Long-term salvation

Nikki, wrapped in Rod's coat, walked out of the cabin leisurely and stood calmly beside him.

Lieutenant Colonel Gleb, who was standing farther away, and Major Li next to him looked at each other, and the two married men sighed and shook their heads.

"After learning about the monster's characteristics, I'm extremely worried about your situation," New Jersey whispered. Before Rhode could speak, he raised a finger and continued, "I'm worried about an attack from behind. Even if assimilation isn't necessary, doubt and hesitation could drive humanity to commit the original sin once again."

"You know I don't care about this kind of thing, and three days won't delay anything."

Rhodes shrugged. He had already thought of various ways of his death, and it was not impossible for him to be shot from behind by an assassin or even by one of his own people who was bribed.

If possible, he would like to die in a more cool way, with a big firework going off or something like that.

"It better be this way, otherwise, I dare not imagine how crazy the other people in the villa will be," the ship girl looked back and then set her sights on Nikki who followed her... Instinctively, New Jersey felt that the guy in front of her was not a good person.

After noticing this look, Sen didn't say anything, but just smiled back. That smile was hidden behind the language converter, so no one could see it clearly.

Rhode quickly walked towards the two base commanders who had been waiting for a long time and extended his hand to shake theirs.

"I've read the report from the helicopter. You responded quickly... What are the casualties among the soldiers?"

"Total casualties are 146. Seventy-one combat personnel, including vehicle and mecha pilots, were killed, along with three commanders and one researcher," Major Li pursed his lips, forcing the words out through gritted teeth. "The rest are workers and base support personnel. One shelter was tricked open by the monster, leading to the spread of the infection. The soldiers' morale remains high, but hatred for the monsters from the other world is spreading."

"...I understand, Major Li. You will arrange for these scientific expedition members arriving from the Norwegian station to maintain confidentiality and discipline. Record casualties and provide compensation and ensure martyr treatment. This must be done well. Regarding hatred of monsters, we need to be mindful of the limits and provide effective ideological guidance... Yes, Major, I understand Aurora culture very well. You will be responsible for carrying out the instructions."

Rhode nodded slightly, frowning as he turned to look at Lieutenant Commander Gleb, whose expression had turned grim, and gestured for him to follow him. At the same time, he waved to the ship girl and Nikki, who were staring at each other, indicating that they could walk around the base.

However, New Jersey and Sen had no such intentions, instead following Rhode's lead. Amidst the gentle heat waves emanating from the surrounding AS mecha engines, this somewhat odd pair slowly made their way towards the base.

"What's the current situation at Midnight Base?" Rhode glanced at the battered walls of the buildings and saw nothing unusual. "I know you've fought a tough battle."

Before the lieutenant colonel could reply, Rhodes raised his hand to return the salute to the Army Without Borders soldiers who were saluting him. They were still wearing fully enclosed protective suits, and each team was equipped with flamethrowers, electric shock devices and other weapons. According to the order issued by the base command, the soldiers needed to maintain combat readiness for at least another week and conduct decontamination operations and blood tests every day.

"Both military and civilian equipment have suffered significant damage. While there are still a lot of supplies and ammunition left, what needs replenishing more is fuel."

Lieutenant Colonel Gleb said this, and when he talked about this, his face still had a hint of fear:

"We still need more support—not just weapons, but also research teams and elite troops capable of handling such situations... Could you dispatch a [Mobile Task Force] to the Antarctic base for a long-term presence?"

A [Mobile Task Force] specializing in polar warfare? Rhode pondered for a few seconds before remembering an elite force from the other world operating under the name of Perseus.

This [Mobile Task Force], codenamed Delta-14 and named "Winter Wonderland," currently operates primarily within the Arctic Circle. While accepting orders from Rhodes, they also help Sablin and his team in Russia track down traces of ghouls - these otherworldly monsters seem to be rooted in the world of the Slavs, like the blood flowing from an unhealable wound.

But then again, we can't put things over there aside... After careful consideration, Rhode stopped and stood in front of the main gate of the base's facilities. He said to Lieutenant Colonel Gleb:

"We don't have any spare [Mobile Task Forces] with the right expertise to send here right now, but you can conduct internal selection and testing first, and then send the selected individuals to Arkham for secondary training. Do this quickly, and I will also have them conduct polar-related training and screening there, so we can re-establish a [Mobile Task Force] permanently stationed in Antarctica."

"As for the name of the unit, what do you think of 'Pole Tower'?"

