Chapter 32: Burning Heaven -1

This is' Alibaba Night ', the source of all stories.

December 25th, 2045. The train, carrying white steam, is speeding through the canyon, with dark mountain shadows on both sides resembling giants squatting on the ground in the darkness of night. Ahead is a flat and open field, with a huge moon hanging at the end of the plain.

In the locomotive cabin, a man in a white military uniform pulled down the car window and let the intense cold air rush in. He took off his military cap and tucked it under his armpit, holding a pair of military binoculars and looking up at the night sky. A young man wearing a white military uniform, carrying the rank of lieutenant on his shoulders, entered through the connecting exit leading to the passenger cabin and walked behind him without making a sound.

The moon is so beautiful, just hold this and you can see the circular crater. Look at the shadow in the upper right corner of the moon now, that is the Storm Ocean, a famous lunar basin. It is the largest, with a center position about 30000 meters lower than the surrounding moon. "The man holding a telescope exclaimed," I used to dream of standing in the center of that basin wearing a spacesuit and looking at the surrounding mountains as if they were against the sky. That way, it should look like another world, right? It's very grand and ferocious

Colonel Hasimodo, do you still understand this? "Said the lieutenant.

I graduated from the Department of Astrophysics at Grenoble I University in France, and my aspiration was to become a radio astronomer. As a child, my personality was too introverted and communication with people was always difficult. I thought that if I could work with a telescope, it would be the most suitable for me. Moreover, the observation station is either built in the deep mountains or in the desert, which is relatively quiet. "The colonel put down the telescope," But later on, the war began, and no one needed astronomers anymore

He has a typical Asian face, with a pair of thick black eyebrows flying diagonally. He is already quite old, and the wrinkles at the bottom of his eyebrows extend all the way to the corners of his eyes. He handed the telescope to the young man and walked towards the locomotive's control panel.

Launch Mercury? GPS system. "He instructed the sergeant in charge of operating the locomotive.

Yes, Colonel. "The sergeant lifted the transparent plastic cover on the control panel and turned the black switch below.

The largest screen on the console slowly lit up, and after a quick self check, a green warning window popped up: "Please note that your following actions may result in access to military satellite networks. The system solemnly reminds you that any intrusion or attempted intrusion into military communication systems may violate relevant laws. Please confirm again before operating

The colonel took out a black magnetic card the size of a credit card from the pocket of his military uniform jacket. The back of the magnetic card was printed with an ancient pattern of hourglass and curved knife in matte finish. He pushed the card into the card slot and said, "French Secret Service, Northern Division, First Regiment, Colonel Hasimodo, confirm access again

Welcome, Colonel Hasimodo. "The system began loading navigation files and information at high speed," Mercury is currently in low Earth orbit above your head, providing navigation services

A large map of the Loire Valley region is displayed on the screen, with a highlighted green thin line straight ahead until it splits into two branches near the end of the screen, with one branch continuing in a north northeast direction. The bifurcation point is automatically highlighted, and the place name is displayed next to it - "Friandise Frantis".

We will choose the eastern route, right? "The colonel asked.

Yes, "the system replied. The simulated voice is clear and low, with a slight Nordic accent in English.

Where does it lead to

Fernandes

What is the distance to Fernandes

You must increase your user level to be informed of this information, "the system replied." However, I don't think you need to know that by following that fork in the road, you will only reach Fernans and not anywhere else

Thank you, I understand now

I'm glad to serve you. The global positioning navigation system will continue to serve you, but I have to leave for a while. There are still about 700000 commands waiting to be processed in my list. Good luck, Colonel Hasimodo, "the system replied politely.

It automatically closed, and in an instant, the dialogue window went black, leaving only the navigation system still working. The identity magnetic card was hit out of the card slot. The colonel grabbed it, looked at it, and stuffed it back into his jacket pocket.

The lieutenant walked over and said, 'Colonel, have you confirmed the route?'

Yes. There are still about 37,5 kilometers left, and we will enter the Flanders North Station, where we will find the fork in the road to Fernandes

The lieutenant glanced at his wristwatch and said, "The time is 20:26 now, and we have 54 minutes left until the assembly time. We hope to have enough time to arrive in Fernandes

Fernandes... Frantis... "The colonel fell silent for a moment and chuckled softly," I don't think anyone will wait to greet us at Frantis North Station

Hmm

My first girlfriend was from there, so I know where it is. Before the war, it was a small city mainly engaged in processing sugar products, with only one large sugar enterprise. Almost all the city people worked in that enterprise, including my girlfriend. She was an inspector who was sensitive to the sweetness of sugar, containing a little pure sugar diluted with 1000 parts of water. She could also distinguish where the sugarcane used for sugar refining came from. "The colonel lowered his head slightly, touched the brim of his hat, as if thinking about the past," It was a small city with a sweet smell in the air

Has it been destroyed already? "The lieutenant said after a moment of silence.

