209: Chapter 209 Current Situation

"Commander, I have connected to the satellite system and received some information."

"The current time is October 7, 2028 AD, 16:27 DC time. In other words, the United States has been at war for six years."

Li Ming observed the other buildings; some were dilapidated, some had collapsed, and few were intact. "Go on, Logic."

"Based on the current situation, the Elephant Party army in Denver has been completely defeated, and the leadership group has evacuated to the Maple Leaf Republic."

"The situation for the Democratic Front and the National Front isn't looking good either. The United People's League of the United States' Rocky Mountain defense line has completely collapsed. They are currently defending along a line through Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego. In fact, the connection between Portland and Sacramento has already been severed by the Donkey Party army."

"The National Front has already lost New York. Their troops are now positioned along the line from Montpellier to Boston. If this defense line is lost, they're finished."

"When did the Donkey Party become so fierce?" Li Ming marveled. "What route are they taking?"

"From the current perspective, their route is... the Omniscient One."

"Then it's not surprising, considering the high-dimensional power involved." Li Ming shrugged. "What about the Mediation Force force?"

"The situation for the World Alliance's Mediation Force force stationed in the Southern United States is worse than imagined. Because the Donkey Party army used nuclear and strategic weapons, as well as suspected Linguistic Memetic Weapons, the unprepared Mediation Force force suffered heavy losses in the early stages of combat. They have now been cut into three segments: the Houston line, the New Orleans line, and the Florida line."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Li Ming shook his head. "Playing like this, what do other countries think?"

"You've hit the nail on the head. The Russian Federation and the European Union have already announced a complete embargo against the Donkey Party," Logic replied. "The Sahel Alliance, the Central African Union, and the Southern African Alliance have passed strategic cooperation agreements with the Latin Alliance. On the Texas border, the Latin Alliance is already massing troops."

"Although the East Asia-West Asia Defense Agreement and the Pacific Treaty are still at war, the ASEAN fleet has already taken control of Hawaii. Simply put, the Omniscient One doesn't have much longer to live."

"Sounds good."

"But the problem is, how much longer can this place hold out?" Logic hesitated. "Commander, what do you think?"

"I don't have much of an opinion," Li Ming shook his head. "In the end, I'm just here to undergo a trial. Essentially, whatever happens here has nothing to do with me, because your main body didn't give me an actual objective."

"Then Elsa, she..."

"Logic, am I really the kind of person who can't move their legs the moment they see a girl?"

"Uh... sorry."

"I don't force things. You can't rush or beg for these matters; it all depends on fate."

"I thought you were a materialist."

"What does this have to do with materialism, hey!" Li Ming said helplessly. "Regardless, let's find a way to survive first, then worry about other things."

"Uh... Commander, if I remember correctly, it seems you can't die anyway."

"True, that's how it is here. But I can't exactly die in front of others, can I? How would people look at me then? As a clone or some kind of necromancer?" Li Ming rolled his eyes and sat on an air conditioning unit on the roof, glancing at the setting sun.

Seeing that he had gathered enough information, Li Ming unplugged and stowed the battery, then turned to head downstairs. This building was relatively sturdy, and he planned to find a safe spot near a window inside to use as a base.

"Oh, there's actually a mattress that hasn't been moved?" Li Ming pulled out a dusty mattress and shook off the dust. "Not bad, not bad."

After having Logic record the location of his base, Li Ming decided to spend a few hours tonight inspecting the surroundings.

According to Logic's information, the Mediation Force force was likely still controlling the city's core areas. However, judging by the scanned signals, key nodes and roads in other areas were already controlled by the Donkey Party. They had even established outposts along the controlled roads for early warning.

He was quite lucky to have slipped in, having bypassed the first line of blockades by moving through buildings.

Step one: explore this building.

While no one was around, Li Ming scavenged for useful items in the building, from wires to screws, and from metal to decaying biomass.

He chewed on a tasteless military compressed biscuit; it seemed this body still needed food to maintain its functions.

He kept busy until past eight o'clock. Exhausted, Li Ming finally returned to his base and calculated the resources he had collected.

Old phones, old computers, furniture, wooden boards, even kitchenware and broken ceramics—Li Ming took everything he could carry.

Li Ming even found an International Mediation Force T-72AV half-buried in a collapsed section of the first floor.

This time, Li Ming didn't take it, nor did he take any of its parts. It looked relatively intact; perhaps he could use it at some point.

After finishing his tasks, Li Ming found some tools and opened the T-72's rear hatch. "Logic, help me check if this vehicle can still move."

"The traverse mechanism is jammed, likely due to internal damage in the turret. There doesn't seem to be any ammunition, and the gun barrel is also damaged. The engine and transmission system seem fine, and the vehicle as a whole is still usable."

"So, it can drive, but the turret is useless, right?"

"Yes, Commander."

Li Ming gathered the large rubble and cleared away the small debris.

Then he took out a fuel drum and filled the tank with the diesel he had collected earlier.

"Logic, can the turret be repaired?"

"It should be possible, but Commander, we don't have the corresponding shells."

"...Then just fix the traverse mechanism, and we'll remove the entire turret."

"What are you planning?"

"How about we make our own turret? We'll cram the most useful things we can scavenge onto it."

"You mean those BMP-3s we salvaged? I think I see what you mean. But I'll need some time to process it."

"We'll talk about it later. For now, teach me how to make a few electric-triggered traps. I'm really tired..."

"No problem, Commander."

——————

"You're saying he left?"

A blonde woman in a black bodysuit rubbed her eyebrows. "I see... but where could he have gone?"

"I'm not sure... He disappeared from our people's sight after leaving the safe zone. I don't know what he's up to. No other sentries have reported seeing him either." The guard shook his head.

"Understood. Thanks."

She turned and left.