Just then, Dr. Hanson and Valerie walked over as well. Dr. Hanson's expression was very poor; she had just come from the medical deck.
"Commander Raynor, Captain Horner, I must raise serious concerns," her voice carried the urgency of a medical professional. "The overcrowded environment is becoming a breeding ground for disease. We have already identified three cases of respiratory infection and seven cases of gastroenteritis symptoms, and that is just from preliminary screening.
A lack of clean water, inadequate sanitation, dense crowds, and people generally being in a low-immunity state of stress—these are the perfect conditions for an infectious disease outbreak. If we do not improve the environment or disperse the personnel as soon as possible, the consequences within the enclosed space of a starship will be unthinkable once an epidemic breaks out."
Matt took a deep breath and looked at Raynor. "The doctor is right, Jim. We cannot continue sailing with this many people. The Hyperion is a warship, not an immigrant transport. We must find a place to safely settle them as soon as possible, otherwise the rescue operation itself will turn into a disaster."
Raynor fell silent. Of course, he understood this logic. The Raiders' resources and capabilities were limited; they could act as an emergency response team, but they could not take on the role of a shelter long-term.
"Where can we settle this many people?" Raynor asked, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. "The Core Worlds? Is Mengsk going to take in these 'troublemakers'?"
Matt operated his data pad, pulling up the star map. "I have been gathering information. The majority of the refugees fleeing the fallen colonies are gathering toward one location: Meinhoff."
He zoomed in on the image of that planet.
"Meinhoff is located in the mid-to-outer rim of the Koprulu Sector, serving as one of the primary shipping lane nodes connecting the fringe colonies to core worlds like Korhal and Tarsonis. It is a planet with a decent industrial foundation, featuring large starports and well-developed surface infrastructure. Most importantly, it is one of the few planets that has not explicitly rejected refugees—at least not yet."
"A large number of refugees are gathering there?" Valerie asked, her brow furrowing slightly.
"Yes," Matt nodded. "According to intercepted civilian communication channels and briefings from several aid organizations, Meinhoff has already taken in refugees from at least six planets. The total population is estimated to exceed two hundred thousand, and it is still rising.
Temporary refugee camps have been established there, maintained by the local government, charitable organizations, and some civilian groups."
Tychus scoffed. "Two hundred thousand? Ha, that place is gonna get burst at the seams sooner or later."
Dr. Hanson said worriedly, "Such a massive influx of population in a short time is a tremendous test for any planet's carrying capacity. Medical care, sanitation, food, shelter—how long can Meinhoff hold out?"
Valerie pondered for a moment, then raised the critical question: "What if the Swarm's next target is Meinhoff?"
Those words made the air instantly freeze. Everyone looked at her.
Valerie's expression was calm, but the logic in her words was undeniable: "We have already seen the Swarm's attack patterns. They consume biomass and terraform planets.
Densely populated colonies are priority targets. Meinhoff has now gathered two hundred thousand or even more refugees, and it already has a permanent population of millions.
To the Swarm, this is an extremely enticing piece of meat. If the Swarm advances toward the Core Worlds, Meinhoff, as a transportation hub, is very likely on their route."
Raynor's face became extremely grim. Matt quickly pulled up the distribution map of the Swarm's front lines, comparing it with Meinhoff's location.
"From the nearest Swarm-active zone to Meinhoff, if they advance along the main shipping lanes, it will take roughly four to six standard warp cycles," Matt's voice was low. "This time window is not generous."
Dr. Hanson added, "Furthermore, the Swarm may have already sensed the biomass concentration on Meinhoff through some means. Their sensitivity to life signals far exceeds our conventional detection methods."
"And we're still gonna send more people there?" Tychus clamored. "Isn't that just pushing 'em into a furnace?"
"But staying here, or continuing to follow us, is equally a dead end," Raynor's voice was resolute. "Meinhoff at least has planet-grade defense systems, starports, and relatively complete infrastructure. Staying on the edge of the fallen zones or crowding into a warship leaves absolutely no chance of resistance if we encounter the main Swarm force."
He looked around at everyone. "We must go to Meinhoff. First, to safely drop off the people we rescued, giving them a place where they can at least survive temporarily.
Second, to understand the true situation there. If the Swarm really might attack that place, we can assist in the defense, or at least help more people evacuate ahead of time."
He looked at Matt. "Contact the Meinhoff authorities. Inform them that we are en route, carrying refugees. At the same time, in the name of the Raiders, request access to shared information regarding local Swarm threat assessments and defense deployments."
"Understood," Matt replied immediately.
"Doctor," Raynor turned to Dr. Hanson, "please do your utmost, along with your team, to control the sanitary conditions on the ship and prevent an epidemic outbreak. Once we reach Meinhoff, your expertise will also be invaluable for the medical management of the refugee camps."
"I will do my best," Dr. Hanson nodded solemnly.
"Tychus, check all weapons and equipment. Get ready for potential combat."
"Already on it," Tychus pulled down his visor, his power armor emitting a low charging hum.
Raynor finally looked at Valerie. "Miss Valerie, your risk assessment might need an update. Meinhoff could become the next focal point."
"This is exactly the kind of data we need," Valerie responded composedly. "A major transportation hub's ability to cope under the Swarm threat is crucial for assessing the risk of the entire sector. We will continue to provide the necessary assistance."
The decision was made. The Hyperion began to adjust its heading, preparing to make for Meinhoff. In the hangar and corridors, the exhausted refugees sat or lay down, harboring a faint hope for their upcoming destination, yet filled with fear of the unknown.
On her way to the bridge, Valerie passed the officers' lounge. The door was not fully closed, and the sound of a news broadcast drifted out from inside. She stopped her pace.
On the lounge's screen wall, a news report from Meinhoff was playing. The footage was shaky, clearly filmed on-site at a refugee camp: a sea of simple tents stretched out as far as the eye could see, people lined up in the mud to receive food and water, and several medical workers were using a stretcher to carry away a human shape covered in a sheet.
The reporter's voice was filled with anxiety: "This is Meinhoff Refugee Camp Three. With refugees continuously flooding in from planets like Gandy VI and Mar Sara, the camp's population has exceeded three times its designed capacity.
Sanitary conditions have deteriorated drastically, and cases of diarrhea and respiratory infections have increased fourfold over the past seventy-two hours. Medical supplies are severely scarce, and volunteers are overwhelmed. The local government states that they are coordinating resources, but they admit the pressure is immense."