The sound of a branch snapping rang out overhead.
Susan stopped immediately, pulling her hand from her pocket and gripping the backpack strap. Carl also stopped, stepping aside to block her view, his right hand reaching for the utility knife at his waist. Neither spoke, only staring at the movement in the treetops above.
The wind blew again, and a few wet leaves drifted down and landed on the muddy ground.
“It might just be a dead branch,” Carl said in a low voice. “Don’t panic.”
Susan nodded, but didn't move. She looked at the trail of tactical boot footprints she had found earlier, now half-covered by newly fallen leaves. The path they had just walked on was muddy, as if it had been turned over once.
Carl turned on his flashlight and scanned the screen twice in infrared mode. There was no red dot feedback on the screen.
“Nobody’s here,” he said. “Keep going, we’re almost at the top of the hill.”
They quickened their pace. The backpacks were heavy, and their shoulders felt numb from the pressure. Susan switched hands to hold the strap, and her left foot stepped on a loose stone, almost slipping. Carl reached out and pulled her back.
Be careful.
"Um."
A dozen meters or so up, the terrain became steeper. Carl climbed up first, then turned back and pulled Susan up as well. The two of them were panting when the view suddenly opened up before them—searchlights on the outer wall of the base were on, casting a yellow streak through the fog.
The walkie-talkie suddenly beeped, and the signal was restored.
"I heard a reply!" Chen Hao's voice boomed.
Susan quickly pressed the call button: "We've reached the outer checkpoint, it's safe."
"Where are the supplies?"
"They're all here."
"Nana is ready to receive the patient; she's going directly to port B3."
After hanging up the call, the two walked down the slope. The base's iron gate slowly opened a crack, just enough for a person to squeeze through sideways.
Nana stood at the door, holding a testing device. She glanced at the bag on Karl's back, then at Susan.
"Body temperature is normal, heart rate is high, rest is recommended."
“We’ll talk about it later.” Susan took off her backpack. “The water samples are in the left bag, and the plant samples are packed in three categories.”
Nana took the bag, opened it immediately, and took out the water quality analyzer, inserting it into the water bottle. The numbers on the screen jumped a few times, and then the green light came on.
"It is drinkable, and the microbial content is below the standard value."
"Can we drink it now?" Carl asked.
"Yes, but it is recommended to boil it before serving."
Chen Hao walked out of the control room at this moment, his right arm wrapped in a new bandage, and his clothes were still wet.
"Is everyone alright?"
“It’s nothing,” Susan said. “The signal was down for a while on the road, and I saw some strange footprints.”
"Write it down, I'll check it later."
"Not an animal?"
"They are human boots, but the size is small."
Chen Hao frowned slightly, but didn't ask any further questions: "Come in first, it's cold outside."
The three followed Nana towards the purification area. The water purification equipment was running, humming softly. Chen Hao pointed to an empty machine: "Is this one fixed?"
"The restart was successful last night," Nana said. "The filter membrane replacement is complete, and production capacity has recovered to 75%."
“That’s enough.” Chen Hao looked at Karl. “Go through the process with the water you brought back first, then store it in the main tank. As for the plants, separate them by type and label them.”
“We’ll prioritize processing rock potatoes and salted radishes,” Susan added. “Rock potatoes are high in starch and can keep you full.”
"Okay." Chen Hao nodded. "The first batch of finished meals will be given to the duty team first, followed by the wounded. The rest will be sealed and refrigerated."
“I’ll go make the record.” Susan turned to get the register.
Carl sat down in his chair and rubbed his legs: "I'm exhausted. This trip was more tiring than moving shipping containers."
"The fact that you can still sit here and talk means you're not really tired." Chen Hao patted him on the shoulder. "We'll assemble in ten minutes; the aftermath is coming."
"So fast?"
"Nana's calculation is that it will take six hours."
"Then I'll rest for another five minutes."
"No, we have to move now."
Carl sighed and stood up.
Nana has already brought up the defense plan projection and hung it on the wall. The map shows three key areas: the south wall, the east embankment, and the north seam.
“The southern section is reinforced with stacked containers, with the interlayer filled with a mixture of crushed stone and coagulant.” She pointed to the structural diagram, “and the current pressure-bearing capacity has been increased to eight tons per square meter.”
“Last time it was only five tons,” Chen Hao said. “What if this wave exceeds eight tons?”
"The probability is less than 12 percent."
"We still need to be on guard."
He turned to look outside the door: "Susan! Take some men to the East Embankment and add sandbags, three layers or more, with the slope facing outwards. Carl, you go to the North District, seal all the cracks with quick-setting gel, and then weld steel plates."
"The welding machine is still charging."
"You can use it even if you only charge half, don't wait."
"clear."
Susan changed into her work clothes, picked up her toolbox, and went out. Carl dragged the materials cart north. Chen Hao followed behind, looked around, and returned to the command post.
"Nana, what's the sea level data?"
"The wave height is expected to be 4.2 meters, the period is shortening, and the impact frequency is increasing. Arrival time: three hours and eighteen minutes later."
"Notify everyone to wear protective equipment and avoid going out unless absolutely necessary."
"It has been broadcast."
Chen Hao took a sip of water; his throat was a little dry. He stared at the monitor screen; several people were already moving containers on the south side of the wall. The sea in the distance was a hazy gray, showing no visible changes.
But he knew the waves were on their way.
