Chapter 211 Arrival (Patreon)

Transformers Begin : Table of Content/Chapter List

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In a military camp area in Lop Nur, western Xinjiang:

Major General Chen Zhongyuan glanced at the time on his wristwatch once again, beads of sweat forming on his forehead for unknown reasons.

"The appointed time is approaching..."

In just a few days, it would be December. This desert area was not only dry but also had a severe cold different from the central plains.

Just now, a slight breeze blew, causing Chen Zhongyuan to shiver involuntarily.

He hurriedly wiped his forehead, only to discover that the sweat beads on his forehead had already turned cold.

Tightening his military uniform, Chen Zhongyuan looked to the side and saw a young officer dressed in military attire waiting there.

"What's the situation with the radar? Have they detected any suspicious targets?"

"Reporting, sir. No abnormalities have been found."

Chen Zhongyuan nodded, but his brow furrowed.

Not finding anything was the worst news at the moment.

Chen Zhongyuan had originally served in a certain unit of the Beidu Garrison Guard Division. Due to his distinguished family background and excellent performance in the military for over twenty years, he was one of the young talents being prioritized for development by the military. That was how he obtained the opportunity to be specially reassigned to the "4728 Project" as the person in charge. Consequently, he became one of the few individuals knowledgeable about this project.

The so-called "4728" referred to the establishment date of the Yellow River Station.

This project was created to conceal contact with extraterrestrial beings that might arrive on Earth. Therefore, every participant was selected from elite personnel drawn from various domestic departments, military enterprises, and institutions. To ensure secrecy, meticulous investigations were conducted on many individuals involved, including Chen Zhongyuan himself.

Soon, urgent footsteps could be heard coming from behind. Chen Zhongyuan quickly turned his head and his eyes lit up.

The person approaching was another young military officer, marching swiftly from one of the tents.

"Report, I just received a call from the superiors' office. The leaders from the central government are still waiting for our response..."

"Understood. Please inform the leaders immediately that no suspicious targets have been detected yet!"

"Yes, sir!"

The young officer promptly turned around and returned to the tent. Chen Zhongyuan looked up at the sky once again, shaking his head helplessly.

Half a month ago, he was suddenly summoned by his superiors and informed that an important mission would be entrusted to him. Chen Zhongyuan was both excited and thrilled.

However, the next day, contrary to his expectations of being transferred to Zhu Rihe, he was instead picked up by a military vehicle from the General Staff Headquarters. Everything that followed made Chen Zhongyuan doubt whether he and his country had fallen victim to some hackers.

Someone actually told him that extraterrestrial beings had descended on Earth and had even established contact with China through the Arctic Yellow River Research Station, expressing their desire to make a deal.

God knows, even though he was appointed as the person in charge of this project, Chen Zhongyuan remained highly skeptical of the authenticity of these extraterrestrial claims.

However, personal doubts could not sway the will of the nation.

Chen Zhongyuan also knew that if all of this were true, it would present an unprecedented opportunity for China, which had been subject to technological blockades by Western powers for over half a century. It would be akin to taking a sharp turn to overtake its rivals.

Therefore, even the higher-ups can clearly realize the risks involved.

However, the central government has allocated a special portion of the finances, and after comprehensive consideration, the military has ultimately chosen the desolate region of Lop Nur. They have renovated the camp that was once used for nuclear testing personnel and repurposed it as a meeting point.

To prevent any mishaps, the military has stationed combat personnel around the camp and sealed off a thirty-kilometer radius around it, making additional arrangements in the vicinity.

Of course, these precautions are only taken as a last resort.

If, by any chance, extraterrestrial beings truly land on Earth and express a willingness to communicate with China, the enthusiasm of this nation will undoubtedly leave other countries in awe.

Time passes second by second, as they wait.

Chen Zhongyuan cannot sit still inside the tent. He constantly paces within the camp, never diverting his gaze from the sky, as if he hopes to spot any suspicious traces with his own eyes.

Communications from various sources continue to arrive in the camp.

"...Report, news from the Guangdong and Guangxi regions, radar has not detected any anomalies!"

"The strategic early warning radar also failed to detect any abnormalities..."

As the appointed time approaches, an increasing number of communications pour in from all corners of the country.

Chen Zhongyuan's mood sinks lower and lower with each successive communication.

"Oh no, it's probably just a hoax..."

His eyes repeatedly dart towards his wrist, and when the time finally displays less than thirty seconds remaining, his face involuntarily twists into a scowl.

He takes out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, lights one for himself, and broods with a sense of discomfort.

Chen Zhongyuan is aware that, aside from himself and the others present, countless eyes across China are now fixated on this location. Even a high-ranking official from the central government is considering attending the contact with extraterrestrial beings in person, except for security concerns.

From the looks of it now, it's highly likely that they have fallen victim to a prank or a joke!

Unable to resist, he lifts his gaze towards the sky, and the frustration and anger in his heart manifest as tears streaming down his face.

However, unbeknownst to Chen Zhongyuan, just as the wristwatch on his arm reaches one second before the appointed time, a heavy thud suddenly echoes from the vast open space within the camp, originating from a high altitude.

"What? What's that sound..."

Chen Zhongyuan instinctively turns his head to the source of the sound, and his eyes immediately lock onto the open space before him. On the flat ground constructed with rapid-setting cement, he faintly discerns a pair of enormous footprints, accompanied by several cracks branching out from the footprint-shaped craters.

"Footprints? Could it be..."

His eyes light up with excitement, inadvertently dropping the cigarettes from his hand. Unaware of this, his focus remains fixed on the footprints that abruptly appeared before him in the open space.

He is not alone; the sudden sound of a heavy object descending from the open ground captures the attention of most individuals within the camp.

Two squads of heavily armed soldiers swiftly converge, positioning themselves in close proximity to Chen Zhongyuan and his group. Simultaneously, several infantry fighting vehicles, perpetually on alert, promptly arrive and assist in establishing a defensive perimeter nearby.

As if sensing the concentrated gaze of everyone upon it, the area of the footprints flickers with a burst of electricity.

Accompanied by this electrical flickering, a sturdy and fierce mechanical warrior figure gradually materializes before the eyes of all present.

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Next Chapter >>Chapter 212: Lies and Cooperation