Chapter 258 - 144: Saturation Information Delivery

Chapter 258: Chapter 144: Saturation Information Delivery

Xu Mo’s eyes flickered. ’Supply points... a faint glimmer of hope, but they could also be a deadly trap.’

"Fourth, weapons and self-defense." Minister Liu’s tone grew serious. "Each person will be issued two Type 95 automatic rifles, four fully loaded magazines, and 1,000 rounds of ammunition; one Type 92 pistol with two magazines and 300 rounds; and one military bayonet."

"Ammunition is limited, so use it sparingly. Additionally, each person will be issued four defensive grenades and two smoke grenades. Your mission is to deliver information, not to conduct clearing operations. When you encounter a threat you cannot handle, your primary objective is to use your vehicle’s mobility to escape, hide, and survive."

Xu Mo shook his head to himself at the equipment loadout, but then he found himself nodding. ’He’s right. The main goal of this mission is to deliver information, not to fight. If we run into danger, we just have to use the vehicle to get away.’

"Fifth, identity and negotiation credentials." Minister Liu displayed several items: a special metal Identity Card engraved with a serial number and the words "Jiang City Shelter Messenger"; several joint official documents stamped with the steel seal of the Jiang City Management Committee and bearing the electronic signatures of the seven major shelters; and a sealed metal cylinder with a self-destruct mechanism, where the core information is stored.

"The Identity Card and official documents may be of some use if you encounter other survivor factions, but don’t rely on them entirely. In this post-apocalyptic world, law has collapsed. The authority these items carry will depend on who you meet."

"Sixth, each vehicle will be supplied with two additional 50-liter military fuel drums, a basic repair toolkit, a tire patch kit, and a small number of vulnerable spare parts. The 180-liter main and auxiliary tanks, combined with the 100 liters of spare fuel, give you a theoretical range of over 1,500 kilometers. You will have to find your own fuel for the journey beyond that."

Minister Liu closed his folder, his sharp gaze sweeping across the room. "Finally, I have some critical warnings based on preliminary reconnaissance and intelligence reports. I want you all to listen closely and burn this into your minds. This will save your life!"

"Under no circumstances should you attempt to cross or enter the core ruin zones of any large city, especially megacities that had a pre-disaster population of over five million. The zombie density, degree of mutation, and environmental complexity there are far beyond anything you can imagine. We lost three of our most elite scout teams to learn a single, bloody lesson: those places are death zones! They are nests for evolved monstrosities! Go around them, even if it adds hundreds of kilometers to your trip!"

"Be cautious with all survivors who are not part of the Jiang City system. We don’t know what kinds of human groups you will encounter on your route. You might find shelters that still maintain order and goodwill, but you could also run into gangs that have completely degenerated and live by pillaging and killing. There may even be some kind of... twisted organizations. Do not readily expose your mission, equipment, or supplies. Trust is something that must be earned with extreme caution."

"Watch for changes in the natural environment and new types of threats. Some of the last blurry images transmitted by our satellites before they crashed showed inexplicable anomalies in the terrain and vegetation in certain regions. Rivers have been rerouted, and climates may have become extreme in localized pockets. Also, besides zombies and known mutated animals, be on the lookout for things that don’t resemble any native species. We suspect that the source of the cataclysm may have brought about even more profound changes."

"Maintain an information log. If conditions permit, use your tablet or a personal notebook to record your route, any unusual situations you encounter, resource points, threat types, and so on. If you should unfortunately perish, these records could serve as a warning or a clue for those who follow. Of course, if you succeed, this information will be invaluable firsthand data."

When Minister Liu finished, he let out a long breath. "That’s all I have to say. You may now ask any questions you have."

The room was silent for a moment. The mission’s framework was almost cruelly clear, the equipment list was explicit, and the warnings were chilling enough that there seemed to be nothing left to ask.

A soldier in the front row raised his hand. After receiving a nod, he rose, his voice firm and clear. "Reporting! If we encounter other Messenger teams en route, are we permitted to team up and cooperate temporarily?"

Minister Liu looked toward Conductor Zhang and Director Wang. Conductor Zhang nodded.

Minister Liu answered, "In principle, it is neither encouraged nor forbidden. The mission requires you to operate independently to spread the risk as much as possible. However, if you happen to meet on your journey and need to cooperate temporarily for the sake of survival, Command will understand. But each team must keep its own core information cylinder, and the final mission objective does not change. Remember, you are Messengers, not a combat detachment."

A few others asked questions about specific route selection and the passwords for identifying supply points established by Jiang City.

After Minister Liu answered each question, he surveyed the room. "Any more questions?"

No one else raised a hand.

"Good." Minister Liu nodded and looked to Conductor Zhang.

Conductor Zhang walked back to the front of the stage, a stack of papers in his hand. "Since there are no further questions, you will now need to sign several documents."

Staff began distributing the papers, giving two documents to each person. One was the "’Project Dandelion’ Voluntary Participation and Non-Disclosure Agreement," which detailed their confidentiality obligations, mission requirements, and a clause stating they "knowingly and voluntarily assume all risks."

The other was the "Mission Personnel Contingency and Asset Disposition Protocol."

Conductor Zhang’s voice was steady and solemn. "This second agreement is, colloquially speaking, your last will and testament. You need to clearly designate who will inherit or receive your Contribution Points balance in Jiang City, your personal property, and any posthumous stipends and rewards that may be issued after the mission, should you not return. You also need to specify how the items in your Jiang City residences should be handled. This is procedural, but it is also a final accounting for you and for the people you care about."