Apocalypse: I Built the Infinite Train-Chapter 153: Traction Plan

"What?!"

"Everyone can go up? What do you mean? No need to wait in line?"

"Two hours? Are you serious??"

Lin Xian’s words were like a bombshell detonating in the crowd. The moment he spoke, chaos erupted, and all eyes turned to him in urgency. For the first time, a glimmer of hope sparked in their weary faces.

Zhang Dingzhong frowned slightly, eyeing Lin Xian. "What’s your plan? Speak freely."

"Captain Lin, two hours… Does that mean we don’t need to overwrite the system?" Wei Kexue asked, his voice a mix of anxiety and expectation. His heart pounded—his instincts told him Lin Xian might actually have a way out of this.

Lin Xian didn’t hesitate. "If we overwrite the system, the power supply will still be limited to the anti-air defense and electromagnetic acceleration systems. If we divert energy to the climbing elevator, even if it runs, it won’t carry enough people. It might even be slower than before. That means it would take way more than five hours, and our defenses would be weakened. The monsters are increasing by the second. At this rate, we’ll never get everyone out in time."

"That’s true," Wei Kexue nodded. "The climbing elevator consumes the most power. After all—"

Lin Xian cut him off. "There’s another issue. The more people we evacuate, the fewer remain to hold the line. If the airport defenses collapse, no one will be able to escape. The best solution? We all leave at once."

There was something Lin Xian didn’t say out loud—order and control. If the frontline fell apart, the survivors waiting at the back of the queue would be the first to be slaughtered. Chaos would spread like wildfire, and the situation would spiral out of control.

"Wait, there are dozens of vehicles here—over ten thousand people! How can we all leave with a power shortage?" Shi Diyuan asked in confusion.

"The method is simple!"

Lin Xian raised his hand—a flicker of light flashed, and a miniature metal model of the climbing elevator materialized in his palm.

On it, four simulated metal trains represented the four trains currently docked at the spaceport.

He looked toward Jian Xuwei and Shi Diyuan, speaking rapidly:

"Longshan-1 and the Iron Guard Battalion’s train are both intercontinental-class locomotives. Their engines exceed 150,000 kW each. The Silver Star, as an Eternal-class train, has at least 200,000 kW of operating power, correct?"

"220,000 kW." Jian Xuwei replied, her voice tinged with pride.

Lin Xian nodded. "My Infinite Train exceeds 100,000 kW. That means the four trains combined have over 600,000 kW of power."

"Since we’re all heading to the Orbital Rail, I assume all these trains have Horizon Clamp Systems—designed for situations where there’s no external traction when climbing the Climbing Passage or entering the Oceanic Rail. If we load all the vehicles onto climbing traction devices and use mechanical winches, then we can link all four trains together with steel cables—"

"We don’t need the climbing elevator at all. We can haul over 2,000 vehicles straight up to the High-Altitude Corridor ourselves."

A stunned silence spread across the entire spaceport.

Everyone’s expressions shifted from confusion to pure shock.

Using trains to pull thousands of cars up a 4,800-meter-high aerial corridor?

It sounded insane.

Bai Shuang stared at Lin Xian, then turned to Wei Kexue, whose face was equally stunned. "Engineer Wei… is this even possible?"

Wei Kexue’s mouth opened and closed several times. His eyes flickered as calculations flooded his mind.

"This... This…"

He immediately pulled up his computer, rapidly running simulations.

"The Climbing Passage is 7,250 meters long, with a 90% incline—a vertical climb of 4,806 meters. The current queue has 2,696 vehicles, assuming a total weight of 10,000 tons when including trucks. If the trains accelerate to 100 km/h, with Horizon Clamps and mechanical traction, using a three-stage acceleration track—"

"We’d need a peak traction power of 408,000 kW. In theory… it works. It could even be faster. But the steel cables…!"

Before he finished speaking, a flash of light appeared in Lin Xian’s hand.

A 10-centimeter-thick high-carbon alloy steel cable materialized, hitting the ground with a deep metallic clang.

Lin Xian took a deep breath. "The trains only need to link to the traction system. Once we reach the High-Altitude Corridor, the vehicles can transfer to the electromagnetic acceleration track, while the trains use rail acceleration—avoiding congestion inside the passage."

"Holy sht. You really thought of this?"* Shi Diyuan’s eyes were wide.

The engineers from the Silver Star were already running intense calculations, and the results aligned with Wei Kexue’s conclusion.

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Zhang Dingzhong scanned the murmuring crowd before fixing his gaze on Lin Xian, his expression unreadable.

"This is high-risk. It’s only theoretical." Jian Xuwei’s voice was cold and rational. "First, the vehicle weights are estimates. There are many heavy trucks and modified vehicles. Second, you only calculated instantaneous power demands, but Horizon Clamps and mechanical traction have never been stress-tested under such extreme loads. If the Horizon Clamps fail, not only will we lose the cars—we’ll lose our trains, too."

