Chapter 377

Chapter 377: Third Contact

Beyond the opposing factions, a group led by Vladimir and Wencheng focused on defending and exploring the spaceship and the base camp. The seasoned military officer remained in a state of detachment.

It was now the eighth month since the spaceship had crash-landed on this planet. Over the past days, Wencheng and his team had documented more of the living habits of the alien creatures.

Orders continued to pour in, and Wencheng’s plans were meticulously prepared.

He had to act, for the alien creatures had begun to undergo rapid changes.

These formless beings had evolved into a grayish-white hue and appeared to possess basic differentiation, a stark contrast to their initial chaotic state.

The scientists aboard the spaceship had already activated the greenhouse to restart the rapid human cultivation process and had begun raising a batch of animal experimental subjects.

Wencheng requested a few live animals, placed them in cages, and transported them to the debris of a spaceship section about ten kilometers from the camp.

The livestock emitted cries of fear, attracting the unknown creatures lurking in the crevices of the distant ruins.

The creatures slowly approached the rudimentary cage, observing the glowing dots within that were gradually receding, preparing to feast on this delectable meal.

“Crack!”

As the alien creature attached itself to the surface of the livestock, the seemingly simple metal rods on the cage swiftly deployed.

The trap triggered with remarkable speed, striking the surface of the liquid like a heavy hammer.

Like a hot knife through butter, a small portion of the alien creature was left trapped inside the cage while the rest quickly attempted to escape.

Some fragments splattered into the air before landing on the ground, writhing wildly before vanishing.

Wencheng’s team rushed in from a distance and successfully retrieved the trembling cage.

Wencheng watched as the alien creature squirmed and fled across the ground—it chose not to return to the wreck of the spaceship section.

The cage sealed completely, with occasional roars and tremors emanating from the livestock within.

The well-trained soldiers showed no mercy, remaining vigilant as they made their way back to the spaceship.

Meanwhile, a faint white spot clung to the surface of a soldier’s protective suit near his ankle.

After nearly a hundred uses, it seemed that this suit had developed a barely noticeable small hole…

Near the spaceship, the soil had been turned soft, with several scientists attempting to use the integrated agricultural machinery from the ship to modify the ground to support basic crops.

To ensure the scientists’ safety, both the soil and the scientists were enclosed within a transparent dome.

Wencheng exchanged brief greetings with the others and then led the team into the spaceship.

The cage, now fully sealed, was placed into a larger sealed box before disappearing behind the walls of the airtight disinfectant chamber.

The familiar process and questions resumed; after repeated disinfection and inspection, Wencheng entered the quarantine state once more.

Safety checks proceeded in an orderly manner, as one soldier after another passed inspection and lined up near Wencheng.

Soon, the check reached the last soldier.

Standing at the center of the airtight disinfectant chamber, the fixed nozzle on the wall began spraying disinfectant onto him.

Seeming to fear the unknown liquid, he instinctively flinched but then repositioned himself in the marked spot within the disinfectant chamber.

The staff in charge of disinfection began the formal questioning:

“Please recite the disinfection regulations for field personnel.”

“First, field personnel must confirm that each other’s protective suits are worn correctly. No individual may act without permission.

“Second, before leaving the spaceship, protective suits must undergo pressure testing to prevent damage. Upon re-entering the spaceship, they must be disinfected three times to avoid carrying unknown pathogens.

“Third, field personnel must… field personnel must… must…”

As a spray of disinfectant hit the soldier’s masked head, he staggered back as if struck by a bullet.

Raising his head again, Wencheng saw the pale faces and expressions of pain on his team members through the transparent visor.

“Field personnel must… must obey… personnel… obey…”

His body trembled continuously, while distorted, erroneous, and barely audible words echoed from the speakers.

He wanted to prove that he was fine, but that was already the biggest issue.

Wencheng clenched his fists slightly, yet he issued no commands.

What could he do?

He had devised the plan, trained the soldiers, and casualties were, of course, expected.

He just never imagined that what seemed like a perfect mission would end up in this situation.

The staff responsible for questioning and disinfecting showed a mix of surprise and reluctance on their faces.

He did not look at Wencheng but seemed to speak to him:

“According to regulations, the disinfection chamber will soon commence high-temperature incineration.”

He pressed a button on the screen in front of him.

Inside the disinfection chamber, the nozzles spraying disinfectant rotated a few times before beginning to spray liquid fuel.

“High-temperature disinfection will begin in ten seconds: ten, nine, eight, seven…”

“Pause the process.”

A cold female voice cut through the air.

“Detected instructions from a Permission Level holder. The high-temperature incineration process has been halted.”

Watching the soldier still convulsing on the ground, Wencheng’s face turned pale as he looked towards the elevator:

“Ms. Haines, we are processing according to procedure…”

“Infected, right? I already know.”

“Then why do you…”

Wencheng already had the answer in his mind, but these were his subordinates; he could not remain indifferent.

“This is a superb sample.”

Haines adjusted her glasses, her tone devoid of any emotion.

No, Wencheng could sense excitement hidden in her words.

“Ms. Haines, according to the laws of the human alliance, any human experimentation is absolutely forbidden. What you are doing is actually…”

“The laws of the human alliance also state that the executors of the Dandelion Project bear the heavy responsibility of carrying forth the flame.

“Moreover…”

The female scientist glanced down at the writhing figure in the disinfection chamber:

“This is not an experiment; it is… treatment.

“Any questions, Wencheng… Deputy Captain?”

“None, ma’am.”

Wencheng had never felt his heart pound so violently—not during the life-and-death trials involving hundreds, nor when the full extent of a surgery had been disclosed to him.

Only now, amidst the frantic flow of blood, did he see the true nature of the scientist before him—

A madwoman bound by law.