Dead on Mars

Chapter 180 - Sol Three Hundred and Twenty-One, Project Landing
Tomcat fell silent before it smiled.

“There’s no need to say such things, Miss Mai Dong.”

It didn’t wish to touch on topics regarding death, especially at such times. Reality had proven that Tomcat’s raising of flags often came true; therefore, it was best it shut up before the beginning of every major operation.

Compared to Mai Dong’s decisiveness and resoluteness, Tomcat appeared somewhat apprehensive and indecisive. But this was its duty. As an assistant on Kunlun Station, it had an obligation to ensure the safety of the team.

Mai Dong naturally had the right to make any decision with her own life. No one had the right to question her.

Orion II’s atmospheric reentry was definitely the most dangerous landing mission in human aeronautical history. Tomcat’s worry and unease weren’t without reason. If the landing failed, it would be equivalent to it and Tang Yue sending Mai Dong and Orion II to their deaths. Putting aside what Tomcat would feel, Tang Yue would probably suffer a mental breakdown.

For Tang Yue, the best choice was for Mai Dong to safely stay in the space station, but for some unknown reason, he was supporting Mai Dong’s decision.

“Tang Yue, what happens if the landing fails? Aren’t you afraid?”

“I am.”

“Then why are you insisting on letting Miss Mai Dong come down?” Tomcat asked.

Tang Yue fell silent for a few seconds.

“I’ll support her every decision.”

“Aren’t you afraid that this decision might lead to a disaster?”

Tang Yue cocked his head and gazed at the Orion II model, suddenly effusing a look that Tomcat couldn’t read.

He took a deep breath.

“On a night after we confirmed that Comet Tomcat-Tang-Mai I would hit Mars, I had a chat with Mai Dong… I asked her why we had lived up to now. Was it an innate desire for survival? Simply inertia for survival? Or was it responsibility and duty?” Tang Yue slowly said. “We have lived out days like walking zombies surviving in this remote and secluded corner. I think if this continues, we will one day lose our right to be humans, turning into something no different from a rodent.”

“The desire for survival is the means and not the end. Living isn’t the meaning behind living,” Tang Yue continued. “Therefore, Mai Dong and I decided that Comet Tomcat-Tang-Mai I was the end to everything. Our responsibilities and duties ended with it. All our identities would be wiped out by the comet’s impact, be it inheritors of human civilization, watchmen, or grave diggers. Tang Yue and Mai Dong would die here.”

“And then?”

“Then… if we were to survive the comet’s impact and somehow survive, we wouldn’t pursue to extend our lives for the continuation of human civilization. We would let life regain its true meaning. From that moment forth, I’m just an ordinary person. Likewise for Mai Dong. The only difference is that the place we live in is different from others.”

Tang Yue smiled but the smile slowly faded as he changed his tone. “Mai Dong told me that she was in great pain.”

Tomcat was taken aback.

“She wishes to change the kind of life she has no matter what it takes.”

“So neither of you care how much time you have left?”

“No, it’s how we live that takes priority, and the length of life becomes second,” Tang Yue replied. “We were very worried that we would transform into people who ended up being unscrupulous in order to survive. Bit by bit, we calculated the little amount of time we have left, being calculative about every second and minute. We would greedily and crazily use every resource that can extend our lives… Only at the last moment when we turn around and look ourselves in the mirror do we realize that we are no longer human.”

Mai Dong completed her job and returned to the space station’s core module.

Tomcat began a test run of the SPT276, and the maintenance work had been very successful. The thruster spewed out high-speed Xeon ions that appeared blue in space.

This gigantic stationary plasma thruster could provide the space station with seven Newtons of force. This force against the space station that had a mass exceeding four hundred tonnes was undoubtedly minuscule, but in zero-gravity, even an ant could move a whale. As long as there was sufficient time, any tiny amounts of acceleration could bring about a sufficient change in speed.

After Orion II left the space station, SPT276’s thruster was the only thing that could move the space station thus, greatly extending its lifespan. It was quite obvious that Tomcat didn’t wish to lose Orion II and the space station. There was nothing that could be done about Orion II’s crash, but it was bent on keeping the space station operational as long as it could.

“I have no right to interfere with your choice. It’s just my duty to remind you both,” Tomcat said. “As long as you are still lucid and mentally sound enough to understand the risks behind the operation before making the decision, I will do my best to support you.”

“Mr. Cat, then can I activate it now?”

“Yes.” Tomcat nodded. “Orion II and Kunlun Station are already prepared. You can activate it at any moment.”

Mai Dong opened the notebook computer in the core module and entered Orion II’s control system. It was still that familiar interface.

A red button and a blue button.

The girl looked up at Tomcat and Tang Yue with an inquisitive look in her eyes.

“You can press the red button,” Tomcat said, “Miss Mai Dong.”

Tang Yue stared at the girl’s eyes and nodded.

Mai Dong took a deep breath as she extended her finger and gently pressed the screen.

Under the pressure, the current under the screen changed minutely. At the moment the skin on Mai Dong’s index finger touched the screen, the electric signal reached the United Space Station and Orion II’s computers. Silently, Orion II’s flight program was completely changed as massive amounts of data pumped through the circuits. The thousands of sensors on the spacecraft received new commands as the mission clock started from zero. The computer had entered its landing mode.

It was to become the most massive landing device in human history.

Mai Dong looked around. Nothing had changed on the space station or to the spacecraft after she had pressed the button… It was a little different from what she had expected.

The girl even thought of prodding the screen a few more times.

“You don’t have to do that, Miss Mai Dong.” A pop-up window appeared on the monitor in front of Tomcat. Large amounts of data was being updated. “Orion II has entered landing mode. It will begin twenty hours from now. There will be three attitude adjustments before it does the atmospheric entry… The estimated time for entry is Coordinated Martian Time, 3:20 p.m. tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow at 3:20 p.m.?”

“Yes.” Tomcat nodded. “Before the descent officially begins, you still have twenty-eight hours. Have a good rest… Tang Yue, you should get some rest as well.”

Tang Yue didn’t move as he turned his head over and smiled. His eyes said silently: “It’s fine.”

Tomcat’s eyes didn’t have a smile. “I’m not just worried about that lady. If the landing fails, what will happen to you?”

…

Late into the silent night.

Tang Yue went to have some rest. Tomcat entered its sleep mode, likewise for Kunlun Station’s computer since there wasn’t any work for it to do.

Mai Dong was to land tomorrow. Tang Yue tried hard to sleep, but his anxiety and nervousness left him awake. Just the closing of his eyes would make him see the flaming Orion II crashing. This was a scene from his nightmare. It was so realistic that it left him horrified as it imprinted deep in his consciousness. Therefore, Tang Yue’s brain had remembered it, replaying it every night to him.

Finally, Tang Yue opened his eyes and stared at the pitch-black ceiling.

“Are you asleep? Tang Yue?” Mai Dong’s voice sounded from the earpiece.

“No,” Tang Yue replied. “I can’t sleep.”

“Same here,” Mai Dong said faintly. “Let’s have a chat? If the landing fails tomorrow, this might be our last night chat…”

“What nonsense are you saying?” Tang Yue frowned as he cut off Mai Dong with a stern tone. “It won’t be the last. We will be chatting face to face tomorrow night!”