Mars dared not let the nuclear missile launchers enter the tunnel ahead of time.
The previous lesson had been far too harsh.
If Great Xia's strike arrived first and set off the missiles inside the tunnel, Freedom would truly be finished.
Few nuclear bombs remained, and the materials for making them were almost exhausted. Every single one was a lifeline.
The Nuclear Bomb Truck could only move once the air defense systems had established themselves on the surface and safety was confirmed.
"How's the road paving coming along?" Mars asked.
"We expect to finish the last stretch of ramp in thirty minutes."
Thirty minutes.
Mars turned his gaze back to the main screen.
The specialized excavator had emerged completely onto the surface. Its tracks crushed the frozen soil as it moved slowly forward, making room for the vehicles behind it.
Against the gray-white landscape, it was the only vehicle moving.
The silence was unnerving.
Mars stared at the feed, his pupils narrowing slightly, a bad feeling stirring inside him.
Because last time, it had been just this quiet before the missile came.
"Speed it up." His voice tightened.
"Tell the paving crew they have to finish within twenty minutes."
"Yes, sir!"
The soldier turned to relay the order.
Inside the command center, everyone's breathing grew shallow and faint.
No one spoke. Only the electrical hum of running equipment and the dull rumble of engineering vehicles rolling over the road came through the speakers.
Ten minutes passed.
No missile.
Twenty minutes passed.
Still no missile.
Mars's breathing gradually grew heavier, and a nearly crazed gleam appeared in his eyes.
"Paving progress!"
"Reporting! Just twenty meters left! Estimated time, six minutes!"
Six minutes.
They just had to hold on for six more minutes!
Once the air defense vehicles got up there, they