Chapter 264 The prototype of the brood and recovered samples

"What it is?"

  On the half-collapsed pedestrian bridge.

  Wearing a gas mask and wearing a heavy cavalry exoskeleton, Commander Quanshui held a telescope in his hand and stared intently at the 100-story building directly opposite.

  The streets are filled with gray-green mist, and it is impossible to see too far away.

   But even so, he could still clearly see a dark red trace faintly crawling in the middle of the 100-story building.

  According to the logo on the VM map, the name of this 100-story building is "New Era Data Center", and there is a nearby subway station named after it.

  I want to come more than two hundred years ago, this place should be a very lively place.

  The three little players standing next to him also took out their binoculars and looked towards the tall building directly opposite.

  The battlefield atmosphere group muttered.

   "It seems to be the 41st floor."

   My darkest heart moved.

   "Could it be that brood?"

  The battlefield atmosphere team looked at Mengxin in the team.

   "You are from the Agile department, why don't you go and have a look."

   Zhang Hai immediately said unwillingly.

   "Don't do it! It's obvious that you are going to die! I won't go, you have to go by yourself."

  I shook my head darkest and said with a sigh.

   "This newcomer is too cowardly."

  Zhang Hai rolled his eyes: "What the **** are you pretending to be a wolf with a hammer and a big tail? You are a version earlier than me, don't you blush!"

  I am the darkest: "#@%!"

  Commander Quanshui opened the VM, compared the description information in the database, and read in a low voice.

   "The mutated hatching room is dark red, and the speed of spore release increases. The surrounding slime mold strains will spontaneously move closer to the hatching room, and some of them will actively enter the hatching room and become the nourishment for the hatching room to continue to expand the creep..."

  There are indeed a lot of nibblers wandering the streets.

  Although there is no obvious sign that they are all moving towards the hatching room, they are indeed wandering in the street in broad daylight abnormally.

  The surrounding gray-green mist is probably caused by that spore cloud!

  There was a glimmer of excitement in his eyes, Commander Springs immediately set a mark on the map, and took a photo of the building with the headset hanging around his neck.

  Photo here!

   "Done!"

  After waiting for a while, the signal light of the VM flickered slightly, and the seal of task completion was stamped on the task bar.

   Not only Quan Shui alone, the other three players in the team also received a reminder that the task was completed.

   "Damn, you can get 100 silver coins for taking a picture?!" Zhang Hai's eyes bulged out.

   One hundred contribution points!

   This money is too easy to earn!

  Although he is the kind of player who cultivates both life professions and combat professions, he mainly sells ramen noodles at the North Gate.

   Today, seeing the version update, I decided to hang on to the hunter profession on a whim. I just formed a team of passers-by, but I didn’t expect the rewards of the mission to be so high!

  A bowl of ramen is 5 silver coins, and after deducting the cost of 2 silver coins, he has to make 34 bowls of ramen to earn so many silver coins!

   Discovering this busy point, Zhang Hai couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

  The income of these professional fighting players is too high!

   Sure enough, the price of ramen has to go up too!

  The little players next to them didn’t know it, they were still smiling,

  I am the darkest and said with a smile: "Understood, the version answer is the camera!"

  Battlefield atmosphere group: "Damn, your understanding is a bit enterprise-level!"

  Zhang Hai looked at Brother Quanshui excitedly.

   "Brother, what's next? Are there any follow-up tasks?"

  The battlefield atmosphere group has opened the safety of the rifle, looking at the nibblers wandering on the opposite street, eager to try.

   "What do you say? Do you want to go in and take a look?"

  Quan Shui shook his head and said.

   "The task was not mentioned, it only showed that you can choose to stand by on the spot. Reinforcements are coming from the outpost... The estimated time of arrival is one hour later."

  Zhang Hai: "Damn? So long?"

  Battlefield atmosphere group: "It's already considered fast. Now I can move directly from the B3 floor tunnel to the Huayuan Street subway station. Before, I used two legs to walk. It took an hour or two to walk to Beit Street!"

  Commander Spring checked the task bar.

