18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 516

Ivans had brought over a stash of medical supplies, including anesthetics, all pilfered from Union Base.

Stella first administered a potent medicine, followed by an anesthetic injection. She then cleaned Ivans' festering wound, disinfected it, and stitched it up.

"Ivans, if you want to save your leg, you've got to watch what you eat. No meat, no booze, and make sure you get plenty of greens."

She adjusted his medication, then sent him off with a hefty five-pound bag of veggies, reminding him to come back in two days for a dressing change.

Shutting the door to her makeshift clinic, she caught up with her siblings on what had been happening back at the base.

"If things went smoothly, Peter should've made it back to the naval fleet by now." Exhausted, Stella retreated to her bed to rest.

Jasper could tell she was feeling down, envious of those who could go home.

It wasn't just Stella feeling the blues; Rosie was too, though she put on a brave face.

He gave Rosie a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

She was mature beyond her years, "Brother, I'm okay."

You win some, you lose some. Had they not left, things might have been worse.

The Arctic wasn't all bad, just a bit chilly.

Jasper went back inside, intending to lift Stella's spirits, but found her mood had already improved.

The words he'd prepared remained unspoken.

Two days later, Ivans returned for his dressing change.

He didn't forget to update them, "Yang and He, they've left."

There had been over thirty Australians at the base, and all had chosen to depart.

Ivans was generous, giving each person five pounds of potatoes and three pounds of seal meat, even arranging for them to join a hunting party for the journey, ensuring they had support along the way.

"If all goes well, they'll reach the port in two days and join the other survivors heading back to your country."

All the talk was simply a matter of courtesy.

for your help, without it, they couldn't have

are friends

the Australians gone, they too could

...

Two days later

Arctic wind carried a

was packed with people clad in tattered

hides, others clutched their perforated, torn bags

and numb, occasionally drifted towards the vast

tattered but still defiant flag, a symbol of hope amidst the

shouting, "Folks, no need to rush or panic. The country promised to take us to a new home, and they will deliver. Keep an eye on your belongings. Now more than ever,

his brow furrowing as

"Captain, we're barely 300 strong, including those Russia sent yesterday. How come there are

Australia establishing Hope Point and

many from other Eastern

each other yet clinging together, their

faces in the crowd that certainly weren't Australian, now trying to

think they can sneak

one thing, but I fear they might steal from our people, take IDs, or anything that

his voice again, warning his

a bunch of foreigners

gangs had been terrorizing the coast, robbing

collective appearance

fretted, a black jet flew in low from the

as a massive warship, flying a bright flag, approached, its

erupted

Hope Point

sparkled with

the jet returned to the ship, reporting the situation, the warship anchored 300 meters from the icy shore, launching

He addressed the crowd with

from

you're an Australian who wishes to

with the flag and directed

on board to form a human chain to persuade the crowd to

Vice-Captain Liao, "Comrade, it's good to see you. We're survivors from the Sichuan official base drifted here two months ago There are 219 of us left on

with stiff fingers, he showed his ID

their ordeal, Vice-Captain Liao expressed his admiration, "You've done well to keep our people