Yeah, it was swept away by the aftermath of the hydrogen bomb explosion, many buildings collapsed, everyone was polluted, and the longest living person was only two months. The sugar factory is gone, and that city has no meaning of existence. Now Flanders is a dead city. It's just that there is a freight railway passing through there, the one under our feet, which is still in operation, that's why this city hasn't been erased from the map, right? "The colonel whispered.

The two of them fell silent for a moment, both looking through the windshield at the vast plain ahead of the train. The wild grass was vast, and the low pressure of the high-speed train sucked up the withered and broken grass leaves and stems, hitting the double glazed windows on both sides. There is not a single bright light in sight.

Have you started signing the confidentiality agreement? Everyone needs to sign it, including you and me, "said the colonel.

We have already started according to orders, and officers with legal qualifications are being arranged behind to report this matter to you, "the lieutenant said." Everyone is a bit uneasy, there have been no special missions like this before. What is waiting for us in Fernandes? I think it's probably flowers, red wine, and beautiful girls, right

The lieutenant grinned and said, "The atmosphere is really oppressive when talking like this

I don't know either, "the colonel shook his head.

The mountain eagle is flying at high speed across the sky.

The output power of this armed helicopter is approaching the limit of the engine, and the strong updraft becomes turbulent and uneasy. The entire body is shaking, and the huge whistling sound makes passengers feel like they are in a cloud of lightning interwoven rain. The body appears extremely fragile in the buzzing and vibration, and may crack like torn paper in the next moment.

There was only one passenger, a man in a black windbreaker sitting in the center of the cabin, with tight lines on his cheeks and a cold gaze on the dashboard on the front console.

Please hurry up, I'm running out of time, "he ordered the crew.

We can't go any faster. If we encounter turbulent airflow here, we may be in danger. "The co pilot turned around and said," Doctor, do we need to open the protective cover for you

No need, hurry! Hurry up! Danger comes second, "the man whispered, his words quickly drowned out by the roaring hurricane outside the cabin.

Doctor, I can understand your feelings. It only took four hours to get here from the South China Sea, which is already the limit of human speed. However, I believe your arrival is of no use

As long as there is still a chance

No, there's not a chance at all

The man fell silent for a moment and said, "Runas, your precision and calmness make you sound like an annoying bastard. You should be grateful that you are a machine rather than a person, otherwise you will be beaten up by different people from childhood to adulthood

I have this self-awareness

The mournful alarm suddenly sounded, and a blood red light repeatedly swept through the cabin. The red circular markings on the landmines appeared one after another, quickly filling the entire screen.

Doctor, we have been locked by missiles! Many missiles! "The captain's voice was filled with nervousness.

Don't worry, if it's locked by our own missiles, it won't harm us; if it's locked by someone else's missiles, I don't think we can dodge with an armed helicopter. "The man remained calm," Runas, connect me to the advanced authorization channel controlled by the air defense system

As per your request, it is ready. Please enter your identity verification, otherwise you will enter the no fly zone in Fernan within 120 seconds and be shot down by anti-aircraft missiles

The man looked ahead with a serious expression and a clear voice: 'Voice input identification password, privileged prosecutor Nathan Mann, affiliated with L.M.A. Strategic Intelligence Department, access password JDSH?'? QSAN? DDFS? EOND? NM, Ground defense system, please grant clearance to this aircraft. "

Identity approved, password verified, voiceprint verified, "Runas replied after two seconds of silence." The ground-based defense system will remain silent on your landline

The high-risk alarm that was locked in was automatically lifted, and the dashboard, which had just been occupied by flashing red light, instantly returned to a calm dark green color. The global positioning system marked a clear high-intensity green route to guide them in the direction they were heading.

The captain finally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling the cold sweat slowly flowing down from the side of the military cap. He is also a senior military aircraft pilot, but he has never experienced the situation of being instantly locked by countless ground air defense weapons like just now. From his height, he can see clearly the vast and desolate land below. This is an area that has been cleared by weapons of mass destruction, peaceful and barbaric, like a prehistoric alluvial plain, without any artificial buildings visible. But when he looked at the land again at this moment, he felt that every inch of the ground was hidden with spear tips and arrows, reminiscent of the traps used by the indigenous Maori people of Australia hundreds of years ago to welcome colonizers, which were filled with sharpened bamboo branches.

