A thousand meters below the surface lies a cave about the size of two basketball courts.

As the elevator descended, the searchlights in the corners of the cave turned on one after another, lighting up the underground space completely.

Surrounded by compacted soil and rock walls, directly across from the freight elevator is the door to Vault 027.

This is a fortress that cannot be conquered.

The only entrance and exit is blocked by a gear-shaped door panel that is 10 meters thick. An 8-meter-thick compression-resistant alloy steel and a 2-meter-thick lead interlayer are enough to withstand a nuclear strike with a million tons of TNT equivalent within easy reach!

Tian Feng walked to the door of the shelter, pressed his fingerprint, and opened the steel shell embedded in the door panel. He pulled out a cable wrapped in soft lead material and inserted it into the EP on his wrist.

Even gamma rays cannot pass through the door panel, and naturally it is impossible to pass through any electromagnetic waves. The exchange of information between the shelter and the outside world relies on this data line.

The EP screen flickered, and soon a woman's face appeared.

Although she is only a female streamer, the three stars on the neckline make it impossible to underestimate her ability.

Han Junhua, aged 24, is a colonel in the PAC Army. He was released from freezing 3 years ago, and took over the position of director of the deceased 027 Vault in accordance with the procedure, and is currently the director.

"How's it going?"

After a military salute, Tian Feng reported in a deep voice.

"Mission accomplished."

"Well, come in and talk about it." Nodding, Han Junhua motioned to the staff to open the door of the shelter.

The gear-shaped door panel slowly lifted, revealing the narrow hole in the back. A suspended metal bridge, pulled by a mechanical cantilever to create a path to the shelter.

Passing the drawbridge, twenty soldiers leaned their rifles and ammunition against the weapon racks and walked into the sterilization room. The staff member who was waiting stepped forward and pushed the weapon rack. Ship it to a special location for disinfection.

Without entering the disinfection room immediately, Tian Feng walked in front of Han Junhua and handed out the nuclear fusion core in his hand.

"Blood?"

"It's blood."

Glancing at the bullet marks on his body armor, Han Junhua said with a serious expression.

"Isn't the war over yet?"

She subconsciously believed that he had been attacked by NATO soldiers on the surface.

Hearing the words, it is rare. There was a weak smile on his resolute face.

"It's over, but you can't believe what I'm seeing outside."

Han Junhua glanced at the bloodstains on the core of the nuclear fusion again, as if he understood something.

"In half an hour, come to the conference room."

"Yes."

Tian Feng stood upright, gave a military salute to this girl who was more than 20 years younger than himself, and watched her leave

The lights were on in the conference room, but the atmosphere was a little oppressive.

Pushing open the door of the conference room, seeing the four lines of sight sweeping over in unison, Tian Feng swallowed and foamed. Stubbornly walked over to the conference table and pulled out a chair and sat down.

Han Junhua, director of the shelter, Wu Yaguo, resident representative, Qin Xuehai, academician of the pan-Asian Academy of Social Sciences, Feng Hui, senior engineer of shelter technology, and Shi Yongtian, who is still trembling.

And on the conference table was the bloody nuclear fusion core.

"Tell me a little bit about what you've seen and heard outside, or we won't be able to start the conversation." Academician Qin, who was full of gray hair, smiled gently. Xiang Tianfeng said.

Tian Feng looked at Han Junhua and saw her nodding. That's when he spoke.

"Here's the thing"

At the request of Academician Qin, Tian Feng briefly described what he had witnessed after leaving the shelter. This includes nuclear winter and zombies on the surface, the formidable firepower of the Fish Bones base and the indifference to the PAC regime, including the firefights with those cannibals.

When Tian Feng explained all this, the conference table fell silent again.

After a long time, Han Junhua, as the director, broke the silence.

"Feng Hui. How long will this fusion core last? ”

"Maintain the existing power rationing measures, which is enough to support half a year." Feng Hui gave a conservative estimate.

"The existing power rationing measures? Lasts for half a year? It's simply impossible! Wu Yaguo immediately protested.

All of the shelter's equipment depends on electricity, whether it's the production of food or the operation of water purification devices. Maintaining the existing curtailment means that only 600ml of drinking water per person per day will be allocated and exposed to UV rays for one hour. Only the stored nutrient mixture can be consumed for three meals.

This means that you can't take a bath, you can't fill your stomach, you can't be mentally sluggish, and you're in a sub-healthy state for half a year.

"In extraordinary times, nothing is impossible." Han Junhua said briefly, and then looked at Feng Hui, "To maintain the current power rationing measures, you go first." ”

"Yes."

After hesitating for a moment, Feng Hui still got up and walked out of the door of the conference room with this nuclear fusion core.

"You can't ignore public opinion." Wu Yaguo stared at Han Junhua deadly, "I don't know what this damn procedure means. The old director keeps everything in order until you wake up, and it all changes! ”

Regarding Wu Yaguo's accusations, Han Junhua was indifferent.

"You can't blame Xiaohua, she's already done a good job." Academician Qin persuaded in a soothing tone, trying to keep Wu Yaguo calm.

