Steel torrents pioneering a different world

Chapter 114 Divine Punishment!? Emergency Plan Two Activated! (Bonus Chapter for Five Chapters Combined, Please Subscribe)

"Comrade Xiaoman, the development of this other world is a long and arduous task, and there will definitely be formidable figures in the future. Since the time-space gate has indicated the existence of gods in this other world, they must possess individual powers beyond the realm of ordinary understanding. We must acquire the courage to confront these gods!"

"Confronting the mighty forces of heaven and earth has always been a glorious achievement of our ancestors! Commander, I am willing to face the gods and taboos with my own flesh and blood!"

"You have your motherland behind you, and countless people supporting you! Don't let your country and people down!"

At the farewell banquet before the land reclamation, Li Weiguo's earnest face and resounding words were like a red-hot branding iron, burning deeply into Commander Man's mind.

He watched the screen as the necromancer and the humanoid creatures died, and the immense power that had enraged nature made him feel like his throat was on fire.

"Whether it's magic or not, it's something we need to deal with right now!"

Commander Man was the first to react, his voice hoarse but filled with undeniable courage.

"Comrades, the time for us to be tested has come! Panic will not solve anything!"

"In ancient times, Yu the Great moved mountains, Jingwei filled the sea, and Kuafu chased the sun. Today, we may also follow in the footsteps of our ancestors and accomplish great deeds that will shake the ages!"

In the command center, everyone's gaze gradually shifted from initial panic and horror to steely resolve.

Although the pioneers' brigade is facing the most dangerous moment since its establishment.

But facing difficulties head-on has always been the most preferred way for Easterners to overcome challenges.

I'm not afraid of difficulties, I'm afraid of not being able to find difficulties.

It's just a volcanic eruption, causing the earth to collapse and mountains to shake.

It's okay, it's okay!
It's not like the host has a large number of illegitimate children, or his faith has collapsed. He doesn't care and has nothing to fear!

As everyone adjusted their mindset, each department began more detailed reconnaissance.

Everyone urgently needs specific information about the site of the volcanic eruption.

The swarm of drones that were urgently dispatched is transmitting real-time footage of the apocalyptic scene from the front lines from various angles.

On the main screen, the earth appears as if a shortbread has been smashed by a heavy hammer, cracking inch by inch.

Hot white steam gradually hissed and gushed out from the crack, emitting a sharp whistling sound.

Before long, the viscous, reddish-brown lava burst through the earth's crust with sheer violence.

Their eruption columns, carrying volcanic ash and rock fragments, savagely pierced the sky, shooting nearly a thousand meters into the air.

Countless burning volcanic bombs, trailing long plumes of flame, rained down in all directions, creating scorched craters in the earth.

That was a violent explosion caused by a chain reaction between acidic substances and air.

What's even more chilling is that the churning, high-temperature gas-solid mixture actually slid down the hillside at a speed like flowing water.

Wherever it passed, rocks and withered trees were all turned to ashes.

Fortunately, the amount of magma seemed to be running out, with intermittent eruptions.

Unfortunately, they were too close to the volcanic eruption.

A drone flew a little too close to observe more of the situation, but it was unlucky and was instantly hit and destroyed in mid-air by a piece of volcanic rock the size of a human head, and the screen went black.

"Report to the brigade commander!"

A bespectacled, well-mannered technician suddenly jumped up from his seat, his face ashen. He pointed to a row of monitoring charts next to him that were bright red, and his voice trembled.

"The geological structure of the target area we detected is undergoing a chain reaction. The underground temperature of the nearby mountains is increasing at an abnormal rate! The area affected by the thermal anomaly has already exceeded a radius of 1 kilometer! The geothermal area is still expanding!"

"This entire mountain range... seems to have activated all the earth's veins, and all the magma looks like it's about to erupt!"

"How could the forbidden magic spell created by sacrificing so many lives be just a volcanic eruption? Is there something else that hasn't been discovered yet?"

Another member of the geological survey team muttered to himself, as if he had lost his mind: "No wonder, this doesn't match any of our known volcanic activity models at all... Ugh, this must be caused by some damn magic!"

