208: Chapter 208 Three Hundred People Move into a New Home! The Sow is Going to Give Birth Tonight

5:17 PM.

Entrance to Section One of the Storage Area.

Zhao Tiezhu stood at the entrance, watching his three hundred men carry in their bedding rolls and personal belongings one by one.

Section One spanned 1,200 square meters. The floor was covered with Insulation Mats, and the space within the framework was divided into six neatly arranged blocks. Each block held fifty folding cots, totaling three hundred. They were packed tightly, but each was an individual bed.

The first one to enter was Zhao Tiezhu’s deputy, a short-haired woman in her thirties. She didn't look at anything else upon entering; instead, she immediately crouched down to pat the bed frame, gave it two vigorous shakes, and even used her fingernail to scratch at the welds.

"Sleepable," she said, standing up and walking further in to find her assigned bed, where she laid out and unrolled her bedding.

The people behind her filed in one after another, moving efficiently and without a word.

These three hundred soldiers had lived under strict military discipline back in The City-State. Having slept on the floor for over a month, none of them complained about the specifications now that they had beds; they simply started making them as soon as they entered.

Zhao Tiezhu stood at the entrance until the last person had gone inside before entering himself.

His bed was at the very back. Following military custom, the commander stayed furthest from the entrance to facilitate the evacuation of subordinates first in an emergency.

The Battalion Commander sat on the edge of the bed and glanced up at the framework above.

Wire mesh filling, square steel tube support pillars, and two layers of Insulation Mats. It couldn't compare to the standards of the Second Layer Residential Area on the Polaris, but it was much more formal than the collective floor-beds back in The City-State. At least everyone had their own bed.

He pressed his communicator.

"City Lord."

"Speak."

"All three hundred people have moved into Section One; the settlement is complete," Zhao Tiezhu paused. "Chief Engineer Han works faster than he talks; he finished a day early."

"I'm having Lin Wan prepare an extra dish for his side tonight. Your group will be included as well."

Zhao Tiezhu looked down at the Insulation Mat beneath his feet.

"City Lord, there's something I want to say."

"Speak."

"These three hundred people are currently your most capable combat force. The twelve men in the Reconnaissance Platoon are the elites among them. If the Fifth Signal appears, or if the main force of the Iron Hoof Legion is confirmed to have set out, what do you plan to have them do?"

There was silence from the Cockpit for two seconds before Lu Chen's voice came through.

"We stay put for now. The Reconnaissance Platoon will maintain Level 2 readiness. Once the Fifth Signal appears, we'll decide whether to send them forward for visual confirmation based on the situation."

"The risk of moving forward is too high."

"I know. The probability of encountering an Iron Hoof scout vehicle within five to ten kilometers is very high," Lu Chen cut him off. "So we won't move for now. We'll wait until the intelligence is clearer."

"Understood."

The communicator went quiet for a beat. Just as Zhao Tiezhu was about to hang up, Lu Chen spoke again.

"Zhao Tiezhu."

"Present."

"Tally how many of your men are Marksman-class or above this afternoon, and report their ammunition consumption as well."

Zhao Tiezhu’s grip on the communicator tightened.

Tallying marksmen and ammunition. How was this the tone of a routine inventory?

"Understood. I'll get it to you tonight."

The communicator hung up.

Zhao Tiezhu tucked the communicator into his pocket, leaned his back against the iron tube of the bed frame, and closed his eyes.

One hundred and forty-four scans, and still no Fifth Signal all day.

He didn't know much about signal analysis, but he understood the rhythm of the battlefield.

The longer the silence, the more violent the eventual explosion.

In thirty years of field operations, this principle had never failed him.

---

8:03 PM, Livestock Farm.

Liao Dacheng heard the first grunt from ZM07.

Muffled, deep, and trailing off.

He stood up from the console and walked toward ZM07's Farrowing Room.

ZM07 lay on the straw bedding, her limbs kicking slowly, her abdomen rising and falling as she breathed much faster than she had during the day.

The labor pains had begun.

The veterinarian crouched down, placed his hand on ZM07's flank, and felt the interval between contractions.

"Ma Dong."

"Here." Ma Dong walked over from ZM06's side.

"It's starting. Go check the farrowing crate again. Check for sharp burrs on the corners, see if the bedding is thick enough, and make sure there's water in the trough."

Ma Dong nodded and went around to the other side of the farrowing crate to check.

Liao Dacheng took out his clipboard and wrote a line on it.

Day 62, 8:03 PM, ZM07's labor pains began.

He pressed his communicator.

"City Lord."

"Speak."

"ZM07's labor pains have started. Delivery is expected within one to three hours."

"Has Sun Ke been notified?"

"Not yet. I'll call him now."

"Have him come over and stand by. Any abnormalities must be handled immediately."

"Understood."

Liao Dacheng hung up and dialed Sun Ke's line.

In the Farrowing Room, ZM07 grunted again, longer than the first.

Liao Dacheng tucked the clipboard under his arm, sat down on a low stool next to the farrowing crate, and rested his hands on his knees.

Waiting.

It was going to be another long night.