Apocalypse Survival: Starting with a Shelter

The standoff inside the airlock chamber persisted, as 30 seconds ticked away without much notice.

"Interference detected with the rescue airbag. Unable to disengage properly."

"Rescue operation deemed a failure. Initiating retrieval protocol."

The AI sent its final reports to the control center and updated the shelter's status on the map, changing its red emergency marker to a somber gray, signifying total loss.

Outside the airlock, three spider robots began dismantling the surrounding fixtures. Murky floodwaters surged into the airlock with each movement of the robots.

Inside the airlock, the survivors panicked at the sudden influx of water. Some resorted to furious curses, while others pleaded desperately, but to no avail.

The spider robots, programmed to execute their routines without deviation, continued their dismantling work. Soon, they left behind only a submerged shelter and a few survivors floundering in the floodwaters.

This incident was not isolated. Similar situations occurred elsewhere, though not all were as severe. Some managed to salvage the rescue but at the cost of efficiency, delaying operations and leaving more survivors in dangerous situations elsewhere.

"Extremely selfish people exist everywhere," Su Wu sighed as he reviewed the reports.

These individuals' actions might have seemed trivial under normal circumstances, perhaps even bringing them small benefits. However, in a crisis where every second mattered, their behavior bordered on homicide.

With such grave consequences, Su Wu decided these actions warranted appropriate punishment.

For those who slightly delayed rescues by carrying excessive belongings, their non-essential items would be confiscated, and they would incur a fine of 2,000 contribution points. Going forward, these individuals would only receive basic sustenance, and all their labor earnings would be directed toward repaying this penalty—essentially condemning them to at least a year of hardship.

For those who carried outrageously heavy loads and ignored repeated warnings, Su Wu opted for more severe measures. Such individuals were to be summarily executed to prevent further delays that could cost countless other lives.

"Each rescue vehicle must carry a machine dog as an enforcement tool from now on," Su Wu instructed.

"During rescue operations, deploy the machine dog into the airlock. Any troublemakers should be dealt with immediately to avoid implicating others."

With the adjustments to the rescue rules and a reduction of the warning-to-action time to 20 seconds, the efficiency of all rescue operations significantly improved.

Some innocents might have been wrongfully killed due to slow reactions rather than deliberate defiance. However, given the urgency and Su Wu's repeated warnings through the network and communication channels, those who failed to comply had clearly prioritized their possessions over the lives of others in dire situations.

In such cases, their deaths seemed less unjustified.

In the northern part of Jianghe City, inside a transport vehicle moving slowly underwater, a man named Shi Ming sat silently in a corner of the cargo bay.

The faint smell of blood lingered in the air, making him wrinkle his nose in discomfort.

Not far from him, a young woman clutched a child and wept softly. Others occasionally cast complex glances her way before quickly looking away.

The blood in the air came from the young woman's husband, who had been shot earlier.

During the rescue, the man had brought excessive luggage and attempted to explain himself. For this, he was summarily executed.

Shi Ming felt a twinge of unease.

The man's actions were not entirely unreasonable—he had only wanted to bring extra milk powder and clothes for his child. His behavior wasn't violent; he merely tried to explain. Yet he was still killed without any deliberation.

Shi Ming couldn't help but feel the punishment was excessively harsh.

However, under the watchful eyes of the mechanical enforcers, he dared not voice his discontent. At most, he kept his complaints to himself.

After waiting in silence for over ten minutes, the vehicle jolted slightly. A side door, only wide enough for one person at a time, opened at the rear of the cargo bay. Bright light spilled in from outside, making Shi Ming squint briefly.

A gentle female voice issued from outside:

"Welcome to the mobile base. Please remain orderly and disembark in turn."

Not wanting to draw attention, Shi Ming clutched his belongings tightly and queued up to exit. The earlier incident had instilled enough fear that no one dared to misbehave.

Outside the vehicle was a spacious hall, complete with a staircase leading to an upper level. The setup resembled a sizable shelter.

Shi Ming curiously glanced around.

Through a window on one side of the hall, he saw murky waters churning outside, littered with debris and the occasional stone striking the glass. It dawned on him that they were still at ground level.

He recalled the voice mentioning a "mobile base."

"This is a moving base?" he muttered to himself in disbelief.

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