18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 568

Reagan's words had a calming effect on everyone. The chances that the container hadn’t taken on water after falling into the sea were slim to none.

The plan was simple: salvage whatever you can if it’s within reach.

However, they quickly agreed that searching the globe for the 3,000 Kindle Chests when only about a hundred had been found so far was a waste of time. The longer the chests stayed lost at sea, the harder they would be to recover.

The base couldn’t just sit around waiting for a miracle; they needed to take the initiative to find the Kindle Chests.

“We could send out the Spark Project’s submarine crews to search. Once they confirm the coordinates, the salvage team can move in,” someone suggested.

Dividing the tasks would save fuel and increase efficiency.

Reagan couldn’t argue with that.

After the meeting broke up, Reagan hurried out, but his colleague Nicholas caught up with him, teasing as they walked. “Reagan, you really stole the show this time.”

Reagan nodded, “Just doing my duty for the base. I’m only stepping up because Mr. Daniel isn’t feeling well. I’m not looking for glory, just trying to keep things running smoothly.”

“The salvage crew’s skills are impressive. The base needs more talents like them. Aren’t you planning to expand the team?” Nicholas asked.

Reagan smiled, “Oh, Nicholas, the elite salvage crew reports directly to the top brass. I’ve got enough on my plate already. Why don’t you ask about it if you’ve got some free time?”

Nicholas choked on his retort, “It’s all for the base’s future, you know.”

“Oh shoot, I forgot to take my meds with all this meeting business. My better half is going to have a field day nagging about it,” Reagan said, slapping his forehead before waving goodbye and rushing back to his office to grab his medicine.

That evening, Stella wasn’t in the mood to cook and pulled out some classic comfort food from Arcadia: steamed pork ribs, hearty chicken soup, braised beef, and a mix of sautéed veggies.

The table was set with an abundance of delicious food, and Vanessa was visibly surprised. Seeing Daniel’s calm demeanor, she wisely chose not to ask any questions.

Under the warm kitchen lights, the family enjoyed their meal together. It had been over a decade since they’d tasted such flavorful food. For Vanessa, the joy was not just in the flavors but in seeing Daniel’s beaming smile.

Stella had truly accepted him as her father, and she was happy for old man Gu, whose biggest worry had finally been put to rest.

After dinner, Stella handed Vanessa a box of assorted fruits, “Make sure you eat some every day. Come back for more when you run out.”

Daniel lingered to talk with his daughter and son-in-law about the military’s plans to organize teams to search for the scattered Kindle Chests. The salvage team might get even busier.

The base urgently needed to develop, but heading out to sea came with risks. Daniel didn’t want to put too much pressure on them, “Safety first. If it’s not a good fit for you, I’ll find a way to pass on it.”

Growth was a test of teamwork, not a matter of individual heroics.

Having learned from loss, Daniel didn’t want to have any regrets. He preferred to slow down the pace of progress if necessary.

After a moment’s thought, Stella said, “Let’s collect the coordinates first, and decide on the salvage later.”

...

After two days of rest at home, Stella headed to the harbor to board the ship.

Bran had been swamped with organizing the transport of Kindle Chest supplies, completely missing out on the free meals.

Although he seemed laid-back, he was pretty impressive when it came to work.

Stella caught a glimpse of him from afar but didn’t approach to interrupt.

Once on the transport ship, Jake, Amelia, and others helped move the supplies before the transfer ship left and then got busy with their own plans for container modifications.

When they saw Stella, the team greeted her warmly, “Hey, Stella.”

With no outsiders present, Stella brought out drilling rigs, cutting machines, sewing machines, and power boxes, all things the team was short on.

“Stella, what are you planning to do with the supplies you and Captain Howard split?” someone asked.

Stella replied casually, “I’ll keep some cloth for personal use and exchange the rest for credits. Do you guys need any of the containers? If not, I’ll offer them to others who might need them.”

The resources were split evenly, and with only thirteen containers between them, Cole, who was of higher rank and had allocated quarters, didn’t need a container.

Jake and the others were content with their share, “Give them to others who need them more. We’re good.”

After some more chit-chat, Bran arrived on the transfer ship to oversee the moving of supplies, greeting her, “Sis.”