One of the staff officers said through gritted teeth, "How many more ley line hotspots can the drones detect?"

"Within a radius of 1.3 kilometers centered on the target mountain, the geothermal heat is already increasing and is approaching the critical value for eruption! Moreover, the geothermal heat is still spreading and increasing!"

Once the drone takes off and switches to infrared mode, it can easily observe parts of the area surrounding the volcano.

There is no crustal movement or anything like that, but the temperature is gradually increasing in the area radiating outward from the crater centered on Blood Sacrifice.

“Brigadier, I signed the geological survey report for that area! I’d bet my whole family’s lives that the extinct volcanoes there are even more dead than the rocks beneath our feet! They’ve been dormant for at least 100,000 years! It’s definitely an extinct volcanic zone.”

These words immediately created an extremely tense atmosphere in the command room.

Yes, that area was not only safe when it was previously explored, but in their eyes it was a treasure trove flowing with milk and honey.

The report submitted by the geological survey team earlier clearly pointed out that the area contained veins of rare earth, gold and various precious metals with astonishing reserves, and had long been listed as a top priority development zone by the logistics department.

Now, a piece of fatty meat that was about to be eaten has been burned into glass by that necromancer and some pointy-eared creatures using some unknown method, along with the plate.

No, it's even worse than burning it into glass.

This is going to blow up the whole kitchen!

Commander Man secretly regretted that he should have used the weapon of truth to completely annihilate the enemy!
"This is magic! Magic that can change the world!"

A commander in charge of logistics planning slammed his fist on the table, his lips trembling with anger.

"This is absolutely outrageous! This is so illogical!"

This power, which surpasses previous scientific understanding, is like slapping modern science hard across the face.

Human science is powerful, having mastered the immense power to create the sun and rapidly alter the terrain of mountains and rivers.

But the scene before them, which seemed to explode almost instantly, was something they had never witnessed before.

They are unreasonable, unaware of the triggers, and clueless about how to defend against them.

The future is destined to be a chaotic and fraught path of pioneering.

Commander Man took a deep breath, his eyes sharpening again.

"Now is not the time to pursue whether something is scientific or not."

He looked around, and his firm voice silenced everyone.

"Gentlemen, all units need to implement the emergency evacuation plan! Notify all frontline combat teams to prepare."

His gaze fell on Su Mingjin.

The other party sighed and nodded, saying, "Commander Man's suggestion is very important, but for now, we should make preparations first. The people in the Science Department need to calculate the volcano's spread path and the maximum impact range before determining which safe zones to evacuate to."

"Arrange for a helicopter rescue team to quickly bring Zhao Chong's squadron back, and the frontline combat team should also abandon the original plan to clear and capture, and retreat to the defensive line as quickly as possible."

"If life is in danger, all non-essential equipment may be discarded!"

"Let the wounded and some non-combatants return to the modern world. The situation here needs to be taken back and handed over to Commander Li for assessment!"

Time passed quickly as scientific and technological analysts rapidly gathered intelligence through drone observations, calculated and analyzed the rate of geothermal overflow, and many commanders endured psychological torment...

Su Mingjin stared intently at the crimson expanse on the main screen, a scene resembling a painting of hell, which made her temples throb.

She felt her heartbeat was almost out of control, unable to keep up with the wildly rising curves on those monitoring charts.

She suppressed her unease and remained seated as if nailed to a wall.

After a long pause, she asked, "Analyst, is the model ready? Has the disaster level been confirmed? When will the geothermal effect and lava hit us?"

This was her third inquiry in ten minutes.

"Report!" The analyst's voice was shrill with tension. "The model is out! Based on the current rate of geothermal radiation, in four hours! At most four hours, the geothermal anomaly will spread seventeen kilometers! At that time, the entire base will be covered by scattered volcanic ash and high-temperature lava!"

four hours.

These three words, like three towering mountains, weighed heavily on the hearts of everyone in the command room.

time is too short.

