Chapter 184: When the Exosuit Dons the Uniform (III)

At 8 p. m., in front of the training tower of Cloud River City Fire Brigade.

Twelve firefighters likewise wore the red 'Rescuer-1 Type Firefighting Exosuit' as they conducted high-altitude rescue drills.

The firefighting version of the exosuit is likewise a wear‑on‑type, but it has been specially optimized for firefighting environments:

Overall height is 2.1 meters, slightly taller than the urban‑management and police versions, because it integrates more functional modules.

It weighs 65 catties, its material being the 'Dragon Scale‑Fireproof' special composite that can withstand a thousand‑degree high‑temperature environment for a short time.

The back integrates a compressed‑air cylinder and a life‑support system, the arms have a high‑pressure water‑gun interface, and the legs are fitted with a demolition‑tool compartment.

The helmet visor is made of special glass, explosion‑proof, smoke‑proof, and resistant to strong light.

'Team 1, high‑floor rescue, begin!'

The order was given, and the six red exosuits moved simultaneously.

The exosuit's feet and palms have adhesion, allowing it to climb building exteriors directly—no ladder truck needed.

'Whoosh—'

The exosuits scaled the training tower's outer wall swiftly, moving so agilely that each resembled Spider‑Man.

Reaching the eighth‑floor window, the mechanical arm easily broke the burglar bars and entered the room.

'Found two trapped persons, conscious.'

'Carry out the rescue immediately.'

The exosuit unfolded its back‑mounted folding stretcher, secured the 'trapped person' (actually a dummy), then rappelled down from the window and landed smoothly.

The whole operation took less than three minutes.

'Team 2, chemical‑fire response, ready!'

On the other side of the training tower, a simulated chemical installation caught fire, flames shooting up, thick smoke rolling.

The six red exosuits rushed into the fire scene, their arm‑mounted high‑pressure water guns activated and sprayed precisely to extinguish the flames.

The exosuit's thermal‑imaging sensor can pinpoint the fire source clearly through smoke, and its AR display can show in real time the scene's temperature, toxic‑gas concentration, and structural stability.

'Ammonia leak detected!'

'Seal the leak point, adjust evacuation routes!'

The exosuit's left arm switched tools, becoming a sealant injector that quickly sealed the leaking pipe.

At the same time, evacuation routes were adjusted to avoid the danger zone.

After the drill, the firefighters took off their exosuits, each feeling as if they'd been fished out of water; despite active cooling and fire resistance, the scene's heat still left them somewhat drenched in sweat.

Detachment Chief Lao Lin walked over and asked, 'How does it feel?'

'It's far better than ordinary fire gear,' said a young firefighter, 'but the operating interface is still a bit complex, making it easy to lose focus in a fire scene.'

'We need more practice,' Lao Lin said, patting his shoulder, 'this gear can save lives—whether yours or the public's.'

No sooner had he spoken than the alarm rang again.

'All units, attention! A fire has broken out at the Chengnan Logistics Warehouse, with explosion risk—requesting reinforcement!'

Lao Lin's face changed: 'Rescuer Squad, board the vehicles—quick!'

Five minutes later, three fire‑exosuit‑dedicated trucks roared out.

On board, the firefighters donned their exosuits while receiving scene information from the command center.

'The warehouse stores lithium batteries and packing materials; the fire has spread to the second floor, and three people are trapped, their locations unknown.'

'Understood.'

Upon arrival, the warehouse was engulfed in flames, thick smoke billowing.

Conventional fire trucks were spraying water on the perimeter, but the blaze was too large for an interior attack.

Lao Lin donned his exosuit, and its sensors scanned the fire scene.

'The heat‑source distribution shows life signs on the east side of the first floor and the west side of the second floor. The building structure … is weakening, and it may collapse in about fifteen minutes.'

He took a deep breath: 'Team 1, follow me to the first floor; Team 2, go to the second floor; Team 3, provide external cover to prevent the explosion from spreading.'

'Yes!'

The six red exosuits charged into the fire.

Heat hit them instantly; even with fire‑proof armor, Lao Lin could almost feel the scene's heat wave.

The AR display showed the outside temperature had reached: 600 °C.

'Life‑support system normal, remaining time: forty‑five minutes.'

'Enough.'

