A/N: A short chapter. Enjoy!
Chapter 16: Preparations
Clarke met up with Raven to discuss some contraptions that would prove useful. They no longer needed the hydrazine to blow up the door, so she had another plan for it. Between the mechanics' understanding of physics and Clarke's precise drawings, they were able to hatch detailed blueprints for building trebuchets. The plans were sent to trusted woodworkers with orders to build the machines in a clearing half a day's ride from Polis.
It was a part of the plan that Clarke feared would not be ready in time. They needed to build the trebuchets, learn to assemble and disassemble them quickly so they could carry it to the Mountain's territory, and test them so they would be able to aim properly during the battle.
But if it worked, it could make all the difference.
Indra had sent messages that a few Mountain men had been seen walking outside without suits. They remained stealthy, observing the villages from afar. The Trikru carefully inspected the places they had occupied after their departure, but found no suspicious devices left behind.
They were probably convinced that their technology ensured their superiority and weren't planting anything for a battle in the forest. Given their small population, they were most likely counting the number of villages they needed to destroy for their own expansion, and evaluating the size of each.
Clarke found this comforting. They would not do so much research if they had many missiles at their disposal. Perhaps they even intended to conquer the smallest villages with guns.
And the villages closest to the Mountain had already been discretely evacuated before the first Mountain men poked their noses out. Their scouts would not be able to notice anything amiss.
Finally, the Ark was in range again. But the Chancellor revealed a fact that Clarke had not expected.
''We only need to send one hundred people to the ground to ensure we have enough oxygen until spring. But we have to use the Exodus ship to full capacity if we want to save as many people as possible. We want to jam in as many additional people as possible, using mattresses and pillows so secure them. We are preparing one ship, and we hope to send two hundreds instead of one. If it works, we will try to send even more with the last six.''
Clarke gritted her teeth. The efforts of every Chancellors to reduce population made even more sense now. After four more generations, eight Exodus would have been enough to send the full population down.
But right now, they would have needed three times the amount they had left. Even if they somehow managed to pile more people in, some would have to remain behind.
And since the first ship might arrive roughly at the same time as the attack on Mount Weather, they also had to count with providing for the eighty delinquents and hundreds of grounder prisoners. Clarke had suspected they would send one ship, and had hoped that Lexa and her could negotiate for it to be boarded by two or three dozens of people with many supplies of dehydrated food and the likes.
No such luck.
She pushed the button after Lexa shook her head slowly.
''Chancellor, the grounders resources are stretched already. You can't expect them to provide everything for two hundred people or more for several months. I thought you would send a limited number with supplies.'' She reasoned. ''Raven came in a pod. Are there really no other ships, even smaller?''
''None that received proper maintenance over the last hundred years. We don't have enough mechanics to keep the Ark running and repair a dozen escape pods that will not make a difference in the final count, Clarke. You said there were thousands of survivors, how is it difficult to spare enough for two hundreds?'' He insisted.
Clarke used the fact that they couldn't hear her right now to huff loudly. Then she pushed the button and answered.
''Because this is a year when food will not be plentiful. They have no obligation to help us, this is purely a favor.'' She reminded in a biting tone. ''Is there any other way? Can't you use repair a few pods to send a delegation big enough before winter, and keep the Exoduses for spring?''
The response was immediate, but it was Kane's voice.
''We already considered that. They would take too long to fix, assuming we have enough spare parts. It took Raven over a week of working full-time, and she is a genius.''
''Hell, yeah, I am!'' She heard the Latina comment behind her and she rolled her eyes. Like the girl needed an ego boost, she thought fondly.
''How many supplies can they bring with them? We did not expect so many people. How much would they need, exactly?'' She asked.
''We are preparing highly nutritive rations. They are not the best tasting, but they take very little space. The main problem is water – just one litter per person would take a lot of space.''
''They did not exactly bother themselves as much with our well-being, if I recall. I can't remember them sparing us rations or water when they sent us down. We managed fine, but I guess the precious, valued citizens of the Ark deserve better than us delinquents.'' Murphy drawled.
