Everyone was stunned by the last sentence. Luotu’s face turned ashen. Had they been sunk by aliens the moment they met? What kind of situation was this?
The simulation cabin was silent. Everyone was as stiff as if they had been electrocuted, their minds blank. Dozens of brains couldn't figure out what had just happened.
Ling Xiao's mouth was wide open, like a toad that had been struck by lightning.
Ou Zhanpeng wasn't much better, his mind a complete mess.
"What do you think this exercise is? A game?" Shan Qiuyu suppressed his anger, like a volcano about to erupt. "Luotu, how did you command?"
Luotu was bewildered, having no idea what he did wrong. It all happened so quickly from start to finish. He replayed the entire sequence, but couldn't find anything amiss, nor did he know how to explain.
Seeing his utterly confused expression, Shan Qiuyu's anger surged. He slammed the table, roaring like a furious lion, "You don't even know what mistake you made? Find the reason immediately!"
Everyone immediately became busy. Even though all the problems originated from the bridge, the others pretended to check data, fearing Shan Qiuyu would notice them.
A typical case of deceiving oneself.
Only those like Ou Zhanpeng and Ling Xiao couldn't even pretend. They could only stare blankly at others' frantic activity like two clueless fools.
The screens rewound to the beginning, and everyone reviewed the replay. Ou Zhanpeng's gaze fell upon a corner of the screen, where a line of inconspicuous numbers appeared: 2067.12.17.
His chaotic thoughts suddenly cleared.
The closest launch window from Earth to Mars was at the end of June. The flight duration was from four months to eight months. This meant they would reach Mars by February next year at the latest.
But the number displayed on the screen was two full years later, with some change.
He vaguely recalled that the launch window interval from Earth to Mars was 26 months. Considering that they missed the current window, the timing indicated a possibility of flying to Mars during the next window.
That made sense. Just looking at the alien base, even with advanced technology, it was impossible for aliens to achieve such scale in just half a year. But after more than two years of development, it was entirely plausible.
Not only was the scale far beyond expectations, but their defenses would also be greatly enhanced. Being sunk by alien species was entirely understandable.
The reason was found, but Ou Zhanpeng had no intention of revealing it.
Shan Qiuyu was clearly trying to reprimand Luotu. Why should he step forward and show off? Moreover, besides Luotu, there were so many other bridge operations, and no one else knew the cause of the problem, yet Ou Zhanpeng was the one speaking up. Was he the only one capable?
He had no relationship with Luotu. If Luotu were magnanimous, it would be fine, but what if he encountered someone petty and got backstabbed?
Speaking out would offend too many people, so it was better to remain inconspicuous.
He subtly nudged Ling Xiao, signaling him to look at the time in the corner. Ling Xiao, however, was completely bewildered, not understanding his intention.
Shan Qiuyu noticed their little interaction and gave Ou Zhanpeng a fierce look, though there was no anger in his eyes.
Ou Zhanpeng immediately restrained himself, obediently focusing on his own business.
After a full half-minute, a voice filled with pleasant surprise broke the silence: "The time, the time is wrong!"
There wasn't a single idiot in this simulation cabin. Soon, everyone pieced together the cause and effect.
However, their moods were vastly different: some were relieved, some were thoughtful, and some were indifferent.
Shan Qiuyu's expression remained grim: "Luotu!"
"Here!" Luotu trembled inwardly. This tone was off!
"How did you command!" Shan Qiuyu's voice was sharp and severe.
Luotu felt incredibly wronged. He believed his command was flawless, but he hadn't expected Shan Qiuyu to set such a trap with the planned time, which he had overlooked.
Not paying attention to the time was indeed his fault, but hadn't others also missed this trap?
Shan Qiuyu reprimanded sternly, "I ask you, why didn't you scout ahead?"
Director Shan didn't mention the time at all. Luotu almost blurted out a defense but swallowed it back – as a director, one shouldn't play people like this!
Shan Qiuyu's gaze was stern: "First, the six-month safety period was merely an analysis from superiors. No one knows the aliens' technological level, nor how much they might develop in six months. You used speculation as a basis for command. What do you use your brain for?"
Luotu opened his mouth, then his head drooped as if his bones had been removed.
"Second, upon reaching Mars, why didn't you deploy satellites? Third, even if you didn't deploy satellites, why didn't you send out reconnaissance planes? Fourth, without prior reconnaissance to understand the enemy's detailed situation, you rashly ordered the warships to approach. Tell me yourself, is there a problem with your command!"
Luotu was completely speechless: "Yes."
Shan Qiuyu became even angrier: "Look up, stand tall, and tell me loudly, is there or is there not!"
"Yes!" Luotu suddenly raised his head and roared.
He stood ramrod straight, his eyes brimming with grief and indignation.
The simulation cabin was deathly quiet. Dozens of living people sat like a flock of trembling quails, not daring to make a sound.
"It's good that you know you were wrong." Shan Qiuyu finally softened his tone. "Failure isn't terrifying, and mistakes aren't terrifying. What's terrifying is not knowing the problem when you're wrong!"
He tapped the table with his fingertips a few times, the thudding sound seeming to strike not the tabletop, but the pride in everyone's hearts.
He lowered his head and heavily crossed out the results of the first simulated drill. Shan Qiuyu looked up. "Again!"
The data was reloaded, and Mars reappeared. Everyone felt a surge of determination. They had failed the first simulation, and they absolutely couldn't fall into the same trap in the second one.
Luotu immediately confirmed the mission time. After ensuring there were no issues, he loudly commanded, "Confirm orbital altitude... elevate orbit, deploy satellites... launch drones for reconnaissance... reconnaissance planes deployed!"
Ou Zhanpeng and Ling Xiao finally had something to do. Each with a small simulation cabin, they simulated the departure of the warships.
Within seconds of the start, the mission team was in full swing, each performing their duties with full effort.
However, after circling Mars once, they found nothing.
After circling again, there were still no issues.
Luotu was dumbfounded. He was certain his command was correct, but what was going on? If they couldn't even find the target, how could they fight this battle?
He constantly told himself to stay calm, to stay calm, and then his thoughts opened up: "Reconnaissance planes, conduct a comprehensive scan of Phobos and Deimos!"
"One received!" Ou Zhanpeng replied.
"Two received!" Ling Xiao replied.
The two reconnaissance planes flew towards the moons separately, their onboard equipment scanning everything, but still found nothing.
Could they have missed the window again? Had the aliens already left Mars? But the date was correct!