13: Automatic data collection selection

With 1.2 liters of precious purified water as a foundation, Han Zhe's recovery speed increased significantly. He strictly followed the system's rationing plan, consuming only enough water each day to maintain basic life activities along with that last bit of nauseating synthetic nutrient paste, minimizing his body's consumption. Most of the time, he remained in a semi-dormant energy-saving state, yet his mind was closely linked to the system, monitoring the inside and outside of the escape pod while continuously guiding the system to draw energy from the faint stellar radiation.

The energy level rose laboriously like a snail climbing a slope, recovering from 0.41%. 0.5%... 0.7%... 0.9%... Every tiny increase was accompanied by longer waits and unspeakable boredom. The faint blue glow of the refining core pulsed steadily in the dim pod, becoming the only symbol of life in this dead silence.

The life support system's countdown hung overhead like the Sword of Damocles. Time remaining: 42 standard hours.

A repair or replacement solution had to be found quickly. And all of this required resources, a vast amount of resources, and... a more efficient means of collection.

Han Zhe's gaze once again turned toward the slowly rotating carpet of death outside the observation window. Those metal fragments, ice crystals, and even other potentially existing substances were his only hope. But relying on manual EVA was high-risk, low-efficiency, and severely limited by his own physical stamina and the condition of his spacesuit. That leaking spacesuit's life support battery had long since been exhausted; every use was a gamble with his life.

“System, is it possible... to use the refining core's existing functions, combined with materials that might be found in the debris belt, to manufacture a simple... automatic collection device? Or at least, a tool that can assist my operations externally?” Han Zhe asked in his consciousness. He had repeatedly studied the extremely brief subsequent steps of the survival plan provided by the system, which mentioned “expanding external operational capabilities,” but the details were vague.

【Analyzing...】 The system's voice carried a hint of computational delay. 【Based on the refining core's current 'Ultra-Simple Part Manufacturing' function and the materials potentially obtainable from the debris belt, it is theoretically possible to attempt assembling a basic operational unit. However, the following limitations exist:】

【1. Missing Blueprints: The system database is severely damaged, containing only basic material processing protocols with no detailed construction blueprints for any automated machinery or auxiliary tools.】

【2. Energy Constraints: Any external active unit requires an independent energy source. Currently, high-efficiency energy cores cannot be manufactured; it must rely on limited batteries or... a direct hard-connection to the escape pod's power system, which greatly limits the range of activity.】

【3. Control Difficulties: Lack of remote control or autonomous navigation programs. Even if a mechanical arm or mobile platform is manufactured, it would require the host to operate it directly and at close range, making it impossible to avoid EVA risks.】

Blueprints... Blueprints again! Han Zhe felt a surge of irritability. Without drawings, having the refining core's “manufacturing” capability was like giving a primitive human a 3D printer without any model files.

“Is there really not even a single relevant blueprint fragment? Even the most basic ones regarding... engineering machinery or universal interfaces?” he pressed on, unwilling to give up.

【Database defragmentation is ongoing... Retrieving keywords: Engineering, Machinery, Operation, Universal... Potential relevant fragments found: 17. Integrity of all is below 0.1%, making them impossible to parse directly into usable blueprints. Attempting logical correlation and probabilistic reconstruction... This requires additional energy for deep computation, estimated to consume 30% of current energy, with a success rate below 5%.】

A 5% success rate for nearly one-third of his energy. Failure would mean the precious energy was wasted for nothing, and the survival countdown would be further shortened.

To gamble, or not to gamble?

Han Zhe looked at the little purified water remaining in the flask in his arms, then at the flashing red light of the life support system. If he didn't gamble, he might not survive the next large-scale debris collection. If he did and failed... His fingers unconsciously rubbed the cool metal casing of the flask. In his mind flashed the look in Kahn's eyes when he pushed him away, Oleg's hollow, dead face, and Lina's shattered gear amulet.

“Execute deep computation. Attempt to reconstruct blueprint fragments related to a ‘Basic External Operational Unit’.” His voice calmed down, carrying a cold hardness of putting everything on the line.

【Command confirmed. Initiating deep computation... Energy outputting...】

The brightness of the blue light screen in his mind suddenly increased, and the data stream poured down like mad, almost bursting his consciousness. Intense stinging pain struck again, more ferocious than the previous times. Han Zhe gritted his teeth, his body involuntarily arching, his forehead pressed against the cold pod wall as sweat instantly soaked his inner lining.

Time passed slowly in agony. He could feel the system's energy level dropping rapidly: 1.1% → 0.8% → 0.5%... Just as the energy fell to 0.4%, and the computation seemed about to be forcibly interrupted due to energy exhaustion—as failure seemed certain—

Buzz!

A strange vibration, as if something had “clicked into the correct position” deep within his consciousness, came through. The sharp pain receded like a tide, replaced by a cool, enlightened feeling.

【Deep computation complete. Energy consumed: 0.7%. Result: Successfully correlated and partially reconstructed three highly fragmented blueprint pieces. Obtained the following usable information:】

【- Universal Space Engineering Machine (SCV) Basic Frame Structure Diagram (approx. 35% complete). Missing: Detailed power system design, precision joint transmission, main control chip logic, weapons, and advanced tool modules.】

【- Modular Engineering Tool Interface Standard (approx. 60% complete). Includes physical and data connection specifications for three basic tools (cutting laser, welder, magnetic grabber arm) and the main body.】

【- Simplified Teleoperation Neural Connection Protocol (approx. 15% complete). Allows mapping of partial neural signals from the operator to the mechanical unit via wired or short-range wireless means for basic motion control; high latency, limited precision.】

It wasn't a complete SCV blueprint, not even complete components that could be manufactured directly. But he had the frame, the interface standards, and the most basic control method! This was like getting a car model without an engine or steering wheel—only the chassis and wheels—along with a manual on how to install a steering wheel and an accelerator pedal.

