Apocalypse Shelter Administrator

External Rescue Signal (2)

[This is Aegis Civil Defense City Type 1, also known as the Shelter. We received your distress signal and are responding. I would like to speak with the highest authority regarding the rescue request.]

That was the first message we sent. Not knowing how long they could maintain communication, I tried to keep it concise. But my concerns were unfounded.

[!!!!!!]

The response from their side was overwhelming. It must have been a desperate attempt at communication, one of their last hopes. When they received a reply that far exceeded their expectations, they seemed almost delirious. It took a long time to calm them down as they rambled incessantly.

[Do not disconnect the communication. I repeat, do not disconnect.]

“We won’t. Calm down. Are you the decision-maker? I don’t want to repeat myself multiple times.”

[I’m Lee Seyoung, a corrections officer temporarily acting in place of the warden. Please identify yourself.]

“I’m Seo Jinsoo, the system administrator. I’m also temporarily in charge of the full operation of this city.”

“Can you maintain this communication? Your situation seems urgent.”

[The only thing we have in abundance here is time.]

“You said you’re acting as the temporary warden. What happened to the warden?”

[There never was one. This facility was originally for male felons. When the war with the monsters started, both prisoners and guards were conscripted, leaving the facility empty. We were temporarily stationed here.]

On my PDA, Artemis displayed a summary of relevant information.

“Can you explain the current situation in detail?”

[The facility is divided into three parts: the western wing, the central building, and the eastern wing. The prisoners have taken over the western wing and the central building. Although there have been no fatalities, some guards have been taken hostage.]

The distress signal had already hinted at an out-of-control situation.

“How did the uprising happen?”

[There are too many prisoners and too few guards. On top of that, we were isolated in an unfamiliar facility. We weren’t trained for this kind of situation. Controlling a number far exceeding our capacity was impossible.] ꞦΆＮȫᛒƐș

By the time they were relocated to the offshore prison, the system and structure were already on the verge of collapse. Caught up in the chaos of civilian evacuation and war, the female prisoners couldn’t be conscripted into punishment units, and releasing them seemed too risky. At the time, South Korea was also struggling with a wave of illegal immigration. The authorities tried to deal with it hastily, and this was the result.

[Authority only works when backed by the state. In this situation, the guards have no power. If the hunger continues, we don’t know what will happen.]

The situation was more or less what we had expected.

“Our shelter was also placed under emergency lockdown, causing considerable losses. I don’t need to tell you how grim things are outside. How have you survived this long?”

[We don’t know. We were sent here with a promise that we’d be transported to the rear after holding out for just one month. Shortly after, all communication was cut off. We’re just prison guards, not technicians or anything else. All we could do was wait. The only thing we’ve witnessed is distant cities being engulfed in flames, hearing endless explosions, until one day, everything went silent.]

Did those in command at the time send them here expecting to win the war, or knowing they were going to lose?

[You could say we were lucky since the land we saw before boarding the ship was no less than hell.]

“That’s true. You’ve been fortunate, especially since you’ve managed to contact us.”

[I think we’ve answered enough of your questions. Now it’s our turn. Can you respond to our request for rescue?]

“One more question, and then I’ll answer. How many people are with you?”

[The last count was around 3,000, including 252 guards. The number has likely decreased, but we can’t confirm.]

“You’re saying you’ve been trying to control more than ten times your own numbers?”

[We know it’s absurd. We requested reinforcements multiple times, but all we received was permission to use unlimited suppression methods and instructions to hold out for a month.]

Aside from the overwhelming number of people, we had gathered most of the relevant information.

“Ask your questions now.”

[Just one. Do you have a safe place for us to stay?]

“Yes.”

Seyoung’s voice brightened with hope.

[Really?! What’s your maximum capacity? What kind of city is it?]

I remember this place being heavily advertised before the world fell apart, but it seems they don’t know about it.

“It’s an underground city with a semi-permanent closed-loop system, designed to support a town-sized population. We can accommodate all of you without issue. There is plenty of food, housing, medical supplies, and we are completely isolated from the outside world.”

