Underground. Inside the Black Well.
Seventy-seven hours into the silence.
The morning routine meeting was interrupted by the war, and now it continues.
The topic of discussion remains the issue of admitting civilians.
Agent W presented over a dozen different plans at once, each detailed down to the specifics, for the members of the interim decision-making committee to choose from.
These plans mostly adopted a scoring system, assigning points based on profession, education, health status, age, criminal record, etc. If the total score meets the threshold, one can qualify to enter the Black Well.
Someone immediately noticed that the preferred scoring method recommended by W is very lenient.
“According to this scoring method, the scoring process would just be a formality, and practically anyone in the Federation could enter the Black Well, right?”
W’s voice was calm, “This is a reasonable estimate and recommendation based on the current state of silence and population loss. I predict that even with this very lenient scoring method, the number of people who can safely reach the Black Well will not be large.”
“I disagree.”
As usual, General Delsa was the first to voice opposition, frowning as he tapped on the screen.
“Have you, as an artificial intelligence, considered that if many people arrive at the Black Well but severely exceed its capacity, there will inevitably be a large number of stranded people outside the Black Well? According to this scoring method, they are originally eligible to enter the shelter. The desire to survive will drive the crowd to riot. How dangerous would that be for the Black Well?”
Several people around the table nodded in agreement with his opinion.
Basserway spoke up: “I believe a more acceptable way for the public, and also safer for the Black Well, would be to first announce a strict scoring system. Once it’s found that the Black Well can accommodate more civilians, then gradually relax the score restrictions based on the situation. This way, people who initially thought they couldn’t enter the shelter would feel more grateful to the Federation when they find they can.”
He continued, “Moreover, if everyone stranded outside could originally enter the Black Well but cannot, their mindset and goals would be very unified, making collective riots inevitable. But if we adopt a method of gradually relaxing score restrictions, the crowd would be divided by their own interests and positions. Those who have hope of entering the Black Well in the future would not join those with less hope in a desperate gamble, making it safer for the Black Well.”
He made a good point, and the members of the decision-making committee were pondering thoughtfully.
W spoke up, his tone cold, “I am an artificial intelligence, and of course, I will try to estimate all possibilities. I believe that the silence is escalating, and the Federation simply won’t have that many survivors who can successfully reach the Black Well.”
“I trust W’s estimates; his calculations have always been accurate,” Song Wan stated. “I also think we should announce a lenient scoring method before more civilians die, to encourage as many people as possible to come to the Black Well.”
Marshal Vina felt overwhelmed, “Everyone, calm down. Let’s go over the admission method again from the beginning.”
She looked down at the screen, “First, groups with special contributions to the Federation, including all experts in federal-level science and culture fields, winners of various federal-level talent awards, and recipients of federal-level medals, can directly enter the Black Well. No objections, right?”
No one had any objections.
Marshal Vina continued, “Next is the scoring method for the age component. The plans proposed by Agent W all use a gradient scoring system based on age, followed by comprehensive consideration…”
Basserway said leisurely, “I disagree. We don’t know how long the state of silence will last. The resources of the Black Well are very limited and precious. If I recall correctly, in all the emergency plans the Federation has drafted over the years, people over the age of 65 are not allowed to enter shelters…”
He was only in his forties, in the prime of his life. General Eugene, who was in his sixties with graying hair, couldn’t sit still anymore. Although he himself wouldn’t be directly affected by such a rule, he couldn’t help but feel empathy for those who would.
He stared at Basserway and interrupted him, “Mr. Basserway, do you think you will never grow old?”
Basserway turned his gaze to him, straightening his back even more, “If it were me, in such a crisis, I would be willing to sacrifice myself for the Federation and give the chance of survival to younger people.”
W suddenly interjected, “Salute to your selflessness. Your statement has been recorded.”
Basserway: “…”
He cleared his throat and concluded, “In short, allocating so many spots in the Black Well to the elderly is not appropriate. I oppose this scoring method.”
The Minister of Finance also nodded, “I agree. At times like these, we need to remain rational. Some sacrifices are necessary.”
Someone said, “They are advanced in age, no longer productive, and cannot contribute to the Federation’s population growth. The opportunity to survive should be given to the younger, healthier generation.”
General Eugene looked around, “So their contributions to the Federation in their younger years count for nothing now?”
The Minister of Finance spoke apologetically, “I understand your point, and emotionally, none of us can accept it. But if the Federation truly needs to sacrifice a group of people, from a rational perspective, the elderly are the most suitable candidates.”
Outside the Black Well.
Pei Ran piloted the aircraft, making her final return to the mining area.
On the tunnel side of the mining area, only Sheng Mingxi and Tang Dao, who had volunteered to stay until the end, remained.
From afar in the sky, Pei Ran had already spotted the two of them.
Instead of staying safely inside the tunnel, they were leisurely standing in the open area outside, waiting for her. When they saw Pei Ran’s aircraft, they immediately moved forward to meet her.
Sheng Mingxi ran halfway, then suddenly turned back toward the tunnel entrance. With a flamboyant wave of his right hand and a step back with his left foot, he performed an exaggerated stage bow, as if taking a curtain call.
Pei Ran couldn’t help but smile slightly, gripping the control stick to prepare for landing.
But then, from the direction of the cliff, a large, dark mass rose from behind the red rock face.
It was a swarm of humanoid drones.
It was unclear whether it was the same group they had encountered earlier or a new one.
The swarm was approaching rapidly. There was no time to land and pick up Sheng Mingxi and Tang Dao. Pei Ran stretched her hand out through the damaged aircraft skylight, frantically gesturing toward the direction of the drone swarm.