They had to give up a lot!
This means that the bridgehead they spent astronomical sums of money and countless manpower and resources to build in this alien world is about to become a worthless wasteland.

Those isolation rooms buried deep underground, those impregnable protective zones, and those experimental bases that house countless cutting-edge technologies are no different from paper when faced with absolute high temperatures.

The melting point of reinforced concrete is 1,500 degrees Celsius, while the temperature of the magma they detected was only over 1300 degrees Celsius.

This temperature is high enough to turn a large number of modern equipment in the base into pitiful charcoal fires.

These high-tech devices absolutely cannot withstand an hour of scorching heat in a high-temperature environment.

The most regrettable thing is that the heavy artillery and anti-aircraft missile systems that were just deployed on the hillsides and halfway up the mountain for the purpose of positional defense have now become hot potatoes.

Transfer them?

There's simply not enough time!

All that could be taken were highly mobile vehicles and equipment, as well as precious fuel and ammunition.

Some of the old equipment that was brought over from the warehouse, which was supposed to shine again in this world, was instead used as defensive cannons in the permanent base and will probably all be scrapped.

Moving all the supplies that took more than 20 days to transport within four hours is an absolutely impossible task.

In conclusion, the pioneering team suffered enormous property losses this time!

"Damn it..." The commander in charge of logistics planning looked at the dense list of assets on the screen, his eyes reddening, and he slammed his fist on the table in frustration. "I just signed for three large mining machines last week and just encountered the mine, damn it!!! They haven't even been brought back yet!"

The battle happened so suddenly that the large mining equipment deployed within a radius of tens of kilometers was about to start operating, but now, due to the volcanic eruption, it is estimated that they will all be rendered useless.

What a pity!

"Now is not the time to worry about equipment; the safety of our comrades is paramount!"

Commander Man interrupted him in a deep voice.

"If Lin Li were here, and if he could control the time portal, perhaps..." Su Mingjin thought about this, then rubbed her throbbing temples, forcing herself to calm down.

She looked at Commander Man, and the two exchanged a heavy glance.

"Commander Man, the message has been reported for ten minutes. Given Commander Li's personality, it is highly likely that we will activate the second type of land reclamation crisis response plan."

The "Second Category of Reclamation Crisis Handling Plan" is the least optimistic of the many contingency plans formulated by the command after confirming the existence of supernatural forces in this world.

As for the first category... nobody wants to mention it.

Because that would mean the gods themselves would intervene, and the human expeditionary force would be at its wits' end, leaving them with no choice but to release the Sun of Truth, so that both they and their enemies could at least save face.

The second category represents the expeditionary force encountering force majeure, losing the stable support of the time portal, and having to survive independently in another world, or having to leave the vicinity of the time portal due to uncontrollable factors.

The second type of solution is undoubtedly very difficult and fraught with problems in its implementation.

Commander Fu, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke.

"Hey, how about we launch a few more conventional Dongfeng missiles into the crater and see if we can destroy the chain reaction there? Let's see if we can damage the crater and directly disrupt the magic circle's operation!"

Commander Man recalled the scene of the necromancer's death shown on the big screen and said, "That necromancer's magical connection, created with the blood of countless lives and his own, probably won't end so easily. Rather than wasting precious ammunition, let's send him back to the modern world!"

"Give it a try. After we killed the necromancer boss, the blizzard stopped, and those volcanoes also contain strong magical power. Maybe it really will work."

It's better to try anything than to just wait and see.

As Su Mingjin nodded, the order was quickly issued.

At the distant missile launch site, the equipment that had already entered the recovery process started operating again, and the launch pad slowly adjusted its angle to lock onto the coordinates of the crater transmitted back by the drone.

"emission!"

The command light turned green, and the missile engine spewed a scorching exhaust plume, tearing through the air with a deep roar. The missile, trailing a white contrail, traced a resolute arc across the sky before plunging into the death zone, constantly spewing volcanic ash.

Inside the command center, everyone held their breath, staring intently at the live feed transmitted from the drone on the main screen.

The screen suddenly went white, then shook violently, and the signal was interrupted for several seconds.

