The exploration ship was named the Apex, a medium-sized vessel that had undergone specialized modifications. It was equipped with advanced deep-sea detection equipment and carried two small submersibles specifically designed for deep-sea surveying.
The team consisted of twelve members. Aside from Captain Natalie, the other eleven were experienced Corporation elites. Some specialized in mecha piloting, others in medical rescue, and some in equipment maintenance and intelligence gathering. As for the equipment list, aside from standard weapons, protective gear, and surveying tools, there was nothing particularly noteworthy.
After reviewing all the data, Byrne turned off his optical computer and leaned back on the sofa, rubbing his aching temples. He then took the metal box out of his briefcase and examined it closely. Aventurine had said there was a Curio inside, which could only be opened upon reaching Lusaka and encountering an unsolvable problem.
Byrne tried shaking the metal box gently. There was no sound of anything shifting inside, as if it were empty, yet it felt heavy in his hand. The surface was smooth, with no visible openings or latches. He attempted to use his computer to scan and analyze the structure to find a way to open it. However, the result was a single line of text:
[Unknown material. Analysis failed.]
Fine, looks like I can't count on the computer.
The next day, at eight o'clock in the morning.
At Planet Nova's spaceport, a massive dome covered the entire area. Countless interstellar ships were lined up in neat rows, their silver-white hulls gleaming with a cold, hard luster under the sun.
Following the previous arrangement, Byrne arrived at Berth 7. A super starship was docked there. By visual estimation, it was more than twice the size of a hundred-thousand-ton aircraft carrier. This was a Sky-Vault class transport ship, which ranked among the top three in terms of carrying capacity in the Corporation's trade network.
He steadied his nerves, carrying his packed luggage as he walked toward the boarding ramp. A tall figure was already waiting at the entrance. It was a woman in a black combat suit. She was tall, with her blonde hair tied in a high ponytail, revealing a sharp, clean profile.
Seeing Byrne approach, she looked him over to confirm his identity before stepping forward. "Specialist Byrne, I am Natalie. Per Director Aventurine's instructions, I will coordinate with you to complete this mission."
Natalie's words were crisp and direct, without a hint of unnecessary politeness.
Byrne nodded. "Captain Natalie, I'll be troubling you and the rest of the team for the journey ahead."
"No need for pleasantries. I only care about results, not the process."
Natalie then led Byrne inside, providing a brief introduction as they walked. "For this mission, the Apex will hitch a ride on this Sky-Vault class transport to reach our destination, Lusaka. Half an hour ago, we completed the final routine check on the Apex. All systems are normal."
A few minutes later, after passing through three security gates, Byrne arrived at the hangar bay where the Apex was docked. Compared to the massive transport ship, the Apex looked much smaller. Its hull was painted dark grey, emblazoned with a silver lightning bolt pattern. Rather than a ship, the Apex felt more like a helicopter with its rotors removed.
"Don't let its size fool you. This exploration ship was specially modified by the Strategic Investment Department for both flight and sub-aquatic use. The hull is made of a high-pressure resistant alloy; it can easily dive to a depth of two thousand meters."
Byrne followed Natalie to tour the Apex and met the other crew members. Fifteen minutes later, he arrived at his private quarters. Although the space was small, it was fully equipped. A single bed was flush against the bulkhead, with a foldable table integrated into the headboard. The wall featured a portable washstand and storage compartments, and a mini hibernation life-support unit sat in the corner.
Byrne tossed his luggage onto the bed and walked to the porthole, looking out through the thick, transparent glass. In the spaceport, massive mechanical arms were methodically loading and unloading supplies. Countless workers moved back and forth, every process as precise as the gears of a clock. It was no exaggeration to say that such scenes played out daily across the various worlds under the Interastral Peace Corporation's rule.
After an unknown amount of time, a broadcast voice announced over the communicator that in ten minutes, the transport ship Great Chasm would depart the spaceport to join the silver rail. Ten minutes later, the engines of the Great Chasm ignited, pushing the colossal vessel slowly toward the spaceport exit. The ship accelerated, passing through the exit and entering the vast, boundless universe.
Once the hull was completely stabilized, the Great Chasm entered its cruising phase. Through the porthole, Byrne watched as Nova IV grew smaller, eventually shrinking into a blue-and-white speck of light.
Lusaka, the Sunken Sea... here I come.
Four hundred and eighty system hours later, the Great Chasm appeared at the edge of the Przesmyk star system. Byrne woke from hibernation. After a quick wash, he leaned against the porthole with a pouch of nutrients, eyeing their destination, Lusaka, in the distance. Seen from space, it looked as peaceful as a sleeping sapphire.
Just then, Byrne's optical computer received a message from Natalie. The Great Chasm had reached Lusaka's synchronous orbit; the Apex was about to detach and enter the atmosphere.
Fifteen minutes later, the Apex successfully separated and dove toward the azure planet. The slight vibration from atmospheric friction spread through the hull. The moment they pierced the cloud layer, a boundless ocean slammed into Byrne's field of vision.
Natalie stared at the console screen and spoke to the pilot, "Activate deep-sea radar. Search the sea area where we are about to land."
"Yes, Captain."
As the pilot entered commands, dense data scrolled rapidly across the screen. Before long, however, the pilot frowned. "Captain, the depth of the nearby waters is too great. Combined with interference from dissipated Stellaron energy, most of the detection signals are being blocked."
"What is the current detectable depth?"
"We can only stably scan down to about fifteen hundred meters. Any further down and the signal cuts out immediately."
Byrne looked through the observation window at the sea surface below, which was churning with pale gold undercurrents. For some reason, a trace of unease rose in his heart.
"Specialist Byrne, what do you think?"
Hearing Natalie's voice, Byrne turned back. "Even though Lusaka was deleted from the star charts by the Corporation a long time ago, the planet isn't completely dead. The materials Director Aventurine gave me mentioned that after the disaster, a small number of indigenous people survived."
Natalie rested her chin on her hand. "You mean, we should consult the locals?"
Byrne nodded. "Exactly. They have lived here for generations; they naturally understand Lusaka better than we do."
"Very well. We will land on the surface first, then begin a horizontal sea—"
Before Natalie could finish her sentence, the entire Apex shuddered violently. While steadying herself, Natalie immediately turned to the pilot. "What happened?"
The pilot's expression changed drastically. His fingers tapped the console at high speed as a string of red warnings flashed on the screen.
"This is bad, Captain! The ship's landing gear system has been destroyed!"