The information brought back by the reconnaissance team was immediately reported to the core layer, and after some discussion in the core layer, new orders were quickly issued to the Shencheng main base:
The Shencheng command immediately organized a brand new exploration task force to conduct a comprehensive second exploration of the area behind the light gate.
Less than half an hour after receiving the instructions from the capital, Chang Qixiang handed a list to Qin Zhendong:
"Boss Qin, the members for the second exploration have been assembled. The second exploration team, codenamed ’Fire Squad,’ will be led by Comrade Lin Li, the director of the Shencheng Plant Research Institute and an academician of the Huaxia Academy of Sciences, with Comrade Zeng Gu Cheng, the director of the Shencheng Physics Research Institute, as the deputy leader.
The team comprises eighty-nine people, all of whom will wear protective suits and, apart from the team leader and deputy leader, will be divided into the following groups:
An eight-member sampling group led by Dr. Wang Qiang of the Shencheng Plant Biology Laboratory, responsible for sampling and analyzing the soil, air, and water sources from the region beyond the light gate. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ NoveI★Fire.net
A seven-member medical group led by Bao Xin, the director of the Shencheng First People’s Hospital, responsible for blood and pathological analysis of biological samples from beyond the light gate, and providing medical support for the Fire Squad.
A fourteen-member survey group jointly formed by the Shencheng Physics Research Institute and the Shencheng Geography Research Institute, led by Dr. Zhuo Yuanxin from the Physics Research Institute, responsible for surveying geographic indicators and physical constants beyond the light gate.
Two linguists and sign language specialists from Shencheng University’s Applied Linguistics Department to prepare for potential contact with higher life forms.
Although it is very likely that the language behind the light gate is different from that on Earth, these individuals, being experienced professionals in related fields, might still be of some help, better to be prepared than not.
A six-member communications group, given that the recording equipment of the earlier advance team successfully recorded images beyond the gate, the communications team is equipped with electronic search dogs, military drones, and other exploration equipment to test if radio equipment can function normally beyond the light gate.
Additionally, fifty elite warriors will accompany the team, each equipped with standard individual weapons and ammunition. To prevent the failure of firearms after crossing through the light gate, each warrior is also equipped with cold weapons such as machetes.
At the same time, these warriors will also set up a temporary camp with some impact resistance. If everything is normal, this will serve as our command hub beyond the light gate, responsible for the transmission and exchange of information with the Shencheng base camp.
So that is the personnel configuration and duties of the Fire Squad exploration team, please give your instructions, Boss Qin."
Qin Zhendong took the list, carefully read it, and commended, "You did very well, I have no objections, execute according to this list."
Chang Qixiang’s expression became solemn: "Received, I will notify the team to depart immediately."
3:00 AM on July 17, 2022.
The 89-member Fire Squad exploration team was officially assembled.
3:15 AM on July 17, 2022.
Under the leadership of Academician Lin Li, the entire Fire Squad exploration team crossed through the light gate.
As the Fire Squad crossed through the light gate.
Inside the temporary command center, several screens instantly turned gray.
"Boss Qin, neutrino communication has also failed. This is currently the most penetrative method of communication, and even devices connected via wired optical cables have lost signal," shook his head as one of the unit’s leaders spoke to Qin Zhendong, "At least without technical updates, signals cannot be transmitted synchronously inside and outside the light gate, now we can only hope for the other side of the gate. Hopefully, the communication equipment can function normally like the recording devices did....."
Qin Zhendong watched the last explorer walk into the light gate on the screen, his expression somewhat complex: "Let’s hope so."
On the other side, behind the light gate.
The first to cross through the light gate was the special operations team led by Colonel Lin Ziming from the logistics branch—a group comprising the fifty warriors accompanying the team.
Lin Ziming, 37 years old, possesses a standard square face, tall yet not bulky, and appears to be the type of loyal warrior who would never betray, even in times of special adversity.
There’s no need to mention his sense of mission; otherwise, this responsibility wouldn’t fall upon him.
As a science fiction enthusiast, Lin Ziming often enjoyed reading sci-fi novels, so he always assumed that the process of ’crossing over’ the light gate would be arduous—
Perhaps it would squeeze one’s body like a compressor (with even internal organs shifting), or at the very least, spin you around a hundred times like a drum washing machine.
Then, disoriented, you’d land heavily, then rise only to vomit profusely like a pregnant woman, and once regaining your senses, the first thing you’d do in the alien world is to pull out a plastic bag to clean up the mess...
But contrary to his expectations, the ’crossing’ process wasn’t as complex as he imagined:
A flash of blinding light passed, and he found himself in a valley.
Truthfully, the earlier advance team did report the ’procedure’ of crossing.
Unfortunately, orders came down in a rush, and there was a lot to hand over.
Such insignificant matters naturally were known only to the team leader, Lin Li.
After a brief moment of surprise, Lin Ziming quickly regained his focus due to his exceptional military discipline.
He glanced around his surroundings, then at the three suns in the sky, and shouted to the other warriors:
"Everyone, form groups of three, maintain a fifty-meter alert! Reconnaissance communications team assemble and stand by, await further instructions from the team leader!"
After issuing these commands, Lin Ziming removed an automatic rifle from his back and attached a suppressor—this was an order from the Shencheng command before the departure, then aimed at a wooden stake and pulled the trigger.
After the shooting, Lin Ziming quickly approached the wooden stake.
There appeared seven or eight bullet holes on the surface of the wooden stake, and light shone through the holes—the bullets had penetrated the solid wooden stake.
Lin Ziming then removed the suppressor and took off the sleeve outside the barrel, placing his finger on the barrel and lightly feeling it.
After firing several shots, the barrel was slightly warm.
The warmth indicated that the rifling was intact, and bullets maintained their kinetic energy in this world!
Whether weapons requiring radar or algorithm assistance are usable will require the survey team to measure physical constants to draw conclusions.
But regardless, conventional firearms can at least be used beyond the light gate.
Undoubtedly, this is tremendous news.
Bear in mind, the limits of the world beyond the light gate are unknown and cannot be controlled by the expedition team.
But the usability of firearms establishes a lower bound for our side.
In most situations, an automatic rifle is much more useful than a machete.
While testing the firearms, the Fire Squad’s scientific researchers also successively crossed through the light gate.
After slightly adjusting to the valley environment, Lin Li immediately saw Lin Ziming holding an automatic rifle and quickly walked over: "Colonel Lin, how is it? Can firearms be used?"
"Academician Lin," Lin Ziming greeted his fellow family member and pointed to the bullet holes on the tree stump: "Look, these are the bullet holes after firing; the automatic rifle can fire normally."
Lin Li was overjoyed: "Really? That’s excellent news; having firearms gives me much more peace of mind. By the way, Colonel Lin, everyone is in position now; let the group leaders meet."