Clarke sent him a half-hearted glare, but she couldn't really blame him. She mostly agreed with him, actually. The Council was handed a land site, support from the locals, and supplies offered without expectations for the first few people. Yet here they were, being picky and greedy.
''We can choose a land site with water nearby. The people of the Ark are used to going a day or two with barely any liquid.'' Clarke remarked. ''Food is the limiting factor down here, just like oxygen and space are yours.''
''What guarantees do we have that this Commander will keep her word to welcome us and give us land?'' Thelonious had taken back the mic.
Clarke let out a long-suffering sigh. ''How do you deal with that all day?'' She asked Lexa. ''I am already sick of it!''
The brunette pressed her lips in a thin line – her public version of a smile. ''You are doing well, Klark. He wouldn't have asked you that if he had any argument to oppose you with.''
She smiled back – her own public smile was much wider, though her current frustration made it smaller than usual – and pushed the button to reply.
''The Commander promises none of her people will harm you, and the delegation will be treated as emissaries should. As for the land, the offer is only to open negotiations. What you bring in exchange is up to you.'' She reminded the Chancellor.
There was a long silence. Clarke leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. Perhaps the Council thought she was disloyal – she had to admit that she had sounded like she defended Lexa's interests more than theirs – but she knew more than they could about conditions on the ground. And really, was it so hard to understand that their settling down would go more smoothly if they did not antagonize the one person with the most power around here?
''Okay, we will do that. Two hundred people, as many food as we can bring, and no water. Do you have the coordinates for the land site? Along with the directions and distance to the nearest source of clear water, and then your city – Polis, right?''
She let out a small cry of victory as she pumped her fist in the air, and saw Monty and Raven improvise a small dance while Murphy smiled. Lexa gave her the map, pointing to the land site they had agreed on earlier, and the rivers and small lake that were close.
She announced the coordinates, described the kind of land and enumerated the sources of water that could be reached in a few hours of walking. Word would be sent to the nearby villages, and a group of warriors would meet up with them and then escort them to the capitol.
When the members of the Council started arguing about who they should send in the first Exodus – old Chancellor Diana Sydney sounded displeased with Jaha's suggestions – Clarke put her foot down and told them that they were free to decide that amongst themselves. The Commander just needed one representative allowed to negotiate, and the radio would still be there to contact the others if need be.
She turned off the radio with a sigh of relief. Perhaps the whole thing would have been more bearable if her mother had still been part of the Council. Surprisingly, Marcus Kane seemed to have become the most reasonable one. She would have to ask her mother about it.
The arrival of the first Exodus was scheduled in less than a week, so the Commander immediately sent orders to the closest villages, along with a few kegs of alcohol. Gifts always made people more welcoming.
Clarke felt relieved that these negotiations were over. Her role as ambassador was finished, whoever the Council sent would take over. She could now focus on the delinquents and Mount Weather.
She went to the clearing with Lexa, Raven and Aden for the final tests of the trebuchets. The warriors and woodworkers chosen to operate the machines worked well and their aim, while not perfect, was sufficient for what they had in mind. The Commander ordered them to disassemble the machines and carry them to the place they had prepared in the forest near the Mountain. Indra was gathering the rest of the army, and would ensure that no Mountain men discovered their preparations.
From now on, every time a scouting party saw a Maunon, they would hunt him. The purpose of that was to both diminish their number and make it clear that they would not have the lands until all the grounders occupying them were dead. It also had the added bonus of strengthening the illusion that nearby villages were still occupied.
The plan would launch as soon as the first missile exploded. Instructions had been sent. Preparations were underway. Now, Clarke and Lexa only had to wait for Indra's signal – Raven was sending the general a radio along with her home-made bombs and the trebuchets.
Clarke also went to see Bellamy. She had put it off long enough, and the guy deserved to know what was going on after all. The guards had reported that he tried to escape at first, but was now apparently resigned to his fate. Lexa insisted on coming with her, as she wanted to hear whatever information he might have about the Ark or the Mountain herself.
''I heard that the grounders called you the Healing Nymph.'' He commented when he saw her.
