Chapter 68
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Chapter 68: Returning to the Old World
The communication device’s base emitted a series of connection beeps.
After a long few minutes, a response finally came from the other end: “Hello, Luo Yu. This is the Global Space Station. Welcome back. The Celestial Network is locating your coordinates. Please hold on.”
About five minutes later, the navigation display, which had been blank, lit up with a navigation prompt. Soon after, the screen showed the real-time navigation guide for their current position headed towards the space station.
“Hello, Luo Yu. The navigation path has been generated. The escort team will depart in one hour,” the operator from the space station informed her. On the display, a flashing circle appeared in the middle of the navigation route, next to which was the distance between the Shan Hai Jing’s current coordinates and the meeting point, indicating an estimated travel time of three more hours. “This is the projected meeting point for the Shan Hai Jing and the escort team. Please assess the time capsule’s status to confirm if it can proceed to the meeting point.”
Luo Yu glanced at the fuel tank’s status panel; about half of the usable fuel was still left. To facilitate her long return journey, Zhu Huai had doubled the size of the fuel tank and added a backup fuel reserve, and they had filled it all before departure. Since they hadn’t encountered any unexpected detours that could consume fuel, they had more than enough to reach the meeting point.
The oxygen levels in the cabin were sufficient, as the oxygen circulation system operated normally. Aside from two of the eight indicator lights on the external detectors having turned off, all other metrics were within normal ranges.
“My status is all normal; we can head to the meeting point. Let’s rest here for now, and we’ll officially depart in one hour.”
“Okay, wishing you a smooth return,” the operator replied.
Luo Yu placed the communication device back on the control panel’s base. She raised her arms and stretched before turning to Zhu Huai and Ying Zhao with a smile, saying, “Let’s take a break.”
Previously, they had worried they might lose contact with the space station after arriving at the coordinates, or that the remote location would prevent the space station from plotting a navigation route. They had also feared sudden complications with the space station. Now, seeing that Luo Yu had successfully established contact, and that everything seemed normal, they all breathed a sigh of relief.
Ying Zhao went to fetch three bags of fruity energy supplements. Each of them took a bag and silently drank while turning to gaze out the window.
After contacting the space station, the cockpit’s signal monitoring system remained on, allowing the space station to keep track of their status and movements in real time. From now on, they couldn’t talk as freely as before.
The Shan Hai Jing was currently docked between two time channels, and while traveling through a time channel, everything around them was always pitch black. Once they exited the channel, they could occasionally glimpse the distant shimmer of galaxies through the airtight windows. The glimmers looked like broken ribbons, flickering and sparkling as if they were signal lights from the depths of space, conveying messages from the universe.
Luo Yu watched outside for a while before leaning back. She only intended to close her eyes to rest but unknowingly fell asleep. After some time, she opened her eyes to see that there were fifteen minutes until the expected departure time.
She glanced over at Zhu Huai, who was still staring out the window with her chin resting on her hand. Sensing the movement, Zhu Huai turned back, asking, “You’re awake? How do you feel?”
“Not bad,” Luo Yu sat up and looked back at Ying Zhao, who was drinking water. “How did you both rest?”
“Neither of us really slept, just took a short break. I feel okay,” Ying Zhao replied, placing the water pouch back in the side pocket and looking at Luo Yu with concern. “We’ll have real-time navigation soon; we can switch to cruise mode, right? That should make things easier for you?”
Luo Yu examined the external environment data on the left side of the control panel. “The magnetic field environment at the communication edge isn’t too stable, so for safety, let’s keep it manual for now. But it should be much easier to handle than before.”
The three of them moved around a bit in the cabin. When the time came, they settled back into their seats. Luo Yu was just about to send a departure notification to the space station when the communication device lit up with a call request from another time capsule.
She reached for the button to accept the call and picked up the device, hearing Hu Jiao’s cheerful voice on the other end. “Hey, sis! We’re setting off! How are you all feeling? Exhausted, right?”
Luo Yu smiled slightly. “We’re doing well here, getting ready to set off too.”
