Die on Mars

The old cat turned around and continued its guidance work. The prediction area of ​​more than 28 million square kilometers was meaningless to it.

Tang Yue stared at the map on the screen.

For these days, Tang Yue's heart has been hanging in the air, unable to reach the ground. The comet named Tomcat-Tang-Mai hangs above his head like the sword of Damocles. He feels that he is a criminal waiting for judgment. The court It was possible that he might be pardoned, or a death sentence might be issued, so Tang Yue was uneasy.

Now the verdict has finally come down.

But the verdict said that let's roll a dice. If the number is even, you will be released from prison, and if the number is odd, you will eat peanuts.

On the map of Mars, the Isidi Planitia is a small plain close to the equator, with a radius of 700 kilometers. The landforms of the northern and southern hemispheres of Mars are very different. The northern hemisphere is dominated by smooth and low-lying plains, but the southern hemisphere is filled with rugged highlands. It has countless craters and has a pockmarked face, while the Ichigo Horizon is a small piece of the Great Plains of the Northern Hemisphere protruding southward.

To the west of the Isidi Plain is the famous Syrtis Major Planum, which appears pink on the altitude map because the altitude here is more than a thousand meters high. However, in field photos, it is actually a large area of ​​dark color. The color of the area is due to the exposed basalt.

To the west of the Sertis Plateau is the broad Sabea Terra, one of the largest plateaus on Mars, with an east-to-west diameter of 4,700 kilometers and covered with dense meteorite impact craters.

Further west from the Sabah Highlands is the equally broad Arabia Terra.

According to the computer prediction of Kunlun Station, the possible impact point of Comet Tomcat will be here...a huge ellipse with a semi-major axis of more than 3,000 kilometers, spanning the entire Sabah Highlands, from the Arabian Highlands in the west to the Ishidi Plain in the east.

"The way to life is to the left, the way to death is to the right."

Tang Yue clasped his hands together.

"God of destiny, you must be more reliable! You must vote a six for me."

"Has the comet's impact location been predicted?" Maidong's voice sounded.

"The prediction was made, but the computer gave us a prediction range as large as 28 million square kilometers." Old Mao shrugged, "It doesn't have any guiding significance."

"Twenty-eight million square kilometers?"

"Yes, it is larger than the combined territorial area of ​​Russia and China." The old cat continued to wander around the hall, "That comet may hit anywhere in this area."

"Mr. Cat, what if...I said just in case." Maidong hesitated for a few seconds, "What if Kunlun Station is eventually destroyed by a comet?"

The old cat paused.

"This decision is in your hands, Miss Maidong. Now there are only three of us left in the world. No one can force you to do anything. I respect and follow any decision you and Tang Yue make. If Comet ends up It will really hit us on top, and you won’t be able to survive even if you land.”

"You can give up the landing plan, I will always have Plan B to choose from." Lao Mao continued.

"Plan B?" Maidong asked, "Are there any other options?"

"Leave the orbit of Mars." Old Cat said, "The Orion 2 spacecraft still has enough propellant to send you out of the low-Earth orbit of Mars and into orbit around the sun, away from this deadly comet."

"Mr. Cat, you want me to escape alone?"

"This is not an escape." The old cat said expressionlessly, "Facing an irresistible natural disaster, I have the obligation and responsibility to do everything in my power to save your lives. Miss Maidong, you also have Duty and responsibility to do everything in your power to protect your own life.”

"Then I refuse."

Maidong couldn't imagine what kind of lonely and despairing life she would live if she really abandoned Tang Yue and Old Cat on Mars and wandered alone into the universe forever.

Compared with this dark and silent second half of life, death is easier to accept.

"I will never abandon you and run away alone. If I don't leave, Mr. Cat, the worst we can do is die together. I'm not afraid of death."

"I know you are not afraid of death, Miss Maidong." The old cat smiled, "In this situation, it really takes courage to survive."

Maidong floated silently in the service cabin. The service cabin had no portholes and the surrounding bulkheads were soft white lining. She dimmed the lights and held a "Mars Joint Space Station System Maintenance Manual" in her hand. It is one of the few paper books in the space station.

If it really leaves the low-Earth orbit of Mars, then the Orion 2 spacecraft will become a satellite flying around the sun from now on, flying aimlessly forever, and Ophiopogon japonicus will become a place with no origin and no destination. people, and then slowly die without anyone knowing.

The girl shuddered.

This is the worst outcome. Kunlun Station is destroyed by the comet, and Orion disappears in the vast deep sky.

"Mr. Cat." Maidong's tone suddenly became serious, "You said you would respect and follow all the decisions I make."

The old cat was startled, "Yes, as the assistant of Kunlun Station, my job and responsibility is to assist the crew in their normal work and ensure their safety if necessary."

"Then I ask you, no matter what, at any time and under any conditions, you are not allowed to tamper with the flight control program of the Orion 2 spacecraft without my knowledge to make it leave the low-Earth orbit of Mars." Maidong didn't say a word. She spoke one word at a time, enunciating the words clearly and trying not to make any loopholes in the logic. It was the first time she spoke to the old cat in this official tone and manner, "You are not allowed to overstep my authority without my knowledge, and directly Maneuver the spacecraft out of Mars’ low-Earth orbit.”

After Maidong finished speaking, he thought back carefully to see if there were any loopholes in what he said.

"Moreover, Tang Yue has no right to ask you to violate the above requirements I have made. You are absolutely not allowed to operate the Orion 2 spacecraft out of Mars' low-Earth orbit without authorization..."

"Okay, okay, I understand, I understand, Miss Maidong, you don't need to emphasize this again and again." The old cat was stunned for a while, "I respect your opinion, if you don't want to leave, then no one will force you to leave. , you only need to be responsible for yourself, I will not control Orion beyond you."

Maidong breathed a sigh of relief.

She was very worried that Lao Mao and Tang Yue had manipulated the Orion 2 spacecraft without authorization in order to protect their own lives. She might wake up one day and Mars would not be visible outside the window.

"Silly girl." The old cat sighed secretly. It looked at Maidong's face in the video. The latter bit her lip with firm eyes, "Miss Maidong, can't you trust me?"

"Of course I can trust it."

The old cat smiled, "Since you can trust me, do you still need to explain it so formally?"

"Sorry, Mr. Cat."

"The comet may not hit our heads yet. Kunlun Station has a high chance of survival. We have been unlucky all the way, so we should get lucky, right? As long as Lady Luck is not a facial paralysis, she should smile at us. !" Tang Yue said loudly from the other side of the table, "As long as this dice keeps rolling, then one day, six o'clock will definitely appear!"

"Did you hear me?"

"I heard it." Maidong nodded, "Mr. Cat, let's modify the Orion quickly and get this done as soon as possible."

"OK, OK, but this matter can't be rushed... We have to do it step by step, step by step." Old Cat nodded and stood the Orion model at hand on the table. "Landing with the Orion 2 spacecraft is a piece of cake. High-risk things can lead to accidents if you are not careful. Tang Yue and I both hope that you can come down safely... Do you need to take a rest? Next is the extravehicular operation. "