Apocalypse Survival: Starting with a Shelter

"Current speed: 22 kilometers per hour. No deviation from the route."

Underwater, the scavenger convoy's onboard cameras were nearly useless, capturing only murky currents illuminated by headlights. Occasionally, sensors detected faint thuds as solid objects collided with the vehicles.

Su Wu glanced at the footage from the convoy's perspective but found it impossible to gather meaningful information. He quickly switched to a flat map view, relying on real-time data and GPS positioning to monitor the convoy's status indirectly.

"No major issues. The water's current isn't strong enough to disrupt their trajectory yet."

Seeing the convoy slowly approaching the farmstead shelter, Su Wu estimated that the return trip would likely proceed without significant problems. Satisfied, he redirected his attention to the ground level near the farmstead shelter.

With his growing power base, Su Wu was well past the stage where losing a single convoy would be a devastating blow. He didn't need to keep an unwavering watch on them, especially when more pressing matters demanded his attention.

Thanks to careful planning during the initial site selection, the farmstead shelter was located on relatively high ground within the Jianghe City region. Even now, with the city facing the threat of complete submersion, the area around the shelter's rocky outcrops remained largely free of flooding.

Taking into account the potential for landslides and mudflows in the higher mountains, the farmstead shelter's location could arguably be considered the safest in the entire region.

Still, despite its favorable position, Su Wu spared no effort in fortifying the farmstead shelter. This was his stronghold—his foundation. Its importance far outweighed that of the annexed shelters or their tens of thousands of residents.

If forced to choose between saving the farmstead shelter or the annexed shelters, the decision was clear: the farmstead shelter would take precedence, no matter the cost.

Currently, after allocating maximum resources and even using survival points for enhancements, the farmstead shelter had undergone comprehensive reinforcement.

Engineered by construction robots, building robots, and numerous support units such as robotic dogs and humanoid service robots, the shelter had been upgraded to a nearly submarine-level waterproof standard.

At the shelter's entrance, a hill formed from excavated soil and rubble had been reshaped. After being reinforced with concrete and steel, it now stood as a platform 20 meters above ground level. This platform would allow access to the shelter even in the event of extreme flooding.

If the time came when vehicles could no longer travel, the platform would also double as a dock for boats.

"Let's hope it never comes to that."

Though thoroughly prepared, Su Wu hoped these measures would remain unnecessary. If the situation reached such a dire point, the entire Jianghe City area would likely have transformed into a massive inland lake, bringing untold tragedies.

In comparison to the farmstead shelter, the situation at Su Wu's annexed shelters was far worse.

The most critical was the small shelter designated as Vegetable Farm Base No. 1, which had yet to begin full-scale operations. Its entrance was now entirely submerged, with floodwaters reaching three meters above the main gate.

Due to poor initial construction standards, the shelter lacked thorough waterproofing. Leaks had appeared throughout, and the lowest level was already one-third filled with water.

The situation was so dire that Su Wu had essentially given up on salvaging it. With all valuable items already evacuated, he decided to let the shelter flood completely and rebuild it later when the waters receded.

The situation wasn't much better at the Watchtower Base. The surrounding floodwaters had risen to two meters, threatening its entrance.

If not for Su Wu's preemptive measures to elevate and reinforce the ventilation systems, water might already have seeped inside.

Abandoning the Watchtower Base was not an option. It housed vital assets, including geothermal generators, high-temperature furnaces, hydroponic farms, and one of the four communication towers that supported Jianghe City's internet infrastructure.

Fortunately, the base's relatively small size, combined with the presence of a construction robot and auxiliary equipment, allowed it to hold out for now. However, prolonged flooding would require additional resources to maintain its integrity.

Among the annexed shelters, the worst-hit was the largest one: the Jingyuan Shelter, home to over 300,000 residents.

Situated near the edge of Jianghe City, the Jingyuan Shelter was effectively at the forefront of the flood zone.

Its entrance and the surrounding area, spanning several kilometers, had transformed into a vast expanse of water. Debris from destroyed buildings floated across the floodwaters, creating a treacherous environment where survival without adequate preparation was nearly impossible.

"The floodwaters have already risen 1.2 meters above the initial entrance. The original access tunnel is officially sealed."

"To enter or exit the shelter, vehicles must use a newly constructed road spiraling up to the elevated platform, then take the platform's lift down into the shelter."

From the control center, Su Wu reviewed the Jingyuan Shelter's data. On the screen, a 3D map of the shelter slowly rotated, presenting its current state in vivid detail.

Thanks to the shelter's centralized and highly automated management system, even during this crit

ical moment, no one sought Su Wu's counsel.

(End of Chapter)