''They do.'' She sat on the other side of his cell door. ''Why shoot the Chancellor – who is fine, by the way – and then try to kill me? And Raven?'' She asked.
''My sister.'' He answered in a defeated tone, sagging against the wall. ''I had to protect Octavia. A member of the guard told me about the dropship for you guys, and I couldn't let her go alone. She wasn't even a delinquent! She never did anything wrong! So, when this guy promised to smuggle me in the dropship if I did what he asked… I agreed. I hated Jaha, anyway. He killed my mom and took away my sister.''
Shit. She had never imagined that he had had help to get on the dropship. ''Who, Bellamy? Who gave you the gun and told you to shoot Jaha?'' She demanded, panicking.
The Ark would be out of range of the radio soon.
''It was Shumway.'' He stuttered. ''Why? Does it matter?''
Clarke did not reply. She was already running back up the stairs to Raven's room. She could hear Lexa following her and reassuring the guards that there was no threat inside the Tower.
She barged into the room and waved away Raven's questions as she turned on the radio and almost screamed at it.
''Clarke Griffin to the Ark! Clarke Griffin to the Ark! Do you read me? I need to talk to Abby Griffin or the Chancellor! Clarke Griffin to the Ark! Do you read me?''
''You need to release the button if you want them to reply.'' Raven reminded her. ''What's going on?''
Clarke shook her head but did as the mechanic suggested.
A voice answered her once she released the button. ''I hear you Clarke. Abby is in medical, and the Chancellor is overseeing the preparations. Do you want me to bring them a message?''
''Jackson!'' She exclaimed. ''Are you alone?''
''I am. They left me on call until we were out of range, in case something happened. What is it, Clarke?'' He asked.
She had always liked Jackson. He was loyal, and kind. She was quite certain that he knew her mother and her had saved people with much less supplies and medicine than science claimed to be necessary. But he had never brought it up.
''I have the name of who ordered Bellamy Blake to kill Chancellor Jaha.'' She announced.
Raven spoke up behind her. ''Signal is weak. The Ark will be out of reach in a few minutes.''
She slammed her fist on the table. She would really have preferred to give the information directly to her mother or Jaha. She had a feeling the attempted coup was part of something bigger, and was related to the decision to see if Earth was survivable, since it had happened when the dropship was sent. With preparations underway for the return to the ground, whoever was involved might try again.
But if there was one person she trusted to bring the information to her mother, it was Jackson.
''Jackson, Commandant Shumway was the one to give the gun to Bellamy. You need to warn the Chancellor or my mom. I don't know what his motive was, but with everything that is happening now…'' She left her words hanging. ''I will try to find as much as I can from Bellamy, and I will inform the delegation of what I learned as soon as they arrive in Polis.'' She promised.
''Very well, Clarke. Anything else, or can I go now?'' Jackson asked.
She gave him the go-ahead and slumped in the chair. She cursed herself for not talking to Bellamy earlier. She hoped Shumway had not planned anything else, and that everything would go without a hitch. They had enough to deal with not to add political troubles in the Ark.
''I should return to Bellamy.'' She sighed. ''I was supposed to tell him that the Ark is coming down, and that he would be judged then. He deserves the right to prepare his defense, now that we don't need to kill people to save oxygen.''
Raven looked at her incredulously. ''The guy shoot me and stole my radio – hundreds died because of that! Damn, Griffin, he tried to kill you – would have if you weren't some kind of mutant!''
''I am not a mutant!'' Clarke protested. Though, genetically speaking, the mechanic was probably right… But the term sounded derogatory, or like she was some sci-fi heroine. She was human, first and foremost. Many of her ancestors had never used their abilities, fearful of the consequences if they showed their difference. Yes, she had a unique way of healing herself and other, but that was not all she was.
''Whatever. Bellamy has tried to kill at least three people, and is indirectly responsible for the death of three hundreds in the culling. Why the hell are you helping him?'' She argued.
The blonde pinched the bridge of her nose. ''I am not helping him! Excuse me for hoping that our people returning to the ground means that they will stop killing whoever put a toe out of line!'' She shot back. ''And believe it or not, he did help keep the camp organized and under control. Yes, I hate how he did it, but it was chaos until he took control. And none of his three victims actually died, right?''