On the east side of the first floor they found two unconscious warehouse workers, secured them with the exosuit's back‑mounted stretcher, and brought them out quickly.

'Team 2 reports: one person found on the west side of the second floor, but the passage is blocked by debris, preventing evacuation.'

'Coordinates?'

'Send.'

Lao Lin glanced at the structural diagram: 'Breach the wall from the outside. Team 3, prepare the high‑pressure water guns for cover!'

'Received!'

Three exosuits moved to the warehouse's west side, switched their arms to demolition mode, and their mechanical gauntlets hammered the wall.

'Bang! Bang! Bang!'

Three punches, and the wall cracked.

The fourth punch broke open a hole.

Thick smoke poured out, but the exosuits' high‑pressure water guns immediately sprayed to suppress it.

Team 2's exosuits entered through the opening, located the trapped person, and quickly brought them out.

Just as the last person was rescued, a muffled explosion sounded from inside the warehouse.

The lithium battery is about to explode! Everyone evacuate!

The mechs retreated at full speed, but just as they had just withdrawn to a safe distance, a chain explosion broke out on the second floor of the warehouse, and the entire roof collapsed.

After the smoke cleared, twelve red mechs stood firm on the periphery of the fire, none damaged.

The onlookers burst into applause and cheers.

Old Lin took off his helmet, his face covered in soot, but his eyes were bright.

He glanced at the mech-clad teammates beside him, then at the three warehouse workers who had been rescued; everyone was alive.

Then he lifted his gaze toward the still-burning warehouse.

The fire had been brought under control and was gradually weakening.

"Fall in." he said.

At eleven o'clock at night, Cloud River City gradually grew quiet.

East City Urban Management Brigade: Old Zhang carefully wiped down 'Big White' until clean and placed it back on the equipment rack. The white mech gleamed with a warm luster under the lights.

Special Police Detachment: Zhao Rui was writing today's disposition report. The deep-blue mech stood still on the charging dock, its indicator lights blinking slowly, like breathing.

Fire Brigade: Old Lin and the team were checking the mechs for wear and tear. The red mechs still bore traces of smoke and scorching, but their functions were completely normal.

Three brigades, three colors, one mission.

And in every corner of the city, more Guardians stood on standby.

Hospital Emergency Department: doctors tried out the newly arrived Medical Assistance Mech, which could easily move patients, assist in surgery, and reduce occupational injuries for medical staff.

Traffic Management Bureau: the first batch of Traffic Guidance Mechs had already begun duty during morning and evening rush hours, capable of monitoring traffic in eight directions simultaneously, automatically adjusting signal lights, and handling minor accidents.

Park Management Office: gardeners donned the Greening Operations Mech, which trimmed trees, transported fertilizer, sprayed pesticides, tripled efficiency without causing fatigue.

Night had deepened.

Feng Yan stood on the roof of the Longyin Research Institute, gazing at the city's lights.

On the large screen of the Torch Dragon Civilian Monitoring Center, hundreds of light points flickered, each representing a mech on duty or standby.

There were the white Urban Management 'Big White', the deep-blue Police 'Guardian', the red Fire 'Rescuer', and other colored, other-functioned urban service mechs.

They were scattered throughout the city, like tiny guardian nodes.

Chen Guang walked up to him and said: 'The data is out. In the Urban Management pilot zone, conflict rates have dropped by ninety-five percent, and law enforcement efficiency has increased by three hundred percent.'

'The average response time of police mechs to sudden incidents has been shortened from twenty-five minutes to eight minutes.'

'The rescue efficiency of fire mechs at fire scenes has increased by four hundred percent.'

'How are the results?' Feng Yan asked.

'Zero casualties.' Chen Guang pushed up his glasses, 'Including law enforcers, those being law-enforced, rescue personnel, and trapped civilians, every mission involving mechs today resulted in zero casualties.'

Feng Yan nodded, saying nothing.

He gazed at the distant city for a long time.

Then he softly said, 'This is only the beginning.'

Yes, just the beginning.

Tomorrow, even more mechs will go on duty, more industries will adopt them, and more ordinary people will don this equipment to do what they ought to do.

The city will not become a cold, steel forest because of mechs.

On the contrary, thanks to those who wear the mechs, it will become safer, more orderly, and warmer.

Because technology is ultimately a tool. And the user of a tool is always a person.

And those who use tools are always human.