Page 43 of Resolution
Melly would have been at the meeting but she and Tamsyn and Trent were at the medical building, taking care of the injured which was a higher priority. Jeff had posted a heavy guard around the building and assigned Ryan as his wife’s personal bodyguard. Dr. Sharpton and his senior nurse had been found dead in his office, a murder suicide situation by all the evidence and their bodies had been added to the mass graves.
Zach was flying overwatch, keeping an eye out for any further escapees from Quantike’s team as well as the slightest sign of new infected swarms approaching. So far, all was quiet except for isolated individuals which the roving Millersville patrols handled with ease.
“A good day’s work,” Jeff said as the men who’d joined him sipped their beverage.
“Wish we’d known you were coming,” Driscoll said. “I could have advanced my timetable for the uprising but we did the best we could once the attack began. And then the damn fence went down and all hell broke loose. Wish we could have saved more people.”
“So do I,” Jeff said. “Our highest priority after clearing out the infected swarm was trying to eradicate Quantike and his team without excessive loss of life.”
“Next steps?” the mayor asked.
“I’m going to address the camp residents in about fifteen minutes,” Jeff said. “Show them we’re united in trying to help them. Give them a brief summary of what we learned about the true purpose of this place and then present their options.”
“Which are?” Driscoll asked in a guarded tone.
“Millersville is ready to take a number of people, depending on what skills they may have,” the mayor said. “We can’t afford to have a big influx of people who can’t help us but there’s room for workers.”
“The town took on thirty-seven orphaned kids we rescued from the alien lab,” Jeff said, seeing Driscoll’s less than enthusiastic reaction to the mayor’s statement.
“Your people can go out on their own—no one is trying to keep them here any longer and we’re planning to do our best to keep this quadrant clear of infected swarms from now on,” Jeff outlined the next possibility. “Plenty of deserted farms and small hamlets where people could settle and work to build a future.” Forestalling what he knew Driscoll was about to say, he added, “And the third alternative is to remain here at Glastine, under new management. Under you and your rebels.”
The other man relaxed. “Now you’re talking. We were building a good thing here at Glastine despite Quantike and his lackeys but it always felt like we were in a prison or a cage, with the damned infected crowding the fenceline. And no one ever truly being allowed to leave. Not to mention the sudden disappearances.”
“I’ll give you a full debrief later but that’s exactly what this was set up to be,” Jeff said. “It was a cage to hold lab rats for the alien experiments. Now the aliens are gone and Quantike is gone and we’ve taken out the local infected population. I assume you had a plan for running the camp once you got rid of the general?”
Driscoll nodded. “We did. Set up a council, establish new rules, start doing scavenging sorties…oh yeah, some of us had a dream but Quantike was in our way.”
“It’s all possible now, brother,” Jeff said. He was relieved to have the responsibility for the continuation of Glastine off his shoulders. He was a soldier first and foremost, not a refugee camp administrator. He’d have to keep an eye on the place from a distance to make sure no one had dreams of becoming another warlord but it was best for everyone if the camp’s inhabitants had self rule.
The camp residents are assembled in the amphitheater area, Cody said over the subaural com.
Jeff tapped his fingers on the table and rose. “Show time,” he said. “Time to adjourn to the amphitheater and talk to the people. Anyone here who needs to talk to me in more detail can catch me after we’re done.”
Driscoll caught his elbow. “I’d like to say a few words to my people after you’re finished.”
“Of course, I’d expected you would.”
* * *
The meeting went about as Jeff had expected. There was a lot of cheering for him and his fellow commanders when they took the stage. The audience became subdued, angry and grief stricken when he gave them the short version of why the camp had been established and what the alien scientists had been doing in the far north. The mood altered in a positive direction when he outlined the three alternatives available to the crowd and became ecstatic when he introduced Driscoll.
The new commander of Glastine spoke eloquently about how hard they’d all worked to survive and make it to this point. He thanked Jeff and the others for liberating them from both the infected swarm and Quantike. He outlined his vision for the future, which featured a vibrant, healthy community, working to rebuild and become self sufficient.
“Randal Four is down right now but not out,” he said in summation. “Working together with our new allies, we can have a future for ourselves and our children. It’ll take hard work. There’s much to be done but we’ve proven we can do it. Standing here right now this minute as survivors of everything the aliens and their collaborators threw at us proves our worth and determination. Now if you want to strike out on your own, as Captain Pearson said, we’ll outfit you with what we can spare from the stores and wish you well. If you want to go to Millersville be sure to stop by the recruiting tables out front and see what the Mayor is offering. But if you want to stay here with us I’m offering nothing but hard work and a chance at a future right here where we’ve already fought so hard to establish a new foothold.”
There were loud shouts of “Glastine” and “Hurray for Driscoll” and Jeff ended the meeting with a simple, “Good night.”
As he made his way to the medical building, having said goodbye to Norwood and his son, and leaving the mayor at his recruiting station, and Driscoll remaining in the amphitheater in the center of an enthusiastic mob, working with his lieutenants to make plans, Jeff was satisfied.
For now.
There were millions of infected in each of the major cities and swarms roaming the areas in between. No doubt there were more petty tyrants set up as warlords who’d need to be taught a harsh lesson. Enough challenges lay ahead for two lifetimes but he was encouraged by the enthusiasm of the people of Glastine and grateful for his allies (even the grudging ones like Norwood).
He’d continue his self-appointed mission of ending the long night which had fallen over Randal Four and doing his best to ensure the remaining humans had their shot at a real future. He wanted one for himself, with Melly, but not in isolation at the distant ranch while the rest of the planet went to hell outside his fences. He wasn’t built that way and neither was Melly he knew.
She was the best partner a man could have.
Hastening his steps as he reached the building, he made his way through the crowded corridors, greeting those he recognized, heading for Melly’s office.
