Bases on Mars were broadly divided into four types: garrison bases, research bases, defense bases, and production bases.
The First Base and Third Base mentioned earlier were both garrison bases.
A defense base sounded similar to a garrison base, and it did indeed house troops, but its mission was different, as was the base's overall focus.
"The Fourth Defense Base has a large number of devices and parts that we can bring back to repair and replace our oxygen-production and water-purification systems. It also has aerospace defense radar and weapons. We have to take it before the Advance lands, otherwise it'll be too dangerous. As for food, the Advance still has plenty of reserves, enough to last us for now."
Liu Zhihao nodded, then asked, "How many people are we taking?"
"Everyone."
"Everyone? We're not leaving anyone to guard the home?"
"That's right." Shi Tie Zhu was utterly certain. "We're short-handed right now. We simply don't have the manpower to attack an entire base while splitting our forces for defense. Besides, there's a huge amount of supplies to transport this time. We need to commit the whole army."
"Then we're not defending the First Base?"
"No. There were barely any people there to begin with, and even fewer can be left behind. If the enemy comes, it'll only add to the casualties. If they don't, then it doesn't matter at all. Besides, the First Base is dirt poor now, with nothing there at all. If the enemy comes, they can't exactly sink their teeth into sheet metal and steel bars, can they? If we lose it, we lose it."
"Keep the land and lose the people, and both people and land are lost. Keep the people and lose the land, and both people and land are preserved." Shi Tie Zhu