Inside the Central Hall, Bunker No. 11
The earthquake throughout the bunker subsided, but the situation remained tense. All the awakened personnel gathered in the central hall, where Gen. Ryker, Lt. Adrian, and Dr. Talia were already seated at the conference table, waiting for the department heads to arrive and begin the meeting.
"Alright, we woke up early to conserve the failing reactors' power. While the engineers work to repair the reactor, we need to ensure our survival here. We don't know how long it will take them to fix it, and in the worst-case scenario, we could be trapped here indefinitely," Gen. Ryker said, looking grimly at the other department heads.
"Sir, have you tried to contact the other bunkers?" asked Sgt. Ford, one of the surviving Marines.
"Yes, Sergeant, we've already contacted all the bunkers around the world, but none have responded yet. We're hoping their maintenance crews will pick up our distress signals." Dr. Talia replied, scrolling through her tablet.
Sgt. Ford asked, "How about our satellites? Did you try contacting them?" Dr. Talia replied, "We attempted to contact them, but with millennia since the last maintenance, the International Space Station likely succumbed to orbital decay and crashed to Earth."
"Shit! We really don't have a choice," Sgt. Ford said in frustration.
Gen. Ryker stood up from his chair and spoke. "That's why we need to set up a base camp outside the bunker. It's not reliable to stay in here; this place could collapse at any moment due to the continuous earthquakes."
All the Department Heads nodded in agreement.
Dr. Zhang raised his hand. "We need food, water, medical supplies, shelter, and security."
Dr. Talia raised her hand as well and added, "We also need to send out scientists to study plant and soil samples from outside to see if they're safe to consume. Our repacked food supplies won't be enough if we're here for years. Most importantly, we need to determine if the virus outside is still harmful to us."
"For security, I will send the Marines outside to recon the perimeter and also to escort the scientists conducting research," said Lt. Adrian. "We have a handful of Marines to deploy, but we're still severely lacking in manpower."
"Alright, I want a detailed report on everything: manpower, reactor status, power, food, water, equipment, and weapons," General Ryker said, commanding the department heads one by one.
"Yes, sir!" everyone saluted the commanding general. They were determined to survive, even though they knew little about the outside world. The knowledge they'd retained from centuries ago was becoming less reliable by the minute, and they weren't even sure if the virus had disappeared. But they still had to try.
They needed to survive.
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Outside the Bunker, West of Veilwood Forest
Engineers are busy at work outside the bunker, utilizing power tools and scavenged equipment. Meanwhile, the Marines are formed up neatly on the side.
"Attention!" Lt. Adrian commanded, prompting a swift salute from the assembled Marines."I will now brief you on your important missions."
"Sgt Ford, your squad will provide security for the scientific team as they conduct research on the local ecosystem. This mission is vital for our food supply; is that clear?" Lieutenant Adrian directed, addressing the blond soldier.
"Sir, yes Sir!" Sgt. Ford yelled, then Lt. Adrian turned to Sgt. Yelena and Kenneth and instructed, "Prepare our kinetic pulse rifles and exosuits in the armory. We're heading north."
Sgt. Yelena asked, "Sir, what's the reason and why are we going there?"
Lt. Adrian responded, "Scout drones detected old settlements in the north. We must investigate promptly to gather intel." Without delay, the two soldiers made their way to the armory, nestled within the bunker's secure walls.
"What about us, Sir?" Sgt. Colt asked looking for clarification. "Don't we have a role to play?"
"Secure the perimeter while half of your team assists the Engineers with power tools and salvages reusable materials, with the goal of rapidly establishing our external base." Lt. Adrian replied with a commanding tone.
"Sir, yes Sir!" Sgt. Colt salutes.
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Inside the Command Center, Bunker No. 11
The command center buzzed with activity. Officers intently studied their monitors, while a separate team tracked the scout drones deployed towards the forest. Suddenly, Dr. Talia and a woman with glasses approaches the General.
"Reporting," Quartermaster Kristine said, clearing her throat. "According to the engineers, the bunker sustained no significant damage and..."
General Ryker gave a nod, and she continued.
"For our weapons systems, maintenance is required for the four Kinetic Pulse Close-in Weapon Systems (KPCIWS-75) and two Pulse Bolt Cannons (PBC) before they can be operational again. Meanwhile, the aged missile launchers pose an elevated explosion risk, making replacement ideal, but our limited resources currently prohibit this.
Fortunately, our Kinetic Pulse Rifles have sufficient ammunition, and the Exosuits remain fully operational thanks to regular maintenance. However, our laser weapon system remains offline due to substantial energy requirements and ongoing energy conservation measures.
Our current manpower is 4,000. We're setting up renewable energy sources and established wind and solar power generation but locating a suitable coastal site for tidal power is challenging due to the drastically altered landscape following our cryosleep.
Engineers are repurposing bunker materials for vehicle and heavy machinery repairs. Fortunately, the bunker's water purifiers remain operational, and the underground water sources are surprisingly clean despite the pandemic.
Also, to navigate the altered landscape, we must re-establish our rocket program and launch a satellite to provide essential terrain mapping. Blind exploration will severely impede our progress."
QM Kristine looked up from her tablet. "Last but not the least, Quartermaster Jonathan will provide an update on our food inventory." pointing at the man at the back.
Our food supply is ample. Thanks to the 12th crew's efforts, our genetically modified 'hundred-year corn' has yielded an abundant food supply. However, even with rationing, it will only sustain 4,000 people for approximately three days. Moreover, our soldiers require a stable diet rich in protein, including meat."
QM. Jonathan whispered softly, "Even I crave meat, it's been millennia."
"Regarding medical supplies," Dr. Talia spoke next, "we have an adequate stockpile, particularly of the virus vaccine. However, we must remain cautious, as it's uncertain whether the virus has truly disappeared or evolved into a new strain that could still pose a threat to humans."
As General Ryker and Dr. Talia were deeply engrossed in conversation, the command center's alarm suddenly blared loudly, accompanied by flashing red lights indicating an emergency situation
"Sir, we have a situation!" an officer shouted, eyes fixed on his monitor.
Gen. Ryker spun around, his expression stern. "Is it from the Marine team sent to the old settlement?"
"No, sir," The officer replied promptly. "It's from the research team foraging for food in the forest. They've encountered something, and it's not looking good."
Gen. Ryker's brow furrowed. "Show me."
The officer nodded and projected the feed onto the command center's giant screen. The room fell silent as the image materialized.
Jaws dropped, and gasps echoed through the room. Gen. Ryker's face turned ashen. "What in hell is that thing?" he exclaimed, mirroring the stunned reactions of the others.
On screen, a gargantuan serpent creature emerged from the underbrush, its body as long as a school bus, with scales as black as coal and eyes that glowed like embers. It was eerily reminiscent of the prehistoric Titanoboa, a creature thought to be extinct for millions of years.
Dr. Talia, stepped forward, her voice trembling. "Sir, this is impossible. We've never seen anything like it."
"Get me the research team's feed. I want to know what they're seeing." Gen. Ryker ordered.
The officer immediately worked his console. The screen split, displaying the research team's footage. They were retreating, their faces terrified, as the creature gave chase.
"We need to extract them, now," Gen. Ryker ordered. "Prepare a rescue team. We can't let that thing harm our people."
The room erupted into a flurry of activity as the team scrambled to respond to the crisis.