18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 416

The five Kindle Society bases each had their own unique missions. South Base was tasked with preserving the ember of civilization, while East Base's goal was to build Hope Point, a beacon for the future.

They had fought tooth and nail for years, crafting the toughest materials and maritime equipment, setting up mighty naval ships to battle cataclysmic tectonic shifts and colossal tsunamis. Many elite members had been lost, but the core of the construction team endured.

Once the maritime base was up and running, it would house around a hundred thousand people, and construction had already begun...

His mission was to reach out to fellow Australians, whether they were soldiers, officials, or just ordinary survivors. As long as they had Australian blood in their veins, he hoped they'd come and help build Hope Point.

The man was struggling to breathe as he forced out the coordinates: "63°23' East, 49°54' North."

Suddenly, he grabbed Jasper's hand tightly, eyes wide with regret. "I won't make it back. I didn't complete the mission the organization gave me. You have ships and guts; you can get to the base and help me find our scattered kin. Tell them we have a new... a new home."

Jasper felt a deep respect and a mix of emotions but found himself unable to speak in the face of the man's dying plea.

The man's last thoughts were of his duty, his eyes filled with longing and sorrow.

Stella understood Jasper's hesitation and spoke gently, "Alright, if we meet any of our people, we'll definitely pass on the message. Rest easy. We'll have a new homeland, and the prosperity we've known for five thousand years will rise again after the calamity passes."

The man looked at them both, managing a grateful smile that even held a glimmer of hope as his grip on Jasper's hand loosened...

The lines on the monitor, once jumping rhythmically, slowly flattened into a straight line.

Jasper gently closed the man's eyes.

Stella hadn't planned on entering the base, but the national plan had stirred something deep within her. She wasn't as noble as he was, but if she met reliable kin in the future, she could share the coordinates for Hope Point.

Even she felt a pang in her heart, and she believed Jasper's feelings ran deeper.

Stella covered Jasper's hand with hers and finally said, "Even knowing the coordinates, it's not easy for just anyone to get there. We've done our best, and that's enough."

Jasper removed the military insignia and patches from the man's uniform and handed them to Stella to store in the Arcadia, "He was a hero. If there's a chance in the future, we can return these to his unit."

Handling the aftermath was also a concern. Normally, a common man would face a burial at sea, his body left to decay in the ocean depths or become fodder for marine life.

Stella felt that reverence was due. "Cremate him, and we'll send his ashes along with the insignia and patches."

After all, he was a national hero deserving of respect and a proper resting place. Without the nation's persistence, she might not have had access to helicopters and submarines.

After deciding, Stella laid out a steel plate on the deck to insulate the heat and placed the man's body upon it, dousing it with gasoline to commence the cremation. Once the cremation was complete, she retrieved a jar she had stored from a previous visit to a pottery and carefully collected the ashes to be kept safe in the Arcadia.

Hoping that one day, he could return to his homeland.

With this matter temporarily resolved, Rosie continued her gardening while Jasper asked Stella for some bamboo and wood. He cut them all to the same length and began to construct bamboo and wooden rafts.

Stella, curious, remarked, "I've got a few boats stored. Is this really necessary?"

"Just keeping busy," Jasper replied, his head down as he worked. "The weather out here changes every half hour. Best to have extras just in case."