“Great, then take it slow. I can move ahead a bit to meet you.”
“Did the Bureau give any instructions before you left?”
“Nothing much. Just before I left, Zhu Long spoke to me, telling me to bring you back and make sure you rest well first, then schedule a routine inquiry with the Special Operations Department. She said not to worry; it’s just a normal procedure.”
Luo Yu considered this and didn’t ask anything further. “Alright, see you in a bit.”
After hanging up the communication device, Luo Yu sent a message to the space station as usual, then pressed the start button and accelerated towards the space station following the real-time navigation.
The Shan Hai Jing entered the time tunnel once more, and everything around them returned to darkness. Within the coverage area of the space station’s signal, the fluctuations in the gravitational field were relatively stable, making this segment of the journey smooth. The three of them felt a bit more relaxed, but unexpectedly, an hour and a half into their departure, they encountered a sudden time magnetic storm.
The previous fall had been caused by a time magnetic storm, and this time, the driving functions abruptly failed, causing the three of them to tense up.
Luo Yu quickly maneuvered the time capsule to dock in the nearby time gap just as the magnetic storm emerged to avoid direct exposure to its impact. After securing the time capsule, she calmly looked at the only remaining operational magnetic field sensor on the control panel, stating, “This is a normal time magnetic storm, expected to last about half an hour. There’s no need to panic; let’s take a break.”
Zhu Huai leaned in closer to observe the readings on those sensors, nodding in agreement. “This position indeed has a high likelihood of encountering magnetic storms. We’ve encountered it here a couple of times before; let’s wait it out.”
As the magnetic storm disabled all electronic monitoring systems in the cabin and temporarily severed their connection with the space station, the three of them took this chance to discuss the arrangements for the inquiry from the Special Operations Department that Hu Jiao had mentioned earlier.
“According to Hu Jiao, the people from the Special Operations Department should already be waiting for us on the ground,” Luo Yu said, looking at the two of them. “The inquiry will be conducted separately. We’ve already gone over what needs to be said, and the following arrangements will proceed as we agreed before. Zhu Huai and I will take the main responsibility for the unexpected events of this mission, so Ying Zhao, try not to say too much.”
This was the plan the three had discussed before returning. After Luo Yu and Zhu Huai returned, they would resign, citing a failure in management and oversight of the time capsule, thereby withdrawing from the Space Administration. Ying Zhao needed to remain at the Time Bureau to support the ongoing improvements in time travel technology.
They confirmed their plans once more, and Ying Zhao asked, “Will the Special Operations Department take over the Shan Hai Jing? How do we explain the equipment in the tail section?”
Luo Yu waved her hand dismissively. “That’s outside the Special Operations Department’s purview. I’ll have Hu Jiao pack up the tail section’s items; a routine scan will suffice.”
The routine scan was a standard check after a mission, not a full-spectrum scan. It would only check for toxic or harmful substances, plus with the Time Bureau currently under Zhu Long’s authority, it would be easy to keep these items concealed.
After discussing for a while, about half an hour later, the values on the magnetic field sensor gradually returned to normal. Soon, all the functions on the control panel were restored. Luo Yu messaged the space station and Hu Jiao’s escort team to inform them of the magnetic storm situation, then set off again towards the meeting point.
Less than two hours later, they finally saw two time capsules with flashing lights approaching on the navigation display. At that moment, the communication device lit up again. Luo Yu picked it up and heard Hu Jiao’s voice. “I see you! Please stop first, and we’ll get closer.”
Luo Yu replied, “Okay,” and brought the time capsule to a stop in a stable section of the tunnel. Soon, the two escort time capsules led by Hu Jiao maneuvered up, docking on either side of the Shan Hai Jing. Each extended a space supply docking connector to refuel and replenish oxygen for the Shan Hai Jing. Hu Jiao then asked through the communication device, “Do you have enough food and drinks? Should I send down some supplies for you?”
