Afternoon.
Lu Zhiyao and Zhu Xiaocai arrived at the film studio.
This was the same local Jingzhou studio where they had previously filmed “Beautiful Tomorrow.” Lu Zhiyao and the rest of the crew were already very familiar with it.
The staff were busy setting up the scene and making props.
Some of the sets and props were obviously ones that had been used in “Beautiful Tomorrow”—all science fiction themed—that could be reused with slight modifications.
However, this movie had more grand scenes and physical props compared to “Beautiful Tomorrow,” requiring more preparatory work.
“Director Zhu, are you sure we can start filming now?” Lu Zhiyao looked at the busy staff and the chaotic set, filled with doubt.
Zhu Xiaocai nodded: “Of course, we can start filming today. Let’s try shooting a scene first.”
Lu Zhiyao was confused: “But the sets and props aren’t ready yet…”
“And where are the actors? I haven’t met any of the other main cast yet.”
“Surely I can’t be awkwardly acting alone?”
Zhu Xiaocai smiled slightly: “It’s fine. You have more scenes, which have already been arranged for you. We’re preparing on two fronts—we’ll film your scenes first while simultaneously preparing the sets and props.”
Lu Zhiyao fell silent.
For some reason, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being deceived.
As they continued further in, Zhu Xiaocai led Lu Zhiyao to a room that was all green screen: “Most of your scenes will be filmed here.”
“As for what the specific scene is… look at this concept art, it’s very clear.”
Zhu Xiaocai pulled up a concept image on his phone and handed it to Lu Zhiyao.
Lu Zhiyao reached out to take it.
From the image, this appeared to be the interior of a science fiction starship. The setting was very simple, with only a single hibernation pod and a large control console.
On the control console was a large screen and several smaller screens, a single seat similar to a ship’s pilot seat, and in front of the seat was a platform with a large touchscreen, a hemispherical instrument, and various colored buttons.
Lu Zhiyao turned to look at the filming area and found that there was only a completed control platform, a single seat, and a single hibernation pod—these must have been rushed by the props department over the past few days. All other sets were entirely green screen.
“Director Zhu, this…”
Lu Zhiyao was completely bewildered.
When filming “Beautiful Tomorrow” before, at least the entire room had ready-made sets.
But for this new movie, how had everything turned into the green screen?
Although these things could all be solved with special effects, and more money spent meant better effects, in terms of authenticity, using real props and sets would still be better.
Could it be… Director Zhu was deliberately using more green screen special effects to swindle money from Mr. Pei?
Of course, Lu Zhiyao couldn’t ask so directly. He coughed twice and said, “Director Zhu, can’t we directly use the previous sets from ‘Beautiful Tomorrow’? They’re both science fiction themes, couldn’t we just modify them a bit and use them?”
Zhu Xiaocai smiled: “We could. The hibernation pod, you see, along with the control platform—these were all urgently modified from ‘Beautiful Tomorrow’ props. Otherwise, how do you think we could make them so quickly?”
“As for why all the exterior sets use green screen, it’s obviously because there will be a lot of special effects to achieve a particular visual effect.”
“What specific effect… don’t rush, you’ll know later.”
“First, take a look at the first section of the script.”
As he spoke, Zhu Xiaocai took out several sheets of paper from his bag and handed them to Lu Zhiyao.
Lu Zhiyao took them and quickly read through from beginning to end.
“Just this?” Lu Zhiyao was confused; the content on these few pages seemed incomplete and hard to understand.
Zhu Xiaocai smiled slightly: “Didn’t I tell you before? We’ll film in sections. I won’t give you the entire script so you can better experience the protagonist’s feelings in the film.”
“Alright, find a place to sit, get your makeup done, change your clothes, and memorize this scene’s script. I’ll go outside to arrange their work.”
Lu Zhiyao nodded: “Okay, Director Zhu. Should I wear a spacesuit or exoskeleton?”
Having heard this was a space war theme, surely he would wear some cool space battle armor?
For some reason, he was a bit excited about it.
Although things like exoskeletons would be very heavy and tiring to wear, they looked awesome!
“No need, just put this on.” Zhu Xiaocai summoned the costume designer and makeup artist. The costume designer was holding a very ordinary deep gray fitted T-shirt and pants.
Lu Zhiyao: “…”
“Director Zhu, are you sure about this? No mistake?”
Zhu Xiaocai smiled slightly: “No mistake, just wear this. If you don’t understand, just read the script again.”
Lu Zhiyao had no choice but to silently read the script again.
…
In the hibernation pod, first, a close-up shot.
Qin Yi’s eyes were tightly closed, but his eyeballs moved rapidly, his brows frequently furrowed, and fine beads of sweat formed on his forehead, as if experiencing a terrible nightmare.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open!
