New Discovery on Mars

With the experience of his previous trip to Mars, coupled with the Decepticon engineering team's optimization and upgrades to Hope, this solitary journey was somewhat dull for Sun Cheng, but it took several days less than his previous voyage to Mars.

As he piloted the spacecraft down at the Mars base in the middle section of Valles Marineris, everything on the ground showed that the Decepticons on Mars had been working hard over the past few months.

"Screech..."

As the cockpit opened with a hiss of venting air, Sun Cheng stepped out of the spacecraft and immediately noticed the familiar floor of Valles Marineris—and the quiet changes that had taken place over the past few months.

Dome-shaped buildings resembling Mongolian yurts filled his field of vision.

With a glance, Sun Cheng counted seventeen yurts.

On a planet like Mars, where harsh weather, storms, and sandstorms were frequent enough to be maddening, such protective structures were essential for any long-term surface operations.

The Mars base had clearly been equipped with some detection systems.

As soon as Sun Cheng's spacecraft landed, he saw several Decepticons emerge from the nearest yurt-like structure and hurry toward him through the windblown sand.

"Master, welcome to your inspection of the Mars base!"

The weather on Mars had been poor when Sun Cheng landed. A moderate sandstorm had already risen, filling the nearby canyons with swirling grit and making the sky seem as though it had been dyed red.

He waved a hand, signaling the Decepticons to enter the nearest yurt-like building with him first. Only then did he shake himself, scattering the dust from his body, before asking, "You've done well these past few months. I can see that quite a few new structures have appeared in the canyon!"

Strictly speaking, Mars could not be considered