The problem wasn't as bad as Andre thought. Well, his problem wasn't as bad as he thought. Sergei's problems haven't shrunk one bit.

One of the agricultural scientists who came to investigate the viability of hydroponics in the new world. Had informed him that they had a canister of mk.III clearing gas meant to clear out foliage and sanitize the area they plan to build their farm on.

Now it looked innocent enough labeled as a normal herbicide, but He knew just how nasty this stuff was. The chemical was more known as purge gas back when it was first introduced as a general use chemical weapon against the monster hordes. The biocide was as indiscriminate as it was effective.

A single canister could turn a hectare into a wasteland. It doesn't matter if it were shrubs, trees, insects, or monsters if they didn't have resistance against it they would shrivel up until they were mummified.

Usually having a chemical weapon doesn't help the situation. But this canister solves his most urgent problem.

The primary operators were super humans, but they weren't super enough to fight monsters with their fists. The operators only had their standard 20mm autocannons they used as rifles with ninety rounds and two grenades each. If even a moderately sized horde of monsters decided to have a go at them, they would quickly find themselves punching their way out.

Their problem was his problem as he planned to rely on them to hold the perimeter and actually guard the expedition as his lack of mobility meant he couldn't be everywhere at once. With the containers filled with their equipment and ammunition nowhere in sight they had a severe lack of firepower.

In the event that they were attacked at their current state they could use the gas canister to cover most of the area around the hill; it would serve as an instant temporary wall that would protect their rear and allow them to funnel monsters into an area they chose. As long as the monsters came at him in a single direction his lack of mobility didn't matter.

Food wasn't a problem either. After Sergei had finished with his tantrum, he had quickly floated the idea that monsters were technically just alien animals and without the toxins on Earth were about as edible.

The members of the expedition had all brought some supplies in their backpacks which included a few days of rations. So, they had enough food until the monsters came back and Sergei’s theory could be tested.

There had been reports of people eating monsters in the past but those were all before the withering curse. In this new world free from the curse, they could theoretically eat anything that wasn't poisonous.

The construction crew had gone around asking the other members for their foldable shovels that were part of the standard backpack loadout. They had decided to build trenches and earthworks around the hill.

Without heavy equipment they couldn't even cut down trees to build log cabins. They decided that they could at help least secure the area where the expedition would have to camp in the open.

Andre sat in the middle of the hill with Lisa and Sergei. The light of a small electric lamp illuminated them as they argued on what to do next.

“First and foremost, we need those supplies.” Sergei spoke.

“We have a deadline; The people on Earth will try to establish a portal connection once every month and If we don't get our portal up and running within six months, we would all be presumed dead.” He continued.

Stolen novel; please report.

“So, I want everybody to help search for the containers. The rift has scared the monsters away and they won't come back until sometime passes.” Sergei finished his suggestion.

Before Sergei was even done talking Andre was already opening his mouth to shoot his plans down.

“Not possible, the containers could be dozens of kilometers away for all we know, and we haven't found any of the transport vehicles. I am currently the only person in this expedition capable of moving the supply containers so having anyone else moving about is pointless.” He stated.

“We could help map out the area and mark the locations of containers we find for you to retrieve.” Sergei tried to argue.

“No! I will not expose any of you to unnecessary danger. Most of the monsters have fled but there are definitely species that are either sedentary or prefer hiding rather than running away.” Andre denied his plan once again.

As if cementing his point. A scream suddenly rang from the foot of the hill followed by gunfire and the roar of a beast.

Andre and Lisa sprinted down the hill within seconds they arrived at the location of the fight. They found the corpse of a turquoise-colored alligator-like creature with an elongated neck and a bristly red mane sprawled at the bank of the creek. Its head had been shattered by the 20mm rounds. The creature was about six meters long with its neck taking up a third of its length.

Lisa approached Enzo; the operator that was keeping watch on the area and had killed the monster. Who still had his rifle trained on the corpse apparently unsure if it would still attempt anything.

“What happened here!” She asked.

Enzo gestured at the corpse.

“One of the scientists had come to check the creek's water quality when that thing popped its head through that burrow over there.” he said pointing at a burrow that was hard to see in the dark night.

“I heard a scream and started shooting the moment I saw it then you guys arrived soon after.” Enzo continued to explain.

The monster had stuck its head out of the water probably to check the situation outside its home where it had hidden when the rift opened. It just so happened to surfaced right next to the scientist taking water samples.

The creature had probably attacked as a defensive mechanism after it suddenly found itself faced with an unknown intruder rather than genuine aggression. But the reason mattered little in the end if the creature had caught the scientist, they would be down a man.

With this incident there was no way he would allow anyone but the primary operators and himself to leave the relative safety of the hill. He was the only one that had real reason to leave camp to bring back the misplaced supply containers.

Sergei arrived wheezing after running as fast as he could down the hill. He was a mage, but he did not have any physical enhancements, so he had the stamina of the average researcher which wasn't much. His eyes went wide when Lisa led him to the monster's corpse and pointed at it up with a flashlight. He was the expedition leader but due to the current precarious situation Andre and Lisa temporarily outrank him as the head of security and the mage protector. The man accepted that his idea was dangerous upon hearing about the report of the monster attack.

Sergei was hyper focused on achieving the mission's goals, but he was not stupid. He understood that no work could be done until the basic needs of the group had been met and their security could be somewhat assured.

“Andre, promise me you will try your best to find the containers as soon as possible. If we don't get the portal running in six months we would all be left here to rot.” Sergei reminded him.

Andre understood Sergei's worries. if they don’t get back in touch with Earth within half a year the mission would be considered a failure and their funerals held. At best it would mean that another expedition would be sent in a decade or so and at worst the entire project gets scrapped and they will have to live out their lives here abandoned and forgotten.

Sergei's face had carried a frown ever since they had discovered the supplies were missing. His frown grew even deeper upon realizing that he had little agency in the current situation.

Andre walked over to the monster's corpse, lifting it up his shoulder in one swift motion.

“Sergei, enough brooding for now. It is time to test your theory.” He grinned.

They didn't have time to think about problems that dont have immediate solutions. For now they had monster meat and a theory to test.