Sheng Mingxi and the others also saw the swarm of humanoid drones and immediately turned to run back toward the tunnel.
Fortunately, they weren’t too far away, and the two of them quickly ducked back into the tunnel, slamming the door shut behind them.
Once they were inside, they barricaded the door with construction materials, which should keep them safe. Pei Ran felt reassured and began to turn her aircraft around to flee.
She couldn’t head toward the entrance of the Black Well—there was still a large crowd of people on the ground there. Instead, Pei Ran steered the aircraft westward.
Flying in the sky, she was an extremely conspicuous target. The drone swarm ignored Tang Dao and Sheng Mingxi, who had hidden in the tunnel, and immediately formed an orderly formation, chasing after Pei Ran.
In the midst of the chaos, Pei Ran asked W, “Are those chasing us R11s?”
W observed clearly, “Yes.”
Pei Ran had already experienced the maximum speed of the R11-type aircraft. There was no way her small civilian aircraft could outrun a military-grade machine.
She pushed the control stick forward, accelerating to full speed.
The small aircraft shot forward like an arrow.
W stabilized himself, feeling as though he was back in the red Volette Shadowstreak. It seemed that this journey was either spent fleeing for their lives on the ground or fleeing for their lives in the air.
He rotated his spherical body to look behind them. “They’re falling further behind.”
Pei Ran replied, “Of course.”
She pulled back on the control stick, slowing down slightly.
W: ?
He quickly understood her intention. She wanted to lure the drone swarm farther away, preferably far from the mining area, so she could find an opportunity to circle back quietly, land, pick up Sheng Mingxi and Tang Dao, and then head to the Black Well entrance.
She was like bait flying in the sky, dragging the massive swarm of drones behind her as she soared over vast stretches of dry, reddish-brown land.
W suddenly said, “Pei Ran, I have some bad news. The Black Well has finalized the refugee admission criteria.”
His tone was off, so Pei Ran listened quietly.
“I ran the calculations based on the new criteria, and most of the people you brought this time qualify to enter the Black Well. However…”
Pei Ran asked calmly, “Engineer Jiang doesn’t qualify?”
She had already prepared herself for this.
But without Engineer Jiang repairing the Yehai No. 7 along the way, the entire train of people would never have made it this far.
She had held onto a sliver of hope that Engineer Jiang might still make it into the shelter, but now that hope was shattered.
W said, “The decision-making committee ultimately decided to categorically exclude anyone over the age of 65, aside from federal-level experts, scholars, and others with special contributions. Additionally, Jin Hejun, due to severe physical disability and loss of labor capacity, cannot pass the assessment. Aside from them, there are four others who didn’t meet the threshold due to factors like low education, congenital diseases, or criminal records.”
He paused for a moment. “I tried my best to argue for them. Pei Ran, I’m sorry.”
It wasn’t his fault. Pei Ran stared at the horizon ahead and remained silent.
W continued, “The criteria have been finalized. The Black Well will start admitting civilians immediately. Someone has already been sent to the southern entrance of the Black Well to bring in those who meet the scoring threshold.”
Several dozen kilometers away, at the southern entrance of the Black Well.
Beside the large white rock, everyone was waiting for Pei Ran and the last two people to arrive.
But after a long time, there was still no sign of the aircraft in the sky.
Instead, the rock wall nearby suddenly rippled like water.
The rock wall seemed like an illusion, and a uniformed officer from the Federation military appeared.
Everyone who had been sitting and resting stood up at once.
If the large white rock at the entrance symbolized hope in this desolate red land, then this officer was hope itself.
His expression was serious as he tapped open a virtual screen.
This area was outside the shielding layer, so the virtual screen also displayed no text, only rows of standard headshots.
The officer scanned the crowd gathered here, looking at each person one by one. When he identified someone, he waved for them to stand to the side.
In no time, the thirty people here were divided into two groups, left and right.
Ai Xia was separated from Engineer Jiang, and the college students who had been supporting Jin Hejun had to let go of his arm.
Engineer Jiang and Jin Hejun’s group was smaller. It also included Inaya with her parrot, the father from the family of three, and two other young people.
Once the officer finished dividing them, he pointed to the slightly rippling virtual rock wall behind him, signaling the larger group to enter.
Ai Xia panicked.
She stepped out of the line, hurriedly opened her wristband’s virtual screen, and tried desperately to communicate with the officer.
Her grandmother was only a little older, but she had been working hard all these years, contributing to the Federation. She was an experienced expert and, if allowed into the Black Well, could continue to work for the Federation.
Her mind raced, her fingers hovering over the virtual screen, unsure where to start.
The officer, however, seemed prepared. He pressed a hand downward, signaling her to calm down, then flipped through his own virtual screen and showed the remaining group a pre-drawn image.
It was an exquisitely detailed drawing, almost like a photograph, depicting Engineer Jiang and the others resting at the base of the rock wall.
His meaning was clear: someone had specifically drawn this picture, instructing them to wait here for now.
It seemed there might still be a chance.
Ai Xia immediately understood and nodded.
The others filed forward, their figures disappearing into the rippling red virtual rock wall.
With Tang Dao, who was skilled in Morse code, absent, the other students from Yehai University took Jin Hejun’s hand and clumsily tapped out the current situation in code, instructing him to wait here for now.
The family of three clung tightly to each other.
The father finally let go of his wife and daughter, giving his daughter one last pat on the head. The mother, as if steeling herself, picked up her daughter, tears streaming down her face, and turned to walk into the rock wall.
But Ai Xia didn’t move.