“That’s enough!” A sharp light flashed in Han Zhe's eyes. With these, combined with the refining core's manufacturing capability and those “parts” in the debris belt, he had a chance to cobble something together!

“System, based on the existing blueprint information and the materials we might find in the debris belt (assuming we can find debris parts with similar functions), design a feasible, minimum-function ‘Assembled External Operational Unit (Prototype)’ plan. Priorities: mobility (even extremely slow wheels or tracks), basic energy supply (hard-connected to the escape pod), one replaceable magnetic grabber arm, and a simplified neural operation interface via wired connection.”

【Task received. Performing conceptual design based on constraints... Simulating material matching...】

On the light blue screen, an extremely crude, even somewhat laughable mechanical outline began to be sketched: an open frame “body” shaped like a rectangular prism welded from several thick metal pipes; below were four wheels with independent suspension that could be salvaged from some small vehicle wreckage (or worse, track segments); dragging behind it was a thick, bloated composite cable with the other end connected to the escape pod's power interface; at the front of the frame was a rotating base mounted with a simple magnetic grabber arm driven by hydraulic rods (or similar items); the operator (Han Zhe) would need to half-lie or sit in a crude, unprotected seat on the frame, with his head connected to a set of exposed head-rings carrying several neural probes.

This thing looked fragile and devoid of any aesthetic, like a toy haphazardly cobbled together from industrial waste by a naughty child, likely to fall apart in space at any moment. But theoretically, it could move, it could grab things, and it could eliminate most of the risks of Han Zhe personally venturing out in a leaking spacesuit.

【Conceptual design complete. Provisionally named: ‘Scavenger No. 1 (Prototype)’. Theoretical feasibility: 51%. Main risks: Insufficient structural strength, poor connection reliability, high energy transmission loss, unstable neural connection potentially leading to operational errors or host neural damage. Key external material list generated.】

51% feasibility—another huge gamble. But this time, the stakes were his ability to scavenge and assemble from the debris, and whether the refining core could “patch up” or even “mod” these scraps into usable components.

“Commence the ‘scavenger no. 1’ construction plan. System, continuously scan the debris belt and prioritize marking the key components needed in the design: small wheels or track units, high-power hydraulic actuators, high-strength metal pipes, servo motor wreckage that fits the interface standards... also, anything that looks like an intact circuit board or energy battery!”

【Command confirmed. Adjusting scanning priority. Continuously monitoring...】

In the time that followed, Han Zhe entered another state of busyness. He no longer slept for long periods, instead using the intervals of the system's slow energy recovery (energy levels laboriously crawling back to 0.8%) to repeatedly study the conceptual diagram of “scavenger no. 1,” memorizing every needed part and its potential substitutes. Like a hungry vulture, he repeatedly scanned the debris belt outside the window with his gaze, trying to lock onto targets among those tumbling fragments in advance.

【Scan Update: Marking Target A-7: Distance 35 meters, suspected small exploration vehicle wreckage, two relatively intact rubber tires (no air) and part of the chassis frame visible.】

【Marking Target B-3: Distance 50 meters, a large piece of mechanical wreckage, exposed linear hydraulic rods visible inside, dimensions may fit requirements.】

【Marking Target C-1: New object floating into the edge of the debris belt, size approx. 1.5 meters, dense structure, outer shell has Imperial Navy logistics markings, likely a discarded military standard parts box, internal contents unknown.】

Targets appeared one by one. Han Zhe's heart raced with every discovery. Tires! Hydraulic rods! Military standard parts boxes! If these things could be brought back without causing a large-scale disintegration... he needed to exit the pod. But this time, the goal was clear, and he was motivated by the vision of “scavenger no. 1.”

After the energy recovered to 1.0% and his physical state was adjusted to its best, Han Zhe once again put on that detestable spacesuit. This time, he brought more tools: besides the wrench and magnetic locks, there were several hooked alloy probes temporarily manufactured from the refining core, as well as a low-power cutting laser charged using the escape pod's waste heat (crude and short-ranged, but better than nothing).

The EVA process was still dangerous and agonizing. He first carefully approached Target A-7—the small exploration vehicle wreckage. The wreckage was severely damaged, but miraculously, two tires still hung on the twisted axles. He exerted every ounce of strength, using the cutting laser in coordination with the wrench, before finally removing the tires along with part of the axle structure. Each tire was half a person tall and incredibly heavy, barely held by the magnetic locks, making towing them exceptionally difficult.

Then came the hydraulic rod of Target B-3. It was embedded inside a larger piece of wreckage, surrounded by sharp, broken metal. Han Zhe had to clear obstacles bit by bit with the cutting laser like a surgical operation, finally using the alloy probes and a crowbar to pry out that metal pillar covered in space dust and frozen lubricant.

These two round trips nearly exhausted all his physical strength and the limits of his spacesuit. He collapsed on the airlock floor, feeling a burning pain in his lungs and darkness before his eyes, almost fainting. But he had brought back the key components: two tires and a hydraulic rod.