"Sounds good," Lieutenant Colonel Gleb breathed a sigh of relief. Getting Rhodes's assurance was enough. He didn't think that with the frequent incidents in the other world, he would be able to get support from the [Mobile Task Force] in the short term. It was good enough to get support when something happened.

As they were talking, a vehicle that looked like a German Sd.Kfz.2 half-track motorcycle from World War II rumbled up. Inside sat several Miskatonic University professors wearing Kevlar helmets. Of course, Dr. Serizawa was among them, clutching a probe device covered in antennas, a serious expression on his face.

"What are you guys dressed like... Professor's Final Journey?"

Rod grumbled with a squinting gaze, his helpless words punctuated by a touch of sincere gratitude as he watched the professors disembark from the car. Wearing thick coats, they looked like hibernating brown bears, staggering out of their caves.

"I heard that you guys helped a lot when the Midnight Base was attacked, especially you, Professor Rick."

"So, what about the funding for the next Antarctic expedition?" Professor Rick rubbed his hands, his face full of smiles.

"Approved, approved, approved. I'll approve them all for you."

Rhode immediately raised his hands in surrender, which made the professors finally smile with relief. After laughing, Dr. Serizawa reached out and patted the device in his arms, saying with emotion:

"Although we arrived a little late, we still managed to create this thing—a more efficient life detection device! At least we can detect abnormal life signs and penetrate deeper into the ice. This might help me... That's for later. Mr. Rhodes, we plan to follow the soldiers from the Midnight Base to the explosion site of the alien spacecraft and search for any monsters we may have missed."

"It looks like you plan on staying here for a while, Dr. Serizawa."

"Of course, my main goal hasn't been achieved yet!" The doctor who had been desperately pursuing the Titans smiled tiredly, but he quickly put his smile away. He looked at Rhodes along with the other professors and said seriously:

"You must redesign a laboratory area. That thing is too dangerous! This is just the beginning. We can't even imagine what kind of things are buried under the ice."

"Lieutenant Colonel Gleb will discuss this with you," Rhodes nodded in agreement. "The completed application report can be sent directly to Hill Villa. I'll have Yuka give you the green light."

"...Then there's only one thing left, Boss," Lieutenant Colonel Gleb spread his hands, "The runway is unusable right now and is still being cleared bit by bit. So, how do you plan to get back—"

"Take a boat!"

New Jersey's voice came from behind Rhodes, and the ship girl tightened her face and spoke seriously.

"I know a good boat that would do that!"

+ + + + + + + +

"...Gentlemen, it seems an unexplained explosion occurred in Antarctica, causing earthquakes. Many research stations have detected seismic waves."

"…How is the construction of our station in Antarctica going?"

"It's still ongoing. The one with the fastest progress and the earliest ability to launch scientific research activities is the Weyland Corporation (from the Alien series)."

"...Then let our 'new partners' demonstrate their worth."

Chapter 478 Daily Life: Battleship Hotel!

In the South Pacific, the sea is calm and the sky is clear.

The sun, so pale it was barely visible, rose from the sea, its shimmering light slowly spreading along the current. As the sun fully revealed its power, the swaying surface of the sea reflected sunlight into Rhode's eyes, causing him to grumble in dissatisfaction from the stinging pain.

Rhodes was wearing a brown windproof jacket and looked like a pilot on an aircraft carrier - however, he was now standing on a battleship - the silver-gray hull of the New Jersey battleship cut through the tranquility, dragging a trail of snow-white waves in the morning light.

"It's still a bit cold after leaving Antarctica, but the wind isn't that strong... What do you think, Mori?"

Rhodes shook himself and wrapped his jacket tighter. He withdrew his gaze from the distant sea and calculated how long it would take to reunite with the Alicorn. The Alicorn had previously moved further away to avoid ice floes and other civilian ships, and was now heading towards the predetermined coordinates, preparing to make plans after reuniting with Rhodes.

"Fishing on a battleship isn't a good idea, instructor," Sen quietly appeared beside Rhode. Without the language converter, she handed him a pair of sunglasses and watched him quickly put them on. "But this isn't really fishing, is it?"

Seven electric spinning rods were hanging on both sides of the battleship's hull. The electric reels made a strange swish sound, allowing the fishing lines to penetrate deep under the sea surface, and in turn, cut several tiny wounds in the dark blue silk cloth.

If nothing unexpected happens, Rhodes and his friends will be able to eat fresh sea fish sashimi at noon.

