained in the first exploration team.
"Yes, yes, yes, since Lieutenant General Li has spoken, how could I, a tiny little soldier, dare to disobey?" Gu Ningzhi neatly placed his military cap on his head, his playful expression tucked away, leaving only seriousness and solemnity, "I’ll go make preparations."
Watching Gu Ningzhi’s leisurely departing figure, Li You only felt his head throb. Indeed, bringing this guy into the Expedition Army was a very wrong decision back then. He doesn’t focus on serious matters and only creates trouble.
The warship hovered at a thousand meters above the ground, while the first exploration team, which Gu Ningzhi belonged to, piloted a small rescue ship down.
Further collection of surrounding air data for analysis was the priority, including checking radiation elements and intensity. Unexpectedly, the atmospheric data of this planet was exceptionally favorable, with cosmic radiation levels steady at a safe baseline.
Out of caution, the first exploration team still wore specialized isolation spacesuits as they truly entered the planet’s atmosphere. The planet’s gravitational pull was slightly stronger compared to those of the Alliance’s planets. However, which of those present was not someone who could move freely under several times more gravity? This little bit of gravity had virtually no impact on them!
"This planet... is astonishingly good..." People from the first exploration team began to mutter. Based on current exploration data, they didn’t even need to wear space isolation suits. But they wouldn’t take them off easily.
Past exploration experiences taught them that the universe was full of all sorts of strange creatures. Each unknown planet’s atmosphere likely hosted lethal, dangerous microorganisms. Any competent explorer would not do such a foolish thing.
Maintaining stable contact with the high-altitude team, they conducted a preliminary exploration. The first exploration team seamlessly divided tasks, with some sampling, analyzing, and investigating everywhere, then establishing the initial planetary data for future research and analysis by others.
Meanwhile, Gu Ningzhi’s group began searching for native life on the planet. If they were lucky, the natives would just be some gentle and culturally backward beings, making subsequent developments very smooth. However, if unlucky, and the natives were dangerous, carnivorous, and warlike, then conflict would be inevitable. Gu Ningzhi chose a direction for exploration, surrounded by particularly dense "forest."
Calling it a forest wasn’t accurate, as Gu Ningzhi had never seen such ugly and strange "trees," grotesquely shaped, their deep green branches devoid of leaves, instead growing numerous things similar to fleshy bulbs. Raising his hand to touch the "trunk," he felt warmth, as if blood flowed beneath his palm... These things stretched endlessly in every direction.
"Whatever the case, collect some samples first..." Gu Ningzhi took out his sampling tool, carefully cut into the "trunk," and found thick, yellow liquid with an indescribable stench oozing out, "Ugh... that’s disgusting..."
After hurriedly collecting the sample, Gu Ningzhi continued a bit further, his eyes suddenly narrowing. He quickly stepped forward, parting the weeds on the ground, comparing it with his hand, and murmured, "Is this... a human footprint?"
It was the footprint of a person wearing shoes! (To be continued. If you enjoyed this work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)