Immediately afterward, the delayed explosion reached the base, a deafening roar that seemed to shake the entire world.

"Part of it collapsed!" an analyst shouted, his voice tinged with excitement.

On the screen, the signal was restored, and the drone was struggling to climb. Through the thick volcanic ash, the camera could see that a large section of the edge of the small crater had indeed been blasted away.

The lava, like a flood bursting its banks, was propelled hundreds of meters into the air by immense force, and then crashed down like a destructive rain of fire.

However, this initial excitement quickly faded.

"The lava flow from the main crater shows no signs of abating!"

"The ground temperature continues to rise steadily, and the rate of diffusion... remains unchanged!"

On the screen, the red area representing the geothermal effect continues to spread steadily toward the base without slowing down in the slightest.

"Deploy some more rockets!"

Seeing the same reaction as always, Commander Fu looked at the screen, clenched his fist, and finally let it relax.

He laughed self-deprecatingly: "Well, let's just say it made a sound."

The Dongfeng missile and several rockets, apart from creating a lot of fireworks, did absolutely nothing.

"Let's cancel the rocket barrage too," Su Mingjin said wearily, waving her hand. "Don't waste ammunition. Prepare to execute the plan."

The last glimmer of hope in everyone's hearts was completely extinguished.

However, tens of kilometers away, deep within the thick smoke and flames that drone cameras cannot penetrate, unseen changes are taking place.

The violent shockwave from the explosion swept across the entire crater, and the fate of the two egg-shaped gems, which had been offered as sacrifices, was completely changed at that moment.

Originally, the two gems were half-absorbed by the raging volcano, and the violent lava was completely unable to disperse the two egg-shaped gems.

However, due to the impact of the external force, one of the gems, which was already full of cracks, could no longer maintain its shape under the shock wave and shattered into countless tiny crystals, which were then swallowed by the raging magma.

The other intact gemstone's dazzling luster had dimmed considerably, and the mysterious, vibrant life force surrounding the egg-shaped gemstone had largely dissipated.

The violent explosion engulfed it, and like a large stone thrown out, it rolled out along with the lava through the blasted gap in the mountain pass.

The bullet-shaped gem rolled and flowed along with the lava, eventually falling into a newly appeared fissure in the mountain and disappearing without a trace.

Drones are powerful and have strong reconnaissance capabilities, but their optical lenses cannot compare to the human eye due to harsh environments.

Drones flying in the sky could no longer perceive the suffocating, despairing pressure of the crater, as much of it had dissipated with the explosion.
-
A few minutes ago, in the modern world.

Reclamation Logistics and Overall Command Center.

Li Weiguo looked at the real-time battle reports coming from the encrypted line, slammed his fist on the table, making the teacup vibrate.

"The undead scourge, the beast horde attack, and now the ground is cracking and volcanoes are erupting!"

He unbuttoned his collar and felt a surge of anger rush from his chest to the top of his head.

"Is the next step going to be a meteorite falling from the sky and a plague sweeping the entire land? Are we going to start a new era, or are we just going to be sent to that other world to collect our KPIs?!"

"Why are the life forms from that world so afraid of us? Why are they attacking us at such a cost? Have we tried to eradicate them? We just want to mine some minerals and grow some vegetables!"

"Damn it, I'll definitely plant them all in the ground when I get the chance!" Li Weiguo was extremely vicious.

Assistant Xiao Wang handed over a glass of warm water and whispered, "Mr. Li, that world still has gods who can control supernatural powers and possess methods we can't understand yet... this..."

“I understand! Of course I understand!” Li Weiguo gulped down a mouthful of water, annoyed as he interrupted his well-intentioned suggestion.

"But all this crap came so fast! We'd barely got our pots and pans ready, hadn't even started digging yet, and they just flipped the table! It's fucking disgusting! Couldn't they have waited a bit?"

"Damn, and that world's lousy weather, lousy solar eclipse, how come they all happened so coincidentally?"