"Exactly!" Jian Zeyang objected outright. "This entire plan only benefits the survivors—it puts us at massive risk. The Silver Star carries 3,219 people. Why should we gamble with their lives?"

His voice darkened. "Frankly, if other routes were open, we would’ve left already. We’ve lost enough people as it is. Worst case—"

"Zeyang!" Jian Xuwei snapped, cutting him off.

A heavy silence fell.

Zhang Dingzhong turned to Bai Shuang. "Commander Bai, what’s your assessment?"

Bai Shuang hesitated, her expression complex. "There’s risk… but this plan has the highest chance of success."

"We disagree. This plan only adds risk for us!" Jian Zeyang protested. *"Even if it takes two hours, if everyone loads vehicles, who will hold the defenses?! If the airport falls, this plan will kill us all. The *Silver Star should just take a few hundred survivors and leave. It’s safer for us!"

His reasoning wasn’t wrong—with over 3,000 lives on board, escaping alone would guarantee their safety.

BOOM!

A thunderous explosion rocked the sky.

Everyone looked up.

The Federation’s massive airborne transport ship had just ascended—only to be obliterated mid-air. A gigantic fireball engulfed the sky, while smaller aircraft plummeted like falling leaves.

"What the hell is the electromagnetic cannon shooting at?!"

"There’s something up there!"

Lightning cracked, briefly illuminating the storm clouds above—

Revealing a titanic, circular, jet-black silhouette.

Its bell-like structure loomed over them, rising like a mountain—

An Atmospheric Mica.

The color drained from everyone’s faces.

"Dear god... It’s THAT monster!!!"

"It’s right above us!!"

BOOM! BOOM!

The four electromagnetic rail cannons rotated upward—and fired directly into the sky.

Bai Shuang’s face paled. "Sh*t. If we don’t lure that thing away, it’ll swallow the High-Altitude Corridor whole!"

Zhang Dingzhong’s gaze sharpened. He turned to Jian Xuwei and Jian Zeyang.

"We’re going with Lin Xian’s plan."

"But—!"

Jian Zeyang’s face tightened, his voice filled with urgency.

"Ma Xiaotang!" Zhang Dingzhong’s voice rang out, firm and commanding.

"Here!"

The Iron Guard Battalion’s deputy commander, Ma Xiaotang, immediately stepped forward.

"First and Second Battalions—hold Zone A!"

"Fourth and Sixth Battalions, along with the Armored Infantry Company—reinforce Zone B!"

"Seventh Battalion’s Tank Unit—secure Zone C!"

"Fifth and Ninth Battalions—support logistics in Zone D!"

"Eighth Battalion and Reconnaissance Unit—stay with me in Zone E!"

"All airborne units—take to the skies and lure that thing toward the front of the spaceport! Protect the Climbing Elevator and the High-Altitude Corridor!"

"Yes, sir!" Ma Xiaotang responded immediately.

The entire battalion erupted into motion. Soldiers scrambled into position, the heavy sound of boots on metal echoing through the spaceport. The atmosphere grew grim, yet resolute—this was their last stand.

Zhang Dingzhong swept his gaze across the gathering forces before locking eyes with the other commanders. "The Iron Guard Battalion will hold the line for two hours. Anyone else have objections?"

Silence.

Jian Zeyang’s face darkened, his hands clenching into fists. He had nothing left to say.

Jian Xuwei stepped forward decisively. "No objections. We’ll start preparations immediately."

"No objections!" Shi Diyuan echoed.

The atmospheric mica loomed overhead, its monstrous shadow engulfing the spaceport. The air was thick with fear and urgency. But Zhang Dingzhong had made his stance clear—they would fight to give the survivors a chance.

"Bai Shuang!" Zhang Dingzhong turned toward the Emergency Response Unit leader. "Evacuate your personnel and wounded onto the Iron Guard’s intercontinental-class train. We’ll be the last to retreat."

Bai Shuang’s face hardened, and she nodded solemnly. "Understood."

"Commander…"

A voice rang from behind.

Zhan Wei, along with several dozen members of the Spaceport Security Regiment, stepped forward.

"Commander Zhang, we want to fight alongside you."

Zhang Dingzhong turned his gaze toward them. His expression shifted—slightly surprised, yet approving.

"That would be... fitting."

Without hesitation, he moved toward the perimeter defenses, Ma Xiaotang and Zhan Wei following close behind.

In an instant, the entire Iron Guard Battalion and Security Regiment mobilized. The spaceport transformed into a fortified warzone, every soldier bracing for the oncoming storm.

Bai Shuang turned to Lin Xian, her expression solemn. **"Captain Lin, I’ll handle vehicle coordination. The traction system—that’s your responsibility."

Lin Xian nodded firmly. "No time to waste. Let’s move!"