Jinling Aerospace Launch Center.
The bad news from the front lines threw the entire ground command center into chaos.
An earthquake!
An earthquake, of all things!
In the satellite footage, raging sand and dust surged into the sky, rolling outward in rings of arcing shock waves. Swept by the violent currents of air, the surrounding dunes were flattened, meteor craters filled in, leaving only a deep scar etched into the Martian surface. From afar, the entire mountain range was a scene of devastation, crumbling into ruins amid dust that blotted out the sky...
Fortunately, there were no seas on Mars, nor was there any lava that could erupt. The Mars Scientific Expedition Station several kilometers away was merely jolted by the earthshaking tremors. Aside from some overturned cabinets and potted plants, there was no serious damage.
However, the collapse of Hell's Gate had triggered a chain reaction, including a regional sandstorm.
At that moment, everything within dozens of kilometers of the epicenter was shrouded in gray dust.
Looking down from the satellite, it was impossible to see what was happening on the ground, nor could they receive any signals from there.
Inside the command room of the ground command center, reports came one after another.
Everyone's hearts were in their throats as they silently prayed for their compatriots on Mars.
"An earthquake has been detected at 15° south latitude and 128.1° west longitude! Based on observations from the Mars Scientific Expedition Station, the preliminary estimate puts it above magnitude 9.5!"
"The Hell's Gate Mountains have suffered a total collapse! The entire area is currently covered by a sandstorm!"
"The sandstorm is expected to last for around a week..."
"Latest news! Two personnel have gone missing during the operation!"
"...O-one of them... is Academician Lu."
The moment Director Li heard that