11: Unknown probe

The exhilaration of successfully constructing the core was like a brief electric current, swiftly devoured by the icy reality and extreme exhaustion. Han Zhe slid down against the bulkhead, feeling as if all his bones had come apart, with every cell screaming in protest. The dizziness and headache brought on by mental exhaustion clung to him like maggots to bone, and the blue light representing the system in his vision became blurry and wavering.

[Warning: host's vital signs are at a critical threshold. Energy level: 0.7% (core maintaining minimum operation). Life support system energy is about to be depleted. Carbon dioxide concentration: approaching lethal threshold. Recommendation: Replenish fluids immediately and enter forced hibernation for at least 8 standard hours to restore basic physiological functions and auxiliary system energy absorption.]

The system's voice was so calm it was almost cruel, like a scalpel dissecting his frail facade.

Fluids... only a few last sips of filtered dirty water remained. The red warning light of the life support system flashed silently on the dim bulkhead, like a dying eye. Hibernation? Inside an escape pod that could be struck by debris at any moment, or whose internal environment could completely collapse?

Han Zhe licked his dry, cracked, bleeding lips; his throat felt as if stuffed with sandpaper. He forced his stiff body to move, picked up the water pouch with its shallow layer of murky liquid, and took a careful sip. The liquid felt like a knife cutting down his esophagus, yet it brought a faint, illusory comfort.

Can't sleep. At least not now.

He struggled to crawl over to the refining core. The rough, half-person-tall metal block stood quietly, its surface flowing with a steady, deep blue glow, emitting an extremely faint hum where it connected to the escape pod's main power lines. It was operational. This was his only lifeline now.

"System... activate the basic material analysis function of the refining core. Scan... the residue in the Airlock, and..." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the dirty Spacesuit he had taken off in the corner, still covered with ice crystal residue and metal shards, "...the external contaminants on the Spacesuit. Analyze if there are any extractable water-ice components."

[Command confirmed. Initiating basic analysis scan.]

Pale blue scanning waves emitted from an inconspicuous Probe at the front of the core, enveloping the area Han Zhe specified.

[Scan complete. Targets detected:]

[1. Mixture of metal shards and space dust in the Airlock. Water content: negligible. Metal composition complex, purity extremely low.]

[2. External contaminants on the Spacesuit. Detected trace amounts of water molecule crystals (residual from ice sublimation), metal oxide powder, unknown organic polymer particles. Comprehensive estimate: through efficient separation and low-temperature condensation, approximately... 80 milliliters of water can be extracted.]

[Warning: The extraction process consumes energy. At the current energy level, executing this operation will cause the system to shut down completely, the core to hibernate, and the extracted water volume cannot guarantee host survival until the next energy recovery cycle. Risk extremely high.]

80 milliliters. A drop in the bucket. And it might just kill him outright.

Han Zhe's heart sank. He looked at the refining core, then out the window at the slowly rotating debris field, full of resources yet also full of danger. The desire to obtain more resources was overwhelming, but in his current state, going outside again was suicide.

"Is there... any other energy source? The escape pod itself, besides the main power, what else is there?" he asked unwillingly.

[Escape pod energy systems: Main power comes from a disposable high-energy battery pack (current remaining: 3%), used for life support, lighting, basic communications, and Attitude Thrusters. Backup energy: None. Auxiliary energy: Solar Panels (located on the hull, area approximately 0.5 square meters), currently not aligned with a stable star, and partially shaded by debris. Output power: microwatt-level, negligible.]

Solar Panels... A flash of insight struck Han Zhe. Although the power was extremely low, every little bit helps! More importantly, the refining core's energy absorption efficiency was 5%, meaning it might be able to squeeze out more from the weak radiation!

"System, calculate: if we adjust the escape pod's attitude to orient the Solar Panels as much as possible towards the nearest star, and utilize the refining core for energy absorption and conversion, how much energy can be obtained per hour? Can it support a basic, non-complex debris material scan and preliminary classification?"

[Calculating... Adjusting attitude will consume a minimal amount of attitude thruster Propellant (remaining: extremely low). Assuming successful alignment with the star (distance 1.2 astronomical units, spectral type G), the Solar Panels' theoretical maximum output is approximately 0.5 watts. After absorption and conversion by the refining core (efficiency 5%), additional energy obtainable per hour is approximately... 0.025 standard energy units.]

[This energy level can support basic scanning functions (low-power mode) for about 15 minutes per hour, or maintain the core's minimum standby state. Insufficient to support material extraction or fabrication.]

0.025 units per hour... pitifully small. But at least it could extend the system's standby time, and perhaps allow for some basic scanning and analysis in preparation for the next collection.

"Execute attitude adjustment. Target: maximize solar panel illumination area. Then, initiate low-power environmental scanning, continuously monitor debris field dynamics, mark any newly appearing high-value targets, especially... water-ice enrichment zones. Also, begin... formulating a recovery plan for me: a plan to maximize survival duration and state recovery with minimal energy consumption."

[Command confirmed. Initiating attitude adjustment procedure... Propellant consumption: minimal.]

The escape pod trembled slightly as tiny thrusters on its side emitted an almost invisible stream of gas. Through the Observation Window, the starry background could be seen slowly rotating, as a small, dust-covered, inconspicuous area of Solar Panels gradually turned towards the distant, dim yellow star.

[Attitude adjustment complete. Solar energy input detected: weak but present. Energy level: 0.7% → 0.71% (increase minimal but sustained).]