Bloodshot eyes, filled with terror.
The camera quickly pulls back, the hibernation pod automatically opens, and Qin Yi sits up, his chest heaving, right hand pressed against his forehead, taking a long moment to regain his senses.
Countless horrific memories flood back. Qin Yi instinctively looks at his right forearm, where there is a gruesome wound that completely pierces through his arm, nearly tearing it apart, though it has scabbed over.
He vaguely remembers that it was from when they infiltrated the insect hive—he had tried to use his handgun to destroy a miniature reactor through a crack in the chest armor but had failed and been impaled by the insect’s sharp claw.
“I’m still alive?”
Qin Yi feels confused. He had thought he had died in the insect hive.
But then, the scenes before his “death” flood his mind.
Xu Kaile, Meng Yu, Zhao Yongxiu, Wu Shaojun… all members of the AS-371-45 squad, except for Qin Yi, had died in the insect hive.
He still remembers these people’s appearances and smiles, but in the blink of an eye, they were separated forever.
However, Qin Yi quickly freed himself from these painful emotions and regained his composure, standing up from the hibernation pod.
He saw the large screen, chair, and control panel not far away but didn’t approach them. Instead, he first went to the edge of the room, trying to leave.
A starship’s cabin doesn’t have a fixed exit—with proper authorization, any surrounding wall can become a door.
But when Qin Yi tried pushing on the wall, he found no response, indicating he didn’t have permission to leave.
“Captain Qin, I’m sorry, but you haven’t been granted permission to leave yet.” A gentle female voice sounded.
Qin Yi turned to look and saw a holographic projection of a female space soldier in the center of the room. She had typical Eastern Asian female features, with a gentle smile that combined feminine grace with a soldier’s vigor.
Qin Yi was silent for a moment: “The war isn’t over, is it?”
The female soldier’s holographic image nodded: “That’s right.”
Qin Yi collapsed onto the hibernation pod, covering his face with both hands, letting out a long sigh.
The female soldier’s holographic image tried to approach Qin Yi, but his expression quickly turned cold. He said in a low voice: “AEEIS, return to initial form.”
The female soldier’s holographic image stopped, gradually becoming transparent and disappearing.
Afterward, light blue data streams appeared in mid-air, converging into an audio visualization that fluctuated with the sound.
AEEIS’s voice became a cold, emotionless electronic tone: “Captain Qin Yi, perhaps you are angry now, but humanity needs you to continue fulfilling your duty as a soldier.”
Qin Yi’s voice was low, suppressing his fury: “The insect queen is dead, but the war hasn’t ended. Why? I want to know the truth.”
AEEIS: “Because of the reserves and the hive consciousness.”
“The insect queen is a higher life form with advanced intelligence and has preventive measures to avoid a species crisis due to her death. The insect queen lays secondary queens hidden in various hives. Once the queen dies, one of these secondary queens is randomly selected to become the new queen.”
“The hive consciousness is the foundation of the insect queen’s rule over the entire insect race. Simply put, it’s telepathy, consciousness upload, consciousness connection. The insect queen can control all insect swarms precisely because of the hive consciousness.”
“At the moment of the insect queen’s death, she can transmit her entire consciousness through the insects’ consciousness network. Then, somewhere in the swarm, a secondary queen receives the queen’s complete consciousness and becomes the new command center.”
Qin Yi’s expression darkened: “Was this information known before the decapitation operation, or after?”
“I want the real answer.”
AEEIS was silent for two seconds: “Before.”
Qin Yi took a deep breath: “So that’s why we saw fragments of Lark II combat suits when we infiltrated the hive.”
“You deceived everyone. You knew this was an operation that was almost impossible to succeed, and even if it did succeed, it would be meaningless. Yet you still sent hundreds of squads to their deaths? Was this your decision, the High Executive Committee’s decision, or the Commander’s decision?”
AEEIS didn’t answer directly: “This operation was certainly meaningful.”
“The range of the hive consciousness is wide but not unlimited; secondary queens also need time to mature into new queens. During this period, we achieved fruitful results on the front lines.”
“Every sacrifice was for the ultimate victory.”
Qin Yi said coldly: “As a soldier, I can accept sacrifice, but not deception!”
His right hand clenched in anger, but soon relaxed in resignation. The faces of his squad members flashed before him again, but he was powerless.
“I request three months’ leave to return to Blue Star. After three months, I’ll return to the fleet.”
“At that time, I will sacrifice myself as you wish.”
AEEIS: “I’m sorry, Captain Qin, I cannot approve your request.”
“The Blue Star United Fleet High Executive Committee has appointed you as the new Commander to lead the battle against the insect race.”
“Blue Star still needs you to save it.”