Rick drove through the metal gates of the safe zone.
Once the cruiser was inside, the gates began to close behind him.
Rick slowed the vehicle and looked around the familiar streets. Soldiers and police officers moved through the area while civilians went about their daily routines.
Before he could drive much farther, a National Guard soldier approached the driver's side and stopped beside the window.
"Hey, Rick. Back already?"
Rick smiled.
"Hey, Mike. Yeah. Got a call from one of the farms."
Mike leaned slightly toward the window.
"Everything alright?"
"Not exactly. The farm owner, Hershel. His daughter, Maggie, went out with Glenn this morning. They were supposed to make a quick trip to Coweta County, but they haven't come back."
Mike's expression changed.
"Glenn?"
Rick nodded.
"Yeah."
Mike shook his head slightly.
"I liked that kid. Always had something smart to say."
He paused.
"Hope they're alright."
"Me too."
Mike stepped back from the cruiser.
"Let me know if you hear anything."
"I will."
Rick gave him a nod before driving farther into the safe zone.
He didn't have to drive for long before he reached his destination.
A two-story building stood near the center of the gated community. It had once been the clubhouse, but it had since been repurposed for the safe zone. The ground floor was now used by the police force and the National Guard, while the administrative offices occupied the upper floor.
Rick parked the cruiser in the lot in front of the building.
As he stepped out of the car, he heard footsteps approaching.
He turned and was surprised to see Lori and Carl walking toward him.
Lori's expression immediately softened when she saw him.
"I'm glad you're back."
She stopped in front of him, looking him over.
"I was starting to worry. Is everything okay?"
Rick gave her a reassuring smile.
"Yeah. I'm okay."
Lori nodded, though she still looked concerned.
"What happened at the farm?"
Rick glanced briefly toward the building.
"I'll tell you back home. After i'm done with the check up."
••••••
Back at Fort Ironwood, preparations were underway in one of the briefing rooms inside the main building.
Captain Price stood at the center of the room with Soap, Ghost, and Gaz, surrounded by twenty-six Rangers and Marines selected for the operation.
The thirty-man force was gathered around a large table in the middle of the room. Maps, photographs, and handwritten reports had been spread across its surface, with several marked-up pages placed beside a rough map of Woodbury.
The room was quiet as the soldiers waited for the briefing to begin.
Price looked around the room, making sure he had everyone's attention.
"Right, let's get started."
He placed both hands on the edge of the table.
"Here's what we know. We've got a settlement called Woodbury, not too far from here. According to our source, it's well organized and its leadership isn't particularly fond of the military."
Price paused.
"More importantly, they've got a fair amount of military equipment. Weapons, ammunition, and gear that shouldn't be in the hands of civilians."
He glanced down at the photographs spread across the table.
Price picked up one of the photographs from the table.
It showed a man standing among several people inside Woodbury, captured from a distance.
"This is the man running the place."
He held the photograph up so everyone could see it.
"He calls himself the Governor. We don't have a confirmed name yet. According to our source, he's in charge of Woodbury and has considerable influence over the people living there."
Soap glanced at the photograph.
"Governor, is he? Bit ambitious."
A few of the soldiers exchanged brief looks, but Price continued without reacting, lowering the photograph slightly.
"He's also the one responsible for the settlement's possible hostile attitude toward the military."
He placed the photograph back on the table and picked up another.
"This is Bruce Cooper. Chief muscle. He keeps the general population in line and makes sure the Governor's rules are followed."
Another photograph was placed beside it.
"Gabe. One of the Governor's most loyal men. Acts as a guard and enforcer, particularly when it comes to maintaining his rules."
Price picked up the final photograph.
"And this is Caesar Martinez. Primary right-hand man and head of security. He commands the men responsible for guarding Woodbury and maintaining order."
He studied the photograph for a moment before setting it down.
Price reached for one of the reports lying near the photographs and picked it up.
"According to the information gathered on the weapons and equipment, those weren't gathered by governors people."
He glanced down at the report.
"They were supplied by a small group operating independently in the area. We don't have a name for them yet, and we don't know exactly how many people they're working with."
Price looked back at the room.
"What we do know is that they're considerably more hostile toward any military presence than the people inside Woodbury."
He set the report down.
"They've apparently been avoiding contact with the military whenever possible. The Governor, on the other hand, seems willing to deal with them when it suits him."
Price paused.
"So we've potentially got two separate groups to worry about."