[Initiating low-power environmental scanning... Scan radius: 100 meters. Continuous monitoring in progress.]

[Survival plan formulation... Analyzing host's current state, available resources, environmental variables... Generating plan...]

The system's voice became the only dynamic element in this dead, silent space. Leaning against the cold bulkhead, Han Zhe could feel the extremely slow but definite subtle vibrations from the escape pod as energy recovered. A 0.01% increase was negligible, but it was a shift from nothing to something, from despair to possibility.

He closed his eyes, no longer forcing himself to think. He relaxed his body completely, maintaining only a thread of clarity connected to the system, feeling the weak but sustained flow of energy, like parched earth absorbing a belated, insignificant drizzle.

Time passed in absolute silence and the slow accumulation of energy. At regular intervals, the system would report in the briefest text on the light screen:

[Scan update: No major structural changes detected in the debris field. Marked 3 newly drifted-in metal fragments (low value). No significant water-ice enrichment signals detected.]

[Energy level: 0.75%.]

[Life support system countdown: 71 standard hours.]

[Scan update: Detected weak electromagnetic pulse, source: deep within the debris field, suspected energy leakage from ancient equipment wreckage. Continuous, intensity extremely low, non-threatening.]

[Energy level: 0.79%.]

[Survival plan generation complete, summary:...]

Han Zhe did not immediately check the detailed survival plan. He needed to recover a bit of energy first. Supported by the system's continuous energy absorption and the faint but tangible 'hope,' he slipped into a semi-conscious, light hibernation state, his bodily functions reduced to a minimum, sustained only by the escape pod's remaining life support and his willpower.

An unknown amount of time passed, perhaps a few hours, perhaps a day. He was jolted awake by the system's slightly urgent alert tone.

[Alert: Scanning has detected an anomaly. Bearing: Outer edge of the debris field, distance approximately 80 meters. Target: Non-natural object. Size: Small, approximately 2 meters long. Structure: Approximates a regular geometric shape. Energy signature: No active emissions, but there is a weak, irregular electromagnetic scatter, different from the debris background noise. Trajectory: Not random drift, shows slight signs of autonomous adjustment. Approaching the debris field.]

Not natural debris!

Han Zhe snapped awake instantly, his heart lurching. He struggled to crawl to the Observation Window, squinting to look out. Against the backdrop of starlight and the faint reflections from the debris field, he barely made out the 'object.'

It looked like an elongated, asymmetrical metal olive, its surface rough, covered in cosmic dust and small impact craters, with no obvious thruster nozzles or portholes. But its movement... it certainly didn't drift aimlessly like ordinary debris; it was slowly, imperceptibly adjusting its angle, moving towards the edge of the relatively sparse area where the escape pod was located, or perhaps towards the debris field itself.

A Probe? A Reconnaissance Unit? Or something else?

[System, zoom scan, analyze its structural details! Assess threat level!] Han Zhe ordered urgently.

[Insufficient energy for high-precision scanning. Basic scan analysis: Target's outer shell material is a low-reflectivity alloy, internal structure impenetrable. No weapon-grade energy reactions or life signs detected. Movement pattern consistent with low-power inertial navigation or preset program cruising. Threat level: temporarily designated 'Low - Observe.' However, the target's behavioral pattern is anomalous. Recommend maintaining vigilance and preparing for possible contact.]

No weapons, no life signals, but its behavior was suspicious. Han Zhe stared intently at the slowly approaching metal olive. It was now only about fifty meters away, moving very slowly, as if also 'observing' his position.

An Imperial automated scout? Some lost technological artifact? Or... worse, some alien or chaotic Probe?

In his current state, forget fighting, he didn't even have enough Propellant to escape. The refining core was just established and had zero defensive capabilities.

"System, is it possible for us to... interfere with it? Or send some sort of identification signal? Pretend to be harmless debris?" Han Zhe thought quickly. A direct confrontation was the worst option.

[Escape pod lacks active interference or signal transmission capabilities (basic communications are damaged). Camouflage suggestion: Maintain silence, shut down all non-essential energy outputs, including the refining core's standby glow (adjustable to be invisible to the naked eye). Simulating natural debris reflectivity and thermal radiation characteristics requires precise control, currently unachievable. Optimal strategy: Maintain status quo, observe.]

"Shut down the refining core's visible light output. Reduce system operation to minimum power consumption, only maintaining basic scanning and the minimal connection with my consciousness." Han Zhe immediately executed.

Inside the pod, the deep blue glow on the refining core's surface instantly extinguished, leaving only an extremely faint sensation of energy flow. The main cabin lights had long been off. The escape pod completely merged into the surrounding darkness and cold, as if it were truly just a larger, dead piece of metal junk.

Han Zhe held his breath, pressed close to the edge of the Observation Window, revealing only one eye, staring fixedly at the uninvited guest.

The metal olive moved another twenty meters closer, almost parallel to the escape pod, now only thirty meters away. It seemed to have stopped, slightly adjusting its orientation. On its surface, several indentations flashed with extremely dim, differently colored indicator lights, very slowly, as if performing some sort of scan or confirmation.

Time passed second by second, each moment feeling stretched. Han Zhe could hear his own heart pounding heavily in his chest, blood rushing in his ears.

The metal olive hovered there, motionless. After about three minutes, it seemed to have reached a conclusion or completed its preset program. It began slowly turning, no longer oriented towards the escape pod, but drifting towards the denser area of the debris field, where ice crystals and metal shards were more concentrated, its speed still slow.

It was leaving.