The deep space universe is not dead silent. The beeping and buzzing of electronic equipment, the occasional voice announcements, the sound of footsteps moving around, and even the hiss of air conditioning vents—all these tugged at Lübeck's nerves.
深空的宇宙里并不是死寂,滴滴嘟嘟的电子设备提示音,时而出现的语音通报,人员走动的脚步声,甚至空调出气口的嘶嘶声,无不牵动着吕贝克的神经.
The missing SVF-12 squadron's fighter number 406 had been found, thanks to search assistance from friendly forces. It could not return to the current space-time due to technical malfunction.
失踪的SVF-12中队406号战机找到了,来自于友军搜索帮助,因为技术故障无法返回现在的时空.
But Lübeck knew in his heart that this assistance came from the higher organization of SSP. However, such matters were beyond his authority; he need not worry about them nor understand them. What he had to do now as captain was to prepare for the recovery of his fighter.
但是吕贝克心中很清楚,这样的协助是来自于SSP的上层机构.不过那些都不是他的权限范围内的事情,不必操心也不必了解.现在他作为舰长所做的就是准备回收他的战机.
No signals had yet appeared on the radar screen—they were still not in this space-time. The current mission coordination communication was one-way, with information sent from higher HQ to the combat command center of the mother ship San Jacinto. The rescue team was trying to bring back the malfunctioning fighter and its crew, but here all remained silent.
雷达屏幕上还没有出现任何信号,他们还不在这个时空里,目前的任务协调通讯是单向的,由上级HQ把信息发到圣哈辛托号母舰的作战指挥中心.目前营救队伍正在试图把故障战机和机组人员带回来,但是这里还是一片寂静.
"Unknown contact, range 3860 kilometers, bearing 079, elevation 027," the radar officer reported.
"不明接触,距离 3860 公里 方位 079 俯仰 027" 雷达官在报告,
"Unknown contact, range 3184 kilometers, bearing 344, elevation minus 072."
"不明接触,距离 3184公里 方位 344 俯仰 负072"
"Contact lost."
"接触消失,"
"Unknown contact, range 2365 kilometers, bearing 047, elevation 036."
"不明接触,距离 2365公里 方位 047俯仰 036"
After a while, the radar officer continued: "Unknown contact, range 1787 kilometers, bearing 022, elevation 014."
又过了一会儿,雷达官继续报告,"不明接触,距离 1787公里 方位 022俯仰 014"
So they were attempting to anchor themselves to this space-time.
原来他们在尝试锚定这个时空的位置,
After a moment of silence, the radar officer began reporting again: "Contact, range 1104 kilometers, bearing 013, elevation 009, target course 196, speed 1100 kilometers per hour."
静默片刻,雷达官又开始报告,"接触,距离 1104公里 方位 013俯仰 009,目标航向196,速度1100公里每小时,"
At that moment, the radar screen displayed stable tracking signals and identification—they were the two fighters sent for rescue, numbers 305 and 417 from the VF-12 Ghost Knight Squadron.
这时雷达屏幕上显示了稳定的追踪信号和身份识别,是前往救援的两架VF-12幽灵骑士中队的305 和417号战机,
"Calling Ghost Knight 305, radio check, this is CSNL-30 San Jacinto calling."
"呼叫幽灵骑士305,无线电检查,这是CSNL-30圣哈辛托号呼叫,"
"Ghost Knight 305 received."
"幽灵骑士305收到,"
"Ghost Knight 305, report your status."
"幽灵骑士305报告情况,"
"This is Ghost Knight 305, all normal. 417 all normal. 406 has been found and is being brought back. Engine failure, total loss of power. Personnel status good. Currently in tight wedge formation with fighter SF450202-155, approaching with coordinated electromagnetic hyper-bubble jump. Request electromagnetic tractor recovery for powerless fighter 406."
"这是幽灵骑士305,一切正常,417一切正常,406已经找到并带回,引擎失效,完全丧失动力,人员状况良好,目前协同SF450202-155战机紧凑楔形编队,协同电磁超泡跃迁接近中,请求准备电磁牵引回收无动力战机406."
"San Jacinto received. Monitoring approach. Stay on comms."
"圣哈辛托号收到,接近监控中,保持通信,"
Immediately, the combat command room began distributing tasks and initiating various departments. Lübeck monitored his information screen. The mother ship's power shifted to magnetic towing mode. Recovery guidance stations were ready, arresting nets were ready, medical teams were ready...
紧接着作战指挥室里开启了各部门任务分发和启动,吕贝克监视着他的信息屏,母舰动力开始转变为磁力牵引模式,回收引导岗位就绪,拦阻网就绪,医疗队就绪...
