After six months of low-Earth orbit trials on Mars, the equipment was validated and the crew was trained. During this period, a large number of personnel rotated onboard for service and evaluation. The upcoming Saturn orbit voyage involves a long period of deep space, demanding high levels of professional and psychological competence from the crew.
Arriving at the bridge in the morning, Lübeck listened to a briefing and personally reviewed the operational data of the mothership's departure from low-Earth orbit on Mars. Over the next few days, the San Jacinto will orbit Mars, gradually decreasing its altitude, and finally land at the portal dock at Hermès Base in Corpraça Canyon, awaiting final deployment.
Correspondingly, to prepare for the upcoming high-precision docking, sensors are being tested and calibrated, and the control system is being validated. Simultaneously, as the last line of defense, collision damage control drills are underway at various posts. As captain, Lübeck not only remotely observed the drills but also personally watched the collision damage control drills in the side hangar and lower deck engine room. Success or failure hinges on the details; he needs to understand the team's actual execution capabilities and the morale of the sailors. However, the most significant effect of the captain's personal presence was the increased morale of the young men and women. They took their duties more seriously, demonstrating clear thinking and issuing commands, quick positioning and teamwork in handling system malfunctions according to procedures. These young people showcased their responsibility and talent through their strength and perseverance.
After lunch today, Lübeck led Brittany to a passageway with portholes on the side. He knew that from this position on the ship at this time, they could see the Martian sunset. He said nothing, simply gazing quietly at Brittany's face as she stood by the window.
At this distance on Mars, the sun appears as a tiny point of light, minuscule and devoid of warmth, a pale, deathly white, illuminating the edges of Mars' thin atmosphere while simultaneously casting long shadows across the Martian plains and canyons.
The San Jacinto spacecraft was moving much faster than the Martian equatorial surface speed, and soon she was positioned directly in the sun's tangent. The pale sunlight pierced the atmosphere, casting a low-saturation, pale blue halo.
"Is it sunset?" Brittany asked, watching.
"Yes,"
"It looks like the moon tonight, only not bright enough."
"Yes, much smaller than the moon." Brittany turned to Lübeck and said softly,
"The color of this sky reminds me of my childhood, of childhood nights when my parents always argued, and I would hide from them, watching the moon alone in the yard," she paused, brushed a strand of hair from her temple, then looked up at Lübeck and continued,
"If only you were here then,"
"You have me now," Lübeck said, pulling her into his arms.
Brittany rested her cheek on Lübeck's shoulder, turning back to watch the Martian sunset. Soon, that tiny white speck disappeared into the gray-blue Martian atmosphere, then gathered its last touch of romantic blue and vanished below the horizon.
Gazing at the pitch-black night outside the window, Brittany still couldn't tear her gaze away. Even the silent embrace of the darkness seemed better than the argumentative, reprimanding interior of her home. Let this belated embrace warm her younger self; let her grown-up self preserve this moment of warmth and offer it to her younger, helpless self.
Lübeck held Brittany in his arms without moving or speaking. He didn't know what she was thinking or feeling. Her fixed gaze and silent heart were too precious to disturb. He could only immerse himself in the atmosphere, feeling the warmth of each other's presence.
They parted reluctantly during their walk. Both had their own duties. Lübeck needed to maintain his feel for the mothership's manual control, so even as captain, he had to periodically operate the ship. This afternoon and evening were his piloting hours—gradually decelerating, lowering the orbital altitude, and feeling the ship's attitude feedback through manual control. After hours of continuous piloting on the bridge, he had witnessed several Martian sunrises and sunsets. Even his dinner was a working meal eaten on the bridge. From the plasma propulsion main engine's thrust to attitude control, navigation data and trajectory verification, and anti-gravity engine power output adjustment, he had familiarized himself with or checked every step. Only when he felt everything was in order did he hand over the controls back to the bridge crew and return to rest.
Back in his room, Brittany was already asleep, but for some reason, she had left the ambient lighting on in the bedroom. Standing in the shower, Lübeck saw her turn over in bed. Thinking he might be making too much noise, he adjusted the water flow to a slant, spraying it all over himself instead of dripping onto the floor.
Lübeck lay on his back in bed, relaxing after a long day. However, he felt a slight regret that he hadn't been able to say goodnight to Brittany tonight. So he turned around and lay down beside her. In the dim light, her chest rose and fell gently with her breath. Lübeck ran his fingers through her hair, not wanting to disturb her, yet wanting to touch her. Although she was so close, the distance between them felt so vast. The cry of his heart was drowned out by the separation from her. At that moment, Brittany turned her head toward Lübeck and hummed in response. Lübeck thought he had woken her, but no, her breathing remained still, as if she were asleep.
"No, no," a muffled, soft voice escaped her throat.
"No," she turned her head to the other side, her arm twitching.
Lübeck then realized she was dreaming, wondering what she had encountered in her dream.
After a brief moment of calm, her breathing became rapid, and she began to mutter again,
"No, no, no,"71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLm9hp7RJa
Lübeck quickly sat up and gently shook her shoulders.
"Bree, wake up, Brie, wake up," he said, gradually increasing the pressure.
"Ah," she opened her eyes, looking at Lübeck in front of her.
"Did you have a nightmare?"
"Yes," Lübeck touched her forehead; she didn't have a fever, but she was sweating profusely, perhaps from the nightmare. He touched her hands; they were cold. He touched her feet with his own; they were damp and cold.
So he pulled a blanket over her, then held her hand in his and pressed his foot against hers.
"It was just a dream, it's all over," Lübeck comforted her, warming her.
"Yes, it's all over," Brittany repeated Lübeck's words almost mechanically, perhaps still dazed from the dream. But after saying that, she turned her back to Lübeck, regaining her composure on her own.
Lübeck didn't press her, but simply held her hand gently from behind, put his arm around her waist, and offered her comfort.
...
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