4: Energy crisis! System mission decision!

Inside the cold isolation cabin, reeking of disinfectant, Lin Feng, wearing protective gloves, carefully opened the mysterious black box salvaged from the deep sea.

The box's internal structure was exceptionally intricate, filled with dense wiring and miniature modules, but it was clearly severely damaged by explosions and impacts; many areas were charred, wires were broken, and several key crystal components were shattered. A palm-sized, hard drive-like black storage module was fixed in the center, its indicator light long since extinguished.

"How is it? Can it be recovered?" Lin Feng looked at a white-haired elder beside him, wearing thick glasses. This was Professor Wang Hai, the ship's senior electronics engineer and one of the core crew members, whose loyalty was beyond doubt.

Professor Wang Hai's brows were tightly furrowed as he carefully probed the storage module's interface and internal circuits with precise instruments, his fingers deftly operating them. "The structure is very advanced, far exceeding civilian and even known military standards. There's severe physical damage, especially to the main control chip... the core data area has physical corruption." He shook his head, his tone filled with deep regret, "The possibility of directly reading complete data... is less than 10%. It's like a book that's mostly burned and then waterlogged."

Lin Feng's heart sank, but he wasn't entirely disheartened. Since the system had classified it as "high-value information," there had to be something.

"Try to repair the interface power supply and see if we can activate any remaining cache or log fragments?" Lin Feng instructed, simultaneously immersing his consciousness into the system interface: [System, can you analyze or repair this information storage device?]

[Target detected: Unknown information storage device (severe physical damage).]

[Analysis: Internal quantum encrypted storage technology (partially damaged), energy core failure. Physical damage rate to core data area: 87%.]

[Attempted repair/read: Remaining cached data fragments (approx. 3%), unencrypted log fragments (approx. 0.5%), device self-destruct program not initiated (core damaged).]

[Repair/Read plan: Requires energy/points: 200. Success rate: 45%. Execute?]

200 points! Lin Feng glanced at his meager 500 points (500 points for the first combat reward, no extra reward for salvaging the black box). The success rate was less than half! This was definitely a huge gamble! But he didn't have many choices. The "Withered Disease" information from the global broadcast was too vague; he urgently needed more specific intelligence.

"Execute! Consume 200 points to attempt to read residual data!" Lin Feng ordered decisively. Points could be earned again, but intelligence, once missed, was gone forever.

[Command confirmed. Energy/Points consumed: 200. Attempting to repair interface... Establishing secure data channel... Shielding residual self-destruct program... Reading...]

A faint current flowed from the system interface at Lin Feng's fingertips, injecting into the black box's remnants. A few seconds later, the instrument screen in front of Professor Wang Hai suddenly flickered several times, displaying a few lines of fragmented, garbled characters!

"It's responding! Commander!" Professor Wang Hai shouted excitedly, his fingers flying across the keyboard, trying to capture and organize these fragmented pieces of information.

Lin Feng also stared intently at a temporary information box that popped up on the system interface:

[Log Fragment Extraction (Timestamp: 72 hours before disaster outbreak):

...[Coordinates: XX.XXXX, YY.YYYY]...Deep sea anomalous energy readings...[Codename: poseidon's eye]...Geological activity abnormal...Highly correlated with predicted model [Withered] transmission source...Recommend highest priority...Investigation...]

...Warning! [Unknown signal interference]...Communication interrupted...[Target lost]...

...[Last known location: South China Sea, Manila Trench edge]...]

[Cached Data Fragments (Partial):

...High mortality rate...Air/water/contact transmission...Incubation period 1-3 days...Outbreak period...Nervous system dissolution...No effective treatment methods...[Artificial traces?]...[Correlation: Deep sea anomalous energy outbreak]...]

The information abruptly ceased. Although only fragmented, it struck Lin Feng's mind like a clap of thunder!

"poseidon's eye"? Deep sea anomalous energy? Highly correlated with the "Withered Disease" transmission source? Artificial traces? Last known location in the South China Sea?!

