Chapter 31 (1/2)

“We’ve finally made it here!” Qin Hao sighed in relief. Having to take care of two extra persons while navigating through the jungle felt much more exhaustive than going it alone.

“Don’t worry, Qin Hao. I will surely get you a transfer order once I get back on board the battleship!” said Palmer. When the transport aircraft that he was on was shot down, he thought he would die and not expect to make it back to a human military base alive.

“Leave that to another time. Let us get over there.” Qin Hao went ahead toward Coales Valley.

“Something is not quite right…” Lucia mumbled.

Qin Hao frowned. How could he not see it when even Lucia could sense that?

Coales Valley at this time was extremely quiet, the entire area dead silent. They did not even see a single soldier there when they arrived at the valley.

“Could it be…” Qin Hao had a bad feeling, wondering if this base had been abandoned.

Navigating past the valley entrance that was filled with bomb craters, they arrived before the human base. It was apparent that the place was a mess, an aftermath of the troops’ evacuation.

“They evacuated while the base is still intact?” Qin Hao looked at the metal mall at the valley entrance. There was no sign of battle on the wall and gate, which were still in perfect condition.

Qin Hao connected his battlefield recorder to the control mechanism of the gate.

“Authentication in progress…

“Authentication completed.”

A mechanical sound ensued as the gate opened with a gap just wide enough for them to get through.

“Do we have to go in there?” Lucia asked faintly as she felt that it was much more dangerous inside than outside.

The base was empty. With no one inside, the enclosed space felt depressive.

“There should be communication equipment inside. We can use it to call for help. The battleship will send landing craft for us!” Palmer said. His position was influential enough that the fleet would send a rescue team for him.

“It is not like we have a lot of choices!” Qin Hao nodded. Coales Valley was their only hope. If they could not contact the fleet, the next human stronghold was two thousand kilometers away.

Qin Hao stepped into the human base. Lucia gripped his sleeve and followed him from behind, with Blackie and Palmer following close behind.

The gate of the base closed to the sound of the hydraulic mechanism.

“Aah!” The sound of the gate closing scared the wits out of Lucia. She could not help it; the place was too quiet that everyone was a bundle of nerves.

“Calm down. It’s all right,” said Qin Hao.

“All right!” Lucia told herself to calm down, yet her hands gripped Qin Hao’s sleeve tighter.

“Do you have any idea where the communication equipment is, Sir?” Qin Hao looked at Palmer.

“It should be inside the command center,” said Palmer.

“All right!” Qin Hao nodded his acknowledgment, then went ahead toward the command center.

While going, he carefully observed the grounds. The alloy floor was perfectly intact, with no signs of the Hollowborers having been here. The strange thing was, there were no soldiers in such a large base, not even a body. Apparently, there had been a battle here.