Apocalypse Survival: Starting with a Shelter

With the unsettling purple light lingering outside the shelter, Su Wu's cautious approach became even more resolute.

"Reinforce the exit tunnel and temporarily seal it off," Su Wu decided.

"Unless absolutely necessary, we won't open it again. Instead, have the engineering team dig a vertical shaft from the fifth underground level directly to the surface and install a dedicated lift for transporting soil and debris."

Unlike the shelter's first four levels, the fifth level was designed to accommodate the larger construction equipment soon to be added. The previous standard dimensions of 600 square meters with a 6-meter ceiling were no longer sufficient.

Su Wu had already planned for the fifth level to be five times larger, with a ceiling height increased to 12 meters. This expanded space allowed for a vertical tunnel independent of the other levels.

This setup also effectively separated the fifth level from the rest of the shelter. If an unforeseen event breached the vertical tunnel, the damage would be limited to the excavations on the fifth level, leaving the upper four levels intact.

The engineering team, receiving new orders, paused their excavation tasks to locate a suitable position for the vertical tunnel. Meanwhile, construction robots began reinforcing the exit tunnel near the lift platform by thickening the metal door and installing three hidden firing platforms in the walls and ceiling for additional defense.

As the final load of debris-carrying mini-transporters returned, the outermost gate of the exit tunnel slowly closed with a mechanical hum.

"The reinforcement of the exit tunnel is estimated to be completed in 1 hour and 17 minutes," the AI reported.

"That's a short time; nothing major should happen," Su Wu thought.

Although faintly worried, Su Wu found some reassurance in knowing the outer gate was already sealed, leaving ample time to respond to any unexpected dangers.

The construction of the vertical tunnel for the fifth level, however, could take as long as needed. With automated machines handling the task, there was no immediate impact on his safety.

"Additionally, deploy a batch of surveillance and early-warning devices outside," Su Wu ordered.

"Even if they don't make a big difference, they can at least provide an earlier warning and more reaction time."

The ominous purple light suggested the danger might originate from natural phenomena. Limiting focus to the immediate vicinity of the shelter would be shortsighted.

In the past, producing sufficient cameras and sensors would have been challenging. But with the 3D printer now capable of producing micro-scale chips, these devices had become cheap and easy to manufacture.

Su Wu inputted the necessary commands, assigning the production tasks to the 3D printer. He then accessed the manufacturing logs from the second underground level.

A partially completed drone blueprint appeared on the central screen.

"Only 72% progress?" Su Wu frowned.

The reverse engineering process for the drone was progressing slowly. Unlike the simpler and outdated designs Su Wu had previously reverse-engineered, the commercial-grade drone with its notable speed and payload capacity was a product of proprietary high-tech innovation.

Even the AI couldn't find open-source blueprints for such a device online. To replicate it using the CNC machine or 3D printer, a detailed schematic was essential.

"The primary obstacles are the chip, solid-state battery, and material composition," Su Wu noted.

He realized completing the design in a short time was unrealistic. Letting out a sigh, he shelved the idea of self-production and shifted focus to the existing inventory.

Among the items in storage, Su Wu located five general-purpose drones with a 5-kilogram payload capacity.

"These should do," Su Wu decided. After minor modifications to enhance heat dissipation, they could be deployed for urgent use.

As time passed, the exit tunnel reinforcement was completed, and the first batch of field-ready detection devices, including cameras and sensors, were produced by the 3D printer.

Su Wu's anxiety gradually subsided. Whatever catastrophe might arise, at least his shelter was steadily becoming more secure.

[Drone lift platform activated.]

[General-purpose drones loaded.]

[Initiating launch sequence.]

On the main screen of the control console, a series of AI notifications appeared in a steady stream. The methodical and precise updates lent an air of solemnity, akin to a mission control center for a rocket launch.

This atmosphere of order and control reassured Su Wu. This was his strength in action.

Outside, beneath the small surface fortress, robotic arms loaded folded detection devices, cameras, and signal relays into the cargo bays of the drones.

Once the load indicators on the drones shifted from green to yellow, the arms ceased operation and sent the drones onto the conveyor belt leading to the lift platform.

The highly automated and standardized process ensured exceptional efficiency.

In mere moments, one drone after another was launched into the open air. Each ascended swiftly, dispersing across the wasteland to expand Su Wu's surveillance network.

As the drones disappeared into the horizon, Su Wu's gaze lingered on the monitor. His shelter was no longer just a refuge; it was becoming a fortress of knowledge and defense against the unknown.

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