The drone is on its fourth launch.
It is currently the height of summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
The land beneath the sky was scorching hot under the sun; the sand seemed to glow fiery red, and waves of heat rose from above, distorting the very fabric of space.
The drone's footage showed only desolation, with no sign of life, not even a city...
"No, this should have been a city." Zhang Tianyuan was taken aback. Although he had just picked the place randomly, he wouldn't have chosen a desert like this.
Could it be that the city's location changed due to the influence of different times and spaces?
Such examples have occurred in other timelines and are not particularly unusual.
But this idea was immediately rejected.
The personnel responsible for monitoring the drone's readings reported, "Anomaly in radiation readings!"
"How is it?" Zhang Tianyuan immediately looked over.
Pointing to several indicators on the screen, the staff member stated simply, "A large amount of radioactive dust has been detected floating in the air."
"Floating in the air?" Zhang Tianyuan looked back at the screen. Generally speaking, radioactive dust will naturally dissipate after a period of time following a nuclear explosion, and this period is not very long.
The radioactive fallout has not yet dissipated...
Was there just a nuclear explosion?
Did you catch the live broadcast?
But looking at the desolate scene on the screen again, Zhang Tianyuan felt it didn't quite match.
Then someone speculated, "Could it be that radioactive dust on the ground was blown up?"
There is a large amount of visible gravel and dust on the ground; if that's the case, it's not impossible.
As the drone descended, it detected more radioactive dust and made new discoveries.
The observer pointed to a spot on the screen image and analyzed, "This should be a section of remaining wall, indicating that this place used to be a building. The same goes for this spot, and that piece in the upper left corner..."
As they slowly approached the ground, and the image became clearer, Zhang Tianyuan was certain that he hadn't misjudged the location.
This place was indeed originally a city.
But that's not the case now.
"Based on the current situation, it is speculated that this place was destroyed by nuclear bombs many years ago, and not just one, but at least four or more."
"One of them was a ground explosion, causing severe radioactive contamination of the land and water that continues to this day. Even a single grain of sand in this area could be fatal. If one lives there for more than a week, the high doses of radiation can cause a variety of diseases, such as leukemia and various cancers..."
"As for the remaining ones, they exploded in mid-air, their powerful destructive force destroying all the buildings in the city. After that, no one ever set foot in the area again, and the yellow sand slowly covered most of the traces."
This area has become a wasteland.
There's nothing left to explore.
Zhang Tianyuan instructed the operator to control the drone to fly in any direction.
I also checked the broadcast signal, and unsurprisingly, I received nothing.
The radio channels were as quiet as could be.
Just like the Legend Spacetime back then, there are extremely few people left.
As we flew over, this land seemed dead; there wasn't a soul in sight, not even a single living being.
Whether it's an animal or a plant.
Zhang Tianyuan and the others' expressions gradually turned serious.
Finally, something seemed to move in one corner of the screen.
"Someone's there!"
The operator immediately noticed that without President Zhang's command, he proactively adjusted the direction and flew the drone over.
In the distance was a convoy of vehicles, a mix of cars, pickup trucks, motorcycles... leaving trails of dust in its wake, visible from a great distance.
The drone quietly ascended and began to observe.
Ahead of this convoy, there was a lead car that was far ahead of the others.
They all underwent extensive and obvious modifications, with thick black smoke billowing from their exhaust pipes, enough to easily turn a white person into a black one.
The car's exterior also underwent extensive modifications, with numerous unidentifiable devices welded to various parts of the body, and even many spears inserted around the car, swaying with its movements.
Moreover, outside the vehicles, there were many people in strange costumes clinging to them, like Indians who had traveled from overseas. In the blink of an eye, the cars transformed into trains...
"What are these people doing?" Even the operator himself was puzzled.
People in normal societies often find it difficult to understand those living in dire circumstances.
"They... seem to be chasing?"
Someone nearby said uncertainly.
Another person shared their opinion:
"They're probably chasing that car in front. They're likely two groups fighting each other."
After observing for a while, everyone confirmed that this view was correct.