He trembled for a moment, feeling like a beetle that had accidentally entered the yellow beehive.

Doctor, we have established wireless contact with Executive Judge Balji. Do you want to talk to him? "Said Runas.

Very good, please transfer me

The noise of radio interference comes from the amplifier, and the continuous noise is irritating and unsettling.

No one spoke, only the low roar of the engine could be heard through the loudspeaker, like the heavy breathing of a wild horse galloping.

The captain carefully turned his head and glanced at the man sitting there like a statue, with every wrinkle on his coat carved like a stone knife. He remained motionless, silently looking ahead. The only living thing on him was those silver gray eyes, shining uneasily, as if needles were hidden inside. The captain turned his head back, feeling very uncomfortable. When he looked into the man's eyes, he felt a needle prick in those eyes.

Nathan, is that you? "Whispered the person across the communication line.

It's me, Peng. I'm on a mountain eagle, and I'll be able to see Fernandes in twelve minutes. Where are you? "The man also whispered.

I still need two and a half hours, I only have one off-road Jeep here

The two of them fell silent again.

Nathan, I haven't been informed of the decision of the Supreme Council, "the person across the communication line broke the deadlock.

You understand the rules of L.M.A., orders are only given to those who execute them. As a privileged prosecutor, I am the executor of this case. You don't need to know too much. Turn the car back now and don't make the committee members unhappy. Peng, you are someone they value, don't let this matter affect their trust in you. "The man speaks expressionlessly.

Is it time to care about my future? I can guess what the committee's resolution is, what kind of thing you are doing, do you understand it or not? "The other party finally lost calm, and anger surged through his suppressed voice like a flood." They don't have enough intelligence to bear the consequences of this matter! They shouldn't be punished! "He took a deep breath." It's us who should be punished, we are blinded by our own dreams

The resolution was not made by me, but I expressed my support, "the man remained expressionless." Peng, if we were once blinded by dreams, then don't be blinded by impulses now. If we don't take decisive action, all our previous efforts will be in vain, and our achievements will be abused as weapons. It will be too late to remedy then

You are trying to cover up, trying to conceal, trying to erase all evidence from the map! "The other party was almost roaring," But why do those children have to bear this consequence for us? Nathan! Recall, those were also your children

They are indeed my children, but they are different from ordinary children. They are already weapons, and some people are trying to make them harm us in turn. They are our swords, with two sharp edges that, in turn, can cut off our wrists and even our heads

So let's take responsibility for our actions! Do we lack the courage

We lack, we don't have the courage. Peng, once again, the loss of any living being will reveal our secrets to the world, and this mistake will be magnified hundreds or thousands of times, "the man said humbly

But think about those children! Think about their faces! Think about them

That's enough! "The man suddenly shouted and cut off the other party." Executive Officer Peng Baoji! I am a soldier, and so are you. We have no choice but to execute orders. We ourselves are also a type of weapon, we just need to follow the arrangements of the messenger and fulfill our own obligations

Peng... "He seemed tired, leaning back in his seat and his voice softened." Don't take all the responsibility on your own shoulders. It's not you or me who made this decision. No matter what consequences this action may bring, it's not our responsibility as weapons

Excuse me! Just borrowing

The roar was swallowed up by the piercing noise, and suddenly countless tiny currents surged into the loudspeaker, making one's teeth ache.

The captain suddenly turned around and said, 'Doctor, we have lost all radio signals! There is strong electromagnetic interference here!'

The man sat there quietly, as if lost in thought.

Try other frequencies! Search all bands! "The captain turned to his deputy.

No need, they activated the radio shield and we entered this shielding circle. From now on, we have lost all contact with the outside world and switched to manual operation, "the man said, pausing for a moment." This also shows that we are very close to Fernandes

Fernandes... look at the city I built myself, "he whispered.

Note:

Mercury: In Roman, it refers to the divine envoy Mercury, which in Greek mythology corresponds to Hermes.

Hourglass and sickle: It is a common mythological symbol of the "Old Man of Time" in the West. He is an old man with a long beard and a staff. The hourglass represents time, while the sickle represents the irreversible cruelty of time passing by. The origin of this deity seems to be the second generation god Cronus in Greek mythology, who always appeared in the image of an old man with a long beard and a cane during the Roman period. He once castrated his father, the first generation god Uranus, with a sickle. Cronus is the father of the third generation god Zeus.

Loire Valley: One of the famous wine regions in France.

Friandise, meaning "sugar" and "dessert" in French, is a fictional city.