97: Chapter 17: The Exploration Team 97: Chapter 17: The Exploration Team It is said that several days before Xiang Shan and his group’s arrival, a fleet of engineering ships had departed from the Republic’s Qiongya Port and arrived in Indonesia the day before to begin their operations.

They were filling sand and soil along the edge of a bay, working together with the Federation’s construction team to construct a dike right along the edge of the strait.

At the same time, the Federation was also erecting several partitions within the bay using massive steel plates to block the flow of sea water and simultaneously using pumps to extract the water inside.

Considering the pollution issue, this seawater was not discharged directly into the sea but was temporarily contained in all available vessels.

This was said to be the achievement of the Peacekeeping Forces.

Originally, peacekeeping forces did not have the authority to open fire proactively.

This troop could only strike back in a limited way if attacked.

But this time, when it became apparent that certain resources could not be gathered on short notice, these United Nations personnel did not hesitate to enter the city and mobilize all the fire trucks and water tankers they could find.

Of course, there were inevitable firefights with some of the rioters during this process.

Yet this abnormal behavior unexpectedly deterred the surrounding armed forces.

Meanwhile, various countries were urgently mobilizing shipments of rare gases to the area, planning to replace the oxygen-rich atmosphere inside the “tent” with some of the most stable substances to prevent damage to delicate items.

Xiang Shan glanced at the “tent.” The weather was nice today.

From this distance, Xiang Shan could see the little black dots moving on the “tent,” resembling tiny insects—those were people.

Xiang Shan guessed that they were probably repairing any damage on the “tent” or spraying a layer of sealant.

After all, the “tent” was originally the parachute of “Argon,” which initially didn’t require much in terms of airtightness.

After eating, Xiang Shan spent a while longer in the canteen, refilled his cup with chilled soda several times, and made numerous trips to the restroom.

It wasn’t until around two or three o’clock that he got up to head to the research center.

Upon seeing the center, Xiang Shan couldn’t help but wonder if the Rama Special Project, this construction team under the name of the United Nations, represented the pinnacle of current human construction technology.

The small building that had looked like a construction site in the morning had taken on a proper shape by the afternoon.

Office furniture was also in place, and even each desk had a computer set up on it.

There were even air conditioning and a snack corner, with chilling cold air that gave goosebumps and an unlimited supply of coffee and tea.

“The office conditions are this good, huh…” Xiang Shan was somewhat moved: “These tea bags are much better than the ones I use back home.”

“I thought only people from the United Kingdom and our Federation used these kinds of tea bags,” David Klein said as he walked by with a cup of tea.

He smiled, “I heard tea is quite expensive in the Republic.”

“That kind of tea requires too much sophistication in brewing technique, not suitable for us who just want to drink some ‘tasty water,'” Xiang Shan shook his head.

“Anyway, buddy, pick a desk for yourself.

Since you’re in electronics, I suggest you take one of those on the east side.

This area to the west is for aerospace technology,” David Klein broadly gestured the area: “The only problem is you went to eat when we were choosing the desks, so there’s no window seat left.

You can either choose that one in the middle of the office area or the one in the corner…”

Xiang Shan pulled a face: “At least there’s still a choice…

Where is Mr.

Liu Zhenghui sitting?”

“The names are on the seats.”

Xiang Shan looked around.

Liu’s spot was somewhere near the middle.

So Xiang Shan chose the vacant seat closest to Liu.

This spot was in the central area of the office, adjacent to the aerospace department engineers.

“By the way, a bureaucrat came by looking for you earlier,” David Klein mentioned: “Your advisor went to talk to him—Ah right, how did your physical assessment go?

Confident about the loaded run?”

This question seemed out of the blue.

Xiang Shan said, “I am a…

researcher.

A researcher, you understand?

So I’m not very confident in this area.”

“But I heard you’re the youngest member of the Republic’s Expert Group?” David affably patted his shoulder: “This is a great opportunity, buddy.

You have no idea how jealous I am.”

“What do you mean by that…”

Xiang Shan was confused.

But after he met with Secretary Hu, he understood the meaning behind David’s slightly schadenfreude smile.

“My…

goodness…” Xiang Shan panted heavily: “I really can’t take another step…

Big brother…

my…

it’s really…

killing me…”

Secretary Hu clapped from the sidelines: “Comrade Xiang Shan, believe in yourself!

Complete the next step of training!

You can do it!”

“I really…”

Xiang Shan nearly collapsed to the ground.

