I Have A Super USB Drive

by <unknown>

  Everyone agreed with the solution Zhou Xiong proposed. Before long, each of the major continent groups had selected their candidate for their first expedition.

  When it came to selecting a candidate from the team of four researchers representing Blacklight Biotechnology, Zhou Xiong as the captain could not head out since he had to be responsible for addressing whatever issues that came up. In the end, he handed the task to a blond-haired young man in the team.

  This young biology specialist went by the name, Hannibal Caesar.

  This was the young man who had been following Chen Chen since the day that Eco Science City was founded. After all these years had passed, he had become a respectable savant in the biology field. He was also one of the professor rank members in God's Forbidden Zone and had one of the highest levels of authority in Blacklight Biotechnology.

  It was Hannibal himself who volunteered for the Mars expedition. He had done so because he always dreamt of interstellar travel and everything he had done was to lead up to this moment. Since the failure rate of this expedition was minuscule, Chen Chen decided to assign Hannibal to the Ares and granted him the opportunity to become the first batch of scientists arriving on Mars.

  Hannibal did not gather around and mingle like the rest of the scientists. Instead, he went to the Ares laboratory and found a specific metal can stash among a row of other metal cans on a biological supply rack.

  The contents of this metal could be the protoplast of a special plant - the "tardigrade moss".

  The tardigrade moss was a subclass of genetically modified mosses of the Euphorbiaceae family. Its body was derived from a class of moss named "Physcomitrella Patens".

  Since the DNA structure of moss allowed for easy reconstruction, it was relatively easy to partially replace its genes to produce desirable compounds and did so in large quantities. Therefore, at the request of Chen Chen, Hannibal went through the effort of cultivating stems of this "tardigrade moss".

  This was an overview of the procedures Hannibal went through to recreate it: Hannibal used elements of the tardigrade gene to transform "Physcomitrella Patens" which was a collection of earthmoss. It was worth noting that tardigrades were the most resilient living being in the earth's biosphere.

  It could withstand pressure six times that of the water pressure in the deepest seafloor. It could also withstand hundreds of times the lethal dose of radiation exposure for humans. Furthermore, it could survive in temperature conditions bordering absolute zero. There had been many instances of experiments exposing a batch of tardigrades in a vacuum space with temperature close to absolute zero for more than ten days. By the end of these experiments, a majority of the tardigrades survived.

  The secret trick the tardigrades used was "cryptobiosis", which was a process of slowing down its metabolism to such a slow crawl it became nearly completely halted. Upon entering this dormant state, its body water content could drop to less than three percent which would be the threshold of what was considered common dehydration. However, once it was exposed to water again, it would regenerate its life force and "reborn" like a phoenix rising from the ashes.

  Hannibal took advantage of the black goo's characteristics to strengthen the tardigrades. After a series of enhancements, the product was a monster the thickness of a human finger and entirely covered in a shell of hard chitin.

  This mutated tardigrade was extremely adaptable to a wide range of conditions. It could survive for three to five years without access to food or water. It could survive in harsh boiling water just as well as it could withstand low temperatures close to absolute zero. Even when put in vacuum spaces, it merely entered cryptobiosis for as long as needed until the environment became sustainable again.

  The tardigrade could survive for centuries in this cryptobiosis state.

  After Hannibal had cultivated a desirable variant of tardigrade, he extracted its gene and grafted them onto the gene of the "Physcomitrella Patens". Although this variant of genetically modified moss was not able to achieve the metamorphosis ability as the tardigrades did, it was just as resilient and could thrive, even grew in conditions below negative hundred degrees celsius. Its life span was also longer than any of its Earth contemporaries.

  Based on the lab simulation conducted, there was a significant chance that this moss known as the tardigrade moss could survive in the harsh condition presented on mars. It was very likely that it could evolve into a special breed of moss plant on Mars.

  One element that the Mars atmosphere had no short supply of was carbon dioxide. After this tardigrade moss was genetically enhanced, it was now able to survive in any harsh climate and only needed a minuscule amount of water for sustenance. If this plant could be incorporated into the Mars environment, there was a strong likelihood of reshaping the Mars atmosphere.

  As the tardigrade moss continued to intake carbon dioxide and output oxygen, the atmospheric layer on Mars would slowly become strengthened and thickened. What would follow after that would be a gradual increase in temperature. Then, the buildup of carbon dioxide under the surface of Mars would evaporate, generating into a greenhouse effect...

  After the temperature on Mars had reached a desirable level, the planet would allow for the habitation of a larger variety of plantations. To a certain point, even animals may be able to migrate to the planet. This positive feedback loop would continue on and on to make Mars a habitable planet.

  However, it was always easier said than done. There was still a significant amount of progress that needed to be made before achieving all of these visions. It was now merely the beginning.

  After obtaining the can of moss, Hannibal followed the designated crew for the expedition to the isolation cabin in the Ares. Spirits were high among the crew members and some of them were even competing and making bets to see which one of them would be the first to exit Ares and became the first human in history to set foot on Mars.

