Calista was over the moon!
Seventy percent!
By current standards, that success rate was already astonishingly high!
"Tools and equipment aren't a problem! We have plenty at the base, and we can get even more from the Knoxville Industrial Park! You can pick whoever you need!"
Calista immediately assured him, then asked, "What about flying? Can you handle both the tanker and the fighter jets?"
Robert smiled. "Tankers are no problem—that's our specialty. Kenny can fly the C-130 too. As for the F-16…"
He gestured toward Lee beside him.
Lee scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed. "Miss Norton, I used to fly F-16s. As long as the plane is in good condition, I can bring it back!"
"Good! Good! Good!" Calista said three times in a row, her excitement overflowing.
"Make a list of what you need and get everything ready as soon as possible! We'll bring our planes back in the shortest time we can!"
The news spread through the entire base like it had grown wings.
There was no way to keep it secret, and Calista had no intention of hiding it.
Letting everyone see hope, and see that the base was steadily growing stronger, was the best way to build cohesion.
The whole base erupted with excitement!
Aircraft!
Military aircraft, no less!
Everyone knew exactly what that meant!
Turner jumped up high on the spot. "Hahaha! We're practically becoming a military base! That's insane!"
Mike stroked his chin. "F-16s… If those things can fly, next time we head out, let's see which idiot raider dares to act tough."
Even the usually calm Leah's eyes lit up. "Air superiority! Reconnaissance, long-range deployment… this is a whole new level!"
Calista smiled at Leah. "Rock Fortress is really upgrading in a big way this time."
Her heart was pounding with excitement.
At first, all she wanted was to survive and build a safe home.
But now, even reclaiming the skies no longer felt like an impossible dream.
With enough development, they might even be able to go up against the Commonwealth or the Civic Republic Military in the future!
"Rickson!"
"Here!"
"Give Robert and the others your full support! Draw up a plan to reach McGhee Tyson Base as soon as possible!"
"Understood!"
Rock Fortress's next objective was now clear—straight toward the skies!
The entire base was fired up, brimming with energy.
The next morning, just as dawn broke, Calista led the core team in force to the flattest southern area of Blackberry Ranch.
She stomped lightly on the firm ground and asked Robert and Oliver, "Take a look. Is this place enough for us to build a runway?"
Robert didn't answer. He simply strode back and forth several times.
Oliver was more hands-on. He pulled out a military rangefinder and compass, measuring as he went, then crouched down to grab a handful of soil and rub it between his fingers.
"Length," Robert said as he returned, frowning. "Ideally, we need at least 1,200 meters. The straight stretch here is just over 900 meters, but the ends…"
He pointed toward a gently rising dirt slope at the edge of the ranch and a patch of crooked trees.
"We'll need to clear those, especially that forest. It's too obstructive—it'll affect takeoffs and landings."
Oliver added, "The soil's decent—grassy earth mixed with gravel, not too soft. But drainage is a big issue. It's too flat here. Once it rains, this place will turn into a mud pit."
Elena immediately said, "Drainage is easy to handle! We can dig ditches along both sides of the runway and connect them to the downstream section of the ranch's creek to channel the water away."
Rickson looked at the trees and slope that needed clearing, already feeling a headache coming on. "Leave the clearing to us. Let Jonathan use explosives—he's faster blasting tree roots than we are with axes. We'll also pull in more strong hands from the base."
Ancheta scratched his head. "I can design a metal-asphalt composite runway. The core will be crushed asphalt chunks and melted car body panels."
Rickson nodded. "Our search team found a logistics center earlier. There's plenty of broken asphalt roads and piles of scrap cars there. Transporting them back will be a bit tricky though—there are a few small groups of raiders around."
Calista went over everything in her mind and quickly formed a plan.
Rock Fortress had fewer than 180 people. They still had to guard the base, patrol, farm—and now they had to allocate a large portion of their manpower to build a runway.
"I'll handle the manpower," she said decisively. "We don't have many people, so here's the plan…"
She scanned the group and began assigning tasks.
There would be three main teams:
First, the core runway construction team.
Robert, Oliver, and Ancheta would be in charge of command and technical decisions. They would oversee quality.
Rickson would personally lead the clearing and earthworks team. He would select 20 strong individuals—people from Rock Fortress, the National Guard, and sturdy civilians—and add 10 general laborers.
Their task: finish within five days. Use the base's tractors and small bulldozers to clear trees, broken fences, and rocks. Level the ground and dig the drainage ditches.
The materials collection and transport team would have around thirty people, led by Leah. She would choose her own team. Their mission was to head to the logistics center and prioritize hauling back crushed asphalt, scrap vehicles, and any large rollers, welding machines, and fuel they could find.
The paving and construction team would be led by the base's mechanics. They would handle laying the runway and welding the metal plating. They would follow the plans first, and once materials arrived, push forward at full speed.
After assigning the core teams, Calista turned to Rickson.
"Next is the base's regular operations—defense patrols, farming, logistics, and internal affairs. You know these best, so you handle it."
Rickson nodded. "No problem. Then the remaining people will form a mobile team, ready to fill in as needed and rotate shifts?"
"Exactly! Time is tight and the workload is heavy—everyone, stay sharp!" Calista shouted one last time.
"Clearing team, start today! Materials team, head out by tomorrow morning at the latest and bring back the first haul!
Our goal is to finish this small runway in 20 days—enough for a few aircraft to take off and land. Any questions?!"
"No!!"
The roar was deafening. Everyone's eyes burned with excitement, like they were about to pull off something huge.
The southern side of Blackberry Ranch instantly turned into a massive construction site.
Rickson's clearing team worked like a swarm of frenzied ants.
Tractors rattled, trees crashed down, and every so often, a thunderous explosion echoed—that was Jonathan blasting stubborn tree roots. The foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains were anything but quiet.
Thankfully, the area was remote, and the nearby walkers had already been lured to Knoxville by Calista and the others, where Lorenzo had wiped them out in one sweep. Otherwise, this level of noise would have been a serious problem.
Rickson, shirtless, sweat streaming down the grooves of his muscles, personally operated the small bulldozer, pushing fallen trees and rocks aside.
Dust filled the air, and everyone was covered head to toe in grime, but the progress was undeniable.
That troublesome patch of forest disappeared at a visible pace, and the drainage ditches gradually began to take shape.
...
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