Chapter 87: Relentless Hope!


    Trantor: Lonelytree Editor: Lucas


    In the underground base’ third level...


    It had been more than 10 hours since the pathway between the second and third floor caved in. Thankfully, the life preservation system wasn’t greatly affected by the disaster. However, even though the temperature and air continued to be properly maintained, it didn’t take away from the devastation of being buried alive!


    For better or for worse, since this was not the first time The Hope’s citizen faced such despairing situation, they managed to wait patiently for rescue. They had faith that The Hope’s government would not desert them!


    Grounded by such a faith, the thousands of people calmly went about looking for possible cracks in the wall or still open pathways. Simultaneously, the technicians among them conducted a careful check-up, ensuring the life preservation, air recycling andmunication systems were well-functioning.


    The result was regrettable because the cable for themunication system was found out to be irreversibly damaged during the quake. This meant that they had no means ofmunication with the outside world. And since there was no radio wave in outer space,monmunicative devices like mobile phones were unusable, which was not a problem because there was an endless supply ofndlines littering the base’ 3 levels, and not to mention, they were also equipped within each spacesuit. Sadly, they were all useless then.


    Due to theirck of foresight, they had been effectively disced from the biggermunity...


    Everyone’sposure persisted for the initial several hours. People went about their way checking the acid base’s concentration, the functionality of the various machineries, or just resting.


    The mood shifted greatly 10 hours in, when thest set of chemical potion was added to the crystal reactor.


    It was hard to understate the importance of this crystal reactor. It was responsible to power the base’ life preservation system, its death meant the death of 3000 plus people.


    Admittedly, that was an exaggerated worry because the enclosed pocket of air could ironically stretch the trapped citizens’ survivability, but what about the alien nt?


    Granted the nts posed no harm directly to humans but they would make easy work of the base’ overall structure. If the nts ate through the base wall, exposure to the vacuum would doom them all!


    In other words, when the chemical bath lost its effectiveness 8 hourster... that would be their time to face death!


    Gradually, obvious expressions of despair started to manifest. People got either increasingly agitated or cid. Some sauntered about instigating fights while others sat to a side and started writing their wills on their clothes. A few soldiers even started sleeping.


    Mark Norse, the father of 2 sons opted for neither!


    He was not going to give up because his wife and 2 sons still awaited his return on The Hope! He was going to be a survivor to see his loving family’s faces again!


    He refused to lie down and die just like that. His family deserved better!


    That was why Mark had been going about the ce looking for salvageable parts ever since 2 hours ago. Spotting the increasing roll of wirings in Mark’s hands, several of his colleagues joined him in the search.


    "...yes, I intend to build a rudimentary wirelessmunicator," Mark revealed to his friends, "there are however 2 issues. One, there is no suitable parts around. This level is mainly used for constructing factory-scale parts like attachments to the external cabin so it is hard to find smallponents that are used in electrical devices.


    "Secondly, it’s the structure of this base. Do you know why the base is not fitted with wirelessmunicators? The answer is actually very simple. This meteorite contains deposits of radioactive minerals, this much ismon knowledge. It might even contain minerals that could no longer be found on Earth. In any case, the radioactive waves of these minerals would interfere with radio waves.


    In fact I believe this interference is constant with regards to themunicators on The Hope and within the spacesuits. But, they are usually too weak to pose any trouble to such powerful devices."


    Mark shrugged disconstely, "Wirelessmunicators, on the other hand, because it is not part of the future-tech ensemble are not stable enough to withstand interferences from these waves. Therefore, usage ofndlines is more reliable... under normal circumstances that is.


    The device that I’m trying to build could reach around 500 to 1000 meters without interference. Sadly, while we’re trapped here, it has only a 100 to 200 meters range ofmunication..."


    Mark turned to face the group around him with a weak smile, "that distance though could still bring us into contact with the people above us... We will know if it’s truly time to despair after I’ve finished building thismunicator."


    "How long would this take?" A middle-aged man asked, "We don’t mind trying, but..."


    He pointed somewhere far away, "I don’t think that bunch of people are willing to wait."


    He was pointing at a group of people who had been gathering at the end of the caved in pathway, chipping away at the stoppage. Eager to do something, these people were working off their inner upheaval by moving fallen rocks and pushing over boulders. As time moved on, their progress gained traction as more people joined in. Unfortunately, the aggression wasn’t always directed at the rocks. 3 altercations had already broken out. It was only a matter of time before... one would see blood.


    Mark shook his head helplessly and turned back to check the materials that they had gathered, "We still don’t have enough ingredients to build amunicator. ording to our current progress, we would need another 3 hours."


    "Then let’s hurry and split up. Hopefully that’ll buy us some time. If necessary, dismantle the machinery and even the shuttle, what use would these serve if all of us were to die?" the middle-aged man pped his hand and announced.


    Everyone continued their search with renewed vigor.


    3 hourster, when the materials were adequately assembled and Mark started building themunicator, trouble ensued.


    The group that had been digging at the pathway by then had grown to about 2000 plus in size, and about 10 of them surrounded Mark’s group. One of them yelled, "You people had been scavenging around the area like rats and for what? For a dumbmunicator that has at most a 200 meters range! Are you kidding me?!


    Give it up already! There is no longer anyone other than ourselves that are trapped in this base! It has been 14 hours since the earthquake and we have not seen or heard any signs of helping from above. Do you hear any sounds of digging? Cause I don’t! They must have left for The Hope already! Tell me, what’s the use of yourmunicator then?


    Stop what you’re doing ande help us! With all of us pitching in, I guarantee you, we will be able to get out of this ce on our own!"


    The person’s order gathered support among the people around him and Mark watched all this unfold with a sinking feeling in his gut. They hadn’t resorted to grabbing his project or smashing the materials but he knew these people were not far away from that mob mentality. The inherent threat was obvious, either join them or suffer their wrath.


    "Everyone, please listen to me. The pathway ispletely blocked by the cave in. Without tools or explosives, it is impossible for us to leave. Even if we have explosives here, I would suggest against using it. What if it causes more copse? The reason we are building thismunicator is because..." began Mark in a loud and clear voice. He was slowly convincing the crowd to his perspective but...


    His group was still the minority!


    "Smash their stuff! They will have to help us then!"


    Screamed the man as he rushed towards Mark’smunicator, and he was followed by a few howling men. There was a blind rage burning in their eyes...


    Mark closed his eyes in defeat. He knew it would be futile to stand in the way. In fact, it might even make things worse. These people could no longer be reasoned with. They were out for blood...


    (So, is this the end?)


    Suddenly, with the man’s foot hovering threateningly over themunicator, a song drifted into the area...


    A calming and hopeful song, one that spoke of faith and rescue...


    And it came from...


    All 3000 plus people, including the raging mob stopped and lifted their head to stare at the ceiling.


    Yes, it was true. The song came from the second floor!