Although the mining site had been abandoned for a long time, the basic infrastructure remained relatively intact. There was a well, bathrooms, and public toilets, ensuring their daily lives wouldn't be affected.
With water available, the women could finally indulge in hot showers without restraint. Bai Wen moved the generator from the RV down and got it running, solving the lighting issue.
By evening, they lit a bonfire, cooking while discussing future plans.
"Brother Bai, what should we do next? Our food supplies will only last us a month!" Yun Huo asked.
"No need to worry. We've brought plenty of food, which means we also have seeds. We can clear new land and establish a Safe Zone. Achieving self-sufficiency won't be a problem!"
Yun Fei Wu smiled. "Did you already have everything planned out?"
Bai Wen nodded absentmindedly, his thoughts entirely occupied by the Star Hegemon Race's Control Center.
After dinner, Bai Wen returned to his room, pretending to rest. He waited until everyone was asleep before making his move.
In the dead of night, his eyes snapped open. He got up, slipped past the watchful Tai Long on duty, and quietly entered the mine shaft.
The area beneath the mine was surprisingly vast—a hidden world of its own. About a hundred meters below ground, the Control Center could be constructed here without drawing attention, perfectly concealed within the mine.
The mine still held many abandoned trucks and excavators. Though rusted and covered in moss, the steel could still be recycled. While it wouldn't be useful for building the base, it would work well for repairing the mine's wire fence perimeter.
Collecting himself, Bai Wen summoned the SCV. Though he tried to hide it, the excitement in his eyes was unmistakable. Rubbing his hands together, he asked, "SCV, can we start building the Control Center now?"
"Affirmative, Commander. However, before constructing the main base, I require 100 units of Crystal energy to restore my original form," the SCV replied.
"Granted!" Bai Wen snapped his fingers generously. With 1,300 units of Crystal at his disposal, 100 was nothing.
"Acknowledged, Commander!" The SCV responded. In a flash of white light, it transformed into a towering three-meter-tall mech.
Bai Wen gaped in astonishment. He hadn't expected the SCV to grow in size! Of course—if it couldn't, the Control Center it built might end up being tiny, leaving him with nowhere to vent his frustration.
"Preparing to construct Control Center. Consuming 400 units of Crystal. Estimated completion time: 48 hours. Commander, please ensure perimeter security."
Bai Wen watched as the SCV materialized a Base Foundation, the scene eerily similar to the game—except the scale was entirely different.
In reality, the Control Center stood twenty meters tall and covered a thousand square meters. Yet within the colossal mine, it still seemed insignificant, a testament to the shaft's immense size.
After watching for a while, Bai Wen grew bored and returned to the prefab to sleep. The waiting period was unbearable—he just wanted to wake up to a completed Control Center.
The next morning, Bai Wen surprisingly slept in and didn't leave his room until the sun was high in the sky. No one had disturbed him, and when he finally emerged, Yan Jiang quickly called out, "Big Brother Bai, we made some porridge. Come have some!"
Bai Wen sat down as Yan Jiang brought him a bowl of rice porridge.
In prosperous times, such a bowl would be nothing special, but in this apocalyptic world, it was incredibly precious!
After lunch, Bai Wen led Yun Huo and Yun Shan to patrol the mine, repairing the damaged wire fences while also checking for any nearby threats.
Meanwhile, the women began clearing weeds and tilling the land. Fortunately, Hua Duo and Yan Jiang had farming backgrounds. Though they were rusty, they still remembered the basics.
They first turned the soil with iron picks, planted seeds, and then watered them.
They also discovered edible wild vegetables in the field, gathering some while transplanting others.
Yun Fei Wu, however, was clumsy and inept, only managing to get in the way. Even the little girl who had woken up but remained silent was more useful than her. The title of "Useless Yun" had firmly stuck to her.
Bai Wen, Yun Huo, and Yun Shan circled the area, patching up several gaps. But the mine was so vast that they couldn't cover it all in one afternoon, so they had to take it slow.
By the time they returned, the women had cooked a pot of vegetable soup. Though it lacked richness, the aroma was still enticing, and even Bai Wen found himself with a hearty appetite, downing three large bowls!
It had been days since he'd had a hot meal.
It was only then that Bai Wen noticed the newly arrived little girl. She seemed deeply traumatized, her mind dazed, clinging tightly to Wang Ya's sleeve and refusing to interact with anyone else.
Wang Ya whispered to Bai Wen, "Her name is Ai Ke Ke. She watched her father die right in front of her. The shock was too much—it'll probably take a long time for her to recover."
Bai Wen didn't dwell on it, simply telling her to take care of the girl.
