Over the next few days, Project Ares command began to obtain a steady stream of information from Pang Xuelin and Watney about their presence on Mars.

For example, the state of the perching cabin and rover, the operation of key equipment such as oxygenators, water circulation systems, solar cell systems, and nickel-metal hydride battery energy storage systems, the storage of various materials such as water, food, and medical supplies, and the growth of potatoes in the planting cabin.

If it weren't for the technology, they would have wanted to monitor all the data in the perching capsule in real time.

There is even a team of experts on Earth to make various recommendations for the life of the two on Mars.

JPL: "Watney, the team of experts thinks that you can increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the planting chamber to facilitate the accumulation of organic matter in the potatoes. ”

JPL: "Pong, we need to set up a backup communications system in case we lose contact again if something goes wrong with the Mars Pathfinder landing module. The expert group's suggestion is that Morse code could be used as a backup, and even if all electronic devices are not available, you and Watney could use the Martian rocks to place the Morse code pattern, and we would receive the information you wanted to convey through satellite photos. Morse code only has dots and lines, which is simpler than pendulum letters. What, you already will? Well, then let Watney learn, and you'll be in charge of mentoring him! ”

JPL: "Pong, Watney, I have good news for you. We have completed the modification of the Ares 4 MDV (Mars Landing Vehicle) to make it capable of flying in the atmosphere. When it lands on the plains of Asidaria, it will discard the heat shield and all life supplies, and the Ares 4 mission team will take you on a short flight through the Martian atmosphere to the Schiapallelli crater. ”

JPL: "The good news is that our supply spacecraft will be launched during next year's Hohmann transfer window, and it will take about nine months to arrive on Mars, with an estimated arrival date of Mars Day 856, and the supplies will include plenty of food, spare oxygenators, water circulation devices, and a communications system that will allow you to sustain Ares 4 until the arrival of Mission Ares 4. ”

……

In the United States, on the boulevard of the California Institute of Technology, Venkart and Tian Mu are walking and chatting.

Venkart said: "The worst times are finally over, and then we can prepare the rescue plan step by step." ”

Tian Mu said with a smile: "Now I can finally breathe a sigh of relief, and I don't have to be chased by reporters every day to ask about Pang and Watney's news." Their communication with the Earth is synchronized to the media, and there is simply so much for those annoying journalists to write about. ”

Venkart smiled: "That's true, I was almost driven crazy by reporters some time ago, but restoring communication is only the first step, and the next step is to do a good job in the supply mission, don't make any mistakes!" ”

Tian Mu nodded, and said with a straight face: "Karp, I think it's time for us to consider informing the crew of the Hermes that Pang Xuelin and Mark Watney are still alive." ”

Venkat thought for a moment and said, "You're right, it's time to tell the crew of the Hermes the truth, and during this time, for the sake of secrecy, we have conducted a one-way audit of all communications with the Hermes!" ”

Tian Mu laughed and said, "Okay, tomorrow the Ares Project Command will hold a joint meeting, let's jointly propose it at the meeting!" ”

……

"Watney, Pong, please call back when you receive it!"

"Watney, Pong, can you hear me?"

"Watney, Pon......"

In the wind and sand, Colonel Lewis staggered to find Pang Xuelin and Mark Watney.

"Beck, did you see Pong and Watney disappear in which direction just now?"

"Commander, all I saw was that the satellite dish hit Watney, and then Watney crashed into Pang behind him, and then the two were gone, and they lost the signal from their spacesuit's life support system!"

“shit！ Now everyone listens, Sergey, you and Friedrich immediately get into the MAV cockpit and get ready for launch, Haruko Kitakawa, you and Gross move closer to Beck. Then everyone lined up in a straight line and headed for the MAV. ”

"Understood, Commander!"

"Dr. Baker, how long can Pong and Watney live on Mars under decompression?"

"No more than a minute!"

Baker's voice trembled a little: "Colonel Lewis, what are you going to do?" ”

"We can't give up Pong and Watney, I'm going to look for them again. Gross, is it possible for the rover's infrared camera to find Pong and Watney in the storm? ”

"Commander, it's unlikely, infrared cameras can't penetrate a sandstorm of this level."