"It would be too much trouble to pull up the trawl, and there's not enough for the three of us to eat it all."

Rhodes, whose face had turned red from the sea breeze, began to check the fishing rods one by one as he spoke, and finally installed a new one to make a total of eight fishing rods.

Eight is a really good number, loved by the Chinese and the dog-headed people sitting on brass toilets.

Rhodes half-knelt down and fixed the fishing rod on the deck to prevent the fishing air force from being caught while adding another fishing tackle. There were not many such things in the New Jersey ship's warehouse.

In reality, Rhode was still very curious about how much stuff could be stuffed into the hull of the battleship of the ship girl. However, every time he asked, the ship girl wanted to take him to touch her boilers and turbine generators. He was indeed dragged to the boiler room to take a look, but Rhode instinctively chose to refuse.

Standing in the slightly cool sea breeze, Rhodes fiddled with the fishing rod in his hand, thinking about something, just to relax.

Although as a battleship, the New Jersey has several lounges with classic items such as billiard tables and movie projectors, and now also some modern game consoles, walking here alone can still make people feel a little lonely... This steel behemoth that sails on the sea with the will and power of the ship girls is empty inside, with no living creatures in sight, and it can even make people feel a little scared at night.

"By the way, aren't you going to return my coat?" Rhodes stood up straight and looked at Nikki, who was wearing a coat that was obviously ill-fitting. The latter had no intention of returning the coat at all.

"Because I have to watch these rods on deck. You can't leave me standing there alone in the cold wind, can you?"

Mori replied with a feigned pitiful expression. She leaned against the bulkhead and watched Rod tie a length of iron leader and large hook to the fishing line, then scooped a sardine from the bucket beside him and hung it on the hook. After waiting for another half a minute, Nikki heard a crisp "bang!" sound, the strange sound of a reel, and a faint sound of falling water in the distance.

"Fine, fine, fine. If you don't want to return it, forget it," Rhode said helplessly. He picked up the bucket with two sardines left in it. The two dead fish inside were looking back at him with the same eyes as he did. "I'm going to go wash my hands now, and then have some breakfast... Come to think of it, I haven't had a proper meal on a battleship yet. How about you?"

"I've already had breakfast, Instructor. Please come in quickly. Miss New Jersey has been busy in the kitchen for quite some time."

Sen chuckled softly. She saw Rhode shrug his shoulders, turn around and walk into the battleship.

Like most battleships, the captain's room on the USS New Jersey is low-key and luxurious. Although the space there is not very spacious, it is expanded through clever storage design - the main color of the room is dark walnut, and the walls are covered with vertically arranged oak panels. Behind the panels are thick metal partitions and fireproof materials, and various carefully arranged cables also extend along the wall to the various electrical appliances in the house.

There wasn't much furniture in the captain's room. There was a large world map with the locations of enemy ships sunk by the battleship New Jersey, a desk, a storage rack with retractable partitions, and a large bed.

Rhodes was certain that when Irons bought the USS New Jersey from the United States Navy and modified it, he definitely did not put this thing in the captain's room... The bed was so big that it made the captain's room seem cramped, so much so that the ship's mother had to sit on the edge of the bed, watching Rhodes walk in with a smile.

"I can't cook like Marian and the others. I can only cook some of my specialties," New Jersey stretched and lay back on the soft mattress. Her breasts swayed slightly with this movement, filling the room with a graceful and charming atmosphere.

As the shipgirl spoke, she looked at Rhodes cautiously, but she was only interested in the Trenton Tomato Pie and Pork Roll on the table, two traditional delicacies of New Jersey, United States.

After letting out a faint hum of shame and anger, New Jersey turned around and sat up again, looking at Rhodes, who was holding a knife and fork with an embarrassed look on his face.

"Commander, don't you like it?" New Jersey raised her eyebrows, her mouth curved into a cute yet slightly cunning ω shape. "Or, Commander, you don't think I added anything to it, do you? Hehe, maybe I really did."

"Please don't tell these man-eating mare horror stories, okay? I'm really worried that after we survive the final crisis, you'll capture me and take me to the Emperor's chambers."

Rhode glared at the heartless battleship, sighed, and cut the tomato pie into small pieces with a knife. After putting a piece into his mouth, Rhode mumbled:

"You've made enough, New Jersey, to last me until lunch."

"We have plenty of time anyway, don't we?" New Jersey shook her head. She glanced at the world map hanging on the wall and said with a smile, "We can just rush straight to the east coast of Africa and crush that annoying Mogadishu with our naval guns!"

