15: Sunflower Mobile Charging Station

A change in priorities meant another round of extreme exploitation. Han Zhe handed over his final, treasured piece of Military Battery B to the system. Watching that silver-gray cube, representing unknown potential and a lifeline, being fed into the input port of the refining core made his heart ache.

[Command confirmed. Initiating manufacturing of 'sunflower' Mobile Charging Station (Prototype). Resource points consumed: 300. Materials consumed: High-Density Energy Battery B (interface modification and partial substrate utilization), High-Efficiency Solar Panel Components (generated), Basic Mobile Chassis (generated). Estimated time: 6 standard hours.]

300 resource points was almost everything he could currently mobilize. As the command was issued, the refining core's dim blue light steadily brightened, and from within came the sounds of mechanical operation and energy flow, more complex and dense than ever before. A blurry outline of a chassis with multiple foldable solar panel wings and stubby wheels gradually took shape at the center of the light.

The waiting time was long and anxious. Han Zhe did not go back into hibernation. He used this time to carefully study the complete SCV blueprint. The more he understood it, the more he was awed by the ingenuity of its design and... its terrifying resource requirements. The 'simplified' version was only relative; it still required a wide variety of alloys, composite materials, precise servo systems, an independent power core (even if miniaturized), and that complex control unit. 800 resource points was just the cost of basic materials; many special components required secondary processing or even synthesis by the refining core, which would demand additional energy and time.

"System, simulate this: given our current capabilities, if we find a suitable platform in the debris belt and successfully deploy the 'sunflower' charging station, how long would it take to manufacture one SCV? Include the entire process: resource collection, component manufacturing, final assembly, and debugging."

[Simulating calculations... Based on average resource density in the debris belt, output power of the 'sunflower' charging station, work efficiency of the refining core, and estimated collection efficiency of human/EVA/'scavenger no. 1'...]

[Optimistic estimate: at least 15-20 standard days.]

[Conservative estimate (accounting for accidents, uneven resource distribution, equipment failure, etc.): 30-45 standard days, or even longer.]

One to two months... and that's assuming everything goes smoothly with no external threats. The life support system's countdown was less than 40 standard hours. He had to acquire sufficient resources and solve the problems of breathing and basic sustenance in less than two days, otherwise, it was all pointless.

The pressure was immense. But Han Zhe's gaze grew even calmer. The pressure seemed to sharpen his thinking. He repeatedly examined the SCV blueprint, especially its power core section—a miniaturized, stable-output fusion battery pack. This was something the refining core absolutely could not manufacture at present. However... the blueprint mentioned an 'emergency start mode': it could utilize an external high-energy pulse to temporarily activate the battery pack's secondary cycle, providing short-term, low-power basic operational energy for moving to a location with stable power for a full recharge.

A high-energy pulse... If he could modify his remaining high-energy battery... Just then, the refining core emitted a soft completion prompt.

['sunflower' Mobile Charging Station (Prototype) manufacturing complete.]

From the direction of the airlock, the bowl-shaped input chute automatically opened, and a strange-looking device about the size of a small suitcase was pushed out. Its main body was a flat metal chassis with six small rubber wheels (which looked like they were taken from a toy car). Fixed on the chassis was a fist-sized, faintly glowing silver-gray cube—that was the modified remnant core of Battery B with a new interface, serving as a buffer and voltage regulator. Above the cube were three manually deployable, thin but large-area dark blue solar panels, their surfaces flowing with patterns of efficient light-absorbing coating. The overall design was crude, even somewhat comical, like a failed project from a children's crafts class. However, the luster of the solar panels and the stable energy pulse from the battery core indicated it was no ordinary item.

Han Zhe hurried over and carefully dragged this 'sunflower' into the main cabin. It was lighter than expected, and the wheels turned smoothly.

"System, test output power and interface compatibility."

[Testing... Solar panels deployed (simulated)... Energy absorption efficiency reached 87% of design value. Buffer battery unit remaining energy: 19% (stabilized). Output interface adjusted to universal medium-voltage DC, compatible with escape pod main power interface, refining core auxiliary power interface, and preset SCV emergency interface. Current maximum sustained output power: approximately 0.8 kilowatts. Can provide stable supplementary power for low-power operation of the refining core, or temporarily power small devices (e.g., simple tools, basic lighting).]

0.8 kilowatts was a drop in the bucket for starting a massive SCV, but it was more than enough to drive the grasping arm of 'scavenger no. 1' or power some small tools. More importantly, it provided a stable, renewable energy source (though dependent on light), and it had that emergency interface!

Hope surged.

Han Zhe's gaze once again fell upon the military-standard component box outside the window. Now, he had stronger motivation and a slightly firmer footing.

What followed was another difficult EVA. This time, he brought the 'sunflower' charging station, connecting it to his spacesuit's life support system (crudely modified under the system's guidance) with a temporarily manufactured cable with a quick-connect interface. While it couldn't fundamentally improve the air leak and heating issues, it could at least provide a bit of power for the helmet's internal lighting and basic communicator (if it still worked), extending his operational time somewhat.

Additionally, he carried the newly manufactured, wired simplified version of the Neural-Link Control Headband (a crude headband with suction-cup electrodes), planning to attempt a preliminary connection test when approaching the box to see if he could use his thoughts to assist in operating tools.

Fully prepared, Han Zhe made a final check of his equipment and physical condition. Energy level: 1.8%. Life support countdown: 33 standard hours.