Price then moved aside the photographs and report.
"Now, the location."
He reached across the table and pulled two folded maps toward him.
The first was a general map of the area, showing the roads and surrounding countryside. Price unfolded it across one side of the table.
The second was different.
It was a rough, hand-drawn map of Woodbury itself, with the settlement's buildings, roads, and perimeter sketched out in greater detail. Several locations had been marked and annotated.
Price placed it beside the first map.
"This gives us the general area."
He tapped the first map.
"And this is Woodbury."
His finger moved across the hand-drawn map.
"This was put together from our scouts' observations and information provided by our source inside the settlement."
Price paused briefly.
"It isn't perfect, but between the two we've got a reasonable picture of what we're walking into."
Price then placed a finger on the general map.
"There's more than one road leading toward Woodbury. We don't want to come in from a single direction."
He traced one of the roads with his finger before moving to another.
"We'll split into squads and approach from different sides. The idea is to get everyone into position without alerting the settlement."
Price moved to the sketched map.
"The first squad will take this route. There's enough tree cover along here to keep them out of sight until they're close."
His finger moved to another approach.
"The second squad comes in from the opposite side. There's a stretch of woodland here that'll give them cover most of the way."
He tapped a third route.
"The remaining squad will approach from the south. There's less cover along this road, so you'll have to keep your distance and use the terrain where you can."
Price looked around the room.
"Nobody moves directly toward the settlement until they're in position. We don't know how many people they've got watching the approaches, so don't give them a reason to start looking."
He then pointed toward several marks on the sketched map.
"These are the positions our scouts identified as giving a good view of the settlement."
Several locations had been marked along the surrounding higher ground and tree lines.
"Snipers will take these positions before the rest of the squads move in. From there, they'll have eyes on the main approaches and the areas around the settlement."
Price's finger moved to several other markings.
"These are known guard positions."
He paused.
"And these are the blind spots."
The soldiers leaned closer to the map.
"Those are the places we can use to get close without being seen. Once everyone is in position, we'll have the settlement covered from multiple directions."
Price straightened and looked around the room.
"The team approaching the main gate will make contact. Everyone else stays concealed and holds position."
He moved his finger toward the main entrance marked on the sketch map.
"Me, Soap, Gaz, Ghost along eight others will form the team that will make direct contact."
Soap glanced at the map.
"That's a fair bit of company for a conversation."
"We'll be using the two JLTVs, their armor should hold in case of a firefight, " Price added.
Ghost leaned slightly over the table, studying the marked positions around the settlement.
"We'll be the obvious target."
"That's the idea," Price replied.
He pointed toward the main road leading to Woodbury.
"We'll come straight up to the gate in the two vehicles. Make ourselves known. They'll be watching us, talking to us, and wondering what the hell we're doing there."
Gaz nodded.
"While they're watching the gate, the other teams move in."
"Exactly."
Price looked toward the Rangers and Marines assigned to the other squads.
"Once we make contact, their attention should stay on us. That gives the other teams the opportunity to move into the settlement through the blind spots we've identified."
Soap gave a small grin.
"So we're the distraction."
Price glanced at him.
"Among other things."
Ghost looked back at the map.
"And if they open fire first?"
Price's expression hardened.
"Then the situation changes."
He tapped the map once.
"Until then, we talk. No unnecessary shooting, no one gets trigger-happy."
Soap nodded.
"Understood."
Price straightened.
"Everyone else gets into position before we reach the gate. Once we're there, you stay concealed and wait for the guards to leave."
He looked around the room one last time, his expression becoming more serious.
"This has to be done right."
He looked around the room.
"Woodbury is full of civilians. Most of them aren't our target, and we don't know how many of them are willing participants in what the Governor's been doing."
He tapped the map.
"Our objective is to take control of the settlement and secure the captured civilians, the Governor and his people. Preferably without firing a shot."
Price looked toward the teams assigned to the surrounding positions.
His finger moved across the marked positions.
"Once you're inside, you spread out and close the net. We want the Governor and his men surrounded before they realize what's happening."
Ghost gave a slight nod.
"Contain them before they can organize."
"Exactly."
Price looked around the room again.
"We don't need to waste ammunition or risk our people in a firefight if there's another way to accomplish the same thing."
He paused.
"Keep the civilians out of it. Keep the Governor's men contained. If they surrender, we take them alive."
Price straightened.
"We've got the numbers, the training, and the element of surprise."
