18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 443

Brady and his team didn't have a clue, but they figured the military higher-ups would be the last to leave, probably on a warship or plane. Stella looked worried. "The last to retreat?"

Jasper noticed her concern and turned to Brady. "Do you know what the other Kindle Society teams are up to?"

Brady shook his head. If they hadn't bumped into 2688, they wouldn't have known that East Base was tasked with building Hope Point.

The weather was good, and after two days of rest, the submarines were ready to set sail. Suddenly, at 0945, they spotted a ship at three o'clock.

Playing it safe, 2688 wanted to dive and leave, but Brady and the others noticed a red star painted on the side of the ship.

This was a sign of faith.

They decided to make contact.

Stella, wary of danger, handed Brady a bullhorn. "Hey there, friends! Where are you coming from?"

The crew on the distant ship noticed the submarines and responded excitedly in familiar language, waving and shouting, "Hey, we're from the official Northwestern Base." Northwestern Base?

Brady, still cautious, asked, "And where exactly is this Northwestern Base?"

"Qindu."

"Qindu, huh? Can you tell me how to make a proper burger?"

Indeed, nothing speaks to the soul like food. Stella nearly burst out laughing.

But just knowing how to make a burger wasn't enough for Brady. He threw out another challenge. "Fate brought us together. How about singing us some rock and roll?"

The folks on the other ship were skin and bones and barely had the energy to sing. If Stella were them, she'd want to throw her shoe at him.

But to their surprise, someone actually started singing. At first, it was just a few voices, but then more joined in.

whole time, growing more serious. He consulted with 2688. "We've got Northwesterners on our sub. They think those survivors on the ship are alright, kindred spirits.

"Sure, you

captains, without exception, were

several hundred survivors on the ship. For safety reasons, Brady didn't share their coordinates but told them a new base was being established and they could follow. The other side was just as cautious, probing about the origin

they were from South Base, they seized the chance to counter-question. "What do you guys like to

comes with everything-chicken feet, shrimp

reassured, they asked, "How

darn it, you

relieved, and after

way, with 0945 extending its periscope to

days, they sailed. They pushed hard during calm seas by day and rested at

observation, they

merchant ship grew more vibrant. "Hey, neighbors,

mustard greens, bok

whipped out a drone. The sea was calm as Jasper piloted

greens in old pots and cans, and

chagrined Brady chuckled. "Hey, why

The inborn farming gene was unique to this

gladly shared the coordinates of Hope

skillfully avoided

they were only a couple hundred

steadily, and the currents

seafloor was just over 300 meters deep-a far cry from the 9,000-meter

jumped for joy. "A fighter jet! It's one of ours!" My goodness, Hope Point was real. They

circled twice in the sky, then

was equally thrilled,

remained calmer,

closer to the coordinates, the likelihood of encountering

one: a Type 035 Ming-class attack submarine, a national