  Chapter 507: Life on Mars |

  Several days later, on the South Pole of Mars.

  The rovers were dragging what seemed to be a drilling device behind them as they advanced through the snow-coated ground.

  Trailing further behind the rovers were five scientists fully clad in protective suits. They chatted amiably as they followed after the rover. In the background, a dome-shaped structure had been erected.

  The height and circumference of this new structure were larger than the Ares spacecraft. It was built using numerous slabs of steel plates. Each steel plate had identical measurements so they were easily replaceable if any damaged section was detected.

  The collection of more than thousands of steel plate building blocks came together to form the shape of a steel dome structure. The topmost section of the structure was substituted with glass instead to give the dome a transparent crown.

  This building constructed by the fleet of XTN engineering robots would serve as the research station for the Mars expedition team from here on.

  A miniaturized inertial fusion reactor was installed in the research station, which would be providing the station with sufficient electricity for more than a decade to come. The interior was divided into three floors. There was a large open garden in the center section of the dome that stretched from the base of the dome to its ceiling. The garden was filled with sustainable plants transported from Earth. During the mornings, the daylight would shine through the glass crown of the dome, achieving a greenhouse effect which allowed the plants to perform photosynthesis.

  It was not so much a research station at this point and was closer to a mini eco-garden.

  The research station was surrounded by a ring of commodities which included the living quarters for the scientists, the canteen, conference rooms, warehouse, and various laboratories. The total surface area of the living space came to roughly five thousand square meters which were more than enough for the crew of scientists to partake in their usual day-to-day activities as well as work.

  Meanwhile, a drill well was being installed in a loc
ation roughly a kilometer away from the research station. It was the cape of a weaker part of the ice shelf that was recently identified during an expedition. The drill well was being set up by several XTN engineering robots that were preparing to officially commence the drilling operation.

  The five scientists stood at the side and watched as the drill head slowly bore itself into the ice shelf.

  Ten meters.

  Twenty meters.

  Fifty meters.

  Hundred meters...

  The drill continued rooting itself deeper underground until several hours later when a gentle beep was heard. The scientists present were delighted to see the indicator light on the control panel of the drill well suddenly flickering with green light.

  This indicated that the drill head had successfully drilled itself into the designated location.

  One of the scientists stepped toward the mounted display next to one of the XTN engineering robots. The display was a live feed of the cameras mounted on the drill. It was an open space containing a pool of water that was reflecting the light that came from the surface.

  "Found it, it's an underground lake!"

  The scientist cried out with excitement. He took out the walkie-talkie strapped to his waist and announced loudly, "Drilling crew reporting to headquarters. We found an underground lake. I repeat, we found an underground lake!"

  While the drilling crew was passionately celebrating the success of their operation, Hannibal was occupied with his task inside one of the laboratories in the research station. He was dressed in a protective suit and was in the middle of taking out blocks of snow samples and inspecting them under a microscope.

  This went on for some time. Despite his best efforts, he was unable to detect any signs of microorganisms apart from the occasional crystal and iron particles.

  "Are there no life forms on Mars?"

  Hannibal stretched his neck and frowned as he muttered to himself. It was then when the laboratory door suddenly opened with a short beep.

  Another man dressed similarly in a protective suit stepped inside. This new visitor appeared to be in good spirits and was carrying a rack of test tubes. There were three test tubes mounted to the rack, each one of them filled with an unidentifiable, transparent liquid.

  The new visitor went to Hannibal as soon as he entered the laboratory. "Hannibal, check this out!"

  "What's this?"

  Hannibal asked curiously.

  "These are samples of lake water several hundred meters below the ice shelf. It was only extracted by the drilling team just now."

  The fellow scientist said as he placed the test tubes into another rack.

  "We've reached an underground lake?"

  Hannibal's eyebrows shot up as he asked.

  "Haven't you heard about it?"

  The other scientist only chuckled. "That makes sense, all you do is stay cooped up inside this laboratory, you're missing out on the natural glory of Mars. Half an hour ago, the drilling team discovered a sizable open space several hundred meters below the ice shelf. This space was filled with carbon dioxide and there was an approximately zero degree underground lake in its bottom. Do you have any idea what this could mean?"

  "Water underground, close to zero degrees Celcius... This suggests the possibility of life forms in the underground lake..."

  Hannibal quickly realized its implications. He took a look at the three test tubes and reached for them immediately. First, he placed one of the test tubes into a biosafety cabinet, then he trickled the contents of the test tube into a petri dish through the gloves fitted into the cabinet.

  After that, he placed the petri dish underneath a microscope and proceeded to inspect it.

  "So? Any findings?"

  There was a faint tremble in the other scientist's voice as he watched Hannibal performing quick and familiar sequences of laboratory procedures. If signs of life were detected in the lake, it would be a defining moment in the history of mankind. Each one of their names, whether it was Hannibal, the members of the drill crew or the pilot would have their names etched into history books...