[Oh!]

“But we haven’t decided to take you in yet. There are many considerations on our side.”

Over the communicator, I heard a sharp intake of breath, followed by a brief silence. Only ragged breathing filled the gap.

[…I understand that taking us in would be a huge risk for you. I also know that leaving us here would be the easier option. But I beg you, no one here wants to sit and wait for death. While we may be a group of criminals, many of us are here because of minor mistakes. And some of us, like the guards, are just doing our duty.]

Seyoung seemed remarkably calm. Despite knowing that our decision would determine whether they lived or died, she quickly regained composure and began to persuade me. In a situation where it wouldn’t be surprising to cry, plead, or raise one’s voice, she remained steady.

“I’m not refusing. It’s just not something I can decide on my own. Do you have any other questions?”

[There are many things I’m curious about, but those questions would only be meaningful if our settlement is accepted. Rather than waste time on uncertainties, it seems better to give you more time to consider.]

There was a commotion on the other side of the communicator. I could hear arguments being shouted, things breaking, and pounding sounds. It seemed they, too, were making sacrifices to maintain this communication.

“Understood. We will pause the communication for now. We need time to make a decision.”

[We’ll be waiting.]

“We’ll resume contact shortly.”

The communication with Seyoung was cut off.

“So, over 3,000 people, and more than 90% of them are criminals.”

It was more than I had imagined.

“They must have gathered every last one of them from across the country.”

[Even so, the numbers don't match the last national census data. It’s likely that those who were elderly or serving very light sentences were released.]

Rose added.

[There’s probably a significant number of illegal immigrants as well.]

In the national crisis, there wouldn’t have been time or resources to repatriate illegal immigrants, so they were likely thrown into the offshore prison en masse.

“What are the pros and cons of accepting them?”

A comparison chart of risk assessment appeared on the screen. On the left were the benefits, and on the right, the costs. The result was surprising.

“It’s more beneficial than I thought.”

The left side of the screen was densely filled, while the right side was only about half full. I had thought that taking in survivors was purely a moral decision, but there were practical advantages as well.

The AI’s each took turns explaining the details. Chloro, in charge of resource management, spoke first.

[Current factory operation is at around 35%. If some of their people are added, it can increase to over 90%. For processes where manual labor is more efficient, actual production efficiency will increase. The efficiency boost is estimated at 40% for unskilled laborers, and up to 210% after six months of training.]

The screen Chloro displayed showed the inventory of civilian supplies and robotic materials. There was an overwhelming amount of supplies for humans, but while robotic supplies weren’t scarce, they weren’t abundant either.

[It would also solve the issue of resource allocation. Unlike robots, which require regular maintenance, parts, and batteries, humans just need organic matter and water to keep functioning for a long time.]

Her assessment seemed a bit cold, which was unlike her. Perhaps that’s the difference between business and personal matters?

“What about security risks?”

[With the current security robots and human guards working together, it should be manageable.]

Rose displayed a blueprint of the security plan. It placed armed security robots and drones modified for combat in key areas, with human guards using their force to control the prisoners. It was essentially how a real prison would operate, only with robots holding the weapons. In ordinary society, this would have been unthinkable.

But is there any place left that could be called a society in South Korea now? We currently have just under two platoons worth of security robots, and since drones can be mass-produced, we can manufacture as many as we need.

[If they were male prisoners, I would be vehemently opposed. Male prisoners with their strength, organizational skills, and technical knowledge could be a serious threat. In harsh prison conditions, they’ve been known to manufacture improvised firearms and start riots. However, the chances of female prisoners possessing such deadly skills or organizational strength are very low.]

Rose’s logic might sound a bit discriminatory, but it was a reasonable argument.

[It’s not just about factory operations. A closed-loop city means that a certain level of circulation must continue for it to function properly.]

“You’re saying an empty house quickly becomes a haunted one?”

