Chapter Forty: The Final Communication?

At this moment, within the temporary base nestled beneath Mount Wu in the Liu residence of Western Capital City, Zhang Desen entered the communication room aboard the spacecraft and immediately activated the signal. General Li Guoshou appeared on the screen. Seeing the connection established, Li Guoshou spoke at once:

"Desen, are you alright?"

Zhang Desen replied with emotion, "General, greetings. I've been waiting for contact, never giving up hope."

Li Guoshou responded, "That's good, Zhang Desen. I always knew you would manifest boundless potential, which is why I chose you in the first place..."

Suddenly, Li Guoshou's expression dimmed. Zhang Desen noticed and asked, "General, has something happened?"

With an apologetic face, Li Guoshou said, "Desen, I must inform you of some bad news. I hope you can face it with strength."

Zhang Desen drew a deep breath and answered, "General, there's no problem. Please speak frankly, no need for reservations."

Li Guoshou also took a deep breath and said, "Desen, it is very likely you won't be able to return. Our machine may be beyond repair. Right now, I'm organizing staff to attempt repairs, and applying for more funding to try and build another multiverse travel device. But..."

Zhang Desen interjected, "General, I understand. Since we've reached this point, let's save time."

He began preparations, continuing, "Since arriving in this universe, I've encountered many things—astonishing ones, including traces of super-ancient civilizations."

Li Guoshou was startled. "Super-ancient civilizations?"

Zhang Desen replied promptly, "Yes." Then he began to report in detail to General Li Guoshou everything he had experienced and witnessed in this universe: the news of Tang Shijie, information about the Terrans, and particularly his recent encounter with the fighter craft of the Terran Aolmei Empire, all presented thoroughly.

After Zhang Desen finished his report, Li Guoshou also shared what had happened at headquarters following Zhang Desen's departure, including the damage sustained by the multiverse travel machine. At the end, Li Guoshou asked:

"Desen, do you have anything else you want to say? This multiverse travel machine is likely at its limit."

Zhang Desen pondered, then said, "Nothing more, except that I hope the higher-ups will send another capable individual to take charge of the Feilong Special Forces, making it even stronger."

Li Guoshou inquired, "Desen, do you have nothing to say to your family?"

Zhang Desen smiled. "Family? Well, I have no attachments. In my original universe, aside from the Feilong Special Forces, I really have no family."

He then explained that his parents in the original universe had passed away, and other relatives, estranged due to his father's poor temperament, had long ceased contact. His father had a notoriously bad temper.

Now, in these circumstances, Zhang Desen could only hope that his family's counterparts in this universe might somehow heal old wounds, though he did not know what the outcome might be. He began to recall the pain of his family's history in the original universe.

In truth, Zhang Desen now wished he could find his family’s counterparts here. If they existed, he hoped their temperaments—especially his father's—would be different.

From childhood, his parents were gone; his father, though protective at times, had a terrible temper, often claiming the family could not survive without him, so relatives shunned him and Zhang Desen, never sharing anything good with him.

When contact with other relatives became rare, his father blamed his mother for estranging him from the family, constantly finding fault with her and Zhang Desen, inventing flaws and fabricating accusations.

What pained Zhang Desen most was his father’s habit of calling his mother and himself useless animals, with himself as the keeper, doling out food for their survival—ignoring the fact that he had no job and lived solely on his mother’s hard work.

Zhang Desen almost succumbed to his father’s verbal suggestions, nearly believing himself worthless. Luckily, his rebellious phase kept him from accepting such notions, and he sought positive guidance through motivational literature, preventing further deterioration.

Eventually, both parents passed away. Zhang Desen joined the military and, through effort, achieved some success.

He had always hoped deep down that his father's temper might improve one day, that the family could live together harmoniously, facing any storm united. But after his parents' departure, this wish became impossible. Every day he tried to remind himself to live happily, to face life with a smile, yet the pain lingered deep within.

Quickly, these memories faded, and he remembered what Zhao Chengming and others had just told him. If the Grand Chancellor Zhang of the flourishing nation in this universe was his father's counterpart, with a temper as described by Zhao Chengming, and he himself might never return to his original universe, could he, through contact with Chancellor Zhang, mend some old wounds?

Li Guoshou then said, "Desen, forgive me—I have touched your pain."

Zhang Desen replied at once, "No, it's nothing. I am deeply grateful for everything you have done, General. Whatever happens, I will never forget my duty as a special forces soldier of Huaxia, nor will I ever dishonor the title of Feilong Special Forces Captain."

Li Guoshou said, "Good. I knew I was right about you. Although I can no longer send supplies, I will now transmit all gathered advanced technology from various nations to you as quickly as possible. Try to replicate what you can in that universe. Though the universes differ, we are all human. We must never let any alien oppress us. We humans must uphold our faith as humanity. Do you understand?"

Zhang Desen saluted and answered, "Yes, faith in humanity!"

Immediately, the transmissions began in earnest.

...

Meanwhile, in space near Neptune in the solar system, the unidentified spacecraft from Sirius finally arrived. Using Neptune’s gravity and its own thrusters, it executed a right turn of 110 degrees with minimal energy consumption, continuing towards Uranus.

In the space observation room at the coastal base in the capital of the Terran Aolmei Empire, Intelligence Director Kaba Duer reported again to their leader Yuri Gotne:

"My leader, the unidentified spacecraft from Sirius has safely crossed the region near Neptune and is heading toward Uranus."

Yuri Gotne smiled, "Excellent. These fellows seem to have arrived too smoothly, forgetting the most basic caution. But that’s fine; make sure this entire process is recorded. When the time comes, we’ll strike at their weakest moment based on today’s performance."

He turned to Kaba Duer. "Continue surveillance, and try to detect whether they've used protective shields or similar technology."

Kaba Duer replied, "Yes!"

The Sirius craft continued on toward Uranus, and after a period of travel, arrived at Uranus, once again using its gravity to change direction with minimal energy consumption.

This time, it turned left by fifty degrees and headed towards Saturn. Its speed slowed to a certain extent, so the journey to Saturn took longer.

After spending more time, it finally reached Saturn. Near Saturn, it made a close encounter with Titan, Saturn's moon, releasing a probe onto Titan during the brief encounter.

Afterward, it completed its turn at Saturn and headed toward Jupiter.

Approaching Jupiter after a longer journey, it made no further maneuvers, proceeding directly to the asteroid belt, aiming for the dwarf planet Ceres.

The Sirius spacecraft, after several final course corrections and deceleration, successfully landed on Ceres.

At the same time, Kaba Duer reported immediately to Yuri Gotne. Upon receiving the final report, Yuri Gotne said, "Good, keep monitoring Ceres."

However, Kaba Duer added, "Yes, my leader. But we must also send personnel to Titan as soon as possible, and discreetly."

Yuri Gotne was stunned. "Why?"