He stared at the request sent by Su Mingjin on the screen to implement the "Second Category of Reclamation Crisis Incident Handling Plan," his chest heaving violently a few times before finally letting out a heavy sigh.

"Approved. Let them implement Plan Two according to the level of danger of the otherworld."

Li Weiguo's voice carried a deep sense of powerlessness.

"Also, organize a meeting of the confidentiality expert group! The topic is singular: if the time portal is completely covered by magma, how will we solve our subsequent supply problem? Will we reopen the portal, or will we stop supplying it on the spot!"

"Yes!" Xiao Wang replied immediately, then hesitated for a moment before cautiously asking, "President Li, should we... tentatively inquire about Mr. Lin Li?"

"Him?" Li Weiguo paused, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table.

The rhythm was sometimes fast and sometimes slow, much like his conflicted state of mind at that moment.

A few seconds later, as if he had made up his mind, he grabbed the red telephone on the table: "I'll call it myself!"

"No!" Xiao Wang hurriedly stepped forward and advised, "President Li, please think it over! Your personal contact is a completely different matter; it's almost tantamount to a showdown."

"If the other party has any taboos or rules that we are unaware of, it might put Mr. Lin in a difficult position. They might even... refuse us outright."

Li Weiguo's hand holding the microphone froze in mid-air, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Why don't they come to us first? They're being far too passive!"

Xiao Wang is right; he was confused because he was in a hurry.

His personal involvement signifies the will of the authorities.

Once rejected by the other party due to irresistible factors, or if they simply pretend not to understand, there is no room for maneuver, and the fragile tacit understanding between the two parties will vanish.

The pioneering troops really had to rely on themselves to carry the burden.

However, if a third party is involved... the nature of the request changes from an official request for help to a private inquiry between friends, which can both convey information and retain sufficient buffer space.

“Send Zhong Mengyao over.” Li Weiguo slowly put down the microphone, rubbing his throbbing temples. “Has she been practicing shooting with Lin Li at the club lately and developed a deep friendship? Now is the time to test the value of that friendship.”

"understand!"

Xiao Wang accepted the order and left, leaving Li Weiguo alone in the room once again.

He turned his attention back to the alarming list of estimated losses on the screen.

For this operation, the logistics department continuously transported supplies to the other world for a full twenty-five days.

Various engineering vehicles, combat equipment, enough supplies and food for 5,000 people for two years, and mountains of fuel and ammunition...

Currently, an estimated 95 percent of the items on the list are marked in bright red, signifying "about to be abandoned".

"Damn it..." Li Weiguo's eyes twitched, feeling as if his heart was bleeding.

Just over an hour ago, they had used up billions of dollars worth of ammunition to repel the undead attack.

Now, we have to personally discard hundreds of billions of dollars worth of supplies and a large amount of equipment.

He could almost picture the finance department coming to him with reports, crying and complaining.

How do I write this report?
"Respected leader, due to the displeasure of a certain mountain in another world, our unit has suffered a total loss of equipment and supplies amounting to XXXX billion..."

If he writes it down, people won't think he's crazy; they'll just think he's writing a fantasy novel.

"Those three large tunneling machines, which were just signed for last week, were barely delivered to the foot of the mine. They hadn't even had a chance to dig a mouthful of warm soil from this other world before we had to watch them turn into molten iron..."

Li Weiguo grew angrier the more he thought about it, and in frustration, he lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.

"Now, those guys from the tobacco, oil, and heavy industry groups are probably lining up to curse again. I wonder if they'll break down in their defenses while they're discussing with their sister companies how to draft loss reports!"

"Why……!"

He paced restlessly back and forth in the room, his gaze gradually hardening amidst the swirling smoke.

Equipment can be rebuilt, and money lost can be earned back.

But if a person dies, then you really lose everything.

"Oh well, what's done is done!"

"Everything else is negotiable, but the lives of our comrades cannot be lost inside!"

Li Weiguo stubbed out his cigarette, a resolute glint in his eyes.

His only hope now is that Zhong Mengyao can bring a little miracle from Lin Li.

