All plans for the Legend World are progressing smoothly.
Next, all I need to do is conduct an on-site investigation in New York to find the location where the Mutavore initially broke out, and then collect some information from the company that developed the KV Virus to treat cancer. That should complete the task here.
Besides that, there are three other rogue states whose mushrooms need to be dealt with...
Zhang Tianyuan paused, then ticked off other countries that had illegally cultivated mushrooms in his notebook.
These unlicensed mushroom farms must also be shut down and cracked down on.
As the convoy found a suitable campsite and stopped to set up camp, the space station passed overhead again.
The communications officers set up the equipment and left Robert there, letting him hold the brochures and chat with the astronauts.
Zhang Tianyuan told him not to mention the Mutual Aid Society to the astronauts, and then went to wait for his meal by the cookhouse.
To his surprise, Robert rushed over just as he squatted down next to the pot, before the cooks had even finished caramelizing the sugar. Sam was still behind him, following along in a daze.
"What's wrong?"
Robert gestured, seemingly hesitant to speak, then said, "In short, something big has happened; those three people in the sky are facing a crisis."
Zhang Tianyuan followed, puzzled.
He discovered that a large crowd had gathered at the equipment next to the communication vehicle, and he could faintly hear the crying coming from the Horn from a distance.
"What's wrong?" Among the people nearby were several experts and scholars who should know something about the situation.
The people leaned closer and whispered, "They seem to be saying there's something wrong with their ship."
Is there a problem with the spaceship?
Zhang Tianyuan's heart tightened.
This is no joke.
There is currently only one spacecraft, or return capsule, left on the space station.
If something goes wrong with it, it means those three people in the sky won't be coming back.
Zhang Tianyuan immediately sat down and inquired about the situation.
Hill sniffled and said hesitantly, "We just felt a slight vibration in the space station, and then there was a pressure leak..."
"Then what?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Tianyuan felt that things were probably over.
Sure enough, Hill's next words confirmed his premonition. She choked back tears. "Through investigation, we found some debris and a small hole in the return capsule."
"We have now sealed the reentry capsule's hatch, and we can no longer use it."
The return capsule has landed.
Hearing this, Zhang Tianyuan was at a loss for words.
When the space station is operating normally, there is always a department responsible for monitoring space debris.
Under monitoring, most debris will be detected in advance, and larger pieces of space debris will be avoided by having the space station change orbit.
However, the space station has been out of contact for more than a year now.
The ground-based monitoring departments are also rendered ineffective.
The debris in space orbit hasn't been monitored for over a year.
Nobody knows what was newly disintegrated...
Bad luck...
That's really bad luck.
"What do we do now? Do you have a way to launch the backup return capsule?"
Even Mike, usually the most optimistic, spoke with the panicked urge of a rabbit being chased by an eagle.
As for Padalka, who was constantly suffering from stomach problems, he simply stopped talking.
Zhang Tianyuan thought for a moment and said, "We arrived at the launch site in the north last week and found your spare rocket and return capsule."
"The backup rockets are no longer usable."
After he said that, the crying on the other end became noticeably louder.
"But!" Zhang Tianyuan quickly emphasized, "We will conduct further tests on the return capsule; it may still be usable."
"If the return capsule is fine, we can then try to find a rocket to launch it and replace your old spacecraft."
After Zhang Tianyuan finished speaking, Hill's crying subsided noticeably.
The broken windows theory, plus a little bit of persuasive language.
First, tell them the rocket is broken, lowering the astronauts' expectations to the lowest possible level, then immediately give them a glimmer of hope.
In this way, they will find the outcome less unacceptable.
Moreover, their focus shifted from the rocket malfunction to the condition of the reentry capsule and whether Zhang Tianyuan and his team could find a new rocket.
The three astronauts in space are currently in a state of mind as fragile as glass; they need to be carefully maintained.
Zhang Tianyuan glanced at Robert, gesturing for him to sit down next to him to reassure the astronaut, while he went to ask Bai Xu about the results of the return capsule's inspection.
Robert wiped his hands on his pants, picked up the microphone with a troubled expression, and began to reassure the astronauts in space.
Their conversation had been cheerful just moments before, but now it was unusually heavy.
He has finally escaped his suffering; in heaven...
However, the people were once again trapped in a dead end.
The astronauts remained silent, with only Hill's occasional sobs breaking the silence.
Robert quickly recalled what Zhang Tianyuan had told him earlier that day, "You know what? You guys are actually a lucky bunch."
"You are being carefully looked after by a powerful organization." With that, Robert pulled out a brochure from the Mutual Aid Society, randomly flipping to a page that briefly introduced the Mutual Aid Society's activities in Antarctica.
"You are not the only living non-immune individuals in the world. In fact, in Antarctica, there are many forgotten research team members living in the icy wilderness."
"You are in despair in space, and the survivors in Antarctica are in despair in the snow."
Hill was intrigued. "So, how are they doing now?"
"They have now been rescued. The people who are currently working to rescue you have formed the Antarctica Fleet, sailing across the icy seas, defeating the Antarctica bullies, rescuing at least seven hundred people from the peninsula, and replenishing all the research stations with ample supplies."
"These are the people who are saving you; they saved the entire Antarctica Peninsula last month."
"Now, their main target is you."
Robert sounded like he was telling his daughter a story, his tone soothing and gentle, even though the people opposite him were either his age or older.
Ironically, in his story, Hill's crying subsided and his emotions gradually calmed down.
"And then? How do they plan to save us?" Hill's voice was still choked with sobs, but she had recovered considerably.
Robert said, "Right now in the Northern Hemisphere, there are two thousand people serving you, traveling between launch sites and space centers, gathering data for your return."
"This is a force beyond your imagination, and I firmly believe they can rescue you."
"Why?" Hill asked, not understanding why Robert had so much confidence in Zhang Tianyuan.
Robert silently looked at the brochure in his hand, silently reciting in his heart, "Because behind you is a great organization that can transcend time and space."
This is Robert's honest opinion.
Judging solely from his actions and not his intentions, based on what he saw, the Mutual Aid Society truly transcended time and space to carry out rescue efforts, and it was doing so earnestly; nothing could be more remarkable.
Having experienced the New York City collapse, he understands the preciousness of life even more.