Armored train in the apocalypse

Chapter 176 Phase Three Transformation Plan

He Jie, who had just eaten a few bites of food, hurriedly led his team to set off, but this time he only brought Liang Kuan as a core member, plus twenty armed soldiers and three hundred young and strong workers.

Tong Zizhan's team cleared potential hazards around the station.

Lu Xiao and Jiang Rong cleaned up potential hazards inside the station.

Lin Jin led dozens of passengers carrying oil drums to clear away the mutated plants that were growing wildly inside the station.

In an instant, the station was filled with the stench of burning flesh, accompanied by shrill screams and mournful howls.

It looked as if they were burning living people, not grass and trees.

Xiao Ba, along with several construction-related personnel from the train crew, planned out a "米" (rice-shaped) residential area within the station, utilizing the existing building structure to span the train tracks and encompass them.

The interior is divided into eight sections, with four four-meter-high walls crisscrossing between them.

The train body is the vertical line in the very middle.

Eight watchtowers were set up, and soldiers patrolled with guns. The third brother led his soldiers to set up some captured light and heavy machine guns on them to guard against the zombies that roamed at night.

The hole in the roof was converted into a rainwater collection point, which is connected to the in-vehicle water purifier.

The entire site was constructed using ordinary steel, with only a framework in place, leaving gaps in the middle that could be reinforced with cement later.

The cook led more than a hundred people to set up large pots in an open space and then started cooking instant noodles.

If I were to properly prepare meals for three thousand people, I could be busy from now until tomorrow morning.

Cooking porridge or instant noodles is the easiest way.

Once the water boils, several large boxes of instant noodles are thrown in. The fried noodles are cooked in the boiling water in just a few minutes, resulting in a soup with noodles and a rich, oily, and salty flavor.

They poured in ten pounds at a time of pre-cut blood dog meat strips.

The survivors who smelled the odor quieted down considerably, their eyes fixed intently on the large pot.

Even Wan Hao and Lao Yuan were shocked by the sheer scale of the armed train project.

To minimize the number of times they go out and survive the apocalypse with no end in sight, most survivors live frugally, taking only a sip of water when thirsty and a bite of biscuit or flatbread when hungry. They dare not drink large gulps of water, let alone make soup noodles from this wastewater.

Compared to this, it seems pretty good.

Coupled with the swift and efficient way the armed train slaughtered zombies during the day, the resentment that everyone felt from being captured gradually dissipated.

In unstable environments, people's desire for security is absolutely paramount.

Of course, the train conductor's dinner couldn't be the same as that of ordinary survivors.

The young cook was already busy in the food cart.

Heat the oil and add the minced pork, then add the peeled tomatoes and simmer until they release their juices. Add some grilled red sausage and simmer for a short while. The rich aroma will fill the entire carriage.

Scoop out most of it, add tomato sauce, lemon juice, and a generous amount of black pepper according to the train conductor's taste, and then add the green noodles made from ground coarse grass.

A post-apocalyptic version of pasta is easily prepared.

Su Huan was lounging lazily on the orange cat sofa, the train conductor's throne.

He held two booklets in his hand, one of which was a train supplies exchange form that Hu Shuo had compiled.

He divided the increasingly complex supplies on the train into seven main parts, and added an "Other Exchanges" section to make up eight major categories.

These include: basic food, basic supplies, medical protection, weapons and equipment, industrial tools, survival information, evolution resources, and other exchange items.

Needless to say, the armed train has never had to worry about food since leaving the logistics center.

The barbecue we ate that day consisted entirely of cold-chain meat skewers.

In addition to various compressed dry rations, canned goods, rice, flour, cooking oil, and freeze-dried vegetables, the food reserves on the train are enough to last until next year.

Moreover, the carriage farm has already produced its first batch of crops, including the high-yield [coarse grass] as a staple food, [sweet and spicy scallions] as a seasoning, and [iron-skinned pumpkin] obtained from the Steel Council, which is specially used to extract oil and has a crispy and fragrant taste.

In addition, the meat of the evolved beasts is extremely resistant to corrosion, and the hundred or so people in the front of the carriage and the crew simply cannot finish it.

So they used some of the three thousand survivors outside to consume some of their resources.

Basic necessities are daily necessities, such as toilet paper, which is considered "humanity's last vestige of dignity," as well as cigarettes, alcohol, sugar, and tea.

In addition to the usual tourniquets, antibiotics, gas masks, and oxygen cylinders, the medical protective gear now includes two new drugs developed by Wan Xing. One of them is the [Life Potion], and the other is the [Pan-Energy Recovery Potion], which can rapidly increase the recovery speed of pan-energy within the evolved individual's body.

Because of their scarcity, both potions are priced very high, with Hu Shuo giving a reference price of 100 points.

The train conductor waved his hand and changed it directly to 135.

Don't underestimate this consumable item; it can be a lifesaver on the battlefield, so 135 is definitely worth it.

Given how fast Lu Xiao and his group earned points, they collected enough in just a few days.

Needless to say, the weapons and equipment were simply a few new items added to the original design. Then, based on the inventory, Hu Shuo made minor price adjustments, with the original price, current price, and quantity sold all listed below.

Drones and exoskeletons are categorized as industrial tools.

This area is quite broad, ranging from small devices to large machine tools. It's listed here to prepare for trading with other settlements, and ordinary survivors wouldn't buy this.

Survival information is more complex and is currently being compiled. The list only includes some details, which cover post-apocalyptic survival strategies, characteristics of different zombies, habits of evolved beasts, and so on.

In addition to evolution materials and miscellaneous exchanges for replenishment, almost all the resources on the armed train are included.