He glanced once more at the map.
"Let's get this done without turning Woodbury into a war zone."
••••••
Back in Woodbury, the Governor stood beside the van, going over the weapons and equipment that had been delivered earlier.
The woman from the group stood nearby, looking over the collection as well. The equipment had been unloaded enough for them to get a better look at what they now had.
Martinez approached from across the street.
"Governor."
The Governor looked up.
"We've got a situation at the main gate."
A frown began to form on his face.
The woman turned toward Martinez as well, initially wearing a questioning expression.
"What's going on?"
"Soldiers," Martinez answered.
The woman's expression immediately hardened.
The Governor turned fully toward him.
"How many?"
"We counted twelve."
Martinez paused.
"Well equipped. They've also got two armoured vehicles."
The Governor's frown deepened.
"What kind?"
"Don't know. Never seen them before."
Martinez glanced back toward the gate.
"Both have .50-caliber machine guns mounted on top."
The Governor gave a disdainful grunt.
"Of course they do."
He turned and began walking toward the main gate.
"Get your men ready."
Martinez nodded and followed.
"I'll have them armed and in position."
The Governor continued toward the gate, his expression darkening with every step.
The woman remained beside the van for a moment, looking toward the direction they had gone.
Then she followed.
The Governor climbed onto the wooden platform built along the inside of the wall beside the main gate.
From there, he had a clear view of the road leading toward Woodbury.
Moments later, several armed men took positions along the wall on either side of the gate. Martinez moved among them, making sure his men were in place.
The Governor looked toward the road.
Two military vehicles had stopped roughly fifty feet from the gate.
He had never seen either of them before.
Their armour was unlike anything he had seen on the vehicles used by the military before, and each carried a heavy .50-caliber machine gun mounted on top.
A soldier manned each weapon while several more stood around the vehicles, rifles at the ready.
The Governor's eyes narrowed.
They weren't rushing the gate.
They weren't firing.
They were simply waiting.
Then one of the soldiers stepped away from the vehicles and began walking toward the gate.
The Governor watched him approach.
The man wore a boonie hat and had a thick, prominent mustache that immediately caught his attention.
The Governor's expression hardened.
The soldier stopped several yards from the gate, keeping a relaxed but alert posture.
The Governor watched him carefully.
The man's rifle remained lowered, though his eyes moved briefly across the men positioned along the wall before returning to him.
"Morning."
The Governor remained silent for a moment.
"Good Morning."
Price glanced toward the settlement behind the Governor.
"We're looking for the people in charge."
The Governor's expression remained reserved.
"That would be me."
Price gave a small nod.
"Captain Price."
The Governor studied him for a moment before answering.
"The Governor."
Price gave him another brief nod.
"And what brings the military out here?"
Price glanced briefly toward the settlement before answering.
"We've managed to get most of Atlanta and some of the surrounding areas back under control. The dead are being dealt with, and we're starting to restore some order."
He looked back at the Governor.
"We're looking for survivors. Communities, settlements, anyone who's managed to make it through all this."
Price paused.
"The plan is to rebuild, start putting things back together."
The Governor listened without interrupting.
"And that's why you're here?"
Price gave a small nod.
"That's right. We're trying to find out who's still out here."
••••••
While the discussion at the main gate continued, the rest of the operation was already underway.
Two sniper teams had reached their assigned positions overlooking Woodbury. Each sniper settled into position while their spotter scanned the settlement and the surrounding area, watching for any movement that could compromise the teams below.
Meanwhile, the three infiltration teams had reached the outer wall of Woodbury.
They kept low and moved carefully, remaining vigilant for patrols or guards along the perimeter. Every few moments, one of the soldiers would pause and scan the wall before signaling the others forward.
Each team carried two folding ladders.
Once they reached their assigned sections of the wall, the first ladder was unfolded and positioned against the outside.
One soldier climbed up and carefully looked over the wall.
No guards.
He gave the signal.
The rest of the team followed, carrying the second ladder with them.
Once over the wall, the soldier unfolded it and positioned it against the inside of the barrier.
With both ladders in place, the teams now had a quick route in and out of the settlement if they needed it.
One by one, the Rangers and Marines climbed down into Woodbury.
They quickly moved away from the wall and took cover, waiting for the rest of their teams to join them.
The spotters continued watching.
At the main gate, Price was still talking to the Governor.
For the moment, Woodbury remained unaware of just how many soldiers had already entered the settlement.