105: Chapter 105 Overconfident Provocation and Its Price
The standoff on the lunar surface was silent, yet it brimmed with invisible pressure. Countless eyes around the world were fixed on the stalled "ranger" lunar rover, waiting for Pretty Country's response.
Inside the "odyssey" lunar module, fine beads of sweat broke out on Commander Mark Wilson's forehead. The calm warning on the public channel felt like the freezing lunar soil, enveloping him. He knew perfectly well what continuing forward meant—it was an overt challenge to the rules Dragon Country had unilaterally declared but established through sheer strength, which could trigger unpredictable diplomatic or even physical conflicts.
"Houston, we have received a warning from Dragon Country. The opposing patrol vehicle is blocking us ahead. Requesting instructions." Mark's voice came through the communication channel back to Earth, carrying a trace of difficulty that was hard to detect.
After a brief silence, Houston Command Center sent a response, its tone carrying a stubborn rigidity: "odyssey, confirm if the opposing patrol vehicle has entered our path. Evaluate the possibility of a bypass. Repeat, this reconnaissance mission has high priority."
The command was vague yet clear, revealing an attitude that refused to back down easily. Mark and Anna exchanged a glance, both seeing the helplessness and pressure in each other's eyes.
"Try... try to bypass to the front right, and be careful to maintain distance." Mark gritted his teeth as he gave Anna the order. He wasn't willing to back down so easily in front of the whole world; in his heart, he still harbored a sliver of hope that they could avoid a direct confrontation and complete their so-called "reconnaissance."
The "ranger" started up slowly once again, turning clumsily in an attempt to flank the "yutu-3," which stood like a steel sentinel. They had underestimated the complexity of the lunar environment and overestimated the performance of their hastily deployed lunar rover.
Just as the "ranger" veered off the relatively firm intended path and its wheels rolled onto an area that looked flat but was actually covered in soft, fine lunar soil, an accident occurred!
The left rear wheel suddenly sank deep, and the entire vehicle instantly lost its balance, tilting sharply!
"Oh no! The wheel is stuck!" Anna cried out, trying to control the vehicle. But the soft lunar soil was like quicksand; the wheels spun in place, only sinking deeper. In just over ten seconds, more than half of the "ranger" was tilted and trapped in the lunar soil pit, unable to move.
"Houston! Houston! The 'ranger' is stuck in the lunar soil and cannot get free! Repeat, cannot get free!" Mark's voice was filled with despair and a hint of panic. The mission was an utter failure, and in such a pathetic manner.
When the news reached back, Houston Command Center fell into a deathly silence. Live commentators within Pretty Country tried to cover it up with terms like "unexpected terrain" and "minor setback," but everyone could see that this was a complete, self-inflicted humiliation.
Global viewers watched the live broadcast of the "ranger" stuck deep in the lunar soil, unable to budge, while the Dragon Country patrol vehicle remained as steady as a mountain in the distance. Comments instantly flooded the screen.
"Hahaha, this is what happens when you don't listen to advice!"
"Don't they know their own limits? They actually wanted to arm-wrestle with the others?"
"They've truly embarrassed themselves all the way to the moon!"
Inside the "Guanghan Palace" base, Zhao Xiaopeng shook his head as he watched the surveillance screen. He connected to the public communication channel, his voice calm and steady:
"'odyssey' lunar module, this is Dragon Country's 'Guanghan Palace' base. We have monitored that your lunar rover is in distress. Based on humanitarian principles, we are willing to provide rescue. Please confirm if you require assistance."
This calm inquiry was like another silent slap to Pretty Country's face. Accepting meant being completely crushed in terms of both technology and magnanimity; not accepting... would they really leave two astronauts and expensive equipment trapped there forever?
Inside the module, Mark's face was deathly pale, and Anna lowered her head. After a brief silence, Mark answered in a voice that sounded like it was squeezed through his teeth: "...'Guanghan Palace' base, this is 'odyssey'... We... request assistance."
"Received. Please keep the communication lines open; our rescue unit will arrive shortly."
A moment later, under the gaze of the global live broadcast cameras, a large Dragon Country engineering robot—the "Juling Shen Project Robot"—approached steadily from the direction of the "Guanghan Palace" base. It was larger, more stable, and clearly possessed much stronger towing and operational capabilities. It precisely approached the stranded "ranger," extended its mechanical arm, and firmly gripped the vehicle's frame. With a powerful output of force, it easily lifted the "ranger" out of the lunar soil pit and placed it smoothly on solid ground.
The entire rescue process was clean and efficient, taking no more than three minutes.
"Rescue complete. Please adhere to safety guidelines." The voice from the Dragon Country base remained calm. Then, the "Juling Shen Project Robot" and the "yutu-3" patrol vehicle turned around and returned to the base unhurriedly, as if they had just performed a trivial task.
Meanwhile, the "ranger" crawled back to the "odyssey" lunar module in a pathetic and slow manner, bringing this anticlimactic and humiliating lunar activity to an end.