Lewis added: "Friedrich, how is the sandstorm now?" ”

"Colonel Lewis, the sustained wind has reached 100kph, the maximum wind has reached 125kph, if the wind exceeds 150kph, the MAV is in danger of tipping!"

"Lieutenant Colonel Friedrich, give me five minutes, and if I haven't returned to the MAV after five minutes, you just start the launch procedure! When the time comes, Sergei will take over my command, do you understand? “

"Colonel Lewis, you're the commander, you can't take such a risk!"

"I can't give up on my team members easily, okay, don't talk about it, it's decided!"

……

Lewis staggered forward when she felt something tripped under her feet.

She lowered her head and saw a figure in a spacesuit falling into the sand, the helmet blown away by the sandstorm, leaving only a cold body.

Lewis hurriedly turned the other party over, in the low pressure and cold environment of Mars, the deceased's face became puffy because of the low pressure, and his skin froze to blue-black, and he could only barely identify the deceased as Pang Xuelin from the color of his hair.

Pang ...... Pang ......"

Lewis's tone became choked.

At this moment, Pang Xuelin's eyes opened suddenly, revealing a pair of whites without pupils, staring at Lewis deadly.

"Ah......h

Colonel Lewis was startled and awoke from his nightmare.

"Lewis, it's another nightmare! Come, have a glass of milk! “

In the gravity cabin, Haruko Kitagawa handed Lewis a glass of freshly heated milk.

Lewis held the milk and sat at the head of the bed in silence.

Haruko Kitagawa said, "Lewis, you're dreaming again...... Dreaming of Pong and Watney? Don't think too much about it, none of us could do anything about that situation, and it was all of us who decided to give them up! ”

Lewis sighed and said a little gloomily: "I know, but it was I who finally gave the order to evacuate!" ”

Haruko Kitagawa looked darkened and said, "Lewis, we can all understand your feelings, but I think Pang and Watney are in the Heavenly Spirit, and they don't want to see you like this!" ”

Just then, the voice of Gross, the temporary communications officer of the Hermes, came from the headphones: "Guys, Dr. Venkat Karp has just sent us an audio message in Houston, asking us all to listen!" ”

"Let's play!"

Colonel Lewis took a sip of milk and said lightly.

Soon, Venkart's voice rang out in the cabin.

"Lewis, Sergey, Gross, Kitagawa, Friedrich, Beck, I know this next piece of news is a bit incredible, but I think you have the right to know. I'll get straight to the point, Pong and Watney, they're still alive! ”

Gross, who was listening to the message with a headset in his post as a communications officer, grew his mouth, and the headset fell out of his hand, but he suddenly stopped.

In the gym, Sergei Panteleev, who was sweating profusely on the treadmill, stumbled and fell directly off the treadmill.

Inside the cab, Friedrich sat in his seat, staring at the stars outside the porthole, opening his mouth, but not knowing what to say.

Medical Officer Baker, who was lying on the bed watching a movie in his room, put the tablet down and scolded, "Shit! ”

Haruko Kitagawa stared blankly at Colonel Lewis, and as soon as she said Lewis, Colonel Lewis pushed her away and staggered out of the gravity cabin.

"She needs to be alone to calm down!"

Sergey Panteleev came out of the gym and said to Haruko Kitagawa.

Haruko Kitagawa said: "Sergey, things ...... How did things come to this? We've done something stupid! ”

Sergei laughed and said, "Beichuan, this should be good news, it's better than Pang and Watney are dead!" ”

Kitagawa Haruko said: "But now there are only two of them on Mars, if you want to live, I'm afraid it's difficult!" ”

Sergei patted Haruko Kitagawa on the shoulder and said, "Since Venkart has informed us of this news, it means that Pang and Watney's lives are not in danger for the time being, and the Ares Project Command will definitely find a way to rescue them, and the next thing we have to do is to cooperate with the command's actions!" ”

"That Colonel Lewis ......"

"Don't worry, Kitagawa, I've been partnering with Lewis for more than ten years, I know her, she's stronger than you think!"