Chapter 30 Preparations Before Entering the Contaminated Zone
Dawn Zero Team arrived near Pollution Zone 88 on the afternoon of the third day after their departure.
It was a day earlier than expected.
The reinforcements from Dawn Base are stationed five kilometers away from the area.
The black-armored SUV slowed down and finally stopped outside the camp.
Yun Zhao peered through the car window at the temporary campsite.
Dozens of military tents were arranged in a circle, with a sentry post set up around the perimeter and fenced off. In the center, a canopy was erected to block out the scorching sun.
The camp was rudimentary, allowing for immediate evacuation if the contaminated area spread.
Upon receiving the message, the head of Dawn Base personally came out to greet them. He was tall and had a brisk pace, with the weariness of days of hard work on his face. "You must have had a long journey," he said.
Xie Tu got out of the car first and shook hands with the person in charge: "How is the situation?"
The person in charge, surnamed Zhao, is the deputy commander of the accompanying troops at the Dawn Base.
Lieutenant Zhao said with a grave expression, "There is still no news from Jiang Mu's team. The contaminated area is spreading faster than expected, and our monitoring equipment is on high alert."
Yun Zhao and the others got off the bus one after another.
As the only person not wearing combat uniform, Yun Zhao's appearance immediately caught the attention of Lieutenant Zhao.
"This must be the new guide, right?" Lieutenant Zhao's expression softened considerably, afraid of startling the guide.
The emergence of the S-class guide caused a huge uproar among the top officials of the four bases.
Many people have high expectations for her.
Yun Zhao nodded slightly in response.
Zhao, the adjutant, smiled at her and then turned to Xie Tu, saying, "Time is of the essence. Let's go to the tent and explain the situation in detail." With that, he led everyone toward the center of the camp.
The camp was shrouded in a tense and solemn atmosphere.
All the sentries were on high alert. The area was eerily silent as they passed by; no one spoke, only hurried footsteps and busy figures could be seen.
This caused the Zero Team members, who had been laughing and joking all the way, to shut up and obediently follow behind their captain after entering the team.
Temporary meeting tent.
A huge white screen hung in the center, and black cloths that blocked the light around it were pulled up, so the projector shone a blue light on it.
A short while later, the video connection was successful.
On the screen, a serious-looking male leader and Ms. Duan Qiongying, the head of the operations department of the Dawn Base, appeared.
"Time is of the essence, so let's get to the point."
Minister Duan spoke first, "I'm sure you're already clear about the objectives of this mission, so I won't repeat them here."
"Pollution Zone No. 88, according to records, was discovered forty years ago. Before it spread, its area was about three thousand square kilometers, equivalent to a small city..."
A city map suddenly appeared on the blue screen.
"The map has been sent to Song Liang. In the old days, this area was a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Weinan City, Shaanxi Province. The time flow rate within the contaminated area is unknown. The map has marked any possible military weapon supply points..."
Yun Zhao sat very upright, like a well-behaved child listening attentively in class.
She couldn't understand some of what Song Liang was saying, but after Minister Duan marked the map, the details in her mind gradually became clear.
Yun Zhao picked up the pen and paper on the table and copied the map.
The rabbit, seeing her scribbling on the paper, assumed the guide found the meeting boring.
"If the terrain inside hasn't changed, Team Zero can use this map to develop a search and rescue plan..."
Minister Duan lowered his head and read the latest data aloud, emphasizing, "We suspect that the rules in Zone 88 are aimed at mental health."
This is the sentries' weakness.
Sentinels have long been corrupted by dark matter. In this eerie realm, without guides or support, their mental barriers become extremely fragile once they develop mental problems.
Otherwise, given Jiang Mu's strength, they couldn't think of any other possibility besides a problem in his mental realm.
Upon hearing this, everyone inside the tent instinctively looked towards Yun Zhao.
Yun Zhao did not react and continued drawing the map.
She sat upright and listened attentively.
While drawing, I memorized the map.
She knows too little about the contaminated area. Once inside, she can't rely solely on her teammates for protection. Learning more about the information and rules might be helpful in a critical moment.
Xie Tu nodded. "Understood."
"Reinforcements from Dawn Base have departed and are expected to arrive the day after tomorrow..."
