Extreme Cold Era: Shelter Don't Keep Waste-Chapter 779 - 8: Domestic Affairs Conference

After Perfikot had filled her stomach and freshened up, she finally showed up in her office.

Meanwhile, officials from all corners of the Northern Territory had already gathered there, awaiting her orders.

Perfikot seldom summoned all the officials to her office; she usually only called those related to the matters she needed to handle.

Although there had been instances where many were summoned to meetings, this was nonetheless her first time gathering leaders from all aspects of the Northern Territory since becoming the Regent of the Empire.

Yet faced with the huge power that others dream of, Perfikot merely tapped her fingers on the desk and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, let's keep idle talk to a minimum, I want to know the latest situation right now."

Though she had only been unconscious for a day and a half, Perfikot knew clearly the extent of the impact her coma would have on the Empire.

Even if the old steward had sealed off the news, the dramatic anomaly caused by the weather controller was indeed something very much worth attention and shocking.

Perfikot urgently wanted to know the changes and impacts brought about by this matter.

"Ma'am, after the snowstorm dissipated, we dispatched rescue forces along the railway heading to each settlement; they have currently reached the settlements closest to Chernobyl and have begun related rescue operations." An official reported this, which Perfikot had already learned from the old steward.

"You've done well, but right now the rescue...." Perfikot pondered for a moment. Though it wasn't that she doubted them, the effect of rescue efforts would likely be very limited: "Can your teams traverse the snowstorm that has yet to dissipate?"

"Sorry Ma'am, perhaps not, the threat of the snowstorm is just too great. We can only cross when its influence diminishes, which at present hardly yields substantial results." The officials did not hide this fact.

The snowstorm still blocks everything; the rescue teams and the previously dispatched large autonomous robots have made some progress, but overall, currently, it's still a drop in the ocean with minor effects.

"I understand, this isn't your responsibility, but I still hope you try everything possible to rescue the settlements enduring these conditions." Perfikot encouraged the official slightly and then looked at the others: "How is the situation elsewhere in the Northern Territory? Is there enough food?"

Perfikot asked about food, not just any kind of food. Although the primary sustenance in the Northern Territory is still compressed biscuits, and the biscuit factories, with her support, theoretically produce enough to satisfy everyone, there's still a difference between theory and practice, even Perfikot didn't dare guarantee everyone could be fully fed.

Especially now with transportation cut off, some remote settlements might face unexpected issues.

"Based on the feedback from each settlement, there's enough food, but fuel is already in short supply, they can only ensure heating and hot meals for now, nothing more." An official continued reporting, and this answer made Perfikot's expression even gloomier.

Lack of fuel, this is what she has been worried about all along.

"As expected, bad things always come as feared. Tell me, what are the main causes of the fuel shortage?" Perfikot supported her forehead with her hand, indicating the officials to continue reporting.

"The snowstorm caused some coal mines to cease operations; although the temperature in the tunnels hasn't dropped to unworkable levels, machines on the surface are all frozen, extracting coal to the surface relies solely on manpower, it led to a significant reduction in production." An official revealed a helpless fact to Perfikot.

Perfikot understood this and nodded. After all, these were the difficulties she anticipated when formulating the Northern Territory development plan, and she herself did much preparation for it.

But even so, Perfikot clearly knows that what she prepared isn't omnipotent, even specially strengthened antifreeze and special steel have their limits.

In too cold an environment, machines getting frozen is indeed very normal.

"This is helpless now, but still, send the situation to universities and the Royal Society for them to seek solutions, possibly improving industrial equipment performance in extreme harsh weather." Perfikot thought for a bit and issued the related research task.

Although it seems like mending the fence after the sheep are lost, doing it is overall better than doing nothing, and Perfikot also feels she cannot handle everything by herself.

After all, she's limited in energy, and with the change of identity, she is no longer the past little character who takes on everything alone, but one who can decide lives and deaths of thousands as a ruler.

Formerly she needed various methods to coordinate to mobilize researchers, now for her it's just an order, naturally she wants to make good use of these people.

"At your command." An official saluted by clutching his chest and recorded Perfikot's orders.

"Besides decreased production in the mines, the cold brought by the snowstorm also increased fuel demand among settlements, more fuel is needed to ensure sufficient warmth." Another official continued reporting, Perfikot noticed the obvious frostbite on his ears: "I went deep into several streets of the underground city, the demand for cold-proof clothing and hot food among residents surged by 20% compared to usual."

Though the situation in Chernobyl is fairly good, we have stored enough food, your established Clothing Rental Bureau is sufficient to provide cold-proof clothing to all hardworking citizens, but...."

"No need to say, I know it's definitely not enough." Perfikot waved her hand, things barely maintained in everyday situations naturally are definitely insufficient in extreme climates.

"In fact, if it's just about meeting citizens' cold-proof clothing and food needs, Chernobyl's municipal system is somewhat strained but not impossible." A municipal system official explained to Perfikot, his hands also had frostbite and cracks: "But insufficient fuel supply is now the biggest problem we're facing!

Chernobyl's urban heating system consumes a large amount of fuel daily, although we've built a huge material reserve vault, storing at least enough fuel for a month under normal situations,

but under the current adverse climate, just maintaining the operation of the city's Energy Tower, our stock can only support for three weeks."

"Three weeks? The fuel consumption increased this much?" Although Perfikot had certain expectations about increased fuel consumption, she did not anticipate it would rise so much.