Dead on Mars

Chapter 170 - Sol Two Hundred and Eighty-Three, Zero
Tang Yue put on his clothes, got out of bed, and followed Tomcat into the Hab.

His mind was nearly blank.

The workstation had given a prediction. After days of constant observation and calculations, it had already narrowed down Comet Tomcat-Tang-Mai 1’s landing point to a circle that measured 600 km × 600 km. It was a lot more precise than the massive ellipse that covered 6,000 kilometers.

Tomcat sat in the chair and turned the monitor around. It still showed the familiar map of Mars with a red circle over it. It covered an area in the northern hemisphere near the equator like a nuclear strike warning.

However, this was a lot more severe than a nuclear strike.

This circle represented the area where 5.2 trillion atomic bombs would explode simultaneously.

Tang Yue found his lips parched as he gulped down a mouthful of saliva. He turned around to pour himself a cup of water and downed it immediately.

To Tang Yue, this red circle was a seal of doom imprinted by Death on the map.

“These are the results of the latest predictions. Comet Tomcat-Tang-Mai I will land somewhere within this region. At its closest, it will be eight hundred kilometers from Kunlun Station, and at its farthest thirteen hundred kilometers,” Tomcat said. “Unfortunately… the calamity circle has shrunk right above us.”

Tang Yue held his forehead, momentarily at a loss for words.

The last prediction gave them a fifty percent chance of survival.

This was a very high chance of survival—really, really high. Compared with the Eagle’s probability of a successful docking being less than 5% and how Orion II’s safe landing was 0.001% or even lower, this was a lot higher.

However, Lady Luck didn’t cast a six again.

Based on Tomcat’s calculations, the comet needed to land somewhere more than 2,500 kilometers away from Kunlun Station for the latter to survive. But now, the computer’s predictions was only a distance of 800–1,300 kilometers. At this distance, the disaster brought about by the comet was no longer just a quake. Comet Tomcat-Tang-Mai 1 was a behemoth with a diameter of 30 kilometers. Its impact would completely change the face of Syrtis Major Planum and Isidis Planitia. It would wipe the two areas out of existence on maps.

Dismantling Kunlun Station and reducing it down to its elements, to roll with the punches, and let it be strong, was now meaningless. This was akin to strictly abiding by the advice listed in the National Primary and Secondary School Students Safety Education Handbook only to have the nuclear bomb land a hundred meters away from you.

At such short distances, the impact’s strength would obliterate everything.

“What are the chances of survival?” Tang Yue asked with a hoarse voice.

“Zero.”

It was rare for Tomcat to answer in such a straightforward manner. It wasn’t “close to zero,” or “probably zero,” but “zero.”

“Is there nothing else that can be done?”

“Nothing.” Tomcat shook its head.

Even if the comet were to land at the farthest predicted spot, it would still be 1,300 kilometers from Kunlun Station. There was still another 1,200 kilometers to be out of reach of the disaster.

The Radiant Armor could only work for eight hours, and the Mars Wanderer could only travel thirty kilometers a day. Tang Yue had no means to make a long-distance trip from Kunlun Station.

“Then, what about digging in to hide…” Tang Yue hoped that he could still put up a fight.

Tomcat silently shook its head.

It was impossible for anyone to imagine what kind of disaster Comet Tomcat-Tang-Mai I would bring. In fact, any forces that humanity could muster in front of such a calamity would be puny. The only thing that could save them was distance, and as long as they were far enough, the energy released from the impact would be borne by Mars itself. Beyond the threshold, Mars itself was the strongest shield; otherwise, all human effort was nothing but a joke.

Tang Yue fell silent as he reached his hands into his hair and yanked at their roots.

“That lass doesn’t know yet, right?”

“She doesn’t.” Tomcat shook its head. “I came looking for you the moment the predictions were out.”

Tang Yue looked down at his hands and feet. They still worked normally, so he wasn’t having a dream.

“Tang Yue…”

Tang Yue raised his hand to stop Tomcat from speaking.

“I need some time alone. I need to digest this.”

Tomcat nodded and sat on the chair, looking at the young man bend his back and hold his head, taking deep, hard breaths.

Tang Yue rubbed his temples with his thumbs, wishing to jolt his frozen brain into working again.

“Don’t let her come down,” Tang Yue whispered. “Halt the descent project.”

“Alright.” Tomcat nodded. “The descent project will be halted.”

“Is there any other way to save that lass’s life?”

“While designing the descent control system, I had additionally written a flight program for her to escape Mars orbit and begin orbiting the Sun,” Tomcat replied. “Orion II still has enough propellant, allowing it to avoid the impact from the comet, but Miss Mai Dong has overruled this choice.”

“I would’ve have objected to it if I were in her shoes,” Tang Yue said. To escape Martian orbit and enter the vast Solar System would turn Mai Dong into a lonely wanderer in the future. It would be impossible for her to encounter any other planets for the rest of her life, and she would die in despair in the infinite void. It was better to die from the impact of the comet than living like that.”

“When do you plan on telling Miss Mai Dong about this?”

“When day breaks.” Tang Yue let out a long sigh and revealed a bitter smile that looked worse than crying. “I never expected that human civilization, that has lasted tens of thousands of years, would end with me.”

“Do you find death a form of release?” Tomcat asked.

“Once you completely accept it and acknowledge its existence, then facing it isn’t actually that difficult,” Tang Yue said as he extended his hand out to Tomcat. “Ever since Earth vanished, haven’t I always been struggling on the borders of death? To me, it’s like an old friend… Buddy ol’ Pal, our work together will soon be ending. Thank you for taking care of me all this time.”

Tomcat went over and shook Tang Yue’s hand before hugging him tightly.

“It was my pleasure working with you, Tang Yue. Likewise with Miss Mai Dong. I had planned to say this when we were back on Earth… but now, we will all be dying.”

“No.” Tang Yue stroked Tomcat’s protruded furry ears. “The only one dying is me, not us.”

Tomcat was taken aback, confused as to what he meant.

Tang Yue pushed down on its shoulders and squatted down. He then looked deep into Tomcat’s eyes.

“Tomcat, leave this place! Take the solar panels. Take everything you need. Take the Mars Wanderer with you. Leave this place immediately! The faster you go, the better. The further you go, the better. The comet still has another forty days or so before it will hit Mars. The Wanderer can travel thirty kilometers a day. Forty days is enough for you to escape the comet’s impact! You still have a chance of surviving!”