Chapter 14: Inspection
Su Wu settled into the chair at the operating table and activated the computer via the fingerprint scanner on the operation panel. The 40-inch screen, dominating his view, flickered to life, displaying a three-dimensional rendering of the shelter, outlined in dark green lines. He quickly located the engineering team's logo, their motion trajectories visible on the thumbnail map, a real-time representation of the shelter's status.
"Impressive," he murmured. Regardless of its internal complexities, the visual presentation alone was striking, a touch of science fiction that added a layer of immersive engagement.
With a flick of his fingers, he resized the 3D shelter image to the right side of the screen and opened the control software to connect with a self-driving truck navigating the city streets. The truck's camera feed filled the center of the screen.
The city appeared even more desolate than on Su Wu's last outing. Shops were shuttered, residential windows were closed, and there was no sign of life. The onboard thermometer registered a steady 52.3 degrees. At this temperature, most standard air conditioners would struggle to function, offering minimal relief.
"It must be unbearable for most people," Su Wu thought, a pang of sympathy for those outside. And this was just the beginning. Jianghe City hadn't yet experienced the full force of the impending disaster.
After a final glance at the temperature, Su Wu, determined to remain within the shelter, disconnected the truck's video feed and turned his attention to the surface conditions.
The small farmyard above, after the construction of the two-tiered shelter, now held about 800 tons of scrap iron. Much of the stockpile had been used for drilling machines, geothermal generators, vehicles, and robots, leaving the once-crammed yard significantly emptier.
While such an excessive amount of steel wasn't typically required for shelter construction, Su Wu's heightened sense of insecurity had driven him to reinforce the one-meter-thick concrete exterior walls with an additional layer of steel. This ensured maximum sturdiness, capable of withstanding even a major earthquake. However, it also drastically increased steel consumption.
"The steel from the mill is nowhere near enough," he realized, adding another task to his growing list. Acquiring more steel shouldn't be too difficult. Unlike food, steel could be stored virtually anywhere. After the world changed, abandoned houses and vehicles would become readily available, along with small, unusable iron mines. The challenge lay in collecting and transporting these resources.
His gaze shifted from the scrap iron to the second largest collection in the yard: used household appliances and rubber. These items, particularly the circuit boards within the appliances, held a different kind of value. The rare elements extracted from them were crucial for upgrading the shelter's electronics. While he could use survival points for forced upgrades, the cost was prohibitive. "The circuit boards don't take up much space," he reasoned. "They should be retrieved and stored in the machinery manufacturing center on the second floor." He also decided to store some of the copper, aluminum, and rubber there. The rare materials warehouse in the center still had plenty of room. Storing these valuable materials within the shelter was far safer than leaving them exposed on the surface, vulnerable to storms or theft.
Dismantling the circuit boards, however, was a time-consuming process, requiring at least seven or eight hours of work for a construction robot. With his two existing robots already occupied – one assisting with shelter construction for the engineering team and the other transporting steel – Su Wu needed more help.
"Another construction robot is essential," he concluded. He couldn't do everything himself. Checking his remaining survival points and considering the shelter's increasing labor demands, he decided to spend the last five. He tasked the engineering robot with prioritizing the manufacture of a new construction robot.
He continued monitoring the surface, but there was little else of immediate concern. The cement, sand, stone, and the nearly empty two-story building were bulky and of little value to others, so he wasn't worried about theft or storage.
"My focus needs to shift to the shelter's interior," he thought, a sense of relief washing over him as he surveyed his resources. The constant tension and unease began to dissipate, replaced by a feeling of security and control. With his people and essential supplies safely within the shelter, he was no longer a vulnerable individual but a resourceful leader, prepared to face the challenges ahead.
Switching to the shelter's internal monitoring, he checked on the hydroponic farm on the first floor. Nearly ten days had passed since the initial sowing and seedling cultivation. Some of the vegetables were already showing promising signs of growth.
"A small harvest will be possible soon," he noted. "And professional farm robots need to be added to the manufacturing queue."
Limited survival points had forced him to implement only basic upgrades to the hydroponic farm – automatic nutrient solution monitoring and replenishment, water circulation, and lighting. While these functions ensured normal growth, more sophisticated features like light, temperature, and nutrient adjustments, along with breeding, harvesting, and maintenance capabilities, were still lacking. With the vegetables nearing maturity, these upgrades could no longer be postponed.
Making a mental note of this, Su Wu shifted his focus to the second floor. Besides the living area and control center, the second floor housed the power room, water storage, daily necessities warehouse, and the machinery manufacturing center.
The machinery manufacturing center was currently just an empty hall, lacking the planned lathe, 3D printer, and additional engineering robots. "Another area requiring a significant investment of survival points," he sighed. "But it will come in time." He knew he couldn't rush things. Patience was key.
(End of Chapter)