"What location?" Su Han asked.
"Over there." Chu Shi pointed in a direction. Ahead, they saw ruins. Within those ruins, there was an open space just large enough to fit a vehicle.
"Then let's park the hover vehicle there," Su Han said.
Xiao Yan drove the hover vehicle into the space.
After parking, Ye Fan and Lin Dong used a discarded piece of metal to conceal the entire hover vehicle.
The remaining open space offered a clear view of the surroundings.
Su Han began to direct the others: "Set up cameras around the perimeter."
Ye Fan and Lin Dong, carrying several ray heads, scouted the area and chose several hidden spots for the cameras.
Simultaneously, over a dozen micro-drones patrolled the surroundings for surveillance.
"Take out your weapons and establish a defensive line," Su Han continued to issue orders.
"Yes!"
Then, they retrieved weapons from the vehicle's equipment locker. Machine guns were essential. In addition to these, a heavy machine gun etched with a magic staff was mounted on the vehicle's roof. Defensive remote-controlled landmines were also deployed around the area.
"The defensive line is set. Everything in the vicinity is under surveillance," Ye Fan reported.
Su Han reviewed the camera feeds. These feeds captured the environment within a radius of three hundred meters.
Finding the surveillance insufficient, Su Han stated, "No, the range is still too short. Install some cameras two kilometers away."
Su Han paused for a moment, then added, "Use drones for installation."
Several drones took off, carrying small cameras, and flew out.
They reached two kilometers away and installed cameras on high points of some lopsided buildings.
With a field of vision spanning two kilometers, Su Han finally felt at ease.
Lin Dong remarked, "Now we have a two-kilometer visual range. We have nothing to fear from any attack. As soon as an attack comes, we can immediately relocate. To attack us, unless those..."
"Quiet down, don't continue," Su Han interrupted Lin Dong. "If you keep talking, something called a flag will be invoked. You mustn't set flags."
Lin Dong, though not understanding the reference to "flags," stopped speaking.
At this moment, a call request came from Liao Ruili.
Su Han accepted the call.
"Liao Ruili, what is it?" Su Han asked.
"Commander Zero, we request to rendezvous with Commander Zero," Liao Ruili replied.
"You don't need to come over. Find a hidden location to conceal yourselves. Yes, conceal the entire vehicle," Su Han instructed.
Liao Ruili immediately responded, "Understood!"
Su Han thought for a moment and then added, "Oh, right. Don't be stingy with the food and water we left on the vehicle. We will continue to supply you."
Liao Ruili's voice, filled with joy, replied, "Yes!"
Su Han ended the communication.
Then, Su Han said, "Alright, let Liao Ruili and the other Tattajo people hide themselves over there. It's getting late. Let's start our dinner."
Su Han took out compressed rations and began to eat. On the other side, after receiving Su Han's orders, Liao Ruili immediately began searching for a hidden spot to conceal the entire hover vehicle.
After searching through the surrounding ruins, Liao Ruili and his group found a discreet location to park the vehicle.
Once parked, Liao Ruili and the Tattajo people covered the vehicle with a metal plate.
Then, Liao Ruili and the others also began their meal.
Liao Ruili said, "Everyone. You heard Commander Zero's words just now. We don't need to be frugal with this food and water. We will have more after this. However, we cannot eat too much at once. After all, in a state of prolonged hunger, eating too much can be detrimental. Therefore, we need to ration it. Do you have any objections?"
"No," the other fourteen Tattajo people shouted in unison.
Liao Ruili began to take out the food from the vehicle.
The water was contained in a large barrel. To save space, it wasn't portioned into small bottles.
Liao Ruili said, "Everyone, fill your cups with some water first."
Liao Ruili and the other Tattajo people already had metal cups. They had brought these cups with them when they boarded. Previously, they only had half a cup of water per day.
Now, their cups could finally be filled.
After receiving their water, each person was given a small piece of compressed ration.
Liao Ruili stated, "Given how these foods are packaged, it's likely one piece per person in this situation. Everyone, begin eating."
The Tattajo people first took a small sip of water. Then, they opened the compressed ration packaging and took a small bite.
The taste of the compressed ration spread in their mouths.
Several Tattajo people, overcome with joy, began to cry, "It's been so long since we tasted this sweetness."
"Don't cry. Tears will make you lose moisture," someone said.
"It's alright. We have water here. It's okay to cry with happiness."
"..."
Amidst laughter and joy, Liao Ruili and the fifteen Tattajo people ate happily.
After finishing their piece of compressed ration, the fifteen Tattajo people quieted down. Some began to rest, while others kept watch on the surroundings.
On the other side, Su Han and the other seven individuals were in a similar state. After finishing their compressed rations, they waited quietly.
The sky grew darker, and the temperature slowly dropped.
By nine o'clock in the evening, the outside temperature had significantly decreased.
Su Han said, "The outside temperature has now dropped below 30 degrees Celsius. Everyone, pay close attention to the monitors. At this temperature, it's time for the Tattajo people hidden underground to emerge."
As soon as Su Han finished speaking, movement was detected on a camera feed.
This camera was positioned on a slanting, fallen building two kilometers away.
The camera captured a spot on the ground. A sand-covered area shifted. Then, a circular door, resembling a manhole cover, opened from the ground, revealing a dark passage.
Following this, one Tattajo person emerged from the underground passage. Then a second, and a third.
A total of five Tattajo people emerged from this location.
In areas not covered by cameras, a considerable number of Tattajo people also emerged from underground.
Su Han could not observe the Tattajo people in other areas. He could only monitor the nearest five.