Chapter 305 : Emergency Evacuation

Mitia ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍tied all consumption and living needs beyond basic welfare requirements that reached the affluent class to commercial consumption through premium increases，and the overwhelming majority of this commercial consumption was in turn linked to luxury consumption。

Tobacco、alcohol、cars ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍and houses，and in the future there would also be various luxury goods、famous brands and so on。

Luxury ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍consumption meanwhile was centrally coordinated and regulated by the State-owned Enterprise departments，and the overwhelming majority of State-owned Enterprises were filled with descendants of those who had rendered meritorious service，with deeply intertwined interests。

Both ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍State-owned Enterprises and the state could share in the benefits from this foundational market of luxury goods，the higher the punitive premium the more the two sides received。

Put ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍plainly the richer you were the more you became everyone’s moneybag，you had to survive within the framework established by the Alliance’s powerful and privileged class。

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍central government could rely on this portion of income to conduct Transfer Payments back toward basic social public infrastructure，while the deeply intertwined network of connections belonging to State-owned Enterprises spread throughout the entire Alliance could eliminate to the greatest extent the possibility of the people below playing tricks。

This was a dirty trick Mitia had devised to redirect contradictions，while in office you could act completely fairly and obtain benefits for the grassroots people，paving the road for your own promotion。

After retirement within the great collective of State-owned Enterprises you could still use your connections to create wealth for the State-owned Enterprises and expand your own interests，in any case as long as you followed the rules you could take all the benefits，without needing to worry about anything，and there would not be any risks。

But if you wanted to collude with those large local companies or something and pull some little tricks，then what you harmed would be the interests of the majority of the Alliance’s people，and that included those old colleagues of yours in politics as well as the Alliance’s main body behind them。

This was the method Mitia envisioned for the operation of large State Capital，officials restraining officials，capital countering capital。

John’s wife covered her mouth in surprise as she watched this scene，John smiled and shook his head：“They get a little money and suddenly forget who they are，ramming a military vehicle，their brains really are broken。”

Although he had already honorably retired，he still understood the Alliance’s internal operating methods and logic for handling affairs。

Without rules there could be no order，someone used to say this every single day，and what was meant here were rigid rules，the kind that did not change according to anyone’s will。

If legal provisions had derivative meanings you could argue ambiguously over them，but with something like the Wartime Act where the scope of the rules and restrictions was stated clearly，refusing to obey was purely asking to die。

The Wartime Act basically meant that the military would impose a certain degree of military control，and one of the military’s most important core principles was rules and discipline。

Challenging loopholes in the rules was your ability，you exploited loopholes and I investigated and patched them。

But challenging the rules themselves meant you could only die，if someone could not distinguish the difference between these two things，then even if nothing happened to this fellow today something would happen to him sooner or later。

After this little interlude，military trucks began arriving one after another，everyone obediently lined up and waited to board，the gun barrels held by the soldiers patrolling and standing guard around them were far more persuasive than words。

By comparison ordinary residential districts were much more chaotic，large numbers of citizens carried bags large and small as though they were fleeing a disaster，no matter how much the soldiers explained they refused to leave anything behind，and far more people were being detained，to the point that the police vehicles could not even transport them all。

But that did not really matter，this area was an old urban district，with large numbers of elderly residents，and rather than saying those people were arrested it would be more accurate to say they were invited away。

In any case people definitely had to remain behind to guard the prison，the prisoners would not be evacuated，and that place also counted as one of the few safe zones within the city。

“Oh my young man，how many years has it even been since our hard days ended，it’d be such a pity to throw away something this good，this old auntie’s heart hurts something awful。”

“Auntie，you really can’t bring a live chicken！”

“Hey hey hey that old gentleman！Put that stool down quickly，you can’t bring that either。”

The junior officer was like a small boat amid a vast ocean，squeezed by the surging crowd around him until his head was covered in sweat。

The Platoon Commander saw that one area had become somewhat chaotic and could not help muttering：“Damn brat。”

“Uncles and aunties，the organization ordered the masses not to bring anything other than valuables because everything you need to survive has already been prepared at the destination，clothing，food，and accommodation are all there！”

The Platoon Commander walked forward and looked at the chicken in the auntie’s hands before patiently saying：“Auntie，the organization has regulations，one less item means one more person can sit。This is a good thing done for everyone’s safety，think about it，if everyone did what you’re doing，then this vehicle might not even be parked here today，the vehicle meant to pick you up might not have arrived even now。”

“If you’re willing，I’ll purchase this chicken from you at market price，we’ll eat it！Absolutely no food will be wasted，the same goes for food brought by the other civilians！But other miscellaneous items are absolutely forbidden！You can bring two changes of clothing。”

The Platoon Commander had already said everything that needed to be said，if that still did not work afterward then they could only take them away first to eat from the communal mess for a few days。

But at this point the auntie came around：‘Ah！If you said to throw it away then no matter what we’d hate to part with it，but if it’s for you soldier lads to eat then that’s fine，no need for money just take it and eat！We can’t bring it anyway。’

“That won’t do，if money should be paid then it has to be paid，otherwise that would be violating discipline。”

While everyone was making a commotion，dense sounds of spinning rotors suddenly appeared above Ongita，more than a hundred Challenger Helicopters swept low over everyone’s heads

Paul saw that they had entered the urban area，tightened his grip on the gun and leaned forward to look downward，only to see long columns formed by trucks passing through the various major intersections，rapidly transporting civilians toward the safe states in the rear。

According to the Alliance military’s estimates，Ongita was basically the final defensive line the Alliance could accept，and the population here was still comparatively low。

Beyond Ongita however were more than a dozen states with tens of millions of people，by then the difficulty of stabilizing the defensive line would increase severalfold。

After all what the Alliance worried about was not the number of Corpse Beasts，no matter how many there were as long as there were no problems with logistical supply they could hold them off。

But if the Corpse Beasts were allowed to break into densely populated areas there would be trouble，the strength of the Alliance’s industrialized weaponry was founded upon an extraordinarily powerful logistical support and supply system，what it feared was problems appearing in the rear and cutting off material supplies to the frontline，then everyone would just be holding a useless fire poker。

Command Center：【Quick Reaction Air Group is still 190 kilometers from Kurgis State，Bomber Group is about to cross above your position，reduce airspeed。】

Pilot：“Received。”

Hearing this Paul raised his head and looked upward，it was not very clear in the darkness，but the densely packed night navigation lights beneath the aircraft bellies were especially conspicuous against the night sky。

The Challenger Helicopter was actually extremely fast when accelerating at full power，so they had to be notified in advance to reduce flight speed，otherwise air groups whose routes overlapped with the bombing route of the bombers might also face a certain degree of danger。

Paul spat out the chewing gum in his mouth，put on the Gas Mask shaped like a fly’s head，and the faintly glowing green Low-light Night-vision Device activated and began operating。

The bomber crews high in the sky began descending，dense cylindrical Cluster Bombs and Cluster White Phosphorus Bombs were dropped，leaving only one central open area unbombed。

“I see the target point。”

Five minutes later the Challenger formation arrived above the region，the Gunship’s twin-barreled Vulcan Cannon and the Rocket Launcher Rack underneath began spitting tongues of flame。

The Corpse Beasts below fell in swathes like wheat being harvested。

“Ten more seconds...”

Amid the flashes of fire that lit up around them from time to time，a crew member in the cabin threw down a large bundle of thick ropes and gave Paul a thumbs-up：“Ready，begin fast-rope descent，move！”