this about and meant to ask. What about Harold? He was full of these ideas.”
“Oh, I guess I didn’t mention him specifically while telling the story. He’s the one who actually put the pieces together and figured the whole thing out. He’s back at the bunker working on a solution,” I respond.
“Well, I’ll be damned. I thought he was just a conspiracy nut, but it turns out he was right all along. I wonder how things would have been different if we’d listened to him earlier,” Jason ponders.
“I doubt it would have changed anything, to be honest,” I reply.
“That’s probably true.”
“If it’s all the same with you, I think we need to get together with those I brought and do some planning,” I state. “If it’s feasible, we’ll help. Be prepared for the answer that it’s too great a risk, though. You’ll need to have a plan as to what you’re going to do should that be the case. My suggestion is get everyone ready to come with us.”
“Okay. I’ll inform everyone of the plan and potential that we’ll need to leave. Is there anything I can do? Is there anything that you need?” Jason asks.
“At the moment, I think we’re fine, but we’ll brief you on what we come up with,” I say, rising.
Heading outside to the hangar once again, I gather the soldiers and Blue Team together. I’m sure the soldiers are tired of sitting on concrete floors, having done so for the past day and a half. I’m also sure they are tired of being kept under guard. I notice that some from Jason’s camp have supplied water for them, so at least they don’t have to add being parched to the list of discomforts. With everyone assembled in a semicircle, I remember Montore’s words about the soldiers needing to find something else they could believe in. Hopefully this can be a catalyst for that very thing.
Keeping it as short as I can, I brief them on the situation of the group holed up on base, and that we are going to attempt to help them.
“I apologize for the inconvenience you’ve been put through to this point. However, in the words of a wise woman, trust has to start somewhere. So, I’m going to make a leap in that direction. We’re going to offload the weapons and ammo, and arm you. For now, you’ll fold in under my command, but later be released to the man in charge here. I’ll be in continual contact with this facility, monitoring things. Over time, it’s my hope that we’ll be able to fully establish trust on both sides. I’m not exactly sure as yet what action we’ll be taking here, if any. While you’re offloading the gear, we’re going to plan the op. You’ll be briefed and assigned into teams once we complete that. If you have any questions, now is the time to ask,” I state, finishing the brief.
One soldier raises his hand. “Sir, we haven’t been given any chance to find out about our families. We were kept under a strict communications blackout. Will we be allowed to do so now? I mean…after we finish the mission?”
That is something I hadn’t thought about. I would like to say that I assumed they would know about their families, but the honest truth is it hadn’t even crossed my mind. The odds of finding anyone alive at this point are next to nothing, but I feel like we owe them the same chance we offered those in our own teams. I didn’t brief about the condition of the world with regards to exclusion zones, but will do so before heading back to base.
“The answer is yes, we will offer whatever resources we have at our disposal. Keep in mind that we are allocating those resources to other priorities, but each of you will be given the opportunity to use them at some point. We’ll cover the details when we finish here,” I answer.
“Fair enough, sir,” the soldier responds.
Another hand shoots into the air. “Sir, if I heard this all right. We are to stay here with this group following the mission. Is that correct?”
“That’s right. The fifty of you will be
“Oh, I guess I didn’t mention him specifically while telling the story. He’s the one who actually put the pieces together and figured the whole thing out. He’s back at the bunker working on a solution,” I respond.
“Well, I’ll be damned. I thought he was just a conspiracy nut, but it turns out he was right all along. I wonder how things would have been different if we’d listened to him earlier,” Jason ponders.
“I doubt it would have changed anything, to be honest,” I reply.
“That’s probably true.”
“If it’s all the same with you, I think we need to get together with those I brought and do some planning,” I state. “If it’s feasible, we’ll help. Be prepared for the answer that it’s too great a risk, though. You’ll need to have a plan as to what you’re going to do should that be the case. My suggestion is get everyone ready to come with us.”
“Okay. I’ll inform everyone of the plan and potential that we’ll need to leave. Is there anything I can do? Is there anything that you need?” Jason asks.
“At the moment, I think we’re fine, but we’ll brief you on what we come up with,” I say, rising.
Heading outside to the hangar once again, I gather the soldiers and Blue Team together. I’m sure the soldiers are tired of sitting on concrete floors, having done so for the past day and a half. I’m also sure they are tired of being kept under guard. I notice that some from Jason’s camp have supplied water for them, so at least they don’t have to add being parched to the list of discomforts. With everyone assembled in a semicircle, I remember Montore’s words about the soldiers needing to find something else they could believe in. Hopefully this can be a catalyst for that very thing.
Keeping it as short as I can, I brief them on the situation of the group holed up on base, and that we are going to attempt to help them.
“I apologize for the inconvenience you’ve been put through to this point. However, in the words of a wise woman, trust has to start somewhere. So, I’m going to make a leap in that direction. We’re going to offload the weapons and ammo, and arm you. For now, you’ll fold in under my command, but later be released to the man in charge here. I’ll be in continual contact with this facility, monitoring things. Over time, it’s my hope that we’ll be able to fully establish trust on both sides. I’m not exactly sure as yet what action we’ll be taking here, if any. While you’re offloading the gear, we’re going to plan the op. You’ll be briefed and assigned into teams once we complete that. If you have any questions, now is the time to ask,” I state, finishing the brief.
One soldier raises his hand. “Sir, we haven’t been given any chance to find out about our families. We were kept under a strict communications blackout. Will we be allowed to do so now? I mean…after we finish the mission?”
That is something I hadn’t thought about. I would like to say that I assumed they would know about their families, but the honest truth is it hadn’t even crossed my mind. The odds of finding anyone alive at this point are next to nothing, but I feel like we owe them the same chance we offered those in our own teams. I didn’t brief about the condition of the world with regards to exclusion zones, but will do so before heading back to base.
“The answer is yes, we will offer whatever resources we have at our disposal. Keep in mind that we are allocating those resources to other priorities, but each of you will be given the opportunity to use them at some point. We’ll cover the details when we finish here,” I answer.
“Fair enough, sir,” the soldier responds.
Another hand shoots into the air. “Sir, if I heard this all right. We are to stay here with this group following the mission. Is that correct?”
“That’s right. The fifty of you will be
Similar Books