Of course, what he longed for even more was for the pioneering team from the other world to turn the tide and solve these natural disasters.

As for the dormant volcanoes that the magicians in the fantasy world stimulated, their power was insufficient to reach the pioneer team's base, and they only occupied a very small portion.

Do you think those guys, who spent so many lives and resources to create this elaborate scheme, can be so easily resolved?

It's estimated that it won't be long before those forbidden spells stimulate the lava and volcanic ash, engulfing and covering the advance team's camp!
-
A few minutes later, Su Mingjin saw the order sent by Li Weiguo from the Modern Logistics Command Headquarters and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Headquarters has issued instructions confirming that the lava is a disaster that is currently uncontrollable. We will implement the second emergency plan."

"Order!" Su Mingjin's voice suddenly rose, filled with unquestionable decisiveness. "All non-combat personnel and intelligence analysts, in batches, drive all kinds of important, hard-to-move heavy assets back to the modern world!"

"Order! All frontline combat units, immediately disengage and move to the vicinity of area D-7 to the southeast!"

"In case of emergency, all non-essential heavy equipment may be discarded! Only basic ammunition, supplies and resupply should be carried."

"Yes, sir!" The communications officer immediately began relaying the orders.

Upon hearing this order, the atmosphere in the command center was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

Choosing to evacuate from the D-7 area 70 kilometers to the south means they will move closer to the coastal areas, which also means they will be completely cut off from the time portal's supply.

The combat effectiveness of a modern army, to put it bluntly, is its logistical delivery capability.

Without logistical support, their assault rifles are just sticks for burning, and their tanks are just iron coffins.

All the soldiers could rely on were their alloy swords and limited rations.

Staying would be a gamble.

I'm betting that the area around that 300-meter-diameter portal is an absolutely safe zone, capable of isolating attacks from magic and supernatural forces, and withstanding a cataclysmic destructive force.

Gambling with equipment is acceptable, but gambling with a soldier's life is not.

This is tantamount to betting the lives of more than 8,000 elite warriors who have not yet completed the time travel cooldown period on a vague possibility.

Staying here to wait for a possible time portal, while seemingly safe in an absolutely secure zone, is actually like being alone in the Gaza Strip and spotting a squid by a special forces team – putting yourself in absolute danger and potentially causing the troops to abandon their last chance to fight back.

Even after they leave, the volcanoes and lava will continue to exist and remain active. The time portal fixed here will become an insurmountable barrier for them, making their connection with the modern world extremely difficult.

But they still understand the principle that if you lose people while you retain land, you will lose both.

The hasty evacuation was somewhat unavoidable, but at least it ensured the safety of the soldiers' lives to the greatest extent possible!

Life is not important in war; it's just a bargaining chip. But in another world, it is extremely important.

Nobody dares to gamble, and nobody can afford to gamble.

"Everyone, let's get moving." Su Mingjin stood up and looked around at everyone. "We don't have much time to waste."

"Now, let's discuss the specific evacuation route and plan. We must get all available people and supplies to the safe zone as quickly as possible!"
-
B5 Logistics Supply Base.

The distant sky was tinged with an ominous dark red, and the earth trembled intermittently, as if an ancient behemoth was awakening, its every breath causing this otherworldly continent to tremble.

A faint smell of sulfur filled the air, and a thin layer of volcanic ash, like the dandruff of death, silently settled on every steel vehicle.

"Evacuate?"

Zhao Chong frowned deeply as he looked at the command that had just popped up on the communication terminal. He slammed his fist on the ammunition box next to him, making a dull thud.

"Ordering us to abandon our equipment? Are you kidding me!"

His gaze swept over the neatly parked armored vehicles and heavy trucks in the base. These cold, steel lumps were no different from his flesh-and-blood brothers in his eyes.

"Connect to command! B5 Squadron, Zhao Chong! I request to speak!" He grabbed the communicator, his voice booming.

"Please wait a moment, Captain Zhao." The communications officer's voice was quickly replaced by another, more composed, and somewhat weary male voice.

It was Brigade Commander Fu's voice.

