Luo Tu was right; deciding where to go was indeed a critical choice at this moment.
"I think we should pursue the escape pod," said Gu Haibo, the group leader of the third team. "We can't abandon Mars, but Mars is right there. We can monitor the situation on Mars anytime. The escape pod is different. We have no idea where the alien species' target is. Once we lose track of the escape pod, finding them again won't be easy."
Although humanity could observe events hundreds of billions of light-years away, that was achieved through long-exposure orbital telescopes, not through advanced real-time observation methods.
The solar system was vast, and the alien species came from deep space. With even minimal effort, they could evade human observation. At that point, it would be harder than finding a needle in a haystack.
"It should be Europa, right?" Xu Qing said.
Having gotten used to being a communicator, she always spoke gently, even when stating a certainty, preferring a more tactful tone.
"I agree," Gu Haibo said.
Besides Earth, the celestial bodies in the solar system that humanity paid the most attention to were Europa and Titan.
Europa possessed a thick ice shell hundreds of kilometers deep, under which there might be an ocean, and possibly even native life!
Unfortunately, before humanity could land on Europa, the alien species suddenly appeared, not only proving the existence of extraterrestrial life but also of extraterrestrial civilization.
Titan, on the other hand, had a dense atmosphere, unique among all celestial bodies. There had always been speculation that Titan might harbor extremely cold-blooded organisms completely different from humans.
Although the alien species had not been in the solar system for long, they had undoubtedly visited many star systems. They must have encountered many situations similar to Europa. Moreover, brain fish were aquatic animals, so the escape pod flying towards Europa was the most likely scenario.
Luo Tu nodded in agreement, while Ou Zhanpeng remained silent.
Curiously, Luo Tu nudged Ou Zhanpeng's arm. "Hey, Fatty Ou, what are you thinking about?"
Without thinking, Ou Zhanpeng raised his arm and blocked Luo Tu's. The two swayed to opposite sides like tumbling dolls.
Gu Haibo quickly steadied Luo Tu, and Xu Qing grabbed Ou Zhanpeng's arm.
"Kid, you're fast!" Luo Tu said, baring his teeth.
"Instinct, pure instinct!" Ou Zhanpeng chuckled, showing no pride.
"Thinking about which beauty, so lost in thought?" Xu Qing asked playfully.
Ou Zhanpeng gave an awkward laugh, rubbed his forehead, and said, "I also think the aliens are most likely heading to Europa, but there's another possibility: the aliens have no specific destination. They've discovered we're getting closer and plan to use the escape pod to lure us away!"
Everyone was startled. Luo Tu's expression became incredibly solemn. "We can't rule out that possibility!"
"Right, we can't rule it out," Gu Haibo said. "The aliens have landed three times. That escape pod is so small, how many aliens can it hold?"
Both hypotheses were reasonable, and Luo Tu was immediately in a dilemma.
"Our mission is Mars. Let's go to Mars first," Xu Qing said.
Ou Zhanpeng pulled up a top-down view of the solar system, focusing on Mars and Jupiter. "Look, based on our current position, this is the perfect window to fly from Mars to Jupiter. So, the escape pod departing at this time isn't accidental. If we adjust our course immediately, we should still make it. However—"
His tone shifted. "If we go to Mars first and use its gravity assist for acceleration, we can still catch up to Jupiter. But after reaching Jupiter, things become uncertain. Our fuel is limited. Unless the enemy stays at Jupiter, it will be the end of our expedition, possibly a one-way trip with no guarantee of returning to Earth."
"We can't ignore Mars, and we can't ignore the escape pod either. How about this: we go to Mars first, launch the missiles, and then head to Jupiter. Will that work?" Gu Haibo suggested.
"It might work, but we'd only fire one round of missiles. First, we don't know if we can hit them. What if the aliens intercept them?"
Gu Haibo became anxious. "This won't work, that won't work, then what do you suggest?"
Ou Zhanpeng remembered his earlier thought, and a conflicted expression appeared on his face.
Luo Tu was almost frantic. "Hey, what's with that expression? One person's wisdom is limited, but many people's advice can solve anything. Whatever you're thinking, just say it. We'll all brainstorm together."
Ou Zhanpeng scanned everyone's faces. The three team leaders and the others in the bridge all looked expectant.
He gritted his teeth and said, "My idea is this: the battleship goes to Mars, but whether to launch missiles will depend on the situation. However, we must take several weapon modules and leave one person behind to destroy the alien base using the weapon modules!"
The statement was earth-shattering, and everyone was stunned by the audacious idea.
"How can that be?" Xu Qing blurted out, without thinking.
"How can it not be?" Ou Zhanpeng retorted. "This is the most reasonable solution."
"But what about the person? If they stay behind, can they survive?" Xu Qing exclaimed, her voice filled with anger.
She was a soldier, but also a woman, often more emotional than male officers and soldiers.
Furthermore, her sentiment was shared by all the female soldiers present.
The male soldiers, however, displayed only resolve and solemnity.
"Maybe they can survive, maybe not," Ou Zhanpeng said.
"How can you be like this? Aren't you sending someone to their death?"
Ou Zhanpeng suddenly wore a very strange expression, a mix of trepidation, unease, hesitation, and struggle, but what was most evident was an unshakeable determination: "I suggested it, so I will stay."
Xu Qing was stunned again, almost in tears. "I, I, I didn't mean it like that."
Ou Zhanpeng spread his hands and smiled with unusual ease. "It has nothing to do with you."
Xu Qing stared blankly at Ou Zhanpeng, unable to utter a word.
"I've already thought it through," Ou Zhanpeng continued. "After destroying the alien base, I'll enter a cryo-sleep pod and remain in hibernation. When you return, don't forget to pick me up along the way. If I'm lucky, I might live for a few more decades. If I'm not lucky, you can still bring me back and bury me in a scenic spot. I'll be a martyr, right?"
Luo Tu finally came to his senses. "No, no, no, that's not right. This method might work, but we can't be so reckless. If someone must stay, then we must do our best to maximize the chances of survival, not leave someone knowing they are certainly doomed... And, who stays must be decided by collective discussion and reported to the base for approval. Want to be a martyr? You're dreaming!"
He rarely spoke so much at once. Those who knew him well understood that he was deeply troubled.