   "There is also a resource point search task nearby, the office building is 230m away from the coordinates, one hour should be enough... How about we finish the branch line first and then come back and wait?"

  I am the darkest: "Oak!"

  Battlefield atmosphere group: "I have no objection."

  Commander Quanshui waved his hand.

   "Okay, let's go!"

  …

   In fact, it didn't take an hour at all.

  Whether it is a branch line searching for resource points, or reinforcements from several kilometers away.

   But what Commander Quanshui didn't expect was that the lineup of reinforcements was unexpectedly luxurious.

   Not only the manager in azure blue power armor, but also Miss Heya, who usually stays at home, followed.

  Standing on the half-collapsed overpass, Heya only glanced at it, and then made a judgment with an affirmative tone.

   "There is nothing wrong... the creep has already expanded to the outside of the building. If the creep formed by these slime molds is allowed to continue to expand, they will develop into a new brood at the latest in one month."

  Chu Guang glanced at Heya.

   "Is it okay if you don't wear a gas mask?"

   "It's okay," Heya said with a normal expression, "This level of spore cloud is just a little dust to me."

All right.

  Bionic organs are really convenient.

  Chu Guang couldn't help thinking in his heart, and he could do it himself when he had the opportunity.

  Standing on the other side of Chu Guang, Vanus, who was wearing an orange chemical protective suit and a gas mask, was also staring intently at the building ahead.

   After thinking for a while, he said.

   "I recommend blasting the building."

   Chu Guang looked at him and asked.

   "Can blowing down the building solve the hatching room?"

  Vanus said succinctly.

   "Not necessarily, but it makes complex problems easier!"

   "Slime molds have poor survival ability in open spaces. Except for a few natural caves, it is almost impossible to see predators in the wild. To completely eradicate the hidden dangers of slime mold reproduction, the only way to thoroughly clean up these concrete wastes."

   After a pause, Vanus added a sentence later.

   "That's what we do on the west side of the continent!"

  Having never heard of such a crazy thing, Heya looked at him in surprise.

   "This is crazy too... have you considered the possible knock-on effects of doing this?"

   Blowing up a tall building is not as simple as talking about it.

  These are all concrete buildings that have survived the nuclear explosion and have been strong for two centuries, and their strength can be imagined.

Ten thousand steps back, even if enough explosives are prepared to completely blow up the load-bearing structure, the fallen reinforced concrete blocks are unlikely to be broken into **** like tofu blocks, but more likely to form a tens of meters high, A "three-dimensional maze" hundreds of meters long.

  This may make the situation more complicated!

   At least before blasting the building, both the escape route and the elevator shaft can go straight to the 41st floor.

   Regarding Heya's surprise, Vanus didn't take it seriously.

   "First of all, we blasted a large area in a concentrated manner. Secondly, of course, we didn't detonate the explosives and leave it alone."

   "After the demolition is over, we'll bombard with heavy artillery, we'll drop incendiary bombs with airships, and we'll send out our clone troopers... until the source of the infection is completely destroyed."

  “Not only these concrete garbage, but also the paralyzed underground transportation network and drainage system, we will also blast and demolish them.”

  Heya couldn't help but said: "Maybe you just buried the problem in an invisible place."

  Vanus shrugged.

   “Maybe, I’m just offering a solution. This work has been going on for two centuries, and at least in areas where these strategies have been implemented, they’ve worked fairly well.”

   There is no need for such high-density housing on the wasteland, and the population concentration effect brought about by the huge maintenance cost is worthless here.

  At least in the eyes of Vanus, the only difference between these unused things and garbage is that the latter can at least be recycled.

   And these high-rise buildings, after recycling the resources that can be used inside, there are only endless troubles left.

   He Ya looked at Chu Guang.

   "I don't recommend blasting the entire building, unless you are 100% sure that you can completely clean up the slime mold inside by blasting the building, otherwise the complex environment may make the problem even more difficult."

"Anyway, no matter what you end up choosing, please provide me with at least one test tube sample! I need to understand the biological process of these mutant slime molds from the hatch to the brood, this is critical! It will help us understand our enemy!"

