Chapter 479 Countdown to Return

"The seventeenth heat insulation tile." Lin Jianguo placed the report in front of He Yuzhu, pointing to the data. He didn't say "loosened," but paused before speaking. "It's near the abdomen, not the most critical windward side, but the temperature can reach two thousand when it re-enters."

He Yuzhu didn't look at the report; he stared at the control console. "Just tell me, how big is the risk?"

Lin Jianguo licked his lips. "We ran the simulation a hundred times... and there were two crashes."

The control center fell silent. Ma Yuejin stood up from the corner, his unlit cigarette falling to the floor. Qian Zhiyuan stopped twirling his pen. Old Sun took off his headphones and placed them on the table.

He Yuzhu turned around, his back to everyone, and looked at the trajectory of the Kunlun on the big screen. After three seconds, he picked up the microphone. "Take over to the Kunlun. I'll speak."

Old Sun's finger hovered over the communication key. "Director He, should we get a psychologist first—"

"No need." He Yuzhu's tone was like a rusty knife. "My men, I'll say it myself."

Communication established. Tan Wei's voice came through the speaker, echoing from his spacesuit helmet. "Ground, Kunlun received."

"Kunlun, there's something to report from the ground. The test report for the return capsule's heat shield tiles is out. The seventeenth tile has loosened. Simulation results—it might crash twice out of a hundred times."

There was a few seconds of silence from the speaker. It wasn't deathly silent; you could hear someone taking a breath in the background.

Tan Wei's voice rang out, a little slower than before. "Ground, has the return plan been adjusted?"

"No. We'll return as planned. Do you have any objections?"

Silence fell again. This time, Wang Hao spoke first.

"Director He, this is Wang Hao. Two percent? That's lower than the probability of breaking your leg during a parachute jump in training. Weren't there three of you who fell that time?" His tone was as if he were discussing what to have for dinner.

Zhao Mingyuan chimed in, "Who was it that broke their leg that time? The one surnamed Sun?"

"Sun Jianguo," Wang Hao said, "didn't he later go to work for a government agency?"

A chuckle came through the communication channel. Tan Wei didn't laugh, but his voice softened. "On the ground, the entire Kunlun is in agreement. Return as planned."

He Yuzhu gripped the microphone, his knuckles turning white. "Kunlun, ground control received."

Wang Hao chimed in, "Director He, next time before you come up, make sure the insulation tiles are firmly glued on. Don't let them come loose again. I'm easily frightened."

"Make sure it's glued on firmly before you come up."

Zhao Mingyuan asked, "Director He, is tomorrow's breakfast ready?"

"All ready. Millet porridge, steamed buns, and pickled vegetables."

"That's great. I haven't had millet porridge in the three months I've been here."

Wang Hao's voice: "I want two steamed buns."

Yes, plenty.

Tan Wei spoke last. "Ground, Kunlun received. See you tomorrow."

He Yuzhu put down the microphone.

At one in the morning, he walked out of the control center alone. The night wind in the Gobi Desert was like a knife, cutting his face painfully. He turned up the collar of his military overcoat, leaving it unbuttoned. The empty launch pad was only illuminated by the spots of light cast by the lampposts. The stars overhead were dense, the handle of the Big Dipper pointing north.

Yang Xiaobing emerged from the shadows, his coat collar turned up, a document clutched in his hand. "The recovery force has already set off. It's snowing in Siziwang Banner, making the roads difficult to travel. Armored vehicles aren't afraid of the snow."

He Yuzhu took the document, flipped through it, and handed it back to him. "Go to the site and keep an eye on things tomorrow."

"Aren't you going?"

"I'm in control center. I'll go after they land."

Yang Xiaobing stuffed the documents into his briefcase. "Director He, two percent...you're really not afraid?"

He Yuzhu didn't answer. He pulled his coat tighter around himself and turned around. "Let's go. Go back and keep an eye on things."

The two walked back, their footsteps trailing behind each other, making a rustling sound across the Gobi Desert.

Inside the control center, Lin Jianguo was rehearsing the return procedure. Ma Yuejin was asleep in a corner, a cigarette dangling from his lips. Qian Zhiyuan stared at the data on the superconducting ring, not even looking up.

He Yuzhu sat back down at the command post. The clock on the wall struck 1:40 a.m.

Tan Wei's voice came through quantum communication, sounding much more relaxed than during the day. "Ground, Kunlun has entered return attitude. Braking engines preheating."

"receive."

"Ground, one minute countdown to return capsule separation."

The numbers on the big screen jumped. Fifty-nine, fifty-eight...

Braking ignition. The return capsule separates from the service module. The Kunlun spacecraft remains in orbit, while the return capsule, carrying seven astronauts, begins its descent.

"The return capsule is in a stable attitude. The temperature of the heat shield tiles is normal," the controller reported. The temperature of tile number seventeen was slightly higher than the ones next to it, but still within the safe range.

"Altitude 120 kilometers. Entering the blackout zone." The controller's voice was strained.

All that could be heard from the speakers was a hissing white noise.

Ma Yuejin woke up; his cigarette had fallen to the ground, but he didn't pick it up. Qian Zhiyuan put down his pen and looked at the screen. Lin Jianguo's hand rested on the edge of the table, his knuckles turning white.

Sixty seconds. Eighty seconds. One hundred seconds.

He Yuzhu's eyelid twitched.

One hundred and twenty seconds.

Tan Wei's voice boomed, "Ground, blackout! It's unbearably hot, the bulkheads are hot enough to bake pancakes!"

Lin Jianguo loosened his grip on the edge of the table, leaving fingernail marks in the wood.

"Altitude 10,000 meters. Descent parachute deployed. Main parachute normal." The controller's voice trembled.

"Altitude 5,000 meters. Wind speed in the landing area is 3 meters per second, wind direction is northwest."

"Altitude 1,000 meters. Recovery team visually inspects the target."

A muffled thud came from the loudspeaker. The return capsule had landed.

Ma Yuejin picked up the cigarette from the ground and snapped it in two. Qian Zhiyuan leaned back in his chair, his eyes closed. Lin Jianguo withdrew his hand from the edge of the table and wiped it on his trouser leg.

Tan Wei's voice came through, tinged with laughter. "We're home."

He Yuzhu held the microphone, his voice not loud. "Kunlun, ground control received. Welcome home."

"Director He, is the breakfast still warm?"

"Keep it warm. Millet porridge, steamed buns, and pickled vegetables."

"Okay. We'll wait."

He Yuzhu stood up and took his military overcoat off the wall.

He walked to the door, stopped, and didn't turn around.

"Lin Jianguo".

"arrive."

"Please put the Sky Shield Project proposal on my desk before I start work next Monday."

He opened the door, and the motion-activated light in the hallway turned on with a "click".

Lin Jianguo added, "What time do you start work?"

He Yuzhu ignored him. The door closed behind him.