A vague but chilling outline emerged: the source of this global, humanity-extinguishing "Withered Disease" might not be natural, but related to an unknown, artificial or non-artificial anomalous event in the deep sea—the "poseidon's eye"! Perhaps... some kind of weapon?!

And the vessel/organization to which the black box belonged was tracking and investigating this source before the disaster, but was interfered with by an unknown signal at a critical moment, ultimately crashing (or being shot down)? Those two missiles... could they have been to stop the investigation, or... to silence them?

[Ding!]

[Successfully obtained critical information fragments!]

[Main Quest (Prologue): Lone Ship on the Angry Sea - Objective 2 (Obtain Critical Information Source) Completed!]

[Received: Energy/Points +300 (Quest Reward)]

[Received: "Primary Deep Sea Sonar Array" Blueprint × 1]

[Hint: Information fragments point to critical coordinates [XX.XXXX, YY.YYYY] and codename [poseidon's eye], highly relevant to the main quest. Subsequent quests may be triggered.]

Lin Feng's points became: 500 (initial) - 200 (repair) + 300 (quest) = 600 points. He also obtained a sonar blueprint crucial for deep-sea exploration. More importantly, he learned that a deeper secret might be hidden behind the "Withered Disease"! This was both a huge crisis and potentially the key to breaking the deadlock in the future.

However, before he could fully digest this shocking information, an even more urgent crisis alarm suddenly blared!

[Warning! Energy reserve below critical threshold!]

[Current energy reserve: 19%!]

[Normal cruising consumption per hour: 0.8%]

[Combat state/Full system operation consumption: Peak can reach 5%/hour!]

[Estimated normal endurance: Approximately 23 hours 45 minutes!]

[Commander, please replenish energy immediately! Otherwise, it will lead to limited system functions, reduced ship power, and weapon system paralysis!]

"What?!" Lin Feng's face changed drastically, and he immediately brought up the full ship status interface. Sure enough, the energy reserve progress bar had turned a glaring yellow and was slowly decreasing at a visible rate! The intense combat (full-power radar, missile launch, roaring CIWS, high-speed maneuvering) and the activation of system functions (scanning, black box repair) had consumed far more energy than expected! The system's initial 95% energy was almost depleted in less than a day!

"Report, Commander!" The Chief Engineer's voice came through the communicator, filled with anxiety, "Fuel reserves are less than 20%! Our previous high-speed evasion and combat sprints consumed too much! Conventional fuel supply is estimated to last for less than 24 hours of cruising! If we encounter combat... the time will be even shorter!"

Fuel! Deep Blue 01, as a conventionally powered destroyer, derived its immense power from heavy oil! Without oil, this ten-thousand-ton behemoth was just a steel coffin floating on the sea!

"Damn it!" Lin Feng slammed his fist against the metal wall of the isolation cabin. The exhilaration of obtaining critical intelligence was instantly extinguished by the cold reality. He hadn't even established a foothold, and an energy crisis followed immediately! The system required a foothold to be established within 72 hours; now less than 60 hours remained, and his warship was about to be crippled!

[Ding!]

[Emergency Quest Triggered: Race Against Time!]

[Quest Description: Deep Blue 01 faces a severe energy crisis! Must acquire enough energy supply to maintain basic navigation and combat within 20 hours (minimum requirement: replenish to 50% energy reserve).]

[Quest Objectives:]

1. Locate and reach a reliable energy supply point (0/1).

2. Successfully acquire energy supply (0/50%).

[Quest Rewards:]

Energy/Points +500

"Basic Fuel Purification Module" Blueprint × 1

Unlock "Exchange Shop: Basic Resources" list

[Failure Penalty: Energy depletion, system core functions offline for 72 hours, ship loses maneuverability, exposed to unknown dangers.]

20 hours! 50% energy reserve! Failure meant waiting for death!

Pressure, as if tangible, weighed on Lin Feng's shoulders. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to think calmly. Where was a supply point? In the vast ocean, with order collapsed, where could he find a place to provide a large amount of fuel for a ten-thousand-ton destroyer?

