Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Yu Lian
"Forty minutes ago, the ’Keyhole’ II satellite just flew over, and our low-orbit satellite preemptively sprayed space graffiti,"
Inside the camp tent, Lin Ziming was exchanging information with Lin Li: "The satellites are mainly divided into three series, which are ’Keyhole’, ’Lacrosse’, and ’Ferret’. However, they are primarily responsible for the western and southern coastal areas, so Shencheng doesn’t have a particularly high priority.
Given that there have been previous instances of spraying space graffiti over the years, the message remains confidential for the moment, but it’s uncertain how long that will hold."
The so-called "space graffiti" technology involves using a low-orbit, high-speed attacking satellite to launch "paint mist" bombs towards a target satellite through precisely calculated orbits when in proximity.
These "paint mist" bombs contain polymeric, high-viscosity magnetoelectric materials that, once dispersed, adhere to the satellite’s lens, solar panels, electronic sensors, and other key equipment, causing temporary failure.
This is one of the more commonly used technologies at present.
In fact, whether it’s Lin Ziming or Lin Li,
They are both well aware, but they cannot delve into and know the details.
This kind of thing is a major taboo, not only in 2022 but also if you remove the last ’2’ and place it back in 202 AD, during the late Han dynasty.
If it were really revealed, the 202 would have to be doubled to become 404.
Ahem, back to the point.
The rabbits were not going to slow down their exploration of the alien world because of this.
In fact, upon seeing the lanthanide rare earth element content, which was not insignificant, in the soil sample analysis report returned by the Fire Squad.
A few rabbits’ eyes turned red on the spot, almost ready to grab shovels and rush to the alien world to start mining.
After finally calming down these members of the shoveling class, the rest of the rabbits gathered together for a discussion.
Since the first phase of the mission had been almost completed, they decided to try contacting the alien civilization.
Of course,
To say contact is actually a one-sided probe—after all, the rabbits are cautious.
Thus, among the supplies Lin Ziming brought back, there was that pile of various ancient costumes.
Lin Ziming casually picked up a coarse cloth robe from the pile of clothes:
"These are garments sourced from the Shencheng Drama Academy, including silk and cotton-linen materials, all treated with technical processes. This section has an aged appearance without tears, that part has been patched up, and further back, there are five or six holes, with the worst-looking ones on the right pile, which are only pieces of fabric besides showing a clothing shape."
Lin Li showed quite an interest in these clothes, cheerfully flipping through a few pieces.
After looking, he pointed at several sealed bottles and asked, "What are these?"
Lin Ziming picked up a sealed bottle and tossed it lightly: "These are ’filth’ formulated by the Shencheng Chemical Research Institute. The composition of this ’filth’ is harmless to humans but has an unbearably pungent smell, which can be applied to one’s face or clothes to make them look more like refugees."
Lin Li immediately broke out in a cold sweat: "... The base camp really thought of everything."
At this moment, Ma Ning, who was listening on the side, suddenly interjected: "Refugees? Is this the identity arranged for the scouts?"
Lin Ziming nodded: "The language system and currency system of the alien world are currently unknown to us—we don’t even know if this world has gold. In such circumstances, the safest way to probe is to masquerade as refugees with language barriers.
In previous drone footage, we noticed a large number of refugees. Among all known identities, refugees are the easiest to mimic."
Then he called out: "Squad Leader Yu, please come in."
At his words, a person walked in from outside the tent.
The newcomer had disheveled hair, was not tall, and had a slender build.
The clothes on this person had several holes, emitting a faint stench reminiscent of rotten eggs.
The smell was unpleasant.
But none of those present, including Wang Qiang, showed any disdain or disgust.
They knew very well that this was the base camp of the Fire Squad, deep in its heart, so it was impossible for there to be an outsider homeless person.
Lin Ziming pointed at the newcomer with a somewhat proud expression: "This is Comrade Yu Lian, an elite scout from our guard area who, during multinational military exercises a few years ago, was the first to locate the Gaul’s base camp, contributing greatly to our team’s ultimate victory.
In battlefield missions, he has also participated many times in significant strategic tasks, earning numerous merits, but unfortunately, due to confidentiality regulations, he has never been publicly commended.
This time, Comrade Yu Lian has taken the initiative to volunteer, hoping to infiltrate the target city as a mute refugee to conduct reconnaissance."
Upon hearing Lin Ziming’s introduction, those present looked at Yu Lian with several additional degrees of respect in their eyes.
This was a warrior who worked silently.
Lin Li, ignoring the foul smell emanating from Yu Lian, stepped forward to shake his hand: "Comrade Yu Lian, I salute you! Your task is very important this time, everything is entrusted to you!"
Yu Lian’s dark face was filled with determination as he saluted: "I guarantee to complete the mission!"
.....
Due to the lack of knowledge regarding the planetary trajectories of the alien world, satellite communication was temporarily ineffective.
So, to ensure that Yu Lian could communicate normally with the camp after entering the city, Shencheng specifically dispatched a five-member information engineering team to assist.
The task of this information engineering team was simple: to set up a high-frequency signal base station in a concealed location between the city and the camp, acting as an information bridge between both parties.
In addition, accompanying the information engineering team and stationed at the signal base were an infantry special operations squad equipped with advanced weaponry.
This infantry special operations squad had a strength of 50 people.
Apart from standard individual weapons, they also carried PF-97 93mm individual fuel-air rocket launchers and FHJ02 62mm rocket cluster rocket launchers.
In simple terms, this squad possessed strong assault capabilities.
Of course, this was just the rabbits’ backup plan.
Before the alien civilization exhibited hostility,
The main task of this special operations squad was to serve as a harmless mascot.
Two hours later, the external information engineering team sent back a message: the high-frequency directional signal base station had been completed, located about eight kilometers outside the target city.
At the same time as receiving the message, Yu Lian, with the anticipation of everyone at the camp, set off fully equipped.
Taking into account the travel distance, Lin Li arranged for a veteran driver from the motorcade, using drones to assist in navigating the way, to drive the newly transported Jeep and take Yu Lian to a mountain hollow about four kilometers from the city.
"Brother Yu, the rest of the journey is all up to you."
The driver parked the car in the hiding spot in the mountain hollow and pointed in a direction: "Follow this road straight for a few hundred meters, pass through a forest, and you’ll reach a main road; continue straight for about three kilometers, and you’ll see the city gate... I’m just an old soldier and can’t speak finely, so I just wish you a safe journey."
"Thanks, I’ll treat you to a drink when we’re back."
Yu Lian nimbly jumped off the car, checked the miniature earpiece tucked inside his headscarf, and the pinhole camera in the collar.
Once he confirmed the equipment signals were normal, he gestured to the driver.
Turning around, he hunched his shoulders and stealthily headed towards the city.
Watching Yu Lian’s receding figure, the driver saluted from afar.
This man, who had once made great achievements on the secret battlefront yet remained unknown, was now, yet again, stepping forward without hesitation, on the map of the alien world.
A faint glimmer of light, meant to illuminate the future path of the giant behind him.