Reborn Before the Apocalypse: My Backing is the Nation

Chapter 107 Taking the First Step

After taking one last look at the deep, dark passage, the astronauts boarded an electric cart and returned to their camp, which was about 65 kilometers away in a straight line.

Camp renovation work then began.

The astronauts dismantled a large number of camp facilities, drastically reducing its area to only about 20 square meters.

An electric cart was also modified by the astronauts into a tricycle, making it easier for one person to drive and improving its maneuverability.

The astronauts categorized and stored various supplies in the camp for easy access. These supplies took up some space, leaving only a dozen square meters of usable space in the camp.

This area is clearly not enough for more than a dozen people. But that's okay, there won't be that many people left soon.

In the cramped and crowded camp, Tong Zheng quietly looked at his comrades-in-arms.

"We should go first."

Inside the camp, the temperature control equipment kept the temperature at a comfortable 26 degrees Celsius, and the air pressure was also stable enough.

Jiang Yang sat quietly in the chair, his head slightly lowered, not daring to look at the scene.

He was still wearing his spacesuit.

Tong Zheng's voice continued to reach his ears through the vibrations of the air: "We have completed all the exploration missions on the moon, and we are no longer needed."

Comrade Jiang Yang will continue to live on the moon for an extended period and will carry out the following two tasks:

First, memory. He needs a considerable amount of time to memorize all the images of what appear to be alien script that we obtained from that underground base, as well as the shape of the underground base and the forms of each building.

This is complicated and will take a long time.

Second, once Comrade Jiang Yang no longer needs that underground base as a source of evidence for his memories, he needs to detonate the hydrogen bomb to test whether it can destroy the underground base. After that, Comrade Jiang Yang will still need to continue surviving on the moon to observe whether the destruction of the base will trigger unpredictable changes, such as the arrival of an extraterrestrial civilization.

Our country has sent a lot of supplies to the moon, but if they are used to feed so many people, they can only last for a maximum of 7 more days.

Comrade Jiang Yang's mission is to survive on the moon for at least another 60 days.

so……"

His gaze swept across the faces of his companions: "We should go first."

Of course, not everyone will leave; one person needs to stay behind and, within seven days, teach Comrade Jiang Yang all the skills necessary to survive on the moon, such as basic satellite location, satellite signal connection and transmission, satellite control, basic base maintenance and repair, and spacesuit usage.

He took a soft breath: "Now, who stays?"

The astronauts remained silent, and Jiang Yang was silent as well.

The decision at this moment was made long ago, when the astronauts set off.

People remained silent; not a single person stood up and said, "I'll stay."

For the astronauts at this moment, staying behind does not mean the continuation of their lives, but rather means even greater torment.

He had to watch helplessly as his comrades died before his eyes, watch helplessly as his comrades left, and he had to survive under such torment and complete the task of teaching Jiang Yang with high quality and quantity.

"I... I ask myself if I have enough mental fortitude."

"My initial psychological assessment score was 97.6, which ranked in the lower middle."

Looking at his silent companions, Tong Zheng said in a deep voice, "Then, I'll stay."

He walked to where the spacesuits were hanging and carefully put them on.

The remaining 13 astronauts exchanged glances. Finally, Zhao Jianguo stepped forward and went to the control panel. Pressing that button would activate the vacuum pumps, creating a vacuum within the camp. Only Jiang Yang and Tong Zheng, both wearing spacesuits, would survive; everyone else would perish.

Their deaths had to take place within the camp, and they had to face death in this manner.

Because traumatic suicide methods can cause blood splattering and pollute the camp environment;
If Jiang Yang commits suicide by destroying his spacesuit outside the camp while wearing a spacesuit, it will reduce the number of spacesuits he can use in the future by one.
If a non-destructive method is used, such as removing the helmet to commit suicide, the stiffness of the body during the death process will prevent Jiang Yang from removing their spacesuits, resulting in the loss of a spacesuit.

Based on comprehensive judgment, the only way to minimize the impact on Jiang Yang is to commit suicide in a vacuum within the camp.

At the control panel, Zhao Jianguo growled, "Salute!"

The 13 astronauts who had decided to leave simultaneously raised their arms. Across from them, Tong Zheng and Jiang Yang, both wearing spacesuits, also solemnly raised their hands at the same time.

"The ceremony is complete!"
Lie down!
Be careful not to struggle or damage the camp facilities!

"understand!"

The 12 astronauts, who were already lying neatly on the ground, shouted in unison.

Zhao Jianguo decisively pressed the button, and amidst the hum of the air pump, quickly returned to the queue and lay down as well.

The sounds in the camp gradually faded away, and Jiang Yang knew that the air was being slowly drawn away.

Silently, the astronauts lying side by side in front of them lost their lives without any struggle or even any movement.

Tong Zheng solemnly walked towards the astronauts, checked them over, and looked at Jiang Yang: "They have already been sent away."

"it is good."

The camp cabin door opened, and Tong Zheng and Jiang Yang each carried a body out.

Tong Zheng gazed at the desolate and lifeless land on the moon and said, "Let's bury him somewhere far away."

Jiang Yang knew that Tong Zheng was worried that if the burial was too close, it would affect his future work performance.

After all, with more than a dozen corpses around, anyone would feel uneasy and restless.

But this moment is different.

Jiang Yang looked at Tong Zheng and said seriously, "Let's bury him in this cave, next to the camp."

I only feel at ease when you're all here.

At this moment, Jiang Yang suddenly recalled his childhood experience of visiting a martyrs' cemetery.

Ordinary cemeteries always feel gloomy. Martyrs' cemeteries are also cemeteries, but Jiang Yang always felt that they were sunny and bright, and being there made him feel inexplicably at ease.

Zhao Jianguo and his comrades are also martyrs and heroes. Even if ghosts didn't exist, they would only protect themselves.

Tong Zheng nodded and began to clear away the thick lunar dust. Then he carried out the astronauts' remains one by one, arranged them neatly on the ground, and covered them with lunar dust.

He deliberately left a small pit next to it, big enough for one person to lie down.

That was prepared for myself.

After completing these tasks, the two returned to camp, released the air, and removed their spacesuits.

"In seven days, I will teach you all the necessary skills to survive on the moon."

"Yes."

(End of this chapter)