Chapter Seventeen: Escape... It Still Serves a Purpose

The Lunar native, a top student, the elite of elites, a psychic, well-read and versed in both literature and martial arts—what does it signify when all these qualities converge in one person? The mechanic didn’t quite understand, but he at least knew how to adopt the proper attitude.

So, when the most respected veteran sergeant of the outpost straightened up, even those who harbored doubts about Lieutenant Yu Lian’s order to abandon the entire outpost and relocate dared not express their displeasure.

Old Carl led his apprentices into action, moving with such deftness and skill that he could easily serve as a pit crew for a champion racecar driver. This seasoned engineer was nothing if not persistent—when he said it would take forty minutes, it was less than half an hour before five Black Panther vehicles were fully serviced. Even the half-stripped armored vehicle had a thick iron plate crudely welded onto the exposed hull. Though it looked somewhat makeshift, it was certainly better than nothing.

Yu Lian had also managed to craft five bio-energy batteries by hand, connecting them to the Black Panthers’ engines, which then operated smoothly. The gathered crowd burst into applause, feeling as though they had witnessed a grand magical feat. More importantly, if they were to head to Turong, no one would have to trudge there on foot anymore. The five vehicles could squeeze in all thirty of them.

“If we set off now, we can reach Turong by noon tomorrow,” Ina said.

“Hmm... if we travel in a straight line across the wasteland, indeed,” Yu Lian confirmed.

The sergeant detected hesitation in her voice and suddenly realized that they had been ambushed in the wasteland before.

“Commander, I recall you mentioning those creatures might be biological weapons?”

“Uh, did I say that?”

“So, does that mean we might be attacked again?”

“An attack is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to be those creatures. Hmm, how should I put this…” Yu Lian was about to explain when Sergeant Cindy, a burly man, rushed over. He had been struggling with the malfunctioning comms equipment in the communications room, and his devastated expression clearly meant the machine had finally given out.

You couldn’t really blame him. After all, the military communication equipment was made by Nine Star Corporation—a company notorious for producing exploding smartphones. How on earth did such a firm get a military contract? Think about it! Really think about it!

No wonder Nine Star would later be acquired by the communication giant, StarNet, and would then focus solely on making phones for young women. Life turned out quite comfortable for them afterward.

“Still no contact with Turong? That’s fine, we—”

“No, Commander, we’ve made contact!” the man said, sweating profusely.

“Oh? Then why the expression? Turong hasn’t fallen to the enemy, has it?” Yu Lian joked.

He dared to joke because he knew Turong’s situation well. The others, however, could not remain so calm and murmured among themselves. Ina shot Yu Lian a sharp glance, admonishing, “Commander, please be serious. Don’t make such tasteless jokes!”

She could tell he was joking, of course. Besides, when she got angry like that, it only made her more captivating.

“No, Turong is fine. But—the siege of the Sand People has been completed! The command headquarters has instructed us to act accordingly!”

“...Is that so?” Yu Lian glanced at the timer on his multifunctional wrist terminal, confirming it was evening on November 13, Galactic Common Calendar Year 829. The final assault on the siege of Turong Port had been scheduled for the 16th—completing the encirclement three days early made sense.

“Also, Commander, well, you should see it for yourself.” The comms officer, too nervous to string a proper sentence together, simply opened his terminal and projected a holographic map.

“This is a surveillance feed from command headquarters’ probe, from five minutes ago.”

Yu Lian scanned the holographic map and quickly located Outpost 12. Yet, across the vast wasteland between the outpost and Turong, numerous heat signatures were gathering—clearly converging on the outpost.

First, these were not alien insects. Even the massive terror claws emitted less heat than a prairie dog in motion. Current military sensors wouldn’t highlight them.

It was almost certainly the Sand People.

Second, since they were converging here, the main road leading everyone to Turong was blocked.

“What about now?”

Sergeant Cindy took two seconds to realize Yu Lian meant a real-time holographic update, then hurriedly added, “We’ve lost contact with command headquarters again.”

Damn Nine Star’s junk equipment. Now that I’m back, no more mercy—even if they get bought out, I won’t let it slide.

Yu Lian spat and clapped his hands together, issuing orders: “Prepare to move out. Bring ammunition, energy packs, and medical supplies! Food isn’t necessary—just a day’s worth of rations. Ina, give me two grenades.”

After setting a trap in the food storage, Yu Lian stepped out to the drill ground. He spotted the chainsaw sword planted in a corner and sighed silently before walking through the battered gate. Passing heaps of insect corpses piled like mountains, he climbed into the lead Black Panther.

The convoy of five vehicles carried thirty survivors from Outpost 12, heading into the unknown vastness ahead. Many felt a pang of melancholy; the atmosphere grew heavy.

Yu Lian, however, felt none of this. Instead, a faint excitement stirred within him. He studied the holographic map carefully and finally pinpointed a perfect escape route. He believed not only could he lead everyone on a reasonable detour, but he could also pass by “that place” just right.

“Commander, where should we head now?” whispered Sergeant Youyou, driving.

“North.”

The Black sergeant shuddered slightly, watching the expressionless Yu Lian still staring at the map. Gritting his teeth, he gripped the spherical steering wheel and sharply turned right.

All vehicles hesitated briefly but followed nonetheless.

Yu Lian understood their doubts and was willing to explain.

To the north lay the Qililuo Mountains, named after the earliest explorers, which nearly split the vast wasteland into two halves. South of the mountains—where Outpost 12 stood—the land was more barren and desolate. Northward, the hilly terrain was somewhat moister, likely due to its proximity to an inland sea.

Crossing this mountain range and traversing the northern hills would add a day or two to the journey but still led to Turong.

However, only two mountain passes through Qililuo existed, both to the west of the outpost and toward Turong, and they were likely already controlled by the Sand People.

As for the ridges to the north and east, no known passes existed.

Yet by this point, no one dared question Yu Lian’s decision.

He continued to study the map, trying to match it with his memories. “A bit east. See that mountain that looks like a beckoning cat? Head in that direction.”

The Black sergeant nodded quickly but after a moment, with headphones on, cautiously said, “Commander, Sergeant Shirika is asking about the destination.”

Indeed, only staff sergeant Ina dared still to speak up.

“Tell her I’ve reviewed all recent weather maps nearby and found a mountain hollow in the Qililuo range with a slightly higher temperature than the surroundings—probably due to a warm northern wind from the hills. There’s a strong chance it’s an unknown mountain pass,” Yu Lian answered, already knowing his response.

If any of them had studied meteorology or geography at university, they’d have slapped him for the oversimplification. But unfortunately, this motley crew lacked such talents; even Dr. Banks, their most educated member, had only graduated from a second-rate vocational school.

Instantly, Sergeant Youyou driving nearby showed an expression of awe.

At that moment, far behind them, the outpost suddenly erupted in a towering inferno with a thunderous roar.

The commotion drew everyone’s attention, erasing any lingering thoughts of Yu Lian’s explanation.

“Commander…”

“At least this confirms our decision to abandon the outpost was correct. Let’s keep moving.”

“Understood… Commander, Sergeant Shirika has another message.”

“Is she asking if the vehicle temperatures are too high now?”

The Black sergeant once again displayed an expression of stunned admiration.

What are you amazed at? You’re sweating buckets even with the air conditioning on.

“After all, these are makeshift bio-electromagnetic devices! When we reach that mountain hollow, everyone will get out to rest and repair. We need to clear whatever is tailing us and have them bring supplies over.”