Chapter 767: Heading to Meinhoff
The scene cut to a brief statement from a local official promising to tighten management, followed by more footage from inside the refugee camp.
A child sat crying on the muddy ground, a mother beside him trying in vain to comfort him; several men argued over a half-empty tube of nutrient paste; in the distance, a corpse wrapped hastily in a sheet was carried toward a temporarily designated burial zone.
Valerie watched quietly. These images and data would all become part of her report.
Meinhoff was turning into a pressure cooker, and the shadow of the Swarm might be approaching.
She turned and left, her mind analyzing rapidly: a massive concentration of refugees, overloaded infrastructure, the beginnings of a health crisis, and unknown defensive capabilities... If the Swarm attacked now, the consequences would be unimaginable.
But at the same time, chaos meant opportunity.
The massive influx of people and the complex situation might make it easier for her to acquire intelligence regarding the Artifact fragment.
Tychus and Raynor's attention would be drawn by the refugee crisis, potentially relaxing their guard over certain information.
She needed to inform Ryo of the situation here as soon as possible.
Meinhoff might not just be a gathering place for refugees; it could become the next strategic focal point.
And at this moment, the Hyperion, carrying both hope and hidden dangers, sailed toward that boiling planet.
The voyage to Meinhoff was estimated to take twenty-seven standard hours. During this time, the atmosphere aboard the Hyperion remained constantly tense.
The presence of the refugees affected almost every system on the ship.
The life support system ran at full power, barely maintaining air circulation and temperature control, yet carbon dioxide levels remained somewhat high in certain areas.
The water supply system required strict rationing, and time for washing was severely limited.
Food reserves dwindled rapidly, and the kitchen began distributing high-density nutrient bars as supplements—they provided basic energy but were incredibly unpalatable.
The medical deck faced the greatest pressure.
Dr. Hanson and her two assistants, along with the Hyperion's original Medics, formed a temporary medical team.
They set up a makeshift triage area to handle minor injuries, infections, and stress-related illnesses.
Due to the limited conditions, many treatments had to be improvised.
Valerie and her "Security Consultants" assisted in maintaining order in several primary residential zones.
Their mere presence provided a certain level of deterrence—those silent, towering, heavily armed warriors often quelled potential skirmishes before they could even begin.
Valerie herself moved between different zones, ostensibly conducting a "humanitarian condition assessment," while actually observing and gathering information.
She paid special attention to maintaining contact with Dr. Hanson.
During several brief exchanges, Dr. Hanson revealed more known information about Meinhoff to her.
"Meinhoff's industrial base is primarily focused on orbital shipbuilding and heavy machinery manufacturing," Dr. Hanson told Valerie in a corridor outside the medical deck, rubbing her hands with sanitizing gel. "It has five large orbital platforms capable of building and repairing destroyer-class vessels."
"On the ground, they have a comprehensive fusion energy network and manufacturing plants."
"In theory, their defensive capabilities should be far stronger than those agricultural or mining worlds we visited previously."
"But the refugee problem has consumed a massive amount of its resources," Valerie pointed out.
"Yes," Dr. Hanson sighed. "According to internal academic communications I've received, the Meinhoff authorities are already drawing on strategic reserve supplies to cope with the refugee crisis. This will inevitably impact their long-term combat readiness."
"What's worse, tensions are beginning to arise between refugees from different origins, as well as between refugees and the local populace."
"Unfair resource distribution, cultural differences, psychological fear... these are all fertile ground for conflict."
She lowered her voice: "There are even unverified rumors that the Mengsk government is considering 'quarantining' Meinhoff to prevent 'unstable elements' or 'Swarm carriers' from mixing in with the refugees. If that's true..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but Valerie understood the implication: Once Meinhoff was officially abandoned or quarantined by the Dominion, it would become an isolated island.
If the Swarm came, there would be no reinforcements.
"Doctor, from a professional standpoint, what is your judgment on the likelihood of the Swarm attacking Meinhoff?" Valerie asked.
Dr. Hanson's expression turned serious. "From a biological perspective, the Swarm has a natural tropism toward areas of high biomass concentration. The population currently gathered on Meinhoff is like a lighthouse in the dark."
"Furthermore, the Swarm are not mindless devouring machines; they exhibit a certain degree of strategic awareness."
"Attacking a transit hub, severing sector communications, isolating the core worlds... this aligns with a higher-tier predatory strategy."
She paused, then continued: "But the specific timing is hard to predict. The Swarm's actions sometimes appear 'random'. They might suddenly change direction, or linger in a certain area for a long time to 'digest'. We lack an understanding of their decision-making mechanisms."
Valerie recorded this information.
Dr. Hanson's analysis basically matched the conclusions Ryo had drawn through observation: The Swarm possessed strategic awareness, and Meinhoff was a high-risk target.
In the fifteenth standard hour of the voyage, Matt Horner convened a briefing for core personnel on the bridge.
Raynor, Tychus, Dr. Hanson, Valerie, and several key Raider officers attended.
The main screen displayed a summary of the latest intelligence on Meinhoff.
"We have established preliminary contact with the Meinhoff authorities," Matt said. "They confirm their willingness to accept the refugees, but require that all arriving ships undergo strict biological quarantine to prevent the introduction of Swarm spores or unknown pathogens."
"The quarantine process could take twelve to twenty-four hours, depending on the number of ships and the capacity of the quarantine stations."
"Meaning we can't offload people as soon as we arrive?" Tychus asked, dissatisfied.
"Yes," Matt nodded. "Furthermore, according to the protocols they sent, after all refugees disembark, they must remain under observation in an orbital quarantine zone for forty-eight hours. Only after they are confirmed clear can they be sent to the ground refugee camps."
"Considering the number of ships currently waiting for quarantine, the entire process will likely take even longer."
Raynor frowned: "Our supplies won't last that long. Conditions on the ship are already deteriorating."
"I tried negotiating and emphasized our emergency situation," Matt said. "They expressed understanding, but insisted the quarantine protocols cannot be skipped."
"Swarm spores can be carried on clothing, equipment, or even the surface of the human body. An outbreak in a densely populated area would be disastrous."
"They have already identified several suspected carriers, fortunately quarantined in time."
Dr. Hanson nodded: "This stance is scientifically sound. We still don't fully understand the latency and transmission vectors of Swarm spores, making strict quarantine necessary. But for the situation on our ship, it is indeed bad news."