"That would put us on the wrong side of world opinion," Rhode said casually. He reached for the small bowl of seafood soup beside him and took a sip. After letting the delicious flavor mixed with the boiling hot broth explode in his mouth, Rhode continued with a contented sigh.

"Although it may sound a bit despicable to say this, for the subsequent development of Atlas Corporation and the Army Without Borders, we must hide the darkness and then 'shape' ourselves into great people, an absolutely positive image."

"...This will also be a burden, Commander."

"Of course, but we will let the world ignore those details, or guide people's thoughts." Rhodes smiled and cut the pork roll with a knife. The gravy and sauce inside immediately flowed into the porcelain plate, making the aroma more intense. "You know, we are the lighthouse that will guide the world in the future. There must be some places under the lighthouse that cannot be illuminated, right?"

Looking at Rhode's pretentious and sinister face, the ship girl burst out laughing. She pulled over a small folding chair and sat next to Rhode, leaning her head over and asking:

"Those are things the Commander needs to consider. As for now... do you need me to feed you?"

"Qiuzhi-Oh, Sen, you're back!"

Rhode looked up and saw Nikki standing by the door. She had her hands in her pockets and a calm expression on her face.

"The fish is hooked, instructor."

"Ahem...I'll go check it out now."

Chapter 479: Daily Life of the Armed Mikos

"You'll get your allowance tomorrow, right?"

Amakura Mio (Chapter 98, and Amakura Mayu are both from "Zero: The Crimson Butterfly") looked up at the clear sky. She was sitting on the steps of a shrine, watching the fluffy white clouds slowly floating across the sky - the sky was still the same as before, with some azure blue and some gray, but because it was summer, the sun had become scorching, constantly whipping every fool who dared to wander around the streets.

"Yes, Mio."

The girl's twin sister, Tiancang Jin, was closing her eyes and sipping the tea on the small coffee table in front of her, while a Howa Type 89 5.56mm assault rifle was placed at the feet of the kneeling shrine maiden.

This weapon, used by humans to kill their own kind, radiated the scorching sunlight, spreading the cold murderous intent across the platform in front of the shrine. However, a cute little pendant was adorned on the handle of the gun, which was obviously the user's preference.

Of course, based on the convenience of combat and daily maintenance, firearms are prohibited from being painted pink, but combat daggers are an exception.

Without immediately responding to his sister's complaint, Tiancang Jian slowly said after tasting the tea:

"But because Mio didn't complete the scheduled assessment goals, you won't get any bonus this month."

"What should I do with my PlayStation (original 1994)?! If there's no cocoon... Watasi..."

The girl in the red and white miko costume clutched her sister's sleeve with tears in her eyes, but the gentle sister remained unmoved. She just continued to sip the slightly bitter yet sweet and fragrant tea and said unhappily:

"Mio always buys all sorts of random things, and she likes to buy things that only boys like, like Gundam models and Warhammer 40K chess pieces—these things are so expensive! You also need to buy brushes, spray guns, and paints. If there weren't a cafeteria, you would have starved to death long ago!"

"Cocoon certainly won't let me starve to death."

"...Indeed," Tiancang Jian opened his eyes slightly, and a trace of deep attachment flashed in the depths that was not noticed by Tiancang Mio, "Mio definitely can't leave me."

"cocoon……"

"Wait a minute, although I don't want to pay too much attention to other people's family affairs, you still need to be careful when you go out. Besides, this is not a particularly safe place, right?"

Saikawa Ayane (Chapter 121) walked out from the depths of the shrine with a sigh, followed by Shiraishi Mizuki (both from "Kinki Spiritual Affairs Bureau") and several other armed shrine maidens - they were all wearing classic red and white shrine maiden uniforms, holding various firearms and currently known spell seals that can be used.

"After the Red Gift Ceremony, this place will be peaceful for many years. Besides, there won't be any living creatures in the surrounding mountains and forests, right?"

Tiancang Jian said softly, she raised her eyes and looked in the direction where her companions came from. As a strong psychic, she could still feel the energy of the inner world that was falling into an inert state. The latter was just accumulating and waiting... waiting to erupt again, once again dragging the surrounding real world into darkness and despair.

"We are 'safe', I can be sure of that."

"Since our powerful psychic seer has said so," Saikawa Ayane shrugged, but she did not relax much. Instead, she turned to the other armed priestesses and said, "Keep the lowest alert and take a rest."