Luo Yu smiled and said, “We have everything we need on board, no need for supplies. It’s just that after traveling so far, I’ve been worried and didn’t dare to stray too far from the control panel. Now I can finally stand up and stretch a bit.”
“Right, make sure to stretch and eat something. Once you’re rested, we’ll continue on our way,” Hu Jiao responded.
With that, the three of them unbuckled their safety harnesses, stood up in the cabin, and casually asked Hu Jiao about the situation on the ground.
Since the space station was continuously listening and recording, they didn’t ask too many details. Hu Jiao briefly mentioned recent changes at the Bureau, noting that the new Strategic Commander of the federation would take office the day after tomorrow. This new high official, Jacob Euyun, was a former member of the Southern Federation’s Senate.
Luo Yu raised her eyebrows slightly at the mention of this name and glanced at the blinking monitor on the control panel. She only replied with a noncommittal “oh,” not saying anything more.
They stayed there for two hours. The three of them moved their legs around in the cabin, had something to eat, and took a short nap. Seeing that it was getting late with just a small distance left to cover, they prepared to set off again, with one escort time capsule leading the way, the Shan Hai Jing in the middle, and Hu Jiao piloting another escort time capsule at the rear, heading towards the space station together.
Two and a half hours later, the three time capsules finally reached the area directly below the space station. They submitted their request to return to the ground and, after receiving orbital approval, the three time capsules entered low Earth orbit in turn, making one lap before entering the atmosphere. An hour later, the Shan Hai Jing landed smoothly at the Space Administration’s landing site located on Chi Xing Island in the southeastern sea area of the Alliance.
It was already deep night when the Shan Hai Jing landed. Looking down at the familiar planet, they could see many cities lit with bright neon lights, creating a vibrant and lively scene, as well as tall buildings standing tall against the dim night sky, proud and cold.
Luo Yu was used to such night scenes from her time in the air. However, after returning from the Ponsuo Tribe, seeing the dazzling lights now only filled her with disgust.
At the landing site, a group of people waited for them. As soon as the Shan Hai Jing touched down, it was surrounded by several layers of personnel. After Luo Yu and the others exited the time capsule, they noticed that the individuals on the ground were all wearing uniforms from the Special Operations Department. They understood immediately but said nothing, obediently following their respective heads toward a nearby building.
Since it was too late, the Special Operations Department wouldn’t initiate overnight inquiries for the recently landed execution team members. So the three of them were taken to separate rooms to rest for the night.
The return journey took them over thirty hours, with only a few brief breaks in between, leaving them utterly exhausted. Luo Yu quickly took a shower in the bathroom of her room and then fell into a deep sleep, not waking until the next day at noon.
When she opened her eyes again, she found herself surrounded by closed white walls, with no view of the familiar trees and gentle sunlight outside. Taking a deep breath, she turned and sat up.
While washing up in the bathroom, she recalled that the person who had brought her to the room said the inquiries would begin at two o’clock in the afternoon. Just then, someone knocked on her door. She went to answer it with her toothpaste in her mouth, discovering it was someone delivering food.
She accepted the food tray and returned to her room to open it, finding the familiar work meal from the Space Administration. After tastelessly finishing her meal, she paced around the room, mentally preparing for the inquiry about to take place. Before long, someone else knocked on the door, asking her to come to the inquiry room.
Following the uniformed person, she walked a long way to the entrance of the inquiry room. The person turned to her and said, “The inquiry today will be conducted by Deputy Director Yao Chi from the Special Operations Department.” With that, they opened the door and invited her inside.
As she entered the room, she noticed the simple decor. There was a deep brown leather sofa against the wall, a round table beside it, and thick carpeting covering the floor.
An older woman sat on the left side of the sofa, holding a cup of tea. The steam rose and dissipated against her anti-fog glasses, revealing a pair of small, bright triangular eyes with a sharp gaze.
Seeing her enter, Yao Chi’s crow’s feet slightly curled upwards, and she raised her hand to gesture towards the other end of the sofa. “Wen Jing, long time no see. Please, have a seat.”
