Hey folks my coauthor and I are reworking some of our chapters before we post any new ones in an attempt to improve out writing. Please bear with us as we make this transition.
-Sartan 029
Last changes I swear... at least from my end.
As I gave the charging handle a vicious tug, a thought entered my mind, 'What has this world come to?' I felt the fresh clip engage and lost myself down the sights, searching for targets.
As dawn breaks on the battlefield my eye lids scratch their way across my eyes, and I feel the long night weigh oppressively upon me. My tired eyes strain to survey what just twelve hours ago was pristine forest, but now only a cruel caricature. An attack after months of steady routine, which had distracted from the main objective; survival.
Wanting nothing more than the stiff embrace of my mattress, but knowing such luxuries are denied me. Checking the defenses, which had proved a worthy investment, as I trudge wearily toward the center of camp and town hall. As I enter the town hall, which doubles as the armory, it was abuzz like a kicked bee hive.
"Matt!" I yell to be heard over the roar of the crowd. His head shot out of a clump of bodies crowded around a table followed by an arm waving me over.
"Josh, I'm glad to see you." He said after I managed to squeeze my way toward the center of the mass.
"What's going on? I've been on watch since the attack."
"Well, no one got bit, we got very lucky on that front, but we can't afford to be caught like that again. Not to mention we have no idea whether or not there are more zombies in the valley.
"You're planning an excursion!"
I inadvertantly shout.
"Matt, your office now." I breathe as I push past him; the crowd melts before me like the seas before Moses. I wait for him to extricate himself from the crowd, and follow me. He knows, he knows I'm on a war path. As the door closes with barely a whisper I turn on him.
"We had a deal…"
"I know Josh," Matt replies as he leans against the door, the only effective way of locking the haistily constructed portal.
"We. Had. A. Deal."
"Josh, I know." Matt replies in an attempt to set a fire break in the conversation, an attempt to keep the conversation, and me, from getting out of hand.
"The compound stays locked down for eighteen months, we hold up and secure. We set up a steady supply of food and a stockpile of water, and most importantly train our people." Arguments rush forth from their hiding place in my brain
"I know" One last feeble attempt to derail the train that is my exhausted rage.
"That's the policy we pitched to the council, we've been here six months, six months Matt. We haven't even brought in a single harvest yet, not to mention that we've only just started the first training group. I only have ten people split between training and a patrol rotation, now you want me to divide our forces further by putting a squad in the field?" The words flow from my lips like water of the falls of the Niagra.
"Josh I know it sucks, and I know it's not what we planned, but it's what needs to happen. Look at what happened last night. What if it had been raiders?"
"And weakening our position here will protect us from raiders how? And do you have any idea how would this effect the training regimen, because I don't and I help write the damn thing." I shout as my energy wanes.
"Josh, just hear me out." He trys again, determined to get his two cents in.
"Alright I owe you that." I manage tiredly as I lean heavily upon his desk.
"We use the long distance patrols as training missions. This way we get the trainiees some real world experience, and after last night the rest of the council is demanding that something happen."
As he outlines his plan I can tell from the way he talks that this is not his plan, and that he despises it.
"Two conditions, I choose the team and I command." I reply after careful conisderation.
"How did I know, but like you said what about the training group?" His posed question is, one easily handled after some thought.
"Emily can run the trainees through basic, hell she designed most of it, and besides I'm the only logical choice for command." As the words leave my mouth one thought enters my mind, You're actually going to do this? You idiot.
"Alright we'll move forward with this plan. How long do you think you'll need to get everything ready?" I can see Matt running numbers in his head, all business now.
"At least a week to prepare my team, get all the gear ready, pick a route, and transition boot to Emily" Mostly true, but that would be speeding up everything.
"Alright, I'll hold the rest of council off for two," as he leaned back against the door relaxing just a bit, "and Josh, I'm sorry but it's the best of the worst."
"We knew our plans eventually would be rushed, I just don't know that we're ready." I say as I try to calculate just how much this might hurt our over all military strength, and failing. Its almost as if Matt can see the wheels endlessly turning in my head and failing to grip.
"Now that this is settled, get out of here and get some sleep, Collin can handle the military for a few hours, and I'll send someone for you if anything comes a knocking." Genuine concern on his face.
I turn and started walking out the door "Thanks," I turn back "and Matt we're good." I pushed my way through the crowd and into the sunlight, my rifle still hanging from shoulder, interesting how quickly you pick up old habits.