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.

his request, "Ivans, thank you for your help, without

What are friends

gone, they

...

Two days later

wind carried a whisper

packed with people clad in tattered

hides, others clutched their perforated, torn

and numb, occasionally drifted towards

off, a ship flew a tattered but still

us to a new home, and they will deliver. Keep an eye on your belongings. Now more than ever,

his brow furrowing as he surveyed

we're barely 300 strong, including those

When word got out about Australia establishing Hope Point and sending for us, who wouldn't want to leave

many from other Eastern nations had been stranded in

each other yet clinging together, their

many faces in the crowd that certainly weren't Australian, now trying to blend in and take their

think they

fear they might steal from our people, take IDs, or anything

his compatriots to

got a bunch of

been terrorizing the

appearance today was

jet flew in low from the horizon, its

a massive warship,

coastline erupted

Point military had

with hardship now sparkled with tears they

meters from the icy shore,

120 armed soldiers was Vice-Captain Liao. He addressed the crowd with a megaphone, "Fellow countrymen,

erupted from

up. If you're an Australian who

with the flag and directed the boats towards

human chain to persuade the crowd to make way for the soldiers'

shake hands with Vice-Captain Liao, "Comrade, it's good to see you. We're survivors from the Sichuan official base

showed his ID and work badge for

admiration, "You've done well to keep our people alive here. We've come to take you