"Give me the details," Advik Bhardwaj requested.
Srinivas pulled out a tablet and brought up a schematic of the building's infrastructure. "This complex relies on both a municipal water connection and a rainwater collection system. The municipal supply's been cut off—likely due to damaged pipelines or city-wide outages. What's keeping us going is the rainwater storage tanks and the building's filtration system."
Advik Bhardwaj frowned slightly. "How much water do we have left in those water tanks?"
"We have about 150,000 liters stored across all water tanks. Based on current usage—showers, toilets, cooking, and cleaning—we're burning through about 4,000 to 5,000 liters a day," Srinivas explained, scrolling through system reports on his tablet.
Advik Bhardwaj did a quick mental calculation. "So that gives us roughly 30 to 35 days before we run dry."
"Correct. We could stretch that to about 45 days if we implement rationing. That means limiting showers, cutting back on cleaning operations, and conserving wherever possible," Srinivas added.
Advik Bhardwaj sighed, processing the information. "We'll need a plan to secure more water soon. Either find another source like a reservoir or take control of a water treatment facility nearby."
Srinivas nodded in agreement. "Thatwould be the best long-term solution. In the meantime, we'll ensure the filtration system stays in good condition. As long as it's working, the rainwater collection should provide some ongoing supply, but it won't be enough to sustain us indefinitely."
"Good work, Srinivas. Keep monitoring both the water and power systems. Notify me of any changes or emergencies," Advik Bhardwaj ordered.
"Understood, sir. I'll also have the maintenance crew check for any leaks or inefficiencies in the plumbing," Srinivas responded before heading off to relay instructions to his team.
Advik Bhardwaj stood in the generator room for a moment, his thoughts racing. The power problem was temporarily solved, and the water system was holding for now. Still, the clock was ticking. Resources were finite, and the survival of his base would depend on securing long-term infrastructure.
After spending time on his thoughts, Advik Bhardwaj decided it was time to take stock of the mall's remaining resources. He exited the utility sector and made his way back to the main hall.
As he walked through the vast corridors lined with luxury boutiques, his mind raced with possibilities. If this place catered to the elite, there could be a wealth of valuable supplies hidden in plain sight.
His first stop was a high-end apparel store. The entrance was framed by mannequins dressed in designer clothes. Inside, racks of premium clothing filled the space—leather jackets, high-performance outdoor gear, and formal wear.
"Could be useful," Advik Bhardwaj muttered as he sifted through some of the garments. He noted that many of the items were made of durable, weather-resistant materials. Tactical clothing might be scarce here, but high-quality shoes, jackets, and thermal gear could still be repurposed for long-term survival and operations.
He tapped his radio. "Sandeep, have someone inventory all the clothing stores. Prioritize any useful gear like boots, jackets, and outdoor wear."
"Copy that, sir. I'll send a team over," Sandeep's voice crackled through the radio.
Advik Bhardwaj moved on to an electronics store. He was greeted by rows of smart TVs, refrigerators, and other high-end appliances. Most of these items were useless without a steady power supply, but some smaller electronics might still be worth taking.
"Portable battery packs, power tools, radios..." He began mentally listing items that could aid the base's infrastructure.
At the back of the store, he found several high-capacity generators and portable solar panels still sealed in crates. These were a jackpot in a world where energy was now one of the most precious resources.
Advik Bhardwaj tapped his radio again. "Srinivas, I found a stash of portable generators and solar panels in the electronics store. I want them inspected and tested. We might be able to use them as backup power sources."
"On it, sir. I'll send an engineer team," Srinivas replied.
Next, Advik Bhardwaj headed toward the mall's supermarket. The aisles were largely intact, though there were signs that some people had scavenged here before. Still, shelves held plenty of canned goods, dry foods, and bottled water. He noted that the freezers and refrigerated sections were no longer operational, but the non-perishable items would be crucial to their survival.
Moving toward the pharmacy section, he found rows of over-the-counter medications, first-aid supplies, and hygiene products.
In a home improvement store, Advik Bhardwaj found everything from hand tools to construction materials. This store was a goldmine for fortifying the base and repairing damaged areas of the building.
He ran his hand along a stack of reinforced steel bars. "Perfect. We can use these for barricades and reinforcement."
He made a mental note to assign this store to the engineers for immediate use.
Finally, Advik Bhardwaj entered a high-end boutique filled with jewelry, watches, and luxury goods. He couldn't help but chuckle.
"None of this will help us survive, but maybe it'll be useful for trade in the future," hemused. For now, he left the luxury items untouched.
After spending a couple of hours exploring and taking notes, Advik Bhardwaj regrouped with Sandeep near the center of the mall.
"Sir, teams are already moving inventory and securing the supplies. Looks like we hit the jackpot here," Sandeep reported with a satisfied grin.
"Good. This place has more resources than I expected," Advik Bhardwaj replied.
After that, Advik Bhardwaj turned his head to Sandeep, then he said.
"We need to something?"
"What is it sir?" Sandeep asked.
"We need to save survivors, first to start with my condominium."
"We can conduct a rescue operation, sir, what time it, sir?"
"Any time."
"Then it'll be easy sir," Sandeep said with a confident smirk.
Advik Bhardwaj flickered his gaze to Sandeep and replied. "What time is it now?"
"So you want to conduct the operation now sir?" Sandeep said. "Very well, let's discuss how we are going to extract them."
With that, the two of them headed to the admin room. Advik Bhardwaj took a seat behind the large desk, resting his hands on the surface while Sandeep remained standing, arms crossed in thought.