In mid-November, the Luojianshan Scientific Research Base was officially completed. Gong Yiding seized the opportunity to convene everyone for a brief and lively inauguration ceremony.
Gong Yiding delivered an impassioned speech, emphasizing that the base's completion marked a brand new phase for humanity's research into extraterrestrial warships.
"He really knows how to blow his own horn!" Ling Xiao scoffed, curling his lip.
"I don't think so, it's just the plain truth," Ou Zhanpeng replied. "Hey, I notice you have quite a few opinions about Station Chief Gong, don't you? Did he eat your rice?"
"Get lost, get lost, what are you talking about? I just can't stand his conniving nature, always rushing forward whenever there's an opportunity..."
At this moment, Gong Yiding's speech was drawing to a close: "Finally, I have one more thing to announce to everyone. Due to my personal recommendation and strenuous efforts, the higher authorities have appointed me as the first station chief of the Luojianshan Base. I ask for your continued support in my work, thank you!"
"Whoa!" Ling Xiao immediately seized on this. "See? What did I say? He admitted it himself!"
"Admitted what? You're spouting nonsense!" Ou Zhanpeng was both amused and exasperated. "Let me analyze this for you. First, Station Chief Gong is quite capable. Ever since he arrived at Luojianshan, he has handled everything perfectly, whether it was research, combat, or logistical support. That's true, isn't it?"
Ling Xiao thought for a moment and nodded, "True."
"At a critical moment, he didn't run off to hide outside, but organized everyone to evacuate to safety outside the mountains. That's also true, isn't it?"
Ling Xiao continued to nod, "True."
"He's been in charge at Guanghan Station, familiar with the lunar environment and work methods. That's also true, isn't it?"
Ling Xiao still nodded, "True."
"So there you have it!" Ou Zhanpeng spread his hands. "He has ability, experience, and decisiveness, and good interpersonal skills. If it were me managing this, would you pick someone completely clueless, or an experienced veteran station chief?"
Ling Xiao was struck speechless. While he disliked opportunism, he wouldn't deny others' merits based on his personal feelings. Ou Zhanpeng's argument left him with nothing to say.
But he wasn't about to give up. He quickly changed tack: "I say, whose side are you on?"
"I'm on the side of reason!" Ou Zhanpeng laughed heartily. "Read more books when you have the time, it'll do you good."
"Not interested!" Ling Xiao waved his hand.
His favorite pastime in his leisure hours was playing games. Books? He hadn't touched one since leaving school.
Ou Zhanpeng shook his head helplessly, "From now on, no matter what you do, use your brain more!"
To be honest, was the Luojianshan Scientific Research Station a good place?
From a scientific research perspective, the entire Blue Star probably couldn't find a better place.
But what about from the perspectives of environment, material, and benefits?
Located on the Moon, it was desolate and lonely. Food and supplies had to be transported from Blue Star. There wasn't a cent in the accounts; everything needed was provided by the higher-ups.
Being the station chief here required enduring pressure unimaginable to ordinary people.
Anyone with a bit of a sharp mind, who would come here to suffer?
But Gong Yiding, he was unwilling to leave when Guanghan evacuated and volunteered when Luojianshan was being built. If this was considered conniving, then he'd rather all officials in the world schemed their hearts out.
It was only Ling Xiao, the brainless one, who viewed things from such a peculiar angle.
"What are you two talking about?" Xie Yu appeared out of nowhere.
"Nothing, just chatting," Ling Xiao replied with feigned curiosity. "Captain Xie, do you have something?"
Xie Yu nodded, "The command's analysis report is out."
As he spoke, he sent an electronic document to Ou Zhanpeng, and also sent a copy to Ling Xiao.
Ling Xiao, with no interest in such things, casually opened it. "What did they analyze?"
Xie Yu said, "First, there was only one Brainfish throughout, and then seven jellyfish. The rest were all giant species. The command believes that the Brainfish was accidentally left behind in the warship by the aliens who fled in a hurry."
Ou Zhanpeng looked up in astonishment, "So, the organization of giant species to hijack the warship and all that was because of this Brainfish?"
Xie Yu nodded, "Highly likely."
Ling Xiao was completely unsettled, "What kind of nonsense is this? They ran off, and they left us with a loose end? What rotten luck!"
"This is the command's analysis; only the alien species know the real story," Ou Zhanpeng said. "Anything else?"
"Also, the risk level of this battle. The command believes the potential danger level is Level Two."
Ou Zhanpeng and Ling Xiao froze simultaneously.
The latter vigorously scratched his head, suddenly feeling his brain was insufficient. "No way? Is it that exaggerated?"
The so-called potential risk referred to the level of space disaster.
Level Four meant minor, manageable casualties in a small area, like a meteorite falling and smashing a neighbor's dog.
Level Three indicated a large-scale disaster, like a meteor shower falling into a densely populated area, causing mass casualties, but not crippling the planet.
Level Two was defined as a global ecological disaster, similar to the impact that wiped out the dinosaurs, causing the death of most humans and severe damage to Earth's ecosystem.
As for Level One, it referred to true astronomical-level disasters, such as a nearby supernova explosion, or a gamma-ray burst completely destroying Earth. Or the sun suddenly acting up and sneezing at Earth.
In short, it meant not only the extinction of humanity but also the complete destruction of Earth's ecosystem.
Was it just aliens hijacking a warship that warranted a Level Two classification?
Ou Zhanpeng scanned the document, his eyes moving quickly, then suddenly looked up, "It might be more exaggerated than you think."
Xie Yu picked up the conversation, "We always thought the enemy's target was the power core, but the power core is adjacent to... well, I don't know what to call it, but that's where the wormhole control equipment is. If the enemy only intended to hijack the warship, it would be fine. But if the alien species opened a wormhole without proper control, the wormhole would manifest on the lunar surface, which would not only destroy the Broken Ship but also completely obliterate Luojianshan, leaving at least a massive crater with a diameter of ten, or even dozens of kilometers!"
Ling Xiao's eyes went wide as he listened, he couldn't imagine what it would be like to open a wormhole on the lunar surface. "The aliens wouldn't be that insane, would they?"
"Who knows? Even a cornered dog will jump over a wall."
Ou Zhanpeng felt a chill down his spine, "So, we really got lucky!"
"Precisely! Fortunately, we acted quickly! If we had been a moment slower, who knows what the outcome would have been," Xie Yu still felt lingering fear.
Ou Zhanpeng blinked in surprise, "You can't say that, can you? That's a wormhole, how much energy would need to erupt all at once to tear open space?"
The power furnace in the Broken Ship struggled to power a few shields, let alone open a wormhole? Pure fantasy!