After ensuring the entire group had access and time to look over the prisoner's files the hearing took place at almost four o clock the defacto council of the group had their answer Rick, Hershel, Corporal Dude, Carol and Luis had voted unanimously on two of the convicts to be executed they were just too much of a threat to be allowed to stay or banished. Thomas and Andrew were both hung from the guard tower their reanimated corpses then stabbed with bayonets.
Theo, Oscar, and Axel were all granted pardons on the fact they had no Violent crimes and offered a place within the group if they so choose but they would be keeping an eye on them until they earned the groups trust. The three men asked to think about it and after walking the perimeter of the fence of the place they were incarcerated that were now the safest place out there they knew decided to stay.
Over the next three days clean up progresses nicely cell blocks B, C, and D had been secured the bodies burned and rooms sterilized. Most of the group's heavy weapons were positioned in the Guard towers overlooking the land around the prison. Cell block A was sealed due to some explosion that had ripped the wall and the fence apart.
Corporal Dude had even rigged up an antenna to the center tower and hooked it up to the Communications Humvees military radio along with some speakers so even if the guardsmen on comms watch wasn't there someone would hear any message that came through.
And on the fifth day inside the prison the speakers crackled to life.
"Whiskey 1-2… Whisky 1-2 do you copy?"
Private Scott who was on comms duty that morning nearly jumped off the Humvees hood where he had been talking chatting with Lauren setting up their next night off to hook up. Throwing on the headset set on the Humvees driver side mirror.
"Previous calling station do you copy? This is Home plate" Scott radioed out
"Home plate this is a secure military frequency Identify yourself" the sound of rotor wash in the back ground clear.
"This is Private Dean Scott and home plate is a survivors base of Air Force, Marines, Georgia guardsmen and civilian survivors your turn sir." Dean was carful remembering ricks idea of not saying they were at the prison that any desperate survivors might be listening or there was a lack of defense.
"This is Lieutenant Robert Welles."
By this time a large number of people had arrived including Rick. Knowing what was going to happen next Philip motioned for the radio
"Lieutenant my Colonel has arrived and wished to speak to you." Scott handed the headset to Rick.
"Lieutenant Welles this is Colonel Grimes what is your location well send an escort to bring your men and any civis here." The helicopter was doomed there's no way to save them but he can stilltry "Also I can hear the rotor wash over the comms recommend you land ASAP several of our birds have gone down with mechanical issues they will go down after a temporary loss of power"
Philip could see the confusion on people's faces but no one said anything.
"Understood Colonel our camp is outside the town of Hilltop on the bank of Bottoms Lake after LaGrange fell…" there was a sudden sound of panic as the pilot struggled with something after a moment everything settled down.
Before Rick could say anything Welles came back "Somethings wrong Colonel we are heading to the deck now we were flying over Molena looking for survivors and any supplies. We will be touching town shorty in the parking lot of a church."
"We will be to your location as soon as possible when you land secure a defendable position and hold." Rick assured the guardsmen he would be there.
Running toward the armory Philip called out to Daryl, Brandon, Bob, and Dude "Military survivors were going to go pick them up. Brandon go to the parking lot and get four gun Humvees and a pair of box trucks ready any supplies they have we need to be able to bring it back." Brandon nodded and headed towards the basketball and courtyard that had been turned into the parking lot for all the groups' salvaged cars and trucks.
As the group gathered in the armory where the majority of the weapons were stored everyone was getting geared up as Philip told them what was going on.
"The radio Dude Had out up works we picked up chatter from military survivors so we are going out to pull their asses out of the fire. From what I heard they were part of a force trying to keep the city of LaGrange safe but they were over run and forced to run their camp is in the tiny town of hill top on the bank of Bottoms Lake. The second group was in a helicopter and was forced to land in the town of Molena. They were heading towards a church parking lot. So we will split up and head to both spots."
They headed out all of them with camo and half of them with salvaged and cleaned riot chest plates on. The other half wore plate carriers loading up the convoy headed out two Humvees leading the way followed by the box trucks and ended by the last two Humvees. According to the paper maps the first stop would be the bottoms lake in hillside it was just over five miles.
They made it just over a mile before they came to a stop at an intersection where four Garbage trucks and a dozen eighteen wheelers had slammed into each other on and off the road a pair of Pike county police cruisers were bullet ridden and on their sides using the tow cables on the Humvees it takes a hour to move the three garbage trucks and four eighteen wheelers one of the cruisers truck held some ammo and a vest but nothing else was found before they got on the road again.
The rest of the way was uneventful no signs of the living and very few of the dead. They however came to a stop at the Dollar General. The smoldering wreak of a Dollar general trailer blocking the driveway caught Brandon's eye as did the nearly empty parking lot and the boarded up windows.
"Hey Rick its Brandon I think there are survivors in the dollar general that trailer is parked just right to keep anyone from just pulling in and the windows look boarded up." Rick first looked at the radio and then the store in question and agreed. "Looks like it; Brandon and Bob take your truck and see if there is anyone alive Dude do you mind leaving one of your men to back them up. If there is or not see if there anything in there worth grabbing then follow according to the map the lake is about two miles further.
The convoy split up the box truck going through the grass as the trailing Humvees turned off the road heading towards the lake the remaining three vehicles continued down the main road able to cruise for the most part or hug the shoulder of the road bypassing wrecks or just abandoned vehicles until they turned onto Spring Street. When they came on the site of a helicopter, one of its skids crushed and its blades broken on the concrete of the road but otherwise intact.
There were no military clad bodies in or around the helo. Looking around they continue driving until they come across a small power station with a fence and a red SUV and a Black pickup truck inside. What caught Shane's eye were three military helmets stacked on top of the gate.
"Lieutenant Welles its Colonel Grimes are you in there?!" Rick called out as the group deploys from the Humvees with no walkers around they still keep an eye out.
It takes a minute and just before Philip goes to call again a call comes back from behind them "Colonel Grimes I presume?"
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