Moreover, Hu said that each item had a reference price marked on it.

Su Huan only needs to make simple adjustments based on this list.

Cross out items you don't want to redeem, and adjust the price if the value is too high.

The principle is simple: it has to be expensive, but it has to be something they can afford if they grit their teeth.

After reading the thick booklet, Su Huan not only understood the points system, but also gained a clear understanding of the train's existing material inventory.

"How much longer?"

He tossed the booklet he had finished reading onto the table and asked Yu Yue, who was busy in the kitchen.

The latter remained silent, simply plating the pasta in front of him, with sea salt, black pepper, and chopsticks neatly placed on the edge of the plate.

Su Huan glanced at the suspiciously arranged green pasta and immediately knew that their relationship was still in a state of "ignoring each other".

He rubbed his chin, not in a hurry to eat, and turned to look at another booklet beside him.

This was originally a train upgrade list designed by Director Xu, Professor Ma, and Yu Jing based on the requirements he made this afternoon.

Yu Jing's initial plans for the second phase of the train renovation have already been completed ahead of schedule. These include full-train monitoring, unified power control for the entire train, large-scale 3D printers, bullet production lines, and medical carriages.

This plan is more complete, no longer just piecemeal renovations.

Instead, it is a comprehensive plan tailored to the specific goals at each stage.

Armed Train Phase III Upgrade and Renovation Plan

The goal of the third phase of renovation is to learn how to withstand sudden floods after the acid rain zone.

After discussion, the group divided the target into three main parts.

One is the internal circulation within the train.

It's not just about recycling water and food, but also about waste disposal and oxygen recycling in enclosed environments.

The second is the conversion of armed trains and ships.

This was the only solution discussed by the group.

This method can also temporarily solve the problem of the train's excessive weight and dependence on the track.

The key points are the vehicle body sealing, buoyancy system, and power system adjustment.

To achieve the level of a ship or a vehicle that can be launched, it's not as simple as just sealing off from rain as before. In addition to sealing the doors, windows, and the carriages themselves, issues such as toilets, carriage bridge connections, and drainage holes also need to be considered.

To go even further, a large number of propellers and a carriage stabilization system need to be added.

Even with the help of various superpowers, this is still a terrifying undertaking, and the existing researchers and engineers of the armed train simply cannot complete the modification.

Therefore, the personnel at the train manufacturing base are essential.

The only good news is that the carriages extensively use a double-layer armor structure.

This structure can effectively resist pressure.

In addition, Su Huan has a habit of collecting new materials, such as ironwood, which saves a lot of trouble in modifying the train.

If the train's ship conversion is successful, the third conversion will naturally follow.

The third modification is the expansion of train space.

Without the constraints of rails, trains no longer need to limit themselves to upward travel and can expand laterally.

The most direct approach is to add another row of cars next to the existing cars of the armed train.

Welding the eight small pieces together to form a double-headed water train not only doubles the space but also enhances the train's stability.

It has to be said that having professionals makes a difference.

This directly freed Su Huan's thinking from the constraints of the "train" framework.

The armed train was designed from a doomsday vehicle into a "mobile doomsday shelter".

However, this design is not perfect.

Adding a row of cars is equivalent to adding a full 55 carriages, plus the platform welded in the middle, which increases the weight by at least one-third.

Once the floodwaters recede, the most immediate problem the train will face is that it will be unable to move.

Even disregarding factors such as floods destroying railway tracks and silt accumulation,

The train was unable to run normally on the tracks.

Even if you take the two objective factors mentioned above into account, separating the two rows of cars won't help.

It's too heavy; the ground can't bear the weight.

Even tracks cannot carry a massive object weighing tens of thousands of tons through the silt left by a flood.

This is also why Su Huan hesitated.

"Click——"

The plate on the table suddenly started to wobble, and two chopsticks slid slightly along the edge of the plate.

This unusual movement caught Su Huan's attention. He looked down at the pasta on the plate, where the tomato sauce was spreading out in tiny ripples.

"earthquake?"

Su Huan wasn't too surprised and looked up at the stunned Yu Yue.

The young cook held a spatula in one hand and gripped the edge of the counter with the other, her expression blank and rather cute.

The entire carriage began to sway slightly, and the fabric curtains hanging on the windows began to sway from side to side, casting uneasy shadows on the walls.

The vibration escalated rapidly within seconds.

The rusted iron sheets on the station roof groaned under the weight, and fine pieces of rust fell like rain of blood.

Suddenly, a burst of noisy discussion erupted outside, accompanied by the hurried footsteps of soldiers on the metal wall.

"Captain!"

The third brother rushed in, fully armed, holding a gun and saying in a solemn voice, "There's been an unexplained tremor to the west of the base, and some tall buildings have collapsed. We..."

His words were interrupted by an even more violent shaking.

In the distance came the rumbling sound of buildings collapsing, mixed with the crisp sound of glass shattering.

Is it a horde of zombies?

Su Huan calmly looked at Yu Yue, who had her eyes closed, and a faint energy fluctuation flowed around her ear.

When she opened her eyes again, her pupils had become wavy, resembling sonar waves.

"It's not a zombie horde. They move very slowly and there are no roars, but there are a lot of whipping sounds, like those big trees near the train during the day."

"Iron-eating tree?"

Su Huan was somewhat surprised.

Can this thing also riot?

"Bring Wan Hao to see me, and also have the second brother stabilize the workers and passengers outside. I don't want anyone to take this opportunity to cause trouble."

The third brother mimicked He Jie's signature sinister grin, "The passengers and workers on the train are separated. There are several heavy machine guns pointed at us. If anyone dares to cause trouble, we'll turn them into mincemeat!"

(End of this chapter)