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Chapter 779: Flying to Mars Again
🕑 Added 2023-10-28 11:11:03 +0000 UTCTransformers Begin : Table of Content/Chapter List
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After setting the transaction time with Optimus Prime, Sun Cheng didn't linger much with Forerunner and quickly departed.
He wasn't sure whether Sentinel Prime had been awakened yet, so any further delay was fraught with certain risks.
The Superior General, who was intensely hostile towards the Decepticons, possessed a combat power that even Megatron found terrifying.
This figure, during the Cybertron Civil War, had once single-handedly suppressed several Decepticon leaders for a long time and was hailed by the Autobots as the strongest existence beneath the Thirteen Primes. Clearly, he was not someone the current Sun Cheng could contend with.
As for how much Optimus Prime believed him, he didn't care.
Sun Cheng had no expectations that Optimus Prime would fully trust him, caught between his former mentor and a Decepticon traitor.
However, as long as doubts began to form in his mind, it was enough. It would prevent Optimus Prime from being completely unresponsive when Sentinel Prime caused trouble in the future.
Instead of heading straight back to Terindad Island, Sun Cheng and Forerunner parted ways in the skies over the South Atlantic Ocean.
Forerunner, now possessing the strength of Elite Warriors, would continue to be stationed on Terindad Island.
He had already gained ample experience, so Sun Cheng believed Forerunner could handle everything from rebuilding Terindad Island to managing and protecting the Black Market.
As for himself, he went straight back to Base Two.
Before the Black Market was invaded, Sun Cheng had realized that Earth was no longer safe and that Base Two might have been exposed.
The invasion of Terindad Island by Starscream's Vehicons Legion only strengthened this belief.
Sensing the imminent threat, Sun Cheng had decided to invest more in the Mars base.
He needed to travel to Mars again, not only to transport a large amount of supplies but also to send a batch of Decepticon technicians, and Engineers—all put into hibernation and transported via Spherical Space.
Upon conceiving this plan, Sun Cheng had already notified Base Two to begin selecting volunteers for Mars.
The environment and conditions there were undoubtedly much poorer compared to the now well-established Base Two.
The Engineers and technicians, being of lower status, didn't receive much consideration from Sun Cheng regarding their willingness. Essentially, the base arranged the list, and he was prepared to send two hundred Engineers and technicians and fifty Decepticon soldiers to Mars in one go.
However, for the Decepticon engineers and senior engineers, he had to give some regard to these subordinates who had followed him for years.
Initially, Sun Cheng allowed them to volunteer or recommend others for Mars based on their preferences.
He proposed ten slots, and only if his Decepticon engineers and senior engineers didn't volunteer enough would he personally select to fill the quota.
Having been notified in advance, everything was ready when Sun Cheng returned to Base Two.
"Master, everything has been prepared as per your instructions, from personnel to supplies. The Hope-class has completed its checks, and energy levels are replenished," reported one of his subordinates.
Nodding, Sun Cheng issued his command, "Have them assemble and begin hibernation!"
He connected to Base Two's Central Main Control AI and immediately noticed on the list provided by Teletraan that none of the senior Decepticon engineers assigned to Mars this time were present. Only two of the regular engineers had been with him for over a year, with the rest being newly promoted Decepticon engineers.
He wasn't disappointed with this list.
Decepticons, like humans, had their desires and greed.
The current situation on Mars was full of uncertainties, and due to the newly established New Base, conditions there were even worse than on Earth.
Although Decepticons could survive for long periods within the Universe and in various harsh environments, it didn't mean they enjoyed staying on Mars, with its thin atmosphere and frequent harsh conditions.
"I hope you won't regret this in the future!"
The knowledge held by the newly promoted Decepticon engineers wasn't much inferior to that of the veteran Decepticons; the main difference lay in experience and unique personal research insights.
Therefore, Sun Cheng wasn't displeased that only two veteran Decepticons were willing to go to Mars.
However, the future in-charge of the Mars base would certainly be chosen primarily from the Decepticons sent in the first few batches to build the Mars base.
Moreover, if unrest really broke out on Earth, the future safety of Base Two couldn't compare to Mars.
Sun Cheng also knew that some self-important Decepticon engineers under his command would regret their choice today.
The transaction time agreed upon with Optimus Prime was one month later.
Preparing materials and equipment required time, and extracting energy from the [Leadership Module] on the Autobot side also took time.
Therefore, Sun Cheng decided to use this period for a trip to Mars.
At his command, Base Two sprang into action.
Volunteers and those chosen by the base, including Decepticon engineers, Engineers, technicians, and several dozen Decepticon soldiers, all fell into hibernation with the help of the Doctors.
The Spherical Space was Sun Cheng's biggest secret. He had conducted private experiments in the past, confirming that it could hold living animals and Mini Decepticons.
This discovery was both a joy and a concern. But since then, Sun Cheng had become even more cautious.
Even when he had to put Skyfire and other Decepticons into the Spherical Space, he made sure they were in hibernation before temporarily placing them inside.
In the massive warehouse, rows of containers of varying heights and sizes were neatly arranged.
Sun Cheng quickly loaded these containers into the Spherical Space. For this journey to Mars, he would be alone in the spaceship.
After the Hope-class's experimental voyage to Mars, his Decepticon engineers, using various data collected during the journey, had performed several maintenance and modifications on the spaceship.
Now, the Hope-class was faster, and its stability and performance had improved.
Sitting in the cockpit, Sun Cheng immediately communicated with the pseudo-Artificial Intelligence onboard.
"Hope-class, activate optical stealth... Target Mars... Precise coordinates have been inputted, ready to depart..."
"Command accepted, propulsion system activated... Optical stealth engaged..."
With its optical stealth activated, the Hope-class experimental spaceship seemed enveloped in a wave of water.
Though the engine's four cooling tail flames couldn't be entirely hidden, the optical stealth could still mask most of Earth's detection devices.
Soon, following a pre-calculated trajectory, the spaceship launched from a pad at Base Two. It rapidly escaped Earth's gravity and set course for Mars.
Thus, Sun Cheng began his second journey to Mars.
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Next Chapter >>Chapter 780: New Discoveries on Mars