"Xiao Zhao, did you understand the order?"

“Reporting to the brigade commander! I understand! But I have a different opinion!” Zhao Chong stood ramrod straight, as if Brigade Commander Fu were right in front of him. “We have been ordered to move to area D-7. I have looked at the map, and the road conditions around the snow-covered forest on the east side are not bad. My squadron requests permission to use this equipment to transport another batch of weapons and ammunition for evacuation.”

Commander Fu remained silent for a few seconds, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.

"What guarantees your safety and that of your dozens of men?"

"Reporting, Brigade Commander!" Zhao Chong spoke rapidly, clearly having prepared his report beforehand. "My squadron currently has forty combat personnel, all of them technical soldiers and experienced drivers! Base B5 may not have much else, but it has plenty of fuel and vehicles! With two people per vehicle, we can easily drive assault vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles, and heavy trucks out. These supplies can not only protect ourselves but also provide resupply to other units!"

"Commander, riding the train is safer than running around on foot, isn't it?"

The words may be crude, but the principle is sound.

A soft chuckle came from the other end of the communicator. Brigade Commander Fu seemed amused, and his tone lightened: "You rascal, you always have so many twisted arguments. Taking care of equipment is a good thing, I understand. It's a tradition ingrained in the PLA. But times have changed, and you need to ensure your own safety!"

"Don't worry, Brigade Commander!" Zhao Chong pressed his advantage, patting his chest to assure them, "I can guarantee it! My unit is currently refueling the vehicles and supplies, and we'll be ready to depart within half an hour! It's fifty kilometers, and even considering any potential problems, we'll definitely get there in two and a half hours!"

"If I can't get there, you can shoot me! By the way, the helicopter is only responsible for transporting the wounded and the remains of fallen comrades, right?"

"Alright, stop making promises all the time."

"I approve your request. But remember this: no matter how important the equipment is, it's not as important as human lives! If things get bad, abandon the heavy vehicles and make sure everyone gets to safety!"

"Yes, sir! Don't worry, brigade commander, I guarantee I'll complete the mission!" Zhao Chong's voice was filled with excitement.

After hanging up the call, he turned to look at his men who were already assembled and waiting behind him. His face was covered in dust, but his eyes were frighteningly bright.

"Did you hear everything?"

"We heard you!" More than forty men roared in unison, their voices echoing across the surrounding area.

"Then what are you waiting for!" Zhao Chong grinned, revealing a set of teeth that looked exceptionally white against the backdrop of billowing dust. "All units, move forward! Pack all the belongings you can carry into the vehicles!"

As soon as the order was given, the entire B5 base erupted into a frenzy, like a pot of water suddenly boiling over.

The roar of engines rose and fell as heavy trucks and infantry fighting vehicles were driven out of the garage, forming a long line.

The soldiers worked in pairs or groups of three, moving as fast as wound-up machines, carrying various important supplies while wearing passive exoskeletons.

"Captain!" Zhou, a young soldier with a face covered in grease, was panting as he and his comrades were loading a heavy box of machine gun ammunition onto a truck. He turned around and shouted, "How are we getting back to D-7? What happened at the time portal?"

Zhao Chong was directing a forklift to steadily place a huge diesel generator set into the rear compartment of a heavy truck.

Upon hearing this, he roared without turning his head, "The brigade headquarters just sent word that the space-time portal will be submerged by lava within four hours! Although this place isn't in the main scour zone, we estimate that the lava will flow over here in eighty minutes! We only have thirty minutes to pack our supplies and then evacuate!"

These words were like a spoonful of cold water poured into hot oil, causing an uproar among all the soldiers who heard them, which then transformed into even greater motivation.

Lava! It will definitely arrive in eighty minutes!
These two words are like two iron clamps, tightly gripping everyone's heart.

No one asked another question. Everyone gritted their teeth and desperately hauled the mountains of weapons, ammunition, food supplies, and fuel barrels piled up at the B5 logistics base onto the vehicles.

The B5 base is filled with all kinds of vehicles, including many Cat All-Terrain Vehicles.