"System!" Lin Feng shouted in his mind, "Scan the nearby area! Look for possible fuel supply points! Large ports, oil storage bases, even... sunken oil tanker wrecks! Any possibility!"

[Initiating primary scan function... Consumes energy/points: 10 points/minute. Range: 300 km radius.]

[Scanning...]

[Warning: Multiple high-intensity electromagnetic interference sources detected, scan accuracy reduced.]

[Filtering potential targets...]

[Target A discovered: Located approximately 180 km southwest of this ship. Signal characteristics: Large artificial port (abandoned), faint life signals present? Underground oil tank structure detected (estimated reserves: medium-low, status unknown).]

[Target B discovered: Located approximately 250 km due south of this ship. Signal characteristics: Offshore oil drilling platform (abandoned), active heat source signal detected (suspicious). Platform auxiliary oil storage facilities detected (estimated reserves: low, status unknown).]

[Target C discovered: Located approximately 120 km southeast of this ship. Signal characteristics: Small island, simple dock present. Small amount of fuel storage signal detected (estimated reserves: very low).]

[Target D discovered: Located approximately 280 km northeast of this ship. Signal characteristics: Large naval base (??? Signal chaotic, high-intensity encrypted shielding present, unable to scan deeply, danger level: extremely high! Not recommended to approach!)]

The system presented four options, but each was fraught with uncertainty and risk!

Point A, an abandoned port, had oil tanks, but faint life signals? Survivors or... scavengers?

Point B, an abandoned drilling platform, with an active heat source? What was it? Automated defenses? Or entrenched armed militants?

Point C, a small island, too little oil, a drop in the bucket.

Point D, a naval base, definitely a lot of oil, but chaotic and encrypted signals, "extremely high" danger level! Absolutely a dragon's den and tiger's lair!

Time ticked by, and the energy reserve had already dropped to 18%!

"Commander, we must make a decision quickly! Where do we go?" Gao Qiang's voice came through the communicator, also full of urgency. All officers and crew were waiting for his command.

Lin Feng's gaze rapidly swept over the four options. Point C was immediately ruled out; too little oil. Point D was too risky; with insufficient energy and poor status, rashly entering a naval base was suicide. The drilling platform at Point B, with its active heat source, was a huge unstable factor, and combat on an offshore platform was also high-risk.

Finally, his gaze locked on Point A—the abandoned port 180 kilometers to the southwest!

It had oil tanks (medium-low reserves), was the closest (saving precious energy), and the target was clear (underground structure, relatively hidden). Although there were faint life signals, the risk was relatively controllable. Moreover, a port! This was also likely the best choice for completing the system's "establish a foothold" mission! Killing two birds with one stone!

"Target A! 180 kilometers southwest, abandoned port!" Lin Feng ordered decisively, his voice echoing through the ship's broadcast, "All hands, attention! Level one combat readiness! Target: Abandoned port! Mission: Seize fuel supply, establish a forward base!"

"Course: 235! Maximum economic speed ahead! Conserve fuel!" he added, simultaneously confirming with the system: [Locking Target A as the mission supply point!]

[Command confirmed. Navigation coordinates entered. Estimated arrival time: Approximately 3 hours 15 minutes.]

[Quest: Race Against Time - Objective 1 (Locate and Reach Supply Point) In Progress...]

The massive hull of Deep Blue 01 turned again, cutting through the inky waves, heading towards the unknown abandoned port. On the bridge, the atmosphere was heavy and grim. Everyone knew that this was not just a resupply mission, but a landing operation concerning life and death! Energy was blood, the port was a foothold; they had to succeed!

Lin Feng stood by the porthole, looking at the gloomy horizon where sea met sky. What awaited them in the abandoned port? Survivors desperate for rescue? Or entrenched thugs? Or... something even more terrifying? He clenched his fist, his gaze sharp as a blade. Whatever it was, the cannons of Deep Blue 01 were already aimed in that direction!