New Orange Star System, Planet Two.
Golden sunlight filtered through the high dome, casting swaying shadows between the neatly arranged fields. A group of staff in white jumpsuits moved among various Earth plants, collecting samples or measuring data.
On a cart beside the fields, recently harvested fruits and vegetables were piled high – reds, yellows, and greens arranged together, whetting the appetite and making one eager to taste them immediately.
Zhu Yuhan watched the scene with a satisfied smile, feeling immense contentment.
After Gong Yiding was transferred away from Luojian Mountain, Zhu Yuhan briefly took charge of the base's management. However, being from a scientific background, he was not adept at managing. Before long, he voluntarily resigned from his administrative duties to continue his research.
Later, as humanity ventured beyond the solar system and established numerous outer-exploration outposts, at Zhu Yuhan's strong request, he was assigned to the New Orange Star System, located 22 light-years from the solar system, making it one of the farthest outposts from the solar system at present.
New Orange was the name given after the outpost was established; it also had a well-known designation: HD85512.
Because the star here was an orange dwarf, the first humans to arrive directly named the system New Orange.
Whether the name was fitting was debatable, but it was simple, convenient, and easy to understand.
As for the planetary environment here, it was a mixed bag.
HD85512b, or Planet Two, was slightly larger than Earth and had a greater mass. Its distance from the star was moderate, and it even possessed a nascent ecosystem. Judging by the data alone, it was a highly suitable habitable planet.
However, in reality, only the equatorial regions of this planet had temperatures above freezing. The northern and southern hemispheres were perpetually frozen, comparable to Earth's ice age.
Humanity's outpost was built on the equator. Three-quarters of the equatorial region was submerged by oceans, with only a quarter exposed above the seawater.
It was hard to say if this location was good or bad. While it was currently the most suitable location, research suggested that if the ice caps of the New Orange Star were to melt, the equatorial region would be submerged under water up to four hundred meters deep.
Furthermore, improving the temperature of the New Orange Star was one of the outpost's key research projects. Many researchers joked privately that they spent all day researching how to submerge the outpost.
However, planetary climate change was a very long process, and there was no need to worry about safety issues for the time being.
"Station Chief Zhu!" Lan Qingyu called out from a distance, approaching Zhu Yuhan and handing him a document. "This is today's research report. Please sign it."
Zhu Yuhan did not sign it hastily but opened the report. His originally relaxed brow immediately furrowed. "So many more died? Have the problems been identified?"
"The cause has been found. It should be a problem with trace elements," Lan Qingyu said.
Zhu Yuhan felt a wave of despair. "Trace elements again?"
Lan Qingyu nodded. "Yes."
The most crucial task of the outpost was to simulate human colonization of new planets, identify potential problems encountered during colonization, and solve them to the best of their ability.
The nascent ecosystem of the New Orange Star had only a few native plant species and no undiscovered native animals.
In the eyes of environmentalists, such a planet was precious and must be carefully protected, with no damage to its original species.
However, for the authorities and humanity's overall interests, preserving native species held no positive significance. Completely replacing them with Earth species to achieve an environment most suitable for human survival was the top priority.
The fruits, vegetables, flowers, and trees planted in this field were prepared for transplantation outside the dome.
Not only plants, but also various insects and plankton.
According to the plan, these Earth species would establish a new ecosystem on the New Orange Star. After hundreds or even thousands of years of artificial intervention, a planetary environment suitable for human survival could be formed.
At that time, it was even possible to develop this place into a second Earth.
However, recently, various research problems had arisen, mostly related to trace elements.
It was unavoidable. The New Orange Star was a typical light-element star system. Heavy elements were not absent, but their proportion was pitifully small, insufficient to meet the growth needs of Earth flora and fauna.
In the beginning, plants were cultivated using soil brought from Earth, and animals were fed with food brought from Earth. There were no issues.
But when it came to the transplantation phase, the plants drooped and then died in large numbers; the insects became weak and then died off in droves.
The outpost had considered the impact of trace elements. The purpose of this research was not to send large numbers of Earth species directly to the New Orange Star, but to select a batch of flora and fauna that were less dependent on heavy elements.
The results were regrettable. Accustomed to an environment rich in heavy elements, the first batch of Earth flora and fauna introduced to the New Orange Star suffered severe acclimatization problems.
More precisely, Earth plants were completely unable to adapt to the soil of the New Orange Star, and Earth insects could not eat the plants on the New Orange Star.