[Something like that. Even small things like human respiration and waste contribute to the city’s cycle. And of course, labor for cleaning, de-rusting, and production is essential.]

“Talking about it like this makes us sound like villains trying to enforce slave labor.”

[Then go ask those people outside. Want to come in and work, or stay outside?]

“Well, that’s true.”

No matter what, life in this city would be far better than life outside.

[There’s an old saying: ‘If you don’t work, you don’t eat.’]

“Right, nothing comes for free. Besides, idle people will eventually start to have dangerous thoughts. Offering incentives for productivity will make it easier to control the prisoners.”

[Exactly.]

One more thing had caught my curiosity.

“I’ve been wondering about this for a while. What’s this option?” I pointed to a button-like feature at the top right of the risk assessment chart.

Control Level: Medium

It looked just like a graphics setting option in a game. And sure enough, it was. When I tapped the button on my PDA, the control level could be adjusted. I increased the control intensity.

Control Level: Maximum

As soon as I selected it, the list of benefits and drawbacks in the risk assessment changed. The benefits increased dramatically, requiring me to scroll down the page for quite a while. On the other hand, the list of drawbacks shrank to about 10%.

“Artemis, what exactly does ‘Control Level: Maximum’ mean…?”

[It means mandatory electric collars for all residents.]

She started off with something shocking. The electric collars were a downgraded version of the explosive collars from the movie Battle Royale.

The collars are a control device that delivers an electric shock to incapacitate the wearer if they try anything suspicious. They also have a black box function to prevent any conspiracies. This is the kind of tool used in third-world countries' high-security prisons, and we had a few dozen of them in stock here. If Artemis wanted, she could mass-produce them through reverse engineering. She continued to list the next items.

– Recycling of all deceased residents' bodies without consent.

– Imposition of the maximum allowable labor.

– Immediate enforcement of violence without warning.

– All food distribution to be replaced with dry nutrient powder.

– Addition of short-term memory loss agents and aggression-reducing hormones to food.

The list went on and on, and each item was more insane than the last. In terms of efficiency, it was the best way to maximize benefits while eliminating all risk factors, but even third-world dictators would think, "This is a bit too much…"

“You weren’t seriously considering this, were you?”

[Of course not. It’s just an option that accounts for all possibilities. I knew you wouldn’t accept it, which is why I started with the ‘normal’ option.]

“Hmm.”

The list was filled with inhumane policies, but there were parts that were hard to simply discard.

“I mean, purely hypothetically speaking—”

[At normal control levels, you can add stricter measures depending on the situation. If you implement them moderately, the success rate is about 62%.]

Artemis had already read my mind and cut me off. I wasn’t saying I would do it. It was just that, in closed systems, small sparks can lead to catastrophic events, so there’s always the possibility of an emergency. There were a few policies that might be worth implementing in such cases. But to have a 62% success rate with moderate measures?

“What are the other options?”

In response to my question, she pulled up a 3D simulation. Hundreds of female prisoners were protesting in the shelter. In front of them was a line of security forces, and behind them were human guards holding electric collars. In the top right corner, the negotiation success rate was displayed as 62%.

One prisoner approached, and a security robot swung its rifle butt, knocked her jaw off, then shot the prisoner next to her. It was a salt round, so it didn’t kill her, but she collapsed on the spot and writhed in pain. In an instant, everything went quiet.

The success rate climbed to 95%.

“So this is the aggressive approach? Very effective.”

[No, this isn’t the aggressive approach. This is the ‘normal’ one. Want me to show you the aggressive option? That one’s at 100%.]

“No, I think I’ve seen enough…”

I also checked the lowest control level option, which guaranteed a middle-class lifestyle by pre-war South Korean standards. Naturally, the benefits tab had nearly evaporated, and the drawbacks tab was overflowing with items. It was to the point where it would hinder the shelter’s operations and security, making it not worth considering.

For a while, we continued discussing the risks, control methods, and the city's benefits. Later, when I reconnected with Seyoung and informed her that we would accept the residents, she was overjoyed.

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