An hour later, the reinforcement of the east dike was completed. Susan returned with her team to report on the progress: "The three layers of sandbags have been completed, the bottom has been secured with ground nails, and the diagonal bracing has also been added."
"Okay," Chen Hao said. "Go change into dry clothes, then it's your second shift."
"I'll go straight in."
"No, getting wet will make you catch a cold."
"I'm not that delicate."
"This isn't being spoiled, it's the rule. Go change, or I'll make you rest for the whole day."
Susan glared at him and left.
In the north section, Carl was squatting on the ground applying glue. The gap was more than thirty centimeters long. He first stuffed scraps of cloth into it, then poured in glue, and finally covered it with a steel plate and welded it. Sparks flew onto the muddy ground, hissing and crackling.
Nana remotely monitors: "The welding temperature meets the standard, and the joint is well sealed."
"You think it meets the standard just because you say so?" Carl wiped the sweat from his face. "I can check it myself."
"I'm just offering this as a reference."
"Next time, take fewer references so I can focus on my work."
The glue hardened quickly, in just ten minutes. Karl tapped the steel plate; the sound was solid.
"It's sealed off."
He got up and stretched his shoulders, his neck cracking.
Where is the next group?
“Below the C7 ventilation opening,” Nana said, “there are slight signs of water seepage.”
"knew."
Chen Hao paced back and forth in front of the command console. All milestones were progressing smoothly; no one was slacking off. He glanced at the time; two hours left.
"Nana, double-check the route."
She pulled up the ocean current model: "The path is stable, the deflection angle is 3.7 degrees, and the main impact surface is still the southern floodgate."
"Then there's no problem."
He picked up the walkie-talkie: "Attention everyone, do a final check of equipment and positions. Fifteen minutes before the aftershocks arrive, everyone in position."
One by one, the answers came.
Susan came back after changing her clothes, her hair still wet.
"You really came back."
"If I don't come back, who will keep an eye on you?"
"I'm quite self-aware."
"Last time you said you were self-disciplined, but you sneaked out to look at the stars in the middle of the night and almost got swept away by the waves."
"That was an accident."
"Don't cause any surprises this time."
"rest assured."
Forty minutes later, the last set of containers in the south section was in place. The buffer layer was built, and the interlayer was filled with gravel and hardener. The whole wall looked crooked, but it was sturdy.
Chen Hao went to see it in person and tapped on the steel frame.
"It sounds like a tin bucket."
"The structural stress distribution is uniform," Nana said. "The simulated compression test passed."
"I hope it doesn't collapse."
"The probability of it collapsing is 3.4 percent."
"It's quite tall."
"Your passing rate is higher than your last exam."
Chen Hao was taken aback: "You went through my file?"
"It's in the database."
"...You really are a robot."
The alarm suddenly went off.
The red light is flashing.
Nana looked up: "The aftershocks have entered the warning range. Estimated arrival time: twelve minutes."
Chen Hao grabbed the walkie-talkie: "Everyone back to your posts! Turn off all unnecessary power! Prepare for engagement!"
The base lights dimmed, leaving only the emergency lights on. The surveillance footage switched to an exterior camera; the sea was churning, and waves were beginning to form.
When the first wave crashed in, the entire ground shook.
"I'm here." Chen Hao stood firm.
The second one was stronger, and the south wall made a dull thud. The buffer strip started to work; the container was deformed by the push, but it didn't fall apart.
“The structure is stable,” Nana reported. “The peak pressure reached 7.9 tons per square meter, which is within the limit.”
"What about the East Embankment?"
"No leakage, the sandbag layer effectively disperses pressure."
"North District?"
"The weld is intact, with only a slight vibration transmitted."
The third wave was even higher, carrying debris and foam. The drainage ditch overflowed, and water reached the entrance steps.
"Susan!" Chen Hao shouted, "Has the diversion pipe been laid?"
"Connecting!"
She and two teammates carried plastic pipes and ran over, inserting one end into the floodwater and the other end into the flood discharge channel. The water pump started, changing the direction of the water flow.
"It's connected!"
The fourth wave was 0.3 meters higher than expected, but the defense held up.
Twenty minutes later, the sea gradually calmed down. Monitoring data showed that the energy had decreased to below the safe level.
Alert lifted.
The lights came back on.
Chen Hao let out a long sigh and sat down in the chair.
"They're all alive?"
“They’re all there.” Susan wiped the water from her face. “The south wall is a little deformed, but it’s not broken.”
"The weld points in the north area have been checked and are fine," Carl said as he walked in. "My hands are just sore."
"Just surviving is enough." Chen Hao looked up at Nana. "How much did you lose?"
"Two lights on the outside are damaged, and a section of cable is submerged in water, but the rest of the structure is intact."
"Much better than last time."
"The strategy is effective."
"You're saying that as if you're praising yourself."
"I'm just stating the facts."
Chen Hao smiled and stood up.
"Alright, switch to level two alert. Susan, take your men to patrol the outer walls again. Carl, go check the power system and fix any problems immediately."
“I can fall asleep right now,” Carl yawned.
"You can sleep, but wait two hours."
"You're really ruthless."
"I'm doing this for your own good."
Susan had already put on her coat and was getting ready to leave. She reached the door and glanced back at the security camera screen.
In the picture, the containers with their south walls askew are piled up like a bunch of building blocks that have been carelessly thrown around by children.
She opened the door.
A cold wind blew in.
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