After checking each department's status by procedure, Lübeck thought of Brittany in the remaining time. He wondered if she would be in the medical team roster, so he sent her a personal terminal message with relevant safety precautions. Shortly after, she replied with a smiley face.
按程序检查了各部门情况,剩下的时间吕贝克想到了布列塔尼,不知道她会不会在医疗队编组中,于是便使用个人终端给她发了相关安全操作注意事项,不一会儿她回了一个笑脸.
The other person on Lübeck's mind was fighter number SF450202-155—that was the aircraft piloted by Shizuka. It should be her. He wondered if after this rescue she would board his ship again.
另一个让吕贝克牵挂的就是编号SF450202-155的战机,那是静香所驾驶的飞行器,应该是她,不知道这次营救之后她会不会再次登陆自己的船.
He didn't know why, but ever since their last meeting in deep space, he had felt a faint, lingering concern for her. Was it her small stature that aroused his protective instinct? Or was it the mystery of her silent temperament that drew his attention? Or perhaps it was simply that meeting someone in the vast universe—even a complete stranger—was hard to forget.
也不知为何,自从上次深空相见之后,心中总对她有那么一丝淡淡的牵挂.是她娇小的身形所激发的自己的保护欲吗?还是她沉默气质的神秘感勾起了自己对她的关注?亦或仅仅是那浩瀚宇宙中的相遇,即便是毫无瓜葛的陌生人,也让人难以忘怀.
Any operation in space was time-consuming. When the fighter formation carrying 406 reached recoverable distance, they deactivated the overall electromagnetic hyper-bubble, broke formation, and left 406 there. Then they ignited plasma jet engines, circled outside the mother ship's magnetic control range, and returned to the ship in a column to execute normal fighter recovery procedures. Meanwhile, the powerless 406 relied on the mother ship's magnetic control to gradually approach.
太空中的任何操作都是耗时的,当战机编队携带着406号到达可回收距离,他们关闭了整体的电磁超泡,解散队形留下406在那里,然后开启等离子喷射引擎,绕开母舰磁力操控影响范围,以纵队回归母舰,执行正常战机回收程序.而失去动力的406号则依靠母舰磁力操控逐步向母舰方向靠近.
406 had no power but still had basic electricity. From a distance, its navigation lights and formation lights could be seen blinking, like a Christmas tree coming home. In his meditation, Lübeck suddenly thought of something and sent a message to the administrative officer:
406没有动力,但是还有基本电力,远远地还能看见它的航行灯和编队灯在闪烁,就像回家的圣诞树,沉思间,吕贝克忽然想到了什么,于是发送消息给行政主管,
"When receiving the pilot of Fighter 155, please first convey my personal gratitude and that of the entire crew. Arrange meals and lodging, ask what else he needs, then tell him to settle in and rest well. Afterwards we would like to host a small thank-you banquet and invite him."
"接待155号战机飞行员的时候请先转达我本人和全舰官兵对他的感谢,先安排食宿,问问他还需要什么,然后告诉他先在这里安顿一下休息好,之后我们想要给他举办一个小型的答谢宴会,邀请他参加."
Powerless 406 continued to accelerate gradually under magnetic control toward the mother ship. During this time, the other three fighters had already been recovered in turn. Lübeck understood the general process through real-time surveillance video feeds. The pilots sent on the search-and-rescue mission were in good condition and were scheduled for further physical examinations.
无动力的406还在磁力操控下逐步加速靠近母舰,在这段时间里,其它三架战机已经依次回收完毕.吕贝克通过实时监控视频通道的信息展示了解了大致过程,派去搜索营救的驾驶员状况良好,被安排了进一步身体检查.
The pilot of Fighter 155 was indeed Shizuka. Still wearing the same flight uniform, small in stature. She did not go for a physical exam but went straight to her quarters to rest.
那架155编号的战机驾驶员果然是静香,还是那一身飞行制服,娇小的身材,她没有去检查身体,而是直接回房间休息了.
Lübeck had already far exceeded his duty shift—no help for it, safety reasons. Recovering a powerless fighter on a cosmic scale was like watching a snail crawl. Seeing that things seemed to be going smoothly, he briefly briefed the incoming watch officer and left the bridge.
吕贝克在岗时间也已经超了很久,没办法,安全原因.无动力战机回收在宇宙的尺度下就好像是蜗牛在爬.鉴于事情看起来还算顺利,他把情况简单与接班的值更官做了交代,便离开了舰桥.
The corridor inside the ship was now lit with nighttime lighting—a dim, dark red. In a trance, Lübeck remembered the fireplace in his childhood home. When the fire was nearly out, the faint red glow would light up the floor and corners, a trace of warmth in the shadows.