  Hannibal had no time to respond to these strings of questions and remained focused on the task at hand. His attention was fixed on the microscope that was fixed on the liquid sample. What he saw through the microscope was what seemed like a foreign world...

  "Hannibal?"

  The other scientist prodded again.

  Hannibal finally looked away from the microscope and nodded to himself as if to assure himself of his findings. "Call the captain and the rest of the crew as well. We have a major discovery..."

  Half an hour later.

  All sixteen scientists gathered in a meeting room inside the research station.

  They did not conduct the meeting in the Ares because most of the equipment and whatever supplies were left in the spaceship had been moved out of and relocated into the research station. Very soon, the Ares would be delivering a large amount of soil, water, air, and various minerals samples on Mars back to Earth.

  "I'm sure most of you have an idea what I've gathered everyone here for."

  The captain of the Ares, Zhou Xiong, started without any further delay. He stood up and turned to Hannibal. "Hannibal, why don't you tell everyone your findings, I'm sure many of us are very eager to find out at this point."

  "Alright."

  Hannibal nodded and stepped to the front. A large display immediately appeared behind him. The image shown on the display was a pattern consisting of numerous collections of small black dots.

  "This is the underwater microorganism discovered inside the underground water extracted from the drilling well."

  Hannibal explained discreetly, "What you're seeing now is the samples magnified ten times underneath a microscope. Most of those black spots are common impurities which include minerals, soil, ice particles, and whatnot. It's only after magnifying it by thirty times when the new discoveries surface..."

  As Hannibal stated this, the image zoomed in closer to reveal a gray spot. It appeared that what was cast on the display was not a still picture but a recorded video instead.

  Inside the gray spot, several oddly-shaped worms with six to seven tiny legs sticking out of them could be seen swimming around in the water.

  The tiny, squirmish worms were completely transparent but their silhouette could be distinctly made out with the magnification of the microscope. They also had two long antennas that were nearly double the length of their bodies. The section around its abdomen region was shaped in rows like ribcages. It seemed to be a common breed of worm species.

  "Chaetognatha marine worm."

  Hannibal stated, "These microscopic worms look like Chaetognatha worms, don't they? Apart from the absence of eyes and having longer antennas, their structure was nearly identical to Chaetognatha worms found undersea. Their measurements are roughly in between 0.1 to 0.2 millimeters..."

  After stating this, Hannibal turned around and flicked his wrist, prompting the display to switch to another clip. The new footage showed the previous worm creature eating another insect smaller than itself that seemed to resemble common lice.

  "Based on my current observation, it appears that they are carnivores of an extremely aggressive nature."

  Hannibal weighed his sentences carefully as he described, "The species which they consume is another marine worm species. These marine worms are roughly 0.04 millimeters large. These are gram-negative bacterias that belong to a subclass of algae organisms.

  "Additionally, I also discovered three other algae organisms. These algae organisms are single-celled prokaryotes and don't contain chlorophyll and chloroplasts in their cell structure. I hypothesize that they are anaerobic organisms that don't need photosynthesis. What they need instead is suitable water temperature to allow for chemical reactions to sustain themselves."

  After showing several other bizarrely shaped microorganisms that would otherwise be considered as a typical, run-of-the-mill entity in the world of microbes
, Hannibal's expression turned solemn. "What I discovered after this was also very special..."

  Following Hannibal's note, the display showed the image of a round, transparent bubble that was several times larger than the previous marine worm presented to the other scientists. What stood out about this bubble was a red-colored lump inside it that seemed to be faintly moving every now and then.

  It looked like a heart.

  "This is..."

  The crew of scientists whispered amongst themselves.

  "That's right, it's just as you guys suspect, it's an egg."

  Hannibal said with emotion, "The closest contemporary of this entity on Earth would be fish roes. Certain marine species do lay eggs that are as small as a millimeter. One thing the existence of this egg proves is that there are life forms similar to fishes in the underground lake we discovered. I can't confidently say that the species laying this egg is a vertebrate species until I have proper visual confirmation."

  Hannibal's speculation awed the group of scientists. One of the scientists quickly jested. "Does that mean that we can fish underground if we want to?"

  They shared a quick laugh upon hearing this.

  "I can't tell you much about the prospect of fishing, but what I've found is that the algae organisms need methane and sulfide."

  Hannibal added. "This trait is also observed in deep-sea archaea back on Earth. As you all may know, there are no sunlight or oxygen sources in the deep sea region on Earth. The archaeal organisms have had to coexist with deep sea worms since the beginning of time. The archaea used the continuous supply of sulfide from the underwater geysers to supply the required nutrients for the deep sea worms. The worms in turn secrete chitin components to protect the archaea. This mutually beneficial relationship forms the basis of the biological chain of the underwater geysers."

  Underwater geysers, also known as hydrothermal vents, refer to the geothermally heated water discharges seen in the depths of the ocean floor. Its principle was similar to that of a volcanic geyser.