18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 483

At Union Base, resources were as rare as hen’s teeth, and food was even harder to come by. The Russians, tough as nails and battle-hardened, were still human at the end of the day. No one really wants a one-way ticket to the afterlife if they can help it, especially with their ammo all but gone.

The only reason Union Base didn't go all out on a massacre was because the Russians had bluffed about having handheld nukes.

"Come if you dare, but if we go down, we're taking you with us!"

Before everything went to hell, Russia had always played hardball, and the coalition forces could never be sure if they really had nukes tucked away.

You'd think they wouldn't have the guts to use them, but then again, they just might surprise you and actually do it.

The occasional skirmish was one thing, but pushing Russia to the brink wasn't in Union Base's plans. They knew better than to wipe everyone out.

Jiang and Hu's crew, though small in number, were well-armed, knew their way around medical supplies, and had a decent stockpile of meds. The real clincher was that before the disaster, their countries had been on pretty good terms, both at the leadership level and among the common folk.

The spark of the Australian Red Movement had been kindled and passed on from their shores. Back then, the two countries were as close as could be.

So, both sentimentally and practically, teaming up with Jiang and Hu made perfect sense.

Ivans extended an olive branch, "Those brutes are savages—torturing prisoners and worse. They're heavily armed, and if they wipe us out, you'll be next. We need to band together."

Stella, ever the ice queen, turned him down, "Thanks for the offer, but we like our freedom and aren’t looking to join any alliances."

Outside her trusted circle, Stella wasn't one to easily trust anyone. Teaming up with the Russians meant making an enemy of Union Base.

Whether it was because of thousands of years of culture or the wisdom of the golden mean, Stella wouldn't ally with outsiders. And if you want to talk history, Russia's hands were far from clean.

They only turned to the East after being spurned by the West—it wasn’t out of genuine affection. When push came to shove, Stella would only trust those closest to her.

She made it clear they could maintain friendly relations, but alliances were off the table. That went for Union Base too.

Having spent years in Australia, Ivans was well-versed in the local culture. His rush to come over wasn't just about getting medicine or making alliances; he knew Union Base might beat him to the punch.

Knowing full well what Union Base was like, Ivans figured it was only a matter of time before they turned their attention to Jiang and Hu.

You can't force an alliance, he thought. When things get tough, they'll come to us.

After setting up a trade for the next day, Ivans took his leave.

Stella went back inside, prepping the meds Ivans had requested. The remedies were basic—anti-inflammatories, fever reducers, blood clotting agents—the usual post-apocalyptic kit.

With China in the mix, Union Base's firepower was nothing to sneeze at. Stella mulled it over and decided to fortify their defenses by pouring more water on the icehouse to thicken the walls.

If Union Base ever came knocking, they’d need to be as strong as Fort Knox.

Jasper wasn’t slacking either, digging out snow trenches about 50 yards out. With gaps in the snow, Stella poured water over it. The water seeped into the cracks and quickly froze, making the trench even tougher.

After finishing the 50-yard stretch, they started on a 100-yard one. The trio worked like Trojans, breaking a sweat even in the Arctic freeze. They’d head back indoors promptly, taking hot showers in Arcadia, careful not to linger outside lest the sweat freeze to ice and make them sick.

The next day, Ivans arrived with his mates for the trade. Half a sack of herbs in exchange for 200 pounds of supplies. To show his goodwill and sincerity, Ivans also gifted them a salami—a big, juicy one. “Jiang, Hu, try some of our homeland’s delicacies,” he said.

The thing was frozen solid, like a rock. You could take someone out with it if you swung it hard enough.

In these times of scarcity, even the rich were crying poor. Stella, far from refusing, gleefully accepted the gift.

Returning the favor, she taught Ivans a few acupressure points. “This helps with keeping warm. Practice when you can,” she advised.

The trade went down smoothly in the open, and they parted ways, heading home.

Approaching their shelter, Jasper stopped and stared into the distance, lost in thought.

“What’s up?” Stella inquired.

“Feels like we’re being watched.”