"If the normal activation doesn't work, we'll have to force it. We could use some superconducting material as a detonation point."
Zack stood up, looking towards the miners in the team and asked, "After the crash-landing, did any of you check the minerals around here?"
"No," they replied in unison.
"We have mineral scanners among the equipment we brought back," Zack pointed out.
"Sir, I checked the minerals near the transport a couple of days ago. Found nothing but rocks and calcite," one of the miners responded.
Zack nodded, a smile breaking across his face. "Calcite? Looks like we're in luck!"
"There's a low-temperature mineral that acts as a natural superconductor. It's quite unstable in its natural state and often turns into calcite."
"Anatase!" the three miners exclaimed together, their expertise shining through as they immediately understood what Zack was referring to.
"Sir..."
At that moment, Claire spoke up quietly, "Sir, I just checked the data. Anatase has almost zero electrical resistance."
"If we use it to forcibly activate the energy system, it might cause the pulse cables to burn out due to the instant strong current generated."
"I know," Zack shrugged, "Fortunately, we have two sets of fuel cells and two sets of pulse cables."
"It's worth a try if we don't want to starve here."
"Besides, we shouldn't just focus on anatase. There are also niobium and nickel crystals among the conductive minerals. Anything that can serve as a conductor, we need."
Right now, they were like drenched chickens caught in a downpour.
With clothes and a lighter in hand, but unable to start a fire because the clothes were soaked.
And superconductors were the gasoline that could ignite this wet clothing.
"I understand!"
"I'll go organize the mineral data and then send it to you."
Claire nodded earnestly, heading into the cockpit with Aina and the pilot of the Fat Coal.
The others, though slightly confused, knew they were about to embark on a mining quest. In times like these, having a task was better than waiting aimlessly.
... ...
Three minutes later, a twenty-person team assembled outside the hatch.
"You've all received the mineral data from Claire. These are the minerals we're looking for," Zack announced, standing in front of the lineup, pointing to the device embedded in his arm guard.
"To leave this place sooner, we'll split up. Three mineral scanners, three search teams."
"The pilots and miners will stay behind to protect the transport. Kenny will take five people, Elsa six, and I'll lead one team by myself."
After finding survivors, the team had grown from fourteen to twenty members.
One commander, three pilots, three miners, and thirteen mobile infantrymen.
"Sir!" Kenny raised his hand immediately upon hearing the team assignments.
"Sir, according to the mobile unit's operational guidelines, you can't go alone. We can't let our commander out of our sight."
As the leader of the combat team, how could he let his direct superior venture out alone? If anything were to happen, he wouldn't need to worry about leading the team anymore; he might as well line up for execution.
"Special circumstances require special measures."
"I am much safer than all of you, any more questions?"
Zhou Yuan slightly shook his head, activated the jet propulsion system, lifting the mech a few meters off the ground, then gently landed it back down. Seeing this, Kenny promptly shut his mouth. He hadn't realized the mech was capable of flight before, and now it seemed that even if everyone else perished, Zhou Yuan would survive.
"If there are no objections, let's move out. We have two hours to search."
"Don't stray too far and ensure the local communication remains intact. Whether you find anything or not, we must regroup here after two hours."
"Let's go!"
After issuing the command, Zhou Yuan turned and headed toward the Ice Mountain Range. If there was anywhere infested with bugs, it was definitely there. They might even find a few bug nests.
... ...
After leaving the team, Zhou Yuan stowed his Gauss rifle and pulled an Infinite Ammo Pineapple grenade from his ring. It would be a waste not to use the infinite ammo.
"Click!"
"Sir, I lack a mineral scanning feature, so I might not be much help to you."
Accompanied by a light sound, the Laser Bird landed next to Zhou Yuan.
"No problem, I already have a target in mind."
Zhou Yuan smiled and shook his head, saying, "The area is covered with snow and ice. To find minerals, we first need to locate ground not covered by snow and ice."
"Sir, I understand now."
"Your target is the bug nest. The bugs have already cleared the snow and ice for you."
The Laser Bird quickly grasped Zhou Yuan's intention.
"Exactly."
Zhou Yuan nodded slightly, earnestly saying, "It's a bit risky, but for the sake of the team, I must do this."
"Go then. Your search target is the bug hole. Notify me immediately once you find it. Just don't go too far."
"Understood!"
The Laser Bird came in haste and left in haste, soon disappearing from Zhou Yuan's sight.
"For the Federation!"
Zhou Yuan clenched his fists, silently psyching himself up while also opening his personal panel to double-check he hadn't selected the wrong title.
Host: Zhou Yuan
Identity: Federal Captain, Superhuman
Attributes: Strength 13, Speed 15.5, Jump 12.5, Agility 12.5, Endurance 13, Defense 13, Self-healing 13, Skill 1.8, Brain Function 15.5
Skills: Telepathy, Telecommunication, Psychokinesis, Hypnosis, Mind Control, Rapid Learning...
Equipment: Icarus-class Destroyer, Jump Frog, Nano Repair Med Pod, Laser Bird, Inferno Grenade...
Title: Powerful Insecticide — Increases kill gains by 20%, Speed by 3
Soul Points:
"All set, everything for the team, let's do this!"
... ...
Twenty minutes later, Zhou Yuan arrived at the foot of the Ice Mountain Range.
The Laser Bird had located a wormhole here, and apparently, there was more than one.
"Right ahead, sir."
The Laser Bird hid behind a large piece of ice, pointing with the tip of its wing in a direction.
Zhou Yuan peeked out slightly and indeed saw many wormholes, but they were a bit odd.
They were about the same size as those dug by soldier bugs, but the entrances weren't round, and oddly, no insects were visible around them, making them resemble natural caves more.
"Let's go!"
After scouting the surroundings, Zhou Yuan left his cover behind the ice and approached the caves.
"Holy smokes!"
Upon reaching the entrance, Zhou Yuan suddenly dropped to the ground, his skin crawling.
Inside the cave was a swarm of insects!
However, these insects didn't seem to belong to the Arachnis species, or at least, the Federation had no records of such creatures.
They were massive, each at least a meter long, and looked incredibly strange.
Their bodies resembled giant caterpillars with the legs of a colossal centipede, covered in sparse black hair, which was utterly repulsive.