The car in front was indeed being chased and attacked.
The operators also knew what the spears stuck in the vehicles were for.
The people in the convoy behind would occasionally throw a long spear at the vehicle in front, but their aim was abysmal at high speed.
This attack method also...
Isn't that too primitive?
Driving a gasoline-powered car, billowing black smoke behind it, yet shrieking like a savage, wielding a long spear as a weapon; if it were nicer, the pointed end would be wrapped with a package—it's unclear whether it's gasoline or gunpowder...
At first glance, the scene appears wild and explosive.
But upon further reflection, something seems off.
Zhang Tianyuan realized it at this point as well.
This group of people are likely scavengers in the desert, hunting down their prey.
"President, should we intervene?" the operator asked, turning around.
Should we help that poor guy who's being chased?
"Just lower the altitude and fly over them. We're just a reconnaissance drone; we don't have any weapon systems."
"If even this can't lure these people away, then he's just unlucky."
"Understood!" The operator focused on operating the drone.
Soon, the drone that had been trailing behind the convoy descended again, its engine power turned up to maximum, and it roared past the convoy like a whirlwind!
A convoy of vehicles covered in dust and mud from a wasteland, and a white drone with a modern, high-tech feel, appearing in the same frame, make the overall style seem out of place.
However, this is not something that should concern those scavengers at all.
What is that!?
The convoy came to a sudden stop.
A driver jumped out and stared wide-eyed at the drone that was still flying low in the air.
"It's an airplane! You idiot! That's an airplane! Follow it right now! It's been so long since we've seen such a cute little creature!"
We must find out where it came from!
"GOGOGO~~~~"
The convoy immediately turned around and chased after the drone in the sky.
They had already abandoned the car in front of them.
Max stopped too.
He got out of the car, watched the convoy suddenly disappear into the distance, and then looked up at the sky.
He saw that drone too.
As a former patrolman, he certainly recognized the thing.
But what puzzled him even more was where the drone came from.
It should be noted that their military and military-industrial complex have already been completely dismantled by the brilliance of nuclear weapons.
In addition, given the current environment, there is no peaceful place anywhere in the country. Being able to modify excavators and trucks together is already considered high-tech.
Which other power can afford such high-tech equipment as drones?
Max was filled with curiosity.
But they had no intention of exploring this secret.
He was just someone who couldn't change his situation and could only the Wandering Earth.
He sat back in the car, and an old habit suddenly returned. He instinctively pressed the radio button twice, just as he used to turn it on immediately upon getting in the car.
However, this time all they touched was a cloud of sand.
Max stared at his fingers and fell into a long silence.
After a moment, he chose to continue driving.
Then, less than 20 kilometers later, they were spotted by a convoy of scavengers.
He's already used to it.
In the wilderness, life consists only of blood and fire.
"Abandon this drone; it might be carrying radioactive dust. Find a place for it to crash."
"Yes, Chairman!"
The drone, which had already left the scavenging convoy far behind, chose a prime spot and swooped straight down...
Behind the operator, Zhang Tianyuan turned around and spoke to his supervisor:
"Are the new drones ready?"
The other party nodded. "Ready, ready to take off at any time."
Zhang Tianyuan walked to the makeshift runway outside, used the system to record the spacetime coordinates inside the drone, and then watched the drone enter the Spacetime Tunnel again.
Rampage Spacetime.
The base has been placed under full martial law.
"Has the origin of that drone still not been determined?"
"Where did it take off from? How did it manage to fly into our jurisdiction without us noticing?"
"Let's hope the flood doesn't wash away the Dragon King's temple..."
Jing Youwei looked serious as he muttered to himself as he flipped through the submitted documents.
The discovery of an unidentified flying object in the sky wouldn't normally warrant his involvement as the commander-in-chief; he could have simply shot it down and then followed the proper procedures to report it.
Similar things have happened countless times over the years.
Moreover, this incident was resolved very smoothly; the drone was eliminated with a single missile.
However, in the aftermath, the staff who found the drone wreckage reported a shocking piece of news.
