Apocalypse Survival: Starting with a Shelter

"For now, with the cab and lead shielding for protection, even wearing those subpar radiation suits, they can still last a few hours on the surface near the city. But any longer than that, and it'll come down to luck."

Su Wu concluded his analysis.

For many shelters, this was good news. Surface transportation of materials could continue, albeit at a higher cost. For the drivers, it might mean slightly better conditions, but the shelters would likely siphon off most of the benefits.

For example, instead of allowing drivers to work one-hour shifts with rest periods, shelters might push them to stay on the road for over six hours—teetering dangerously close to lethal radiation exposure. In resource-scarce shelters, even basic lead shielding or rudimentary suits might not be available, leaving workers to bear the brunt of the radiation unprotected, with unpredictable consequences.

Alongside the good news came some bad. The radiation on the surface was neither static nor followed a predictable pattern. After the initial explosive surge subsided into a steady phase, the intensity of radiation levels in various zones began randomly fluctuating.

A truck parked in what seemed like a low-radiation zone could find itself in a high-radiation danger zone moments later. The randomness of these shifts added an unpredictable and perilous dimension to survival on the surface.

Meanwhile, the data from Su Wu's monitoring network began to decline. Clicking to investigate, Su Wu found that some communication relays had been disrupted, causing temporary disconnections in the network.

"Wireless interference has started," Su Wu sighed. The anticipated challenge had arrived on schedule. While prepared for it, he couldn't help but feel a pang of regret.

Fortunately, the communication tower atop the small bunker, enhanced through survival points, showed remarkable resistance to interference. It continued to provide a stable high-speed network within a 15-kilometer radius.

Curious, Su Wu opened the social software linked to his network. Perhaps due to the short time since the storm's onset, those in the know were still preoccupied with urgent tasks.

The radiation storm had not yet stirred much discussion. Most people were still chatting about the auroras in the sky, a trucker's footage of rocket launches at the farmhouse ruins, or mundane shelter life. Many were engrossed in gaming, battling it out with other players or AI opponents as if the storm were a distant concern.

"In a way, this is a kind of peace," Su Wu mused. He felt a faint solace in how this small digital haven he had built still preserved echoes of the world's past prosperity during such bleak times.

Shifting his focus, Su Wu switched the display to monitor the surface. With fewer workers and vehicles around, the farmhouse ruins were regaining their stillness.

Out of concern, Su Wu had dismissed all external engineering vehicles aiding in unloading supplies as soon as the storm hit. His micro-excavators and transport vehicles now handled these tasks.

For the truck drivers temporarily stationed at the ruins, he distributed custom lead shields to mitigate radiation exposure. Of course, these shields were reclaimed once the drivers departed to safeguard the next arrivals.

"Beyond the system, I'm just another human in the crowd. I hope they can make it through," Su Wu thought silently as he observed the surface workers. After roughly estimating their radiation exposure, he turned his attention back to monitoring the internal areas of the shelter.

Thanks to meticulous preparations, the shelter's interior remained unaffected by the radiation storm.

Even in the theoretically most vulnerable section, the vertical lift platform connecting the fifth underground level to the surface, a multi-segment isolation system kept radiation levels minimal. Each section of the platform opened only after the preceding one was sealed, ensuring no breach in containment.

Additionally, all materials brought down to the fifth level were routed through a disinfection chamber for thorough decontamination. This process effectively prevented residual radiation from contaminating the level's storage areas.

"The fifth level should be safe enough," Su Wu reassured himself.

Still, he had no intention of entering the fifth level anytime soon. Despite its apparent safety, it frequently received external materials, and there was always a small chance of missed contaminants.

Ever since the storm's onset, Su Wu approached external resources with heightened caution. Direct contact was no longer an option. The specter of radiation necessitated vigilance in all interactions.

Guided by this mindset, Su Wu had even classified the floor between the fourth and fifth levels as an external wall, coating it with radiation-resistant paint to preemptively counter any potential leaks from the fifth level.

Satisfied that the fifth level was secure, Su Wu continued his inspection of the fourth level.

With the CNC machines and 3D printers running at full capacity, and the newly added micro-mech consuming substantial power for recharging, the recycling center had temporarily ceased operations. The large, energy-intensive high-temperature furnace had been powered down and allowed to cool.

The fourth level felt unusually quiet, with the temporary chemical laboratory being the only active area. There, radiation-resistant paint was being synthesized.

Although Su Wu no longer urgently needed the paint, its long shelf life justified continued production as a reserve resource.

In the third-level agricultural facility, the incubation room diligently tended to rows of carefully placed eggs. These naturally laid, meticulously selected specimens were mere days away from hatching. Once they did, the agricultural facility would undoubtedly become the liveliest area in the shelter.

Nearby, the fish in the breeding pools—introduced as juveniles—had grown to twice their original size. However, they were still far from reaching the ideal size for a grilled fish dinner, a prospect that would require much more time.

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