  Chu Guang did not give Heya an answer immediately, but looked at the "chief contractor" of the outpost at the side—retaining people under the sword.

   Among all the players, he probably knows the most about engineering.

   "How many kilograms of explosives do you need to blow up this building?"

  Liuren under the knife frowned and thought for a long time before speaking.

   "1.1 tons of T en T, 3500 detonators should be fine."

  Chu Guang was slightly moved.

"so much?"

  Liu Ren under the knife said with a wry smile.

   "This is a conservative estimate...the actual explosives needed may be more."

There are hundreds of stories of high-rise buildings in Qingquan City, and they are often five or six hundred meters or even kilometers upwards, especially in the direction of the city center. , can easily lift the tallest building in the world.

  Of course, Daoxialiuren also admitted that there is no comparison between games and reality. Only fools will go to the virtual world to find 100% reality, even if most operators will promote it like this.

However, assuming that the physics engine of "Wasteland OL" is professional enough, let him analyze it from a professional point of view. If this kind of high-rise building is to resist earthquakes and other possible natural disasters, it is not just that the strength of cement will be stronger than in reality. The cement used is two ranks higher, and the steel used is probably an astronomical figure.

   While leaving people under the knife to calculate in their hearts, Chu Guang was also calculating in his mind.

  1.1 tons of explosives can make three thousand rounds of 100mm shells!

too expensive!

   And this is a conservative estimate...

  If it blows up into a dangerous building, it will be a ticking time bomb if it is left here half-collapsed.

   On the contrary, if a player is sent to target and clear the mutant incubation room on the 41st floor, the possible price to pay is only some active substances, thousands of bullets, and a few liters of fuel.

  Thinking of this, Chu Guang immediately made a decision and released the task through VM.

  【Main goal: Destroy the slime mold incubation room located on the 41st floor of the "New Era Data Center"! 】

  【Secondary goal: collect mutation samples! 】

  The task was released, and Chu Guang looked at the little players beside him.

   "We now have enough clues to prove that the spore cloud gathered in this area was released from the 41st floor of the new era data center."

   "In order to prevent the further expansion of the creep and form a greater threat in the area, we need to completely clear it before the wave comes!"

   "This task is very critical. It is related to whether we can deal with the threat of the wave more calmly, and we only have one week left."

   "I need you to solve this problem within a week!"

  Hearing the serious and urgent tone of the manager, the faces of Commander Quanshui and the players, instead of seeing any tension, were filled with excitement.

  Time-limited tasks?

   And it’s also a main storyline mission!

   This is not much more interesting than doing side quests every day!

   "Don't worry, Master Manager!"

  Commander Quanshui raised his right fist excitedly, and knocked on the front armor of the six-style heavy cavalry exoskeleton, "For the revival of the People's Federation! For the peace of the northern suburbs! We will fulfill our mission!"

  Let this guy say all the good things by himself, and the other players couldn't think of suitable words for a while. The battlefield atmosphere team had an idea, and followed up with a sentence.

"Me too!"

  I am the darkest, Zhang Hai and the players who followed from the outpost also hurriedly followed suit.

   "+1!"

   "Me too!"

  Glad that these players have such awareness, Chu Guang showed a smile of approval on his face.

"Um."

   "The future of all of us is up to you!"

  …

  After the task is released, the strategy operation will start soon!

   There are a total of 20 players participating in the operation, and the captain is the spring commander with the highest proficiency in the "command" skill.

  The needed supplies were quickly transported from the warehouse on Beit Street to the target location by double-headed cattle.

After getting the blueprint of the building from the scientific expedition team, Brother Quanshui did not do it immediately, but after fully observing the surrounding terrain, he divided the twenty people including himself into four five-member teams of ABCD, and made a careful plan. battle plan!

"Group A is the striker, with the field guy from the agility department as the squad leader, and I, the darkest member of the perception department, as the deputy team. From the elevator shaft to the 43rd floor, enter the room on the left side of the exit, blast the floor with explosives, and push down. To the 42nd floor—directly above the hatching room!"

   "Your mission is the most critical."

   "I need you to deploy explosives directly above the brood, blow down the ceiling above its head, and then pour the fuel prepared in advance to physically kill the slime mold in the hatching room!"