That aircraft
The robots were a completely new model, and they were painted with their own flag and an unfamiliar logo.
Furthermore, this drone clearly lacks radar stealth capabilities, suggesting it may be a new type of friendly aircraft that took off from nearby.
Then, just as it took off, they brought it down with a single missile.
Of course, it's also possible that it flew in from the outside. However, for a drone with no stealth capabilities, which can be detected by radar at a glance, to fly in undetected from the outside, it would require a thorough understanding of their radar deployment and then flying in at low altitude to make it possible...
Rather than that possibility, Jing Youwei prefers to believe that the drone is actually a new model that they have not yet publicly revealed.
But several hours have passed since the accident.
He reported the news, but no organization contacted him, and the people in charge of military equipment research and development searched all the research institutes but couldn't find this type of aircraft...
Finally, the adjutant Bu Zhen, knocked on the door and came in, bringing the latest news:
"It's not a model we're developing."
This statement directly categorizes the situation into the second type.
"Well, there's nothing more to say then..." Jing Youwei tapped the table, his brows furrowed. "It's none of our business anymore. Let's wait for the investigation to find out where the problem lies. It's never too late to mend the fence after the sheep are lost."
"Understood!" Bu Zhen saluted and was about to leave.
Another adjutant came in from outside and immediately said that another unidentified flying object had been spotted.
Jing Youwei hearing this, then a hint of anger appeared on his face.
Is this a bus stop for them?
Come and go as you please?
"Do I need to teach you? Shoot them all down!"
"Report, there's a special situation," the man shouted.
Jing Youwei raised an eyebrow. "What special circumstances could there be?"
"Do they still want to surrender?"
The adjutant's expression was enigmatic. "They... it seems they really do think that way..."
"???"
"Report, they request to land at our airport."
Jing Youwei silent.
After a moment, he spoke again, "Drones?"
"Judging from the radar response, it's highly likely."
Jing Youwei even more confused about the situation.
If you were to say this was a fighter jet with a pilot inside, you could say it was there to surrender.
But it's a drone. What's the point of this thing landing on their airport?
A suicide drone?
Are they going to bomb their airport runway?
Or should we blow up anyone who gets close after landing?
It's impossible that this drone was carrying people to surrender, right?
Or rather, manned drones...
Does such a thing exist in the world?
Oh, right!
There really is one.
Jing Youwei patted his head.
"Since it's going to land, let it land at our old airport. Be careful when it gets close, and jam its signal."
"Understood." The adjutant saluted and left.
Bu Zhen was equally puzzled, then he saw his superior looking at him. " Bu Zhen, I have a task for you. Take some men and dismantle that drone for me."
Bu Zhen paused for a moment, then immediately took the task away.
Half an hour later.
A runway has been temporarily cleared from the abandoned old airport.
Bu Zhen also arrived here by car with a team.
He looked up at the sky and could see a small drone slowly appearing on the horizon.
Two fighter jets were escorting it.
If the drone makes any unusual movement, the fighter jet can destroy it immediately.
Through the telescope, Bu Zhen was able to confirm the size of the drone; it was indeed not a large drone, and its structure was quite compact.
Is there really enough room for one person inside?
Bu Zhen recalled the possibility his superiors had mentioned to him.
But he doesn't need to speculate further.
After a five-minute flight, the drone reached the airspace above the airport, slowly descended, and landed steadily on the runway.
Once the drone finished gliding, Bu Zhen immediately ordered his men to open the signal jamming and disconnect the drone's wireless control.
Then comes the observation period.
No one approached the drone on the runway.
Bu Zhen and his men waited patiently at a distance. From their position, unless the drone was carrying a small nuclear bomb, there shouldn't be any major problems.
no way.
No one had ever dealt with this kind of drone "defection" incident before, so no one had figured out a procedure yet.
We really can't figure out what the person controlling the drone is trying to do, so we can only proceed with caution.
A full half hour passed.
The drone remained silent until Bu Zhen could preliminarily confirm that there were no countdown bombs on it. Only then did a bomb disposal soldier in a bomb suit slowly walk forward with professional bomb disposal equipment...