CHAPTER 456: CHAPTER 454: URGENTLY NEEDED SUPPLIES

Chen Xin originally wanted to join the frontline disaster relief efforts. After all, his nano armor could transform into large engineering machinery or turn into vapor to infiltrate any crevice. Whether for rapid excavation or searching for survivors, it would be highly efficient.

However, both the Deputy Mayor and the rescue team leader stopped Chen Xin from personally going to the frontline to participate in the rescue.

A scientist like Chen Xin should stay at the rear. Even if he needs to come to the front, he cannot be allowed to venture into dangerous places.

After all, building collapses and avalanches are still occurring occasionally in the urban area, and there have been two more aftershocks. In such a situation, if Chen Xin were to go deep into the frontline and an accident occurred, it would be a loss for the entire country.

So even though they knew that having Chen Xin’s help could enhance the rescue efforts, they dared not let him take risks for this reason.

Fortunately, Chen Xin himself also realized that going to the frontline would only create an unnecessary burden for others. After being dissuaded a bit, he did not insist on directly participating in the rescue but stayed at the rescue point to handle his responsibilities.

The emergency communication was sent out, and the Air Force stated that paratroopers would arrive on time. At that time, 400 paratroopers would be deployed directly into the core of the disaster area by parachute to support the rescue teams.

However, transporting the related relief supplies to Kauai still proved difficult. Currently, only the Wu Ma and Chou Niu ships responsible for transporting materials could conduct large-scale material transfers and transport some personnel.

In response, after discussing with the rear, Chen Xin reallocated the Zi Shu and Si She arks, which were conducting rescues in the disaster area, for material transport. This was to deliver more supplies to the disaster area and transport the survivors in poor condition, needing treatment, to the rear.

Meanwhile, Chen Xin also contacted his research base, notifying Tang Tang to send the new experimental equipment via transport aircraft to provide more assistance in the disaster area.

"New equipment? But it hasn’t passed all the tests yet. Is it safe?" Tang Tang received Chen Xin’s order but, knowing the stakes involved in rescuing disaster victims, still worried about the new equipment Chen Xin requested.

In response, Chen Xin was firm. He said to Tang Tang over the communicator: "The disaster area needs more support now. I regret agreeing to send Xu Gou and Hai Zhu to support the Lucians. Although they’re also in dire straits, and we should indeed offer what help we can, we’re barely holding on ourselves now!

This batch of new equipment has already passed the basic and logic tests. Instead of conducting the safety tests in the lab, it would be better to test them in real combat. Even if there’s some risk, saving more disaster victims is worth it."

"Alright, if you insist, I’ll keep my opinion," Tang Tang said, facing Chen Xin’s determination. Although she did not agree with deploying untested equipment in the disaster area for such a risky mission, she didn’t strongly oppose it either.

Chen Xin sensed Tang Tang’s concerns, but at this moment, he couldn’t worry about all that. The disaster area needed the new equipment.

"Arrange for transport as fast as possible. I hope to see them reach the disaster area within 24 hours," Chen Xin concluded with Tang Tang, ensuring she received his orders before ending the communication.

Unable to participate in the rescue efforts on the ground personally, Chen Xin chose not to go down but stayed in the ark’s cockpit, looking out at the rescue point below through the porthole, illuminated by the ark’s floodlights.

The people on the ground were as busy as ants, searching for signs of life, excavating rubble, rescuing surviving victims, and transporting them to the rescue point for treatment...

Everyone was constantly on the move, with people continually coming in and out of the tents set up at the rescue point, each one receiving the rescued survivors.

Meanwhile, more seriously injured survivors were continuously transported to the ark by small airships.

Compared to the makeshift tents on the ground, though most of the ark’s interior wasn’t designed as an airborne shelter and remained primarily cargo space, it was built to accommodate treating wounded victims during disaster recovery efforts. It could be converted into an airborne hospital with some adjustments.

Hence, the seriously injured survivors quickly found placement once brought on board.

Watching the busy crowds, Chen Xin regretted voting to send two arks to Lucia for rescue missions.

If there were two more arks, they could save more survivors!

Even though the decision to aid Lucia was made before the Southwest Region earthquake, Chen Xin regretted not insisting on keeping the arks during the vote.

However, such matters are indeed difficult to foresee in advance. By now, the Xu Gou and Hai Zhu arks should have reached Lucia’s Capital. Even if they were to turn back, it would take half a month to get them back.

Thus, Chen Xin quickly adjusted his mindset. Instead of regretting sending the arks to Lucia, he focused on how to channel more rescue forces into the disaster area.

The Air Force paratroopers could offset the manpower shortage, but there was still a significant gap in engineering machinery.

During the rescue plan discussion with the Deputy Mayor, they listed the engineering machinery the local government could mobilize. Although there was a batch available, it still didn’t meet the rescue needs.

Engineering machinery, unlike personnel, is not so readily deployable.

Even the smallest excavator weighs several hundred kilograms, while larger excavators and cranes weigh several tons, or even tens of tons. Arks couldn’t transport many units in one go.

Moreover, the disaster area currently lacks an airport for planes. While paratroopers can jump, are the engineering machines to be parachuted down as well?

Therefore, engineering machinery suitable for air transport and deployment along with paratroopers became the most needed disaster relief material in the disaster area.

Fortunately, besides dedicating his efforts to several main research areas over the past six months, Chen Xin found time to finally create equipment he had planned for a long time but never had time to make.

Though not mass-produced yet for various reasons, only a small trial batch made at the research base, they met the air transport and deployment requirements, solving the immediate needs of the disaster area.