These agile little guys were originally used by the patrol team, but now they come in handy.

Zhao Chong's squadron of forty men has more than enough manpower for two people per vehicle, and they can also spare some manpower to drive those heavy trucks loaded with supplies.

"Is this box really that heavy?"

"These are some precious metals that the brothers in the previous collection team used a screening method to collect! Let's pack them too."

The mining team discovered several similar gold mines nearby, and high-purity gold could be extracted with simple separation.

Unfortunately, this incident happened before those dozens of kilograms of gold could be transported back.

The soldiers joked with each other as they neatly stacked boxes of dark green ammunition.

In just over ten minutes, the previously empty troop transport vehicle was filled to the brim, with even the aisle piled with medical kits and compressed rations.

Just then, a heavy, rhythmic "WOP-WOP-WOP" sound came from afar, drowning out the noise of the base.

A rugged-looking heavy transport helicopter pierced the dark red sky and hovered over the open ground of the base. Its huge rotors kicked up clouds of volcanic ash, making it impossible for people to open their eyes.

"Wounded! Wounded soldiers go first!" Zhao Chong shouted, shielding his face with his arm.

Several seriously wounded soldiers were carried over on stretchers. They didn't utter a sound, just silently watched their comrades who were still busy.

They all knew that if they insisted on staying, they would only be a burden to the combat troops.

"Captain, I'm fine!" Artilleryman Zhao Dezhu's arm was wrapped in thick bandages, soaked with blood, but he insisted on carrying a box of bullets onto the truck.

Zhao Chong strode over, grabbed his shoulder, and glared at him: "Zhao Dezhu! Are you deaf? Get on the plane!"

"Captain! I just got a cut, it's nothing! I can still fire the cannon!" Zhao Dezhu said stubbornly, looking unconvinced.

"Fire my ass!" Zhao Chong cursed irritably. "We're a transport team now, not an artillery company! You...you...go get a command vehicle, get in the passenger seat, and be my lookout! If you dare say another word, I'll strap you to the plane's landing gear and make you the first one to reach the safe zone!"

Zhao Chong ultimately did not refuse his old subordinate's request to stay.

Upon hearing this, a smile immediately spread across Zhao Dezhu's dark face. He gave a quick salute, though the movement was somewhat comical: "Yes, sir! I guarantee I'll complete the mission!"

Seeing that the lightly wounded soldiers were obediently arranged to sit in the passenger seat, Zhao Chong finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The helicopter's rotors churned up clouds of dust and emitted a deafening roar.

As the helicopter was about to take off, Zhao Chong glanced at the people in the car and asked, "Hey, where are Engineer Bian and Engineer Peng?"

"Here it is!"

Hearing the sound behind him, he turned around and saw two figures in combat gear standing motionless in place.

He strode over, squinting as the dust and sand whipped up by the rotor blades blew into his eyes, his shout almost drowned out by the noise: "Engineer Bian, Engineer Peng, what's going on with you two? Get on the plane!"

The older Bian Zhuang pushed up his dusty glasses, but his eyes behind the lenses were unusually calm.

“Captain Zhao, I am a geological and mineral resources exploration engineer. The geological structure has changed drastically, and new rift valleys and faults may appear at any time along the evacuation route. If I stay, I will be of greater value.”

"Nonsense! This is an evacuation, not exploration!" Zhao Chong's temper flared, and he reached out to pull him up. "Get on the plane! That's an order!"

“The headquarters order is that non-essential technical personnel should be evacuated first.” Bian Zhuang did not dodge or evade, but instead met Zhao Chong’s gaze and said word by word, “I believe that I belong to the important technical personnel who must stay.”

Zhao Chong was taken aback by his words and was about to lash out when Bian Zhuang suddenly softened his tone, his voice carrying an undeniable calmness: "Captain Zhao, I have two sons back home. Even if I perish here, the family line will continue. Don't worry."

These words struck Zhao Chong like a heavy hammer blow to the heart.

All his scolding stuck in his throat; he couldn't utter a single word.

(End of this chapter)