At night, Bai Wen took watch, sending the others to sleep after barricading the stairs to the second floor. With night-vision goggles, he patrolled the areas they hadn't checked during the day, sealing a few more gaps before descending back into the mine.
The SCV had been working nonstop, and the Control Center was halfway built, its towering framework already erected.
Seeing the Control Center, identical to the one in the game, Bai Wen was thrilled. By this time tomorrow, it would be complete—the thing he had dreamed of day and night was finally coming to fruition.
As he emerged from the mine, Yun Huo came to relieve him, and Bai Wen finally returned to his room to rest.
The next day, with no other pressing matters, Bai Wen sent Yun Huo and Yun Shan on patrol while he helped the women with the farming. When he donned a gas mask and hauled out feces from the latrine to use as fertilizer, the women all fled in disgust.
All in all, life in the mine was quite comfortable—far better than the constant fear they had endured in the city.
That evening, Bai Wen returned to his room early. After a short nap, he checked the time—the 48-hour mark was approaching. He quickly jumped up and quietly made his way deep into the mine.
Upon arrival, he was immediately awestruck by a magnificent, colossal structure. The Control Center before him looked no different from its in-game counterpart—black and red with a massive metal gate, resembling a towering steel behemoth!
"Greetings, Commander. The Control Center is fully operational. Please proceed to the main control room!" An SCV rolled over to report.
Suppressing his excitement, Bai Wen stepped through the base's entrance and took the elevator straight to the top-floor control room.
The sight inside the control room left him even more astonished—these were details he'd never seen in the game.
The hexagonal control room had screens covering every wall, surrounded by a full circle of touch-operated consoles. At the center stood his command chair.
With nervous anticipation, he took his seat. Immediately, the robotic adjutant's voice echoed in his ears: "Greetings, Commander. I am your robotic adjutant. Awaiting your orders!"
Bai Wen glanced at the main screen, which displayed the base's various statuses, resembling the game's control panel. It also showed the quantities of Crystals and Vespene Gas.
Crystals: 800
Vespene Gas: 0
Though Bai Wen wasn't as knowledgeable about StarCraft II as professional players, he was still an avid enthusiast and knew the basics well.
Without hesitation, he ordered, "Begin production of two SCVs!"
"Understood, Commander. SCV production initiated!" The robotic adjutant acknowledged, and the Control Center sprang to life. Crystal energy flowed through pipelines into 3D printers, crafting intricate components one after another. These parts were then transported to the assembly bay, where robotic arms swiftly welded them into shape.
"SCVs ready~" An hour later, two SCVs appeared at the Control Center's entrance. To Bai Wen's surprise, their voices weren't the grating tones from the game but rather alluring, mature female voices.
What was going on?
"Commander, these are just one of the 31 standard DNA templates for SCV pilots. If you prefer a scruffy old man, you may select accordingly," the robotic adjutant explained, displaying samples and photos of the 31 clone DNA options on the screen.
Bai Wen didn't really care—as long as they performed well, gender made no difference to him. He wasn't some desperate pervert!
Ahem.
Still, he had one concern: "Are these pilots cloned?"
"Affirmative, Commander. The Control Center is equipped with a cloning production line for pilot replication."
Bai Wen nodded in satisfaction.
The Control Center comprised multiple modules: the SCV production line, the pilot cloning facility, the Energy Crystal conversion module, and the power core driving the control hub. This setup enabled rapid unit production and base construction.
Bai Wen issued another order: "SCVs, construct two Supply Depots immediately!"
"Your wish is our command~" The two sultry voices replied, far more pleasant than the game's harsh tones.
Construction of the Supply Depots commenced, with a completion time of ten hours. During this period, Bai Wen reviewed the Supply Depot's specifications. Each depot featured an ecological recycling system capable of automated food production—with customizable meal options.
The Supply Depot was also quite spacious, standing ten meters tall and covering an area of one hundred square meters. Inside, it was filled with soilless cultivation Energy Liquid Tanks. Whatever food you desired, the Supply Depot would automatically grow it for you.
Of course, the plant growth cycle was extremely short. A single Supply Depot could sustain eight units—truly extraordinary!
Bai Wen nodded in satisfaction. Now, he wouldn't have to worry about food at all. He could simply set whatever he wanted to eat, and the Supply Depot would produce it. With over a hundred different food options available, he wouldn't have to eat the same thing for an entire month.
Seeing that it was about time, Bai Wen left the control room and returned to the prefab unit. His personal SCV had shrunk back to the size of a palm, allowing him to slip it into his pocket. There was no need for it here anymore.
(End of Chapter)