He was currently donning the highest grade of protective suit.

It was rumored that it was designed to improve the survival rate of government officials in the event of a nuclear strike.

It had several valves inside and a potent filtration system capable of handling most toxic gases, with air-tightness second only to that of spacesuits.

Of course, it must be mentioned that the protection suit included several millimeters of lead, pushing the total weight of the suit over forty kilograms.

If it weren’t for the additional powered exoskeleton system installed in the legs, Xiang Shan would truly have been unable to move a single step once he put it on.

This was the reason Secretary Hu sought out Xiang Shan.

“My God…why…?” Xiang Shan gasped, “Aren’t there more suitable…candidates…?”

“Comrade Xiang Shan, this is the mission the organization has assigned to you!” Secretary Hu said seriously, “When ‘Argon’ is activated, a specialist from the Republic must be present.

Among the entire expert group, you are the youngest.

We believe you should also have the best physical fitness.

Considering your professional expertise and age, you are the top candidate!”

This was the result of negotiations among the major nations.

When Argon is activated, each stakeholder must ensure they have their own people in the first exploration team.

This team must include experts in mechanics and engineering to judge the value of all discoveries and determine what can and can’t be interfered with.

Moreover, there needs to be a linguist.

If there are surviving crew members or communicative artificial intelligence on board the spaceship, then this linguist will be responsible for making basic judgments at the first opportunity—at least to convey things like “We come in peace.”

This forty-kilogram protective suit also places strenuous physical demands on the entrants.

Therefore, Xiang Shan was the most suitable candidate—he represented the Republic, was an engineering expert, and had relatively stronger physical fitness.

After all, you couldn’t expect Liu, Professor Zhang, Professor Jing, and those with older limbs to go exploring in something as heavy as cavalry heavy armor.

And what’s even more extreme is that Xiang Shan only had half a day of training and one day of recovery time.

The date for the exploration team’s departure was set for the day after tomorrow.

“My God…”

Xiang Shan sighed and continued to follow a soldier’s instructions, getting used to the operation of the powered exoskeleton.

The young man felt that he probably hadn’t retained much energy from the soda he drank all afternoon.

By the time the training session ended, it was already dinner time.

Xiang Shan removed the equipment and shook hands with his instructor.

Xiang Shan managed a smile and said, “I hope I did well…”

The instructor didn’t look away, “Doctor, it’s a good thing you’re not a soldier, because based on your performance just now, you wouldn’t get to eat dinner tonight.”

Xiang Shan’s complexion changed slightly, “I think I did pretty well…”

“Well…

I have to say, you have a really good opinion of yourself,” the instructor shrugged, “You have no talent in this area.”

The next day, Xiang Shan’s muscles ached all day.

He longed for the massage chairs in domestic malls while flipping through the remaining papers from yesterday.

On the third day, Xiang Shan, with a grim expression, got into a car with another former NASA expert.

“Don’t be like that, buddy,” the expert patted Xiang Shan on the shoulder, but this gesture made Xiang Shan gasp in pain—the tearing soreness in his muscles.

The expert had to withdraw his hand, saying, “You don’t know how jealous I am of you…”

“Klein said the same thing to me.

But to be honest, I think that thing called ‘Argon’ has probably been touched by other humans already…” Xiang Shan sighed, “It doesn’t exactly scream ‘one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind,’ does it?”

“They just rubbed and wiped the outside, but you are going in!” the man exclaimed.

“Yes…” Xiang Shan said, “Along with six soldiers and two other experts.”

The vehicle quickly entered the isolation area.

A group of people in protective suits checked the vehicle and then opened the sealed gate to let it in.

Xiang Shan got out of the vehicle and separated from the expert.

Following the guidance on his phone, he went to another area to meet his teammates and wait for the next instructions.

After entering the rest area, Xiang Shan saw several people.

One of the soldiers immediately came up to him, asked for Xiang Shan’s name.

After verifying each other’s credentials, this “Rama Project” security member gave him a standard military salute, “Welcome, Mr.

Shan!”

“It’s you!” another astonished voice interrupted the greeting, “The sci-fi author?”

Xiang Shan looked up and saw that Yawgmoth Voigt was also on standby there.

He took the exploration equipment from the soldier with a smile and said, “We meet again, old fellow.

Now do you believe I’m a sci-fi author?”

“I did a search in the database and indeed found the works you mentioned,” Yawgmoth stood up, “Why are you here?”

Xiang Shan shrugged, “Of course to join the first exploration team.”