舰船内部通道的走廊里现在是夜间灯光,幽暗的红色,恍惚间吕贝克想起了儿时家里的炉火,快要熄灭的时候,暗暗的红色光亮映照着地面和墙角,那一丝角落里的温暖.
Back in his quarters, in the faint night light, Brittany lay on the bed, already asleep. Lübeck was glad she hadn't been involved in today's operation, so she didn't have to extend her duty hours.
回到自己的房间,夜灯的微光里,布列塔尼躺在床上,已经睡了,吕贝克很高兴她没有参与今天的行动,不用延长在岗时间.
After a quick wash, he went to her side, but he was not sleepy. Too many things had happened that day; his brain was still excited. The sights and sounds of the combat command center seemed to play like a movie before his eyes.
简单洗漱后来到她的身边,可是并没有睡意,这一天的事情太多了,大脑还在兴奋的状态里.作战指挥中心的景象和声音好像在自己的眼前放电影一样.
Lübeck tried to shift his focus. He moved closer to Brittany, buried his face in her hair, and leaned his body against hers, letting the scent of her hair and the touch of her body tell him it was time to sleep.
吕贝克只好试着转移注意力,靠近布列塔尼,把脸埋在她的秀发里,把身体靠在她的身边,让她秀发的气息和身体的触觉告诉自己现在是睡觉时间.
Did Shizuka have a partner? Did she feel lonely? Lübeck's thoughts once again drifted elsewhere. He let out a sigh, trying to clear his mind of clutter. He closed his eyes tightly and gently nuzzled into the harbor of Brittany's shoulder and neck, trying to settle his restless heart.
静香有伴侣吗?她是不是感到孤单?吕贝克的思绪不由得又跑到了别处.他舒了一口气,试着清空脑子里的杂乱想法,紧闭双目把头轻轻往布列塔尼的肩颈港湾里挤了挤,想要安顿自己躁动的心.
Brittany was sleeping deeply. He could faintly hear her steady breathing. Lübeck tried to use it as his lullaby, following its calm and even rhythm to fall asleep.
布列塔尼睡得很沉,隐约听到她平缓的气息,吕贝克试着把它当作自己的催眠曲,跟随它的平静与安稳去入睡.
After an unknown period, Brittany turned over, from lying on her back to her side. In her sleep, she stretched out her arm and directly pulled Lübeck into her embrace. That warm, safe harbor—it was as if he had returned to Ruth's motherly, loving embrace from long ago.
不知过了多久,布列塔尼翻了个身,从平躺到侧身,睡梦中她伸展手臂,直接把吕贝克搂在了自己的怀中.那温暖又安全的港湾,仿佛又回到从前露丝充满母性关爱的怀抱里.
Back then he was still young, a thin but strong little boy. No matter how much bullying, grievance, or frustration he suffered outside, her warm, soft embrace would heal his wounds and restore his strength.
那时候自己还小,一个瘦弱但是坚强的小男孩,无论在外面受到怎样欺压,委屈,和挫折,她温暖柔软的怀抱,都会愈合自己的伤痕,鼓舞自己的力量.
Lübeck wanted to see Ruth's face again. He wondered what age her face would show. He tried to lift his face from where it was pressed against Ruth's chest, and looked up just in time to see Ruth lowering her gaze, looking at him with her large, brown-green eyes.
吕贝克想要再看看露丝的面容,心中好奇着她会是什么时候的面容呢?吕贝克试着把贴在露丝胸前的脸扬起来,正好看到露丝低头的容颜,用她那双棕绿色的大眼睛望着自己.
But that was not Ruth's face, nor Brittany's—it was Shizuka. Just as he thought this, her height suddenly changed: from the Ruth of that time, who had held him as a child and stood more than a head taller, to Shizuka's small stature. And he himself had become an adult man, holding the petite Shizuka in his arms, while she looked up at him with her large eyes.
可是,那不是露丝的面容,也不是布列塔尼,她是静香.刚想到这,她的身高突然从抱着孩童时期自己,高出自己一头多露丝的身材,变成了静香娇小的身高,而自己则是变成了成年男子的身高,正把那娇小的静香搂在怀里,而她仰着脸,用她那双大眼睛望着自己.
This was not real. It was a dream. Lübeck struggled and opened his eyes—but before him was still the darkness of the night lights out and the dimness of the night light.
这不是真的,这是个梦.吕贝克挣扎着,睁开了眼睛,但眼前依旧是夜间熄灯的黑,与夜灯的昏暗.
（Translated by DeepSeek）