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.

got Northwesterners on our sub. They think those survivors on the ship are alright, kindred spirits.

had no objections. "Sure,

without exception,

the ship. For safety reasons, Brady didn't share their coordinates but told them a new base was being

chance to counter-question. "What do you

with everything-chicken feet, shrimp dumplings, rice rolls, pineapple

they asked, "How do you folks

darn it, you

angry but rather relieved, and after half an hour of negotiation, they agreed to

extending its periscope to guide the merchant ship, keeping a watchful eye on their

they sailed. They pushed hard during

these days of observation, they

new destination, life on the merchant ship grew more vibrant. "Hey, neighbors, we've got some fresh veggies here. Want some?" "What

greens, bok

not one to stand on ceremony. She whipped out a drone. The sea was calm as Jasper piloted the drone into position mode, flying over the

behold, they were growing greens in old pots and cans, and they

why didn't

clear. The inborn farming gene

gladly shared the coordinates

they skillfully avoided the sea's perils multiple

days of sailing, they were only a couple hundred nautical miles from

the currents were simpler than in other

over 300 meters deep-a far cry from the 9,000-meter expanse they'd crossed half a month

surfaced to rest and breathe, and a fighter jet soared overhead. The survivors on the merchant ship jumped for

jet circled twice in the sky, then shot up and

thrilled, surfacing

remained calmer, persistently moving

to the coordinates,

Ming-class attack submarine, a national asset even before