Minister Duan then went on to talk about pre-battle plans. The situation in the contaminated area was unclear and unpredictable, so the rest could only be judged by Xie Tu, who was the team leader.
She concluded by emphasizing, "Once inside, Team Zero must obtain the key immediately."
Team members entering the contaminated area all carry special containers for storing their keys.
The door won't open immediately unless your hand touches the key.
In the event of a crisis, one can evacuate quickly.
The mission can fail, but we must not lose the sentinels from Dawn Base, especially since there is a weak and defenseless guide among them.
Minister Duan's first priority is to ensure the safety of his own people.
The serious-looking leaders of Dawn Base showed no dissatisfaction.
They were very grateful that Team Zero was able to participate in the rescue and arrive at the contaminated zone 88 in time.
He finally spoke, "Thank you for your hard work. If you need any supplies or equipment, just let us know..."
*
As the sun set, the temperature dropped slightly.
The distant afterglow seemed to be stubbornly struggling, trying to hold onto the fading light.
After the meeting.
They were allocated three resettlement tents.
The entire Zero Team will rest for one night at the temporary camp, take stock of the supplies and equipment they will bring into the contaminated area, and set off early tomorrow morning after they have rested and prepared.
"Cloud Guide, come and take a look, and choose a personal weapon."
Tao Haohao opened the car door, loaded the ammunition and equipment brought from the Dawn Base into the vehicle, and called Yun Zhao over to choose a weapon.
Each of them has their own preferred firearm, and they only need to replenish their ammunition.
But the guide didn't have any, so she needed to choose self-defense equipment for her.
Yun Zhao stared at the various advanced weapons around his feet and chose only a sharp dagger.
She doesn't know how to use a gun.
I'm afraid that I might be aiming at the monster but accidentally shoot my teammate instead.
A dagger is a safer bet.
Xie Tu stood beside her without saying a word and helped her choose a waist knife.
"Try to choose a weapon that can better protect you." Xie Tu handed her the knife.
The waist knife has a narrow blade and a short handle, making it more useful than a dagger in special situations. It can also be worn directly on the waist of combat uniforms for easy carrying.
"Thank you, Captain." Yun Zhao took it without hesitation; she hadn't changed into her combat uniform yet, so there was nowhere to put it.
When Xie Tu heard the word "captain," a strange feeling welled up in his heart.
The new teammate addressed him like that for the first time, and those two words seemed to carry a strange sense of unfamiliarity, making him feel inexplicably uncomfortable.
The contradictory guide not only can't drive, but he also can't use firearms.
We'll have to teach them one by one when we get back.
Yun Zhao didn't notice at all; he was facing away from him, organizing his military backpack.
She would put whatever she saw others putting in, and she would put the same things in herself.
She doesn't load ammunition if she doesn't need it.
She also has inhibitors and guide hormones, which she neither needs nor should pretend to have.
Most of the items were compressed biscuits, drinking water, as well as disinfectant bandages, small flashlights, windproof lighters, disposable raincoats, etc.
The backpack was gradually filled up, and Yun Zhao tried to lift it.
I found I couldn't lift it...
Those five large bottles of drinking water were too heavy.
The teammates once again came to realize the guide's fragility.
“Guide Yun, you keep one bottle of water, we’ll take the rest for you,” Duan Xi said readily.
Everyone was afraid that just one military backpack would crush her.
Anyway, the team leader has already instructed that someone must stay by the guide's side, and everyone should help her carry some things, so it won't cause any problems.
Yun Zhao did not refuse and took out the water, handing it to them one by one.
She knew very well that her abilities might be very important to Contaminated Zone 88, and she didn't want to be polite or waste her energy on trivial matters.
With everything prepared, everyone went into the tent to rest.
Yun Zhao finally asked Xie Tu, "Do you need me to help you build a mental barrier first?"
Even Jiang Mu, who is also an S-class Sentinel, got into trouble.
His mental state must be just as bad, otherwise Minister Duan wouldn't have been so eager to conduct a compatibility test.
Xie Tu refused, saying, "No rush. Blocking the senses has its advantages and disadvantages. If the sentinels' five senses are reduced, it will affect their judgment of the situation inside."
Yun Zhao thought about it and agreed. He would accompany the team so that he could intervene at any time if things went wrong.
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