In the end, the outpost had to request assistance from Earth for a batch of special fertilizers with various heavy elements in specific proportions. These were mixed with the New Orange Star's soil, which finally allowed Earth plants to take root under the dome.
Not only flora and fauna, but even the staff here had to supplement various heavy elements regularly. This was not done through medication but by adding them in fixed quantities to their diet to prevent health problems caused by heavy element deficiency.
Zhu Yuhan sighed helplessly and signed his name with a flourish. "The direction of future research is how to reduce the dependence of flora and fauna on heavy elements!"
Research indicated that most star systems in the universe were severely deficient in heavy elements. Could they abandon these hard-won habitable planets just because of this?
Lan Qingyu took the document. "That, you'll have to arrange yourself. Station Chief, haven't our fleets encountered quite a few alien civilizations? Can you speak to our superiors and find a civilization whose home planet is similar to New Orange, so we can get some research material?"
Zhu Yuhan pondered for a moment and then nodded. "That's a possibility..."
Wooo—
A piercing alarm suddenly blared, and everyone sighed in unison: Not again?
Zhu Yuhan roared, "What are you all standing around for? Run!"
This was the highest level of alert, meaning everyone had to immediately enter the escape pods and await further news.
If a second-stage alert was issued, everyone had to evacuate the outpost immediately and could only return after the alarm was cleared.
However, no one was tense. Everyone entered the escape pods in an orderly fashion, just as in the drills, put on their gear, and sat in their seats, waiting patiently.
Since the outpost was built, evacuation drills had been conducted at least once a month. No one knew if this time it was a drill or actual combat.
Yet, many had not even made it into the escape pods when the alarm suddenly changed, entering the second stage.
Everyone froze simultaneously.
Although the base drills were frequent, they only practiced seeking shelter, never evacuation. What was going on today? Could something really have happened?
Everyone's nerves suddenly tensed, and their movements quickened.
The dome opened, and the fully-occupied escape pods took off first. Then, dozens of escape pods ascended in succession, docking with the ships orbiting the planet.
Zhu Yuhan rushed to the bridge. "What happened?"
Captain Chi Yan turned her head, her short, neat hair swaying slightly. "Unknown wormholes detected at the edge of the star system."
Zhu Yuhan was confused. "Are they not our ships?"
"There are no flight plans recently," Chi Yan replied.
"What if it's a temporary addition? Do you know how much it costs to evacuate the base?" Zhu Yuhan became anxious.
Evacuating everyone based on an uncertain, unexpected situation was too hasty!
"The direction is wrong, and there's no response to our calls," Chi Yan said, her gaze steady as she met Zhu Yuhan's. "The base can be rebuilt, experiments can be redone, but if people are lost, then everything is lost."
Zhu Yuhan felt a surge of frustration, unable to express or swallow it.
He understood the logic, but he sincerely felt it was unnecessary.
At that moment, a cluster of light spots suddenly appeared on the radar. Chi Yan's face changed drastically. "Orange Lake, what's your situation?"
There were four warships stationed at the New Orange Star: Orange Light, Orange Lake, Orange Wild, and Orange Boat.
Upon detecting the anomaly, the Orange Lake was the first to rush to the scene to investigate.
The light spots on the screen were remote warning signals, each spot representing a wormhole.
Judging by the screen alone, there were at least dozens... no, hundreds of wormholes!
A voice came through the communication channel. "Orange Light, unidentified fleet discovered. My ship has issued a warning and received no response... Orange Light, Orange Light, the enemy is opening fire on my ship, the enemy is opening fire on my ship!"
Zhu Yuhan felt a pang of dread. How could everything have been fine just moments ago, and now they were already fighting?
He wanted to ask for details, but even with his lack of social graces, he knew better than to disturb combat command at this moment. Being allowed to remain on the bridge was already an extraordinary leniency.
Chi Yan's eyes immediately turned red. "Orange Lake, evacuate immediately, evacuate immediately—"
"Orange Light, my ship is being targeted by enemy vessels, unable to evacuate, unable to evacuate... We can't leave. Please evacuate immediately, repeat, please evacuate immediately!"
Chi Yan stood there, stunned.
If there were no research personnel on board, she would have immediately ordered an urgent reinforcement, even if everyone had to fight to the death, they couldn't abandon the Orange Lake.
But she couldn't risk a ship full of research personnel!