  Hearing the task he was in charge of, the battlefield atmosphere team clenched their fists excitedly.

"Stimulate!"

  Commander Spring continued to look at the other teams.

   "Your tasks are equally important."

   "Group B serves as the reserve team, and the awakened Kakarot of the power department serves as the team leader, and cooperates with Group A to enter the building to fight."

   "If Group A hits the street, you are responsible for taking their place."

   Kakarot put the light machine gun on his shoulder and grinned.

"receive!"

  Quan Shui looked at the player next to him and continued.

"Group C is the cover team, and the team leader is Lao Wang next door. Your task is to clear the alien species from the outside of the building to the elevator inside the building, guard the buttocks of the AB team, and cover their evacuation after the operation is over. Or, in the event of an accident Time to recover their gear and VMs."

   "Group D is the support group. I will personally lead the team to another building on the east side of the building, and set up four 20mm anti-tank rifles near the fortieth floor to provide fire support to you from outside the battlefield!"

"above!"

  Commander Spring is very satisfied with his plan.

  Formulating a careful action plan is what he is best at.

  However, at this moment, I spoke suddenly the darkest.

   "Wait a minute, why are you OB outside the battlefield again? Are you an awakener too?"

  Zhang Hai couldn't help complaining.

   "Exactly! You're wearing power armor all the time, excuse me?"

  Other players also came to their senses.

yes.

  How did this guy stuff himself in the back row again.

  Commander Quanshui blushed and argued.

   "What kind of power armor, this is called an exoskeleton! Do you know what an exoskeleton is? And I'm an intelligence department. Is there any problem with commanding from the rear?"

   Is there something wrong?

   There is nothing wrong with it!

  The battlefield atmosphere team wearing the Miner I rolled his eyes, and loaded the LD-47j with the drum in his hand.

   "Okay, okay, don't explain, hurry up."

   Having been a teammate for so long, he has long been used to this old Goubi.

   Tucao belongs to Tucao.

   It is reassuring to have a reliable conductor.

  The teams began to act step by step. Group D encountered a little trouble on the way to the support point, but they still reached the target location within half an hour.

   Instructed the team members to set up the anti-tank rifles by the French windows, Commander Quanshui said calmly in the communication channel.

   "Group D is in place! The other groups are starting to move!"

   There were three neat responses in the communication channel.

"receive!"

  The three teams on standby under the overpass immediately started to act.

  The five players serving as the cover team spread out in front of the team, skillfully raised the rifles in their hands, and neatly shot and killed the nibblers blocking the way forward with burst shots.

  The gunshots echoing on the street quickly attracted the attention of other eaters, and those bloodthirsty beasts quickly turned their eyes to this side, rushing up like wild dogs.

  Gunshots in the street!

  The battle is about to start!

  The creeper lurking in the ruins locked on everyone on the street with scarlet eyes, and let out a dangerous growl.

   Seems to have found an opportunity to attack, it let out a low growl, and rushed out from under the ruins.

  If it was an ordinary mercenary team, I'm afraid they would have been caught off guard by this beast. However, it is not facing ordinary people, but a group of experienced players!

  The head had just come out of the corner of the street when there was a burst of thunder-like chorus from the waist of the tall building on the east side.

  The 20mm muzzle ejected flames, and four thick and long tracers fell from the sky.

  Two high-explosive bombs hit the side of the monster, and two armor-piercing incendiary bombs hit the monster's back and shoulders respectively.

   "Ka—!"

  The shrill roar echoed in the street, and the creeper who had just emerged stumbled to the side.

  The warfield guy immediately seized the opportunity, raised the rifle in his hand, and shot the beast's head with a bullet. Then he freed his right hand and gave a thumbs up to the building behind him.

   "Nice job!"

  The cooperation of the four teams is quite tacit.

  In just three minutes, hundreds of nibblers have been cleared from the street. The three Mengxins who were waiting under the overpass received the task and ran forward with supplies.

  Send 10 silver coins and 10 contribution points once.

