Chapter 563: Above-ground Shelter 5
Ronan Kendrick stopped the rock drill in front of Copper Mine Mountain, and the others retreated dozens of meters. The DRUM DRUM DRUM of drilling rang out. Within a few minutes, dust was flying everywhere as a huge chunk of copper ore was excavated. Ethan Dawson drove the excavator forward, transporting the ore to a clear space nearby. The two worked in perfect sync, and in just two hours, they had finished excavating three tons of copper ore.
"Should we break this copper ore into smaller pieces?"
Evelyn Ford shook her head. "No need. The large chunks are easier to transport."
Quincy yawned off to the side. "And here I thought I’d get to help. They did all the work."
"Let’s go." Ronan Kendrick climbed down from the rock drill, taking Evelyn Ford’s hand to leave the mining area.
"This should be enough. It’s all top-quality copper ore." Ethan Dawson impatiently took off his hard hat. The dust in the air was so thick that he started sneezing the moment it was off.
"We’ll give the copper ore to Liam Sterling tomorrow. They need it urgently."
"Copper ore is really expensive. A single ton costs tens of thousands. No wonder mine bosses were all so rich back in the day. It’s an insane profit margin." As soon as Miles Vaughn finished speaking, Quincy shot him a disgusted look.
"A merchant can never shake the habit of pricing everything he sees."
"Am I not telling the truth?" Miles Vaughn retorted.
"This is the apocalypse. Money isn’t even as useful as a stick for firewood."
Seeing that the two were about to start bickering again, Evelyn Ford made a gesture for a truce.
"Your combined age is over sixty. Can’t you be a little more mature?"
Miles Vaughn and Quincy glanced at each other, then rolled their eyes in unison.
"Most men are just childish deep down, especially those two. Not like us, we just focus on getting the work done. We’re the honest ones," Ethan Dawson said, not missing the chance to put them down while lifting himself up.
The "honest" Ethan Dawson practically oozed disingenuous charm.
Quincy and Miles Vaughn weren’t having any of it after hearing Ethan Dawson’s feigned-innocence remarks.
"Ethan Dawson, can you speak like a normal person?"
Ethan Dawson looked completely innocent. "They don’t work, and they curse people out. Ah, men..."
Evelyn Ford rubbed her arms. "Can you guys act normal for a second?"
The others quickly shut their mouths, not daring to spout any more nonsense.
Evelyn Ford patted Ronan Kendrick’s arm. "My Ronan is the only normal one here. It’s like those guys are possessed or something. It’s scary. Let’s stay away from them."
The corners of Ronan Kendrick’s mouth lifted slightly. "Okay."
The group quickly left the mining area. Once they were out, Evelyn Ford couldn’t wait to take off her lead-lined suit. Her back was already soaked with sweat. The ore was valuable, but mining was definitely not a job for ordinary people. It was dangerous and exhausting.
At eight o’clock the next morning, Liam Sterling arrived at their dorm right on time. Evelyn Ford told him the copper ore was ready. After breakfast, Ronan Kendrick left with him. They needed to move the ore to the warehouse, from where it would be transported to the base’s factory by truck.
Although the base was developing the Solar Lamps, construction on the shelters still had to continue. They had to be prepared on both fronts and couldn’t risk sacrificing the big picture for a small gain.
After the three tons of copper ore were delivered to the base’s factory, the development of the Solar Lamps went even more smoothly. According to Liam Sterling, a single Solar Lamp would consume three to five thousand kilowatt-hours of electricity a day, equivalent to the daily power consumption of an entire school.
The days passed one by one. Half a month later, all of the black soil in the planting area was fully cultivated. Evelyn Ford led the group to start producing oxygen, then filling it into oxygen tanks and bags.
Fortunately, Evelyn Ford’s chemistry knowledge was decent, and Quincy also played a key role. Under their joint leadership, they finally succeeded in producing the first bottle of oxygen.
At the same time, the base dispatched two more planes and one hundred and fifty soldiers to Arden Base. To prevent the people of Yarrow from invading our country again, the base management, after some discussion, decided to support Arden Base with some weapons.
’The ore in my space can be used to make firearms and explosives. If the base needs it, I’m willing to contribute. When faced with provocations from another country, everyone must forget their own self-interest and do their part.’
While everyone was busy and methodically producing oxygen in the space, a sweet female voice came over The Undercity’s broadcast system.
"Good afternoon, residents of the base. On behalf of the base management, I am here to announce a piece of good news. After two long months of research and development by ten of our scientists, The Second Base’s unique Solar Lamp has been successfully created. These Solar Lamps will be suspended above the base, Flumen, and the resettlement housing areas. They will emit light and heat just like the sun. We will no longer need to fear the dark or worry about a lack of oxygen. The Solar Lamps will even allow plants to perform photosynthesis and release more oxygen. Tomorrow, at 8:00 AM sharp, the Solar Lamps will be officially switched on. I urge all residents to unite, work together, and overcome these hardships. More than a million people live and survive here. We have the military; we have the government. Tomorrow at 8:00 AM, to coincide with the lighting, the base will hold a flag-raising ceremony. The base hereby promises that it will never abandon a single one of our fellow citizens."
As her voice faded, long-lasting cheers and applause erupted throughout the base and Flumen.
Taylor Vance and Zion Lowell couldn’t help their eyes from turning red.
"This is wonderful. Truly wonderful."
"The Solar Lamps are so powerful they can even induce photosynthesis! That’s incredible! I wonder who developed them. A Solar Lamp the size of a basketball court... I have to go to the lighting ceremony tomorrow."
"I bet you’re less interested in the lighting ceremony and more interested in the flag-raising ceremony."
"And you don’t want to go?"
"Of course I want to! I need to get a new set of clothes and shoes ready. I have to dress more formally tomorrow."
It was rare to see the two older men acting so childishly, and everyone couldn’t help but laugh.
In truth, how could any of them not be thrilled? If there was no sun, they would create an artificial one. If there was no oxygen, they would produce their own. When they encountered a problem, they solved it—there was never any reason to back down. After all, one day the sun would rise again, and one day, the disaster would end.
There was still a long road ahead.
At seven o’clock the next morning, everyone was ready to go. Ronan Kendrick led the group to the administration building, which had an excellent vantage point for watching the lighting and the flag-raising. To prevent any stampedes, only management, researchers, and factory workers were allowed to observe the ceremony; other residents were not permitted.
"I’m so nervous. My palms are sweaty, and my legs are shaking. What do I do? I haven’t seen such a huge event in so many years."
Quincy kept chattering away from the back, but everyone was too busy to pay him any mind. Today was an important day; they couldn’t waste time arguing with an idiot.
"Here it comes, here it comes! The giant lamp!"
The Solar Lamp was lifted by a crane. In the very center of the base stood a massive, one-hundred-meter-tall pole. The Solar Lamp was placed securely into the cradle at the top of the pole and then bolted into place. At 8:00 AM sharp, the six Solar Lamps—across the base, Flumen, and the resettlement housing areas—lit up in an instant.
"Whoa... the sun’s out! It’s daylight!"
The sky was as bright as day. All the residents cheered, some so overcome with joy that they began to weep.
Evelyn Ford hugged Ronan Kendrick tightly, suddenly feeling the urge to cry.
"This is so wonderful."