In this critical moment, Chi Yan made a decisive choice. "All ships, focus all research personnel on the Orange Boat. Evacuate immediately after the transfer is complete. Send a warning to Earth. Orange Wild, accompany me to support Orange Lake!"
With the order issued, everyone immediately sprang into action. Zhu Yuhan remained silent, cast a deep look at Chi Yan, who didn't look back, and re-boarded the escape pod, transferring to the Orange Boat with the other research personnel.
As wormholes opened and the Orange Boat returned to the solar system, the Orange Light and Orange Wild were preparing to leave when suddenly over a dozen wormholes opened around them. Then another dozen, and in the blink of an eye, more than ten unfamiliar warships appeared near the New Orange Star.
Chi Yan took one look and immediately confirmed their identity. "All personnel, open fire!"
At her command, the two warships unleashed their full firepower. Several missiles exploded near the warships, creating a smoke screen that completely obscured them.
The warships, hidden within the smoke, fired continuously, launching missiles as if they were free. They created a larger smoke screen while simultaneously assaulting the enemy ships.
Humanity's regular warships lacked the advanced equipment of the Star Boats and could not use wormhole tactics. They had to rely on conventional means to engage the enemy ships.
However, the missiles were too slow. Before they could even get close to the enemy ships, they were destroyed by enemy fire.
But these missiles were merely a diversion to attract the enemy's attention. The real trump cards were the electromagnetic cannons and thermal fusion rays!
There was no need to elaborate on the electromagnetic cannons. Cannon-fired missiles had never disappointed. Although their speed was far inferior to directed energy weapons, each missile was equipped with a nuclear warhead. A single hit could tear through an enemy ship's shields.
The first two enemy ships charging forward suddenly went silent. No matter how the other enemy ships hailed them, there was no response.
These two warships had actually been hit by thermal fusion rays. The temperature inside the ships rapidly reached over 400 degrees Celsius. While the equipment was not extensively damaged, the personnel could not withstand the high temperatures and were completely annihilated.
Even wearing protective gear was useless—this weapon was a result of research from the Star Boat base. Its power was far inferior to the original, and it lacked the wide coverage of the Star Boat. Even the temperature was significantly lower than the original.
However, for dealing with enemy ships, it was not necessary to melt steel or forge iron, nor did it require such high temperatures. Whether the enemy was burned to a crisp or only cooked medium-rare, as long as it could eliminate the enemy, it was a good weapon.
The enemy seemed to have discovered the departing Orange Boat and dispatched a group of warships to open wormholes, intending to pursue it.
The Orange Light and Orange Wild immediately opened fire to stop them.
Although humanity only had two warships, the continuously expanding smoke screen gave them a significant advantage. In a short while, two more enemy ships were sunk.
The enemy's firepower was incredibly fierce. If not for the smoke screen confusing and diverting their fire, the Orange Light and Orange Wild would have been finished long ago.
However, the grim news eventually arrived. The Orange Lake, outnumbered, exploded and sank under the assault of a large number of enemy ships. All over 200 personnel on board were killed, with no survivors.
More warships appeared near the New Orange Star, surrounding the smoke screen. With a barrage of concentrated fire, both ships sustained multiple damages. Chi Yan was forced to order abandonment of the ships.
The core modules of both ships ejected outwards. However, the smoke screen that had been their advantage also became their undoing. The enemy, unaware that the two human warships had already sunk, continued to fire into the smoke screen.
The Orange Wild exploded again, projecting the shadow of its core module onto the smoke screen, immediately drawing concentrated fire from the enemy ships.
With a faint flash of light, the Orange Wild's core module turned to dust, leaving no trace behind.
Chi Yan felt a chill run through her body, but she could only watch helplessly.
Seemingly realizing that the human warships were finished, the enemy stopped firing and left the New Orange Star system in batches.
By the time the core modules, disguised as asteroids, drifted out of the smoke screen, not a single enemy ship was visible.
The ground-based outpost was also destroyed by the enemy, leaving only ruins.
Chi Yan gritted her teeth tightly, her fingertips turning white.
She suddenly looked up and activated the communication system. "Orange Light calling, Orange Light calling, New Orange Star System has been attacked by an unidentified fleet. All units that receive this message, please immediately warn Earth..."
The communication equipment in the core module could only open a very small wormhole. In a short while, this tiny wormhole consumed the core module's reserve energy, and communication was completely lost.
Chi Yan let out a long breath.
She had done everything she could, everything she was capable of. Whether Earth received the message would depend on fate.