Entering the airlock, depressurization, stepping into the void.

With the little extra power support from the 'sunflower', the darkness and cold inside the spacesuit seemed less suffocating. He carefully adjusted his posture, drifting towards the standard component box about fifty meters away. This time, the goal was no longer to dismantle parts, but to retrieve this heavy box intact.

The box was wedged between two larger metal debris fragments, slightly wobbling. After Han Zhe approached, he first tried pushing it and found it exceptionally heavy, almost impossible to move by human strength alone. He had to free it from its jammed position.

He took out the Cutting Laser, connecting it to the 'sunflower's' emergency interface. The laser's power indicator immediately lit up, much brighter than before. He carefully aimed the laser beam at the thinner metal connections pinning the box.

The high-energy laser beam silently cut into the metal, its efficiency several times higher than before. Soon, several faint cracking sounds were heard, and the restraints on one side of the box were severed.

But simultaneously, the vibrations and heat generated by the cutting seemed to trigger some dormant mechanism or unstable structure inside the box.

[Warning: Detected weak but abnormal electromagnetic wave activation within the target! Pattern recognition: non-standard, with encryption characteristics. Advise immediate evacuation!]

The system's alarm sounded inside his helmet.

Han Zhe's heart tightened, but the arrow was already on the bowstring; he had to proceed. He sped up his actions, cutting the connections on the other side. Just as the final metal tether was severed—

Click!

On the side of the standard component box, a previously inconspicuous cover resembling an access panel suddenly popped open! A burst of cold, ozone-smelling inert gas sprayed out. Immediately after, inside the panel, one of a total of six indicator lights suddenly lit up with a glaring red light! At the same time, a sharp, intermittent electronic buzzing sound came from inside the box. Unable to propagate in the vacuum, Han Zhe's simple sensors captured the vibrations and converted them into a grating audio feedback!

[Alert level upgraded! Detected active encrypted signal broadcast! Frequency: non-public military band. Content: cannot fully parse. Keywords captured: '...unit...damaged...location...recovery...priority...low...'. Target may have a damaged Tracking or Identification Beacon installed!]

Damn it! Han Zhe cursed inwardly. This thing really was fishy! Imperial military-grade anti-theft and tracking measures! He had no time to think; he had to move the box away as quickly as possible while the beacon signal might still be weak or unstable due to damage!

He immediately pressed the suction-cup electrodes of the neural-link headband against his temples and forehead. A faint, tingling electric current came through, and overlapping, slightly wavering auxiliary targeting lines and a simple operation interface appeared at the edge of his vision—this was the system performing the most basic coupling of neural signals with the tools.

"System, assist me in stabilizing my posture, maximize gripping force output!" Han Zhe concentrated his thoughts, simultaneously attaching a pair of simple Magnetic Grappling Hooks (generated with resource points) temporarily manufactured by the 'sunflower' to two relatively intact sides of the box. The tails of the hooks were connected to high-strength cables, with the other ends fixed to his own belt and pre-set hooks on the escape pod's hull.

Like dragging a reluctant beast, he activated the spacesuit's thrusters while mentally urging the 'sunflower' to channel more energy into the Magnetic Grappling Hooks. The hooks' magnetic force increased, firmly gripping the box. Han Zhe used all his strength, coordinating with the thrusters, slowly 'pulling' the heavy box out from the debris crevice!

Freed from its restraints, the box began to drift due to inertia. Han Zhe immediately adjusted his direction, using the cables and his own mass as traction, arduously dragging it towards the escape pod. The entire process was extremely strenuous. The piercing beacon buzzing from inside the box was like a death knell, keeping his nerves taut. He felt the spacesuit's leak worsening, the temperature dropping rapidly, and numbness spreading through his limbs.

Ten meters to the escape pod... five meters... Just as he was almost about to drag the box into the airlock's range, another unexpected change occurred!

The larger piece of metal debris that had been cut off and was drifting nearby, having lost its balance due to the box's removal, began to slowly but inexorably rotate and tumble, and as luck would have it, it was heading straight for the trajectory of Han Zhe and the box!

A collision seemed imminent! If they collided, the box could be damaged or even explode, and he would certainly not survive!

At the critical moment, within Han Zhe's neural-link interface, the system forcibly intervened, channeling the 'sunflower's' final surge of energy not into the Magnetic Grappling Hooks, but towards a cluster of small thrusters on Han Zhe's spacesuit waist used for auxiliary attitude adjustment!

The thruster cluster fired violently and uncoordinatedly at full power!

The massive, imprecisely calculated thrust caused the combined mass of Han Zhe and the box to lurch violently sideways and upwards!

Whoosh!

The tumbling debris almost grazed the soles of Han Zhe's feet and the edge of the box, the tiny fragments it stirred up pinging against the spacesuit and the box's body.

He dodged it!

But Han Zhe, due to this sudden change in direction and the uncontrolled thrust, spun with the box and slammed headfirst into the escape pod's hull! The impact wasn't severe, but it was enough to make him dizzy, and the box emitted a dull thud.

He didn't bother checking, fumbling to grab the airlock's outer door handle. Using his last bit of strength, he stuffed himself and the box together into the narrow airlock chamber, then desperately pulled the outer door shut behind him!

The sound of manual repressurization was like heavenly music. He collapsed onto the cold floor of the airlock, a corner of the box digging into his ribs. However, that piercing beacon buzzing, now in an air-filled environment, became clearer and even more unsettling.