The Federal Government had several different classifications for the star regions under its jurisdiction. For instance, the Red Star Region referred to an extremely dangerous area; the Black Star Region referred to areas controlled by Interstellar Pirates; the Gold Star Region referred to highly developed star regions; and Gray Star Regions were abandoned star regions with no one managing them.
Generally speaking, Gray Star Regions had once been areas inhabited by intelligent life. However, for certain reasons, the number of intelligent lifeforms within those regions had sharply declined, making it unnecessary for the Federal Government to station personnel there to manage them.
With the network blocked, Sea Emperor had no way of finding information related to this star region. He could only use the spacecraft's onboard radar system to detect the presence of lifeforms. Fortunately, the Young Eagle's radar was a new model from recent years, capable of detecting lifeforms as well as their exact locations.
The radar results soon came back. Sea Emperor was slightly surprised when he saw them. There was a planet within the detection range that still had a large population. Though surprised, Sea Emperor had no time to investigate further. A population meant there was oxygen there, and the gravity was suitable as well. Having such a planet as a foothold could not have been better. After all, Gu Ding only needed a temporary place to stay. Once they avoided this Interstellar Storm, they could set off again. Thus, Sea Emperor quickly chose their landing site.
As a massive meteorite brushed past that planet, Sea Emperor controlled the Young Eagle to break away from it. Activating the energy shield and forcibly withstanding several impacts, the spacecraft finally descended toward its destination.
As the spacecraft entered the atmosphere, Sea Emperor tested the composition of the planet's air. The results showed that its oxygen content was not much different from Deep Sea Star's, so Gu Ding could breathe normally.
As for the gravity, he calculated it based on their falling speed. It was roughly one and a half times that of Earth. For Gu Ding, whose Cell Comprehensive Index was already close to twenty, it would not have much effect.
Under Sea Emperor's control, the spacecraft soon crashed into the ocean. The Young Eagle was now completely scrapped. Aside from the radar, most of its functions could no longer be used. As for food and water, Gu Ding had moved them all into the Escape Pod long ago.
The sealed Escape Pod ejected from the spacecraft and floated on the surface of the sea. Sea Emperor finally woke Gu Ding.
Rubbing his sleepy eyes, Gu Ding stretched. "That was a really comfortable sleep. Has the Interstellar Storm passed?"
"Not yet. The Young Eagle has been completely destroyed, and the Interstellar Storm carried us to the Gloomy Star Region." Sea Emperor gave a brief explanation. "I've made a preliminary check of this planet. It is suitable for human habitation, and there are lifeforms on this planet as well."
"You mean we've already left the New Trade Route?" Gu Ding did not ask about the whole sequence of events. What he cared more about was whether he was still on the New Trade Route.
"Yes, this was the best possible choice. The first wave of meteorites alone consumed more than sixty percent of the Young Eagle's energy. If we hadn't come here, the Young Eagle would have disintegrated long ago, and you would have been torn to pieces."
"How long will it take to return to the New Trade Route?" This was the question Gu Ding most wanted answered.
"I can only send out a message and wait for rescue once the Interstellar Storm passes and the electromagnetic interference disappears. According to the official announcement, this Interstellar Storm will last at least twenty days. Three days have already passed." Sea Emperor understood Gu Ding's feelings, but there was nothing he could do in this situation.
"So that means seventeen days left..." Gu Ding muttered softly when his stomach suddenly growled. He had been inside the Escape Pod for three days and had only just woken up. At first, he had not felt hungry, but now he realized that he needed food and water.
He took out some toothpaste-like compressed food and squeezed a few mouthfuls into his mouth, then washed it down with a gulp of water.
In the early days of interstellar travel, much food was compressed into toothpaste-like tubes to prevent food crumbs from floating around in zero gravity and being inhaled into the lungs. Nowadays, many more advanced spacecraft came equipped with gravity-sensing systems, so this was no longer a problem and all kinds of food could be eaten freely. However, Gu Ding could not yet afford a spacecraft with a gravity-sensing system.
While eating the compressed food, Gu Ding suddenly spotted what seemed to be fish in the water not far away. At once, the food in his mouth became tasteless, and he wanted to catch a fish for an extra meal.
He took off his clothes and was about to jump in when Sea Emperor suddenly stopped him. "That fish seems a little strange. Don't go down yet. I'll send you a video I just recorded."
As he spoke, Sea Emperor projected an image of a fish in the air. He had detected it himself. As long as something was within a hundred meters of Gu Ding, he could carry out a corresponding scan.
"Looks like this fish probably isn't edible..." Gu Ding sighed after watching the video.
In the video, the fish was over thirty centimeters long and had a mouth full of sharp teeth. It appeared to be fighting another of its kind over territory.
The victor was decided very quickly. The slightly larger fish bit off half of its opponent's head in a single bite. In less than ten seconds, the fish that had originally been about the same size as it was completely devoured.
"This fish not only looks ugly, it's vicious too." Gu Ding could not help sighing. "Help me see if there are any other fish we can eat."
After that, Sea Emperor recorded several more videos, all of different kinds of fish. He felt that none of these fish could be eaten either.
After watching the videos, Gu Ding noticed the same thing. Every one of those fish had a mouth full of sharp teeth. And when fighting over territory, they did not care whether the other party was of the same species. They fought like madmen, with the air of a battle to the death.
"Are they all like this? Aren't there one or two normal fish that we can eat?" Gu Ding asked helplessly.
"Do you think this kind of water could raise any?" Sea Emperor asked in return. "Even if there used to be some, they were probably all eaten by the other fish long ago."
"Looks like I can only eat this tasteless compressed food after all." Unable to get his extra meal, Gu Ding, as a standard foodie, felt rather depressed.
"This planet is somewhat strange. The radar previously detected several billion lifeforms. This star region is clearly a Gray Star Region. Logically, it should be difficult to find a planet with lifeforms here." Sea Emperor was puzzled by this as well, but the situation had been urgent. Having finally found a planet with lifeforms, he naturally had no room to be picky.
"Sea Emperor, don't those fish from earlier seem a bit like they've been infected by a virus?" Gu Ding suddenly recalled seeing similar cases in the virology elective he had taken at the military academy.
(I've been a little stuck on the plot, so this chapter came late. Tomorrow's first chapter may also be a little late. Also, I've been adjusting my schedule these past few days. The chapters I owed over the previous two weeks will be made up this week.)
Before you continue