Mars.
On the surface.
Driving a backup rover, the two researchers in spacesuits quickly jumped out after arriving at their destination.
"We've arrived at the target location..." Han Kangyu scanned the surroundings, his face grave as he opened the communications channel and reported to the base. "There's no sign of Dr. Fan nearby, and I don't see his rover either."
This was at 15° south latitude and 128.1° west longitude—the location Dr. Fan had stated in his final message before contact was lost.
Yet there was no sign of any person.
There were not even any tire tracks left by the rover.
A calm voice soon came through the communications channel.
"He may have moved somewhere else while avoiding the dust storm. The positioning system could have been affected by the storm... Search the surrounding area."
"Yes."
After receiving Captain Liang Youcheng's instructions, the two immediately turned their attention to the nearby mountain range known as Hell's Gate. If Dr. Fan had been seeking shelter from the dust storm, it was undoubtedly a better choice than the dunes in the open terrain.
With that thought, the two immediately began searching and soon found a new clue.
"The rover is here..."
They found Dr. Fan's rover beside a steep rock wall. Ming Wenzhe pulled open the door and looked inside, frowning slightly. "No one's inside. The toolbox is gone too."
Hearing this, Han Kangyu hurried over. Seeing the empty driver's seat, cold sweat immediately ran down his forehead.
He slammed a fist against the tire, which was as tall as a person, and cursed.
"Damn it... Where the hell did this guy go?"
He was the deputy captain of this scientific expedition to Mars. If anything happened to someone on Mars, he and Liang Youcheng would bear the primary responsibility.
Of