18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 570

As the off-duty crew gathered in the mess hall, the air buzzed with talk about the base's latest updates.

"Hey Stella, the admin office and military wing are hiring. They're even scouting locations for a new desalination plant," one of the crew mentioned.

"That's not all," another chimed in. "The excavators might be reassigned to coal mines soon, and guess what-fabric's finally hit the base store shelves. Anyone who needs it can grab some with their credits."

"With all those seeds we brought back last time, we could totally expand our farming sector," someone else added.

Everyone was filled with anticipation for the upcoming mission, hoping to return with valuable materials for the base's growth.

But reality often has a way of shattering dreams.

The first set of coordinates was a total bust; the ocean depth was a staggering 4,000 meters-territory even nuclear subs wouldn't dare venture into, let alone human divers.

It was like a cold splash of water right to the face.

"No worries, we've got more chances," the team reassured each other, although deep down they all knew the painful truth. The precious Kindle Chests they had painstakingly collected were now destined to rest on the ocean floor, possibly forever-unless some monumental event reshaped the seas.

No one wanted to face another disaster, but the disheartening results kept coming. The second chest was also in deep water, a daunting 6,000 meters down.

The third one couldn't be bad luck again, right?

12,000 meters!

The crew's morale was hanging by a thread. It felt like some cosmic joke.

The fourth chest was a bit more manageable at 600 meters. Still, it was beyond reach for their fragile human forms.

The fifth and final chest was around 300 meters deep-the shallowest of them all, but still too deep for anyone, even in diving gear.

Stella kept her cool, but even her Zen-like patience was being tested.

They couldn't return empty-handed, could they?

Daniel hadn't spelled it out, but Stella knew the stakes. None of the top brass were fools; Daniel's maneuvers were clearly aimed at supporting his daughter and son-in-law. Sure, it was for the base's growth, but that was a far cry from personal advancement.

Twelve years had passed since the disaster, and while some grieved the loss of family, they were still in their prime, capable of nurturing capable subordinates. Adopting a child or finding a godfather was no issue, especially for those with children of their own.

If Daniel had children from the start, it would have been one thing-they'd have had time to adjust. But this was a bolt from the blue.

The team couldn't afford to come back with nothing, giving others a chance to question Daniel's authority.

the sea

was there another way

the lasso games from her childhood, where she'd tie

rope and reel

she could lasso

shared her idea with

no better plan, they had to give it a

wire from Arcadia, tying a hook to one end. Using an underwater telescope,

swayed with the currents and pressure,

signaling from the side: "Release, keep going, release

their energy rapidly draining, it seemed they finally

it into Arcadia with

immense underwater pressure caused it to drop with a thud, right onto her

they hastily began their

them up at the signal.

was too

of the helpers as they assisted

they began to feel

color return, Amelia dared to ask, "Did you

Stella nodded.

erupted, "Stella, you and

their excitement settled, the crew didn't want to intrude further.

towels are ready. Take a bath, rest up. We'll

left so as not to wake Stella

they head back to base or continue with the

clear: the decision was Stella's to make.

creasing her brow. "The average ocean depth before the disaster was over 3,000 meters. It's likely similar now, but our chances remain

echoed among the crew. What were the odds the

less than

stood firm, a beacon of hope. "We knew the average depth before we even teamed up. The base needs these Kindle Chests. If there's even

slightly, "We continue, but we

overlook other

Stella woke, the meeting

2688, and in tandem with the nuclear

scoured for additional

later, a sonar contact

sub alerted 2688 to