  Although there is no chance to shoot, it is also good to go up and feel the atmosphere of the battlefield.

  Whether it is income or fun, this task is much more enjoyable than cutting down trees!

  Looking at the players who had advanced downstairs in the building, Vanus couldn't help but said with a surprised expression on his face.

   "Are the residents in your shelter all soldiers?"

   This is not the first time he has such an idea.

  However, the aerial images of drones seen on the screen a few times before are far inferior to the visual impact of being on the scene in person now.

  Looking at the flickering flames inside the main entrance of the building, Chu Guang said in a relaxed tone.

   "Some are, some are not, but it doesn't matter. The battlefield is the best teacher, no matter their starting point is 1 or 0, here they have a chance to become a 10."

   At the beginning, the players rushed in a swarm, but soon discovered that the AI ​​of some "monsters" had morale settings. Dividing into groups to intersperse the weak links of the defense line would be more effective than simply charging.

   Later, in addition to tactical interleaving, they also learned fire support, alternate cover, split and encirclement, and used different types of tactics against different types of enemies.

  Here, no matter how stupid a person is, if he dies once, he should know what to do next time.

  Vanus' expression was slightly dumb.

  He always feels…

  Why is this theory so similar to the clone tactics he learned in the military academy?

   What about battle damage?

   Don't you have to think about it?

  When did the blue coat become so tough!

  Vanus was puzzled.

  Heya, who was standing aside, didn't care much about these details, her pretty face was full of excitement, but this had nothing to do with the battle situation itself, but her conjecture was verified.

   "Sure enough, my guess is correct!"

   "The increase in the spore content in the air will make the fruiting body more aggressive, and the spore cloud formed at the same time will weaken the limitation of light on the movement of the fruiting body!"

   "It's unbelievable!"

  Chu Guang's heart moved slightly.

   "If incendiary bombs are used to clear the area of ​​spores—"

  Vanus shook his head and said.

   "The fuel that needs to be consumed like that will be an astronomical figure, and it will only treat the symptoms but not the root cause. Only by extinguishing the source can we fundamentally end the wave..."

  The gunfire in the distance has basically ended, and the alien species on the first floor of the building have been completely cleared.

   Mengxin, who was in charge of the logistics team, sent the second wave of ammunition to the front line. The three teams that entered the building had already reached the elevator shaft.

   From victory, there are still two loud explosions.

   Taking his eyes off the VM, Vanus glanced up to the south.

  There is the direction of the city center.

  Behind the steel forest was supposed to be a blue sky, but now it was engulfed by a gray-green cloud. From a distance, it looked like an endless sea of ​​mist.

   Paused for a moment, he continued.

   "Otherwise it will be like this, and it will happen again every one or two years."

  …

  At the same time, in Boulder City more than ten kilometers away, the sharp and piercing alarm bells echoed over the streets, as if they were coming from the huge wall.

  Crow, who was picking and choosing in the grocery store, was startled by the sudden sound of the alarm bell, and quickly looked towards the street outside the window.

  There was a commotion among the pedestrians on the street, and many people quickened their pace. Several militiamen passed by on the street, and seemed to be shouting something at the pedestrians.

  Put the glass bottle in his hand back on the shelf, and Fujito also stood on tiptoe and looked outside, but couldn't see clearly, so he asked in a low voice.

"what happens?"

   Yaya swallowed.

"have no idea."

  Xu Shun, who was standing aside, was more nervous than the two, and unconsciously put his hands in his pockets.

  Noticing the reactions of several customers, the old lady sitting behind the counter smiled and spoke in a slow voice.

   "Several of you are here for the first time."

  Xu Shun, who was standing aside, nodded and asked immediately.

   "Excuse me, what happened outside? Did something happen?"

   "That's right, but there's nothing to panic about, it's just a wave... This isn't the first time."

   Stretching out trembling hands, the old woman picked up the bronze glasses on the table and put them on, then skillfully took out three gas masks from under the counter and put them on the table.

  With an amiable smile on her face, she continued.

   "Gas masks, 100% new, only 20 chips for a set."

   "If you don't want to get sick, you'd better buy one and wear it."

  (end of this chapter)