"Good?" Wu Yaguo sneered, "It's just three years, since you took over, everything has changed." First the reduction of farm output, the supply of nutrients mixed with organic food, then the supply of water in batches, and now the power rationing? Pure nonsense! ”

"I'm just referring to the current materials at the base and making the most realistic choice." Han Junhua's voice was very cold, and he couldn't hear the slightest emotion.

"The best fit for the real situation? All I know is that the shelter is set to be 50 years! 50 years calculated by a supercomputer! But how many years now? In less than 20 years, the shelter was forced to open early. I don't know what stupid things you've done as a leader in the past three years. Wu Yaguo said angrily.

Quietly waiting for Wu Yaguo to vent the anger in his chest, Han Junhua spoke slowly.

"1,000 people, 50 years in containment. You tell me, how many people are in the shelter now? ”

Wu Ya's Chinese language was stopped, and his angry expression froze on his face.

"I'll tell you. A total of 1,743 people. ”

Seeing that Wu Yaguo did not speak, Han Junhua continued.

"The first thing I did when I woke up from the dormant chamber was to check the work log of the previous director of the Vault. And yet guess what I saw? ”

"What?"

"First, in 2171, I could not refuse a mother's plea and took the baby from her hands."

"Is there anything wrong with that?" Wu Yaguo said disapprovingly.

"The baby. He was the 1,001st person to be contained in the Vault. ”

"Could it be that because of this one baby, Vault 027 opened nearly 30 years ahead of schedule?" Wu Yaguo sneered, "Or do you really can't find an excuse and have to use that innocent baby as an excuse for your incompetence?" ”

"This is just the beginning." Han Junhua said lightly, "In 2172, I held a wedding for a couple. I know it's wrong, but I wish them happiness from the bottom of my heart. ”

"There's nothing wrong with that at all! Don't you think. In this desperate environment, a wedding is so inspiring. ”

"So, in the past 16 years, you have held more than 400 weddings, large and small?" Han Junhua glanced at the four people at the conference table.

Tian Feng, who couldn't speak, stared at the EP in a daze, and Shi Yongtian was still trembling there. Wu Yaguo, who was not satisfied with Han Junhua's explanation, was still indifferent, while Academician Qin sighed lightly and lowered his head.

"There are no energy saving plans. There are no plans to give birth. Educate. Supercomputers can calculate energy consumption down to tens of digits of floating-point accuracy, and can calculate near-perfect population structures and growth curves. But I still can't calculate your IQ! ”

Eventually, the calm voice was tinged with anger. Although the volume was not loud, it stung the eardrums of everyone present.

Academician Qin opened his mouth, wanting to say something to ease the tense atmosphere at the conference table, but in the end he didn't say anything, just looked at Han Junhua quietly. Wu Yaguo's face turned red with anger. But I couldn't find a reason to refute it.

"Including my early awakening, I was surprised." Seeing that no one answered, Han Junhua continued, "According to the plan, I should be released from dormancy after the vault has been closed for 25 years. Succeed the Director. But what did that old director do? He committed suicide in fear of sin! ”

"Lao Zhang, he died of myocardial infarction." Wu Yaguo tried to retort, but his tone was without the strength he had before.

"Myocardial infarction? With the medical conditions of the shelter, do you think that a person who died of a myocardial infarction is merely a person? Concealing the condition and giving up on receiving treatment is suicide! Looking directly into Wu Yaguo's eyes, Han Junhua said deadly.

Wu Yaguo's throat slid and couldn't say a word.

"What would you do if it were you?" Academician Qin suddenly spoke up.

"In 2171, I would refuse to accept that baby. No newborns will be born before 2180. After 2180, the number of newborns was strictly controlled according to the population growth curve analyzed by a supercomputer. Han Junhua said without hesitation.

"But you know what? At that time, Director Zhang was not only facing a baby, but also humanity. Academician Qin said softly, "I witnessed the tragedy that happened at the door that day. The people outside the door begged bitterly, hoping that the net would be opened. According to discipline, the shelter can only accommodate 1,000 people, and Xiao Zhang did abide by the discipline. ”

"He didn't." Han Junhua said.

Hearing the little girl's words, Academician Qin just smiled kindly, and then recalled.

"Someone knelt, someone hurled, someone even tried to force their way in, I remember it was a small open gun. You can't imagine the picture of a husband trying to take his son through the gate and join his wife with a small open gun. ”

Wu Yaguo closed his eyes and seemed to remember something far away. Tian Feng was still staring at the shoelaces, but his expression was a little moved, he was on duty at the door that day.

However, Han Junhua was still indifferent, and just said lightly.

"Why can you refuse a group of people, but not a child?"

"Perhaps, it's because of human nature." Academician Qin sighed and said.

"So, stupidity was committed from the beginning." Han Junhua said.

"I haven't experienced it, and what happened that day is just a text for you. It's understandable that you'd have such thoughts. Regarding her indifference, Academician Qin just sighed and said in understanding.

"You woman, do you still have humanity?" Wu Yaguo said in disbelief.

Without glancing at Wu Yaguo, Han Junhua said indifferently.

"Humanity? That's just a burden to survive. (To be continued......)