The Commander intervened. ''I agree with Raven. No matter his lack of success, he has already resorted to murder for personal gain several times. He should not be forgiven just because he was exceptionally bad at it.''
She sighed. ''That's the thing. I am not sure it was personal gain that motivated him. It was Octavia.''
''Isn't that the girl that disappeared with one of my scouts?'' Lexa asked, trying to follow the logic despite having only heard the names a couple of times and having no faces to connect them to.
Clarke nodded. ''Yes. She is Bellamy's sister, and he went on the dropship to protect her. I saw how the others treated her, I can't blame him for wanting to come along. She spent the last year estranged from everyone and being called 'the girl under the floor'.'' She reminisced.
She had befriended the girl, and though she was clearly going through a rebel phase, she had been a caring and strong young girl. Given that she had basically been raised by Bellamy and her mother, she found it hard to believe that the boy was as heartless as his actions made him seem.
'''The girl under the floor'?'' Lexa quoted, confused. ''Why call her that?''
Clarke smiled sadly. ''I told you there was a one child policy on the Ark. Octavia is a second child. Her mother hid her in a hole under the floor for fifteen years. Then she was found, her mother was executed and Octavia was thrown into a cell, with other delinquents she had never met before. Her social skills are not exactly the best, growing up as she did.''
''It certainly doesn't sound like an enjoyable childhood. But Bellamy's actions are his own, and cannot go unanswered. He chose to kill three times already. He cannot be trusted.'' Lexa cautioned.
''I never said they should. But I do believe he has some… mitigating circumstances.'' She concluded with a shrug. ''I just think it is fair to give him a chance to defend himself.''
Raven nodded reluctantly and Lexa escorted her back to Bellamy's cell. She explained to him that they had managed to contact the Ark and that a delegation would land soon. He would be judged for his crimes by whoever was sent, but Clarke and the Commander would only release their custody of him in exchange of a promise of a fair trial. The boy mostly nodded along with everything that was being said, and answered all their questions about the Mountain. He had not snooped around like Monty, so they learned almost nothing from him, aside from the kind of guns the guards carried.
Once she was finished, Clarke turned around to leave when he addressed her.
''For what it's worth, I am glad you survived. I don't know how you did, but I am glad I did not kill you.'' He said softly but clearly.
She turned back to him, Lexa still observing the scene quietly.
''Why?''
''I… I don't hate you, or anything. I never have. I just wanted to protect Octavia, and I knew I wouldn't be able to do that if they came down. I tried to sway the others so they wouldn't listen to you, but you are smart and they were starting to realize it too.''
He smiled. Clarke raised a corner of her lips, uncertain if she should interpret his words as a compliment or not.
''I regretted pushing you as soon as I did it. Hell, even before that. But I could think of no other way to keep my sister safe. Wells was already dead, and I thought that if you died as well, the Council would give up.'' He continued. ''So, yeah. I am glad you're okay. Raven too. She is almost as stubborn as you.''
His voice broke a little. ''Have you… You would tell me if you heard about Octavia, right?''
''We are looking for her. Don't worry, unless she committed a crime against the grounders, she will be welcome here. I'll make sure of it.'' She assured him. Though, honestly, the fact that she had fled with a scout was not helping.
''Thank you Clarke. And, well, sorry. For everything.''
She nodded and left the room. She sighed once she was out of earshot from him. What the hell would happen if they found Octavia? The girl loved her brother as well, even if she had chosen to leave the camp with a grounder.
She glanced at Lexa over her shoulder. She did not want to judge Bellamy, because she already knew in her mind the sentence she should ask for: death, or some equivalent like life-long imprisonment or banishment. And she did not want to order such a thing. It was not her place to do such a thing. She was healer. She shouldn't be planning a war or passing judgement. She feared the harsh ways of the Commander were rubbing off on her.
That was an unfair thought, though. Condemnations in the Ark were worse. They just had a cleaner way of doing things than bleeding the culprits.