Still, that many people, including former Norris Dam staff, represented a large pool of manpower, almost two-thirds of Rock Fortress's current civilian population.
Rock Fortress could not remain a shelter tucked away in one corner. It had to grow stronger, with enough strength and resources to face future challenges.
Population was the foundation of civilization and the source of power.
After a brief silence, Calista raised her head. Her gaze swept over Leah and Rickson, and she made her decision.
Her voice was steady as she gave the final word. "For now, we will not make any active contact with the Norris Community, nor will we make them any promises."
Calista walked to the map and tapped the location of the Norris Warehouse. "Our priority remains unchanged. Bring back all usable supplies safely. That comes first."
Then her finger traced the route leading to the warehouse. "But we prepare for both scenarios. Leah will personally oversee the follow-up transport teams, assign more people, and speed up the process. At the same time, the team will also take on reconnaissance."
Calista looked sharply at Leah. "I need more intelligence on that community. Not just their numbers and condition.
I want the exact layout of their camp, weaknesses in their defenses, details on their personnel makeup, and how strong Marcus's leadership really is. Have Hank, Bossie, and Jenson make full use of their skills."
"Understood." Leah nodded solemnly.
"I'll also go take a look during the later transport runs. The team stays on the highest alert. If they approach again or try to make contact, be firm, but avoid provoking them."
Calista added, "Until we have a complete grasp of the situation and all the supplies are moved back, we give them no false expectations and no reason to take risks."
"Yes."
"Rickson," Calista said, turning to him, "you and Ellie start working on a contingency plan. If, and I mean if, we decide to accept them in the future,
we'll need a complete system for intake, screening, placement, and management. That includes quarantine zones, resource rationing plans, and job assignments. I want a detailed proposal."
Rickson had no objections. "Understood, Calista."
"That's all." Calista ended the meeting. "Leah, go make the arrangements. Clear out the warehouse as quickly as possible. At the same time, I want a detailed assessment report on that community."
...
The sky was gray, and fine snow was swept up by the cold wind, blowing through the mountains and forests around Norris Reservoir.
At the entrance to the abandoned railway tunnel, the scene was busy in a way that clashed sharply with the dead silence around it.
The search team jointly led by Jonathan and Maya was far larger than the first exploration team.
Several pickups and trucks modified with crash bars and snow tires were parked outside the tunnel, their engines rumbling low as their exhaust pipes spat out clouds of white mist.
Lieutenant Welles was loudly directing the team members as they hauled boxes of supplies from the depths of the tunnel and loaded them efficiently onto the vehicles.
For the second transport run, Calista and Leah remained at Rock Fortress to coordinate the overall situation, while Maya and Jonathan divided responsibility on-site.
Maya held a checklist, verifying the types and quantities of supplies to make sure the highest-value items were loaded first.
Jonathan led his team in handling perimeter security and emergency response.
After Hank's group completed the handover, some of them joined the transport work, while Bossie and Jenson took over the farther, concealed guard positions.
Deep in the tunnel, figures moved everywhere. The sound of hauling chants, heavy footsteps, and crates scraping across the ground never stopped.
Merle cursed as he carried a crate one-handed, sweat covering his forehead. "Fuck! When the hell does this end?"
"Save your strength, Merle," Carver said beside him, moving with relative ease. "The sooner we finish, the sooner we get back to the fire."
Daryl moved silently through the team, his steps steady, like a tireless mule.
When there was work to be done, he truly worked. No complaints, just his head down as he got on with it.
Just then, on a ridge about two hundred meters from the tunnel entrance, a snow-covered thicket trembled slightly.
Bossie lay prone beneath camouflage cloth, his binoculars moving slowly.
A few meters behind and to his side, Jenson had his sniper rifle set up, the muzzle covering a wide area in front of the tunnel entrance. His breathing was so steady it was almost gone.
"Two o'clock," Bossie's calm voice came through the team comms and into Jonathan and Maya's ears. "Three people with hunting rifles and spears sneaking in. They're Marcus's people."
Jonathan pressed his earpiece and said quietly, "Copy. Bossie, keep watching. See what they're trying to do."
Maya frowned, glanced at the busy transport team, and said to Jonathan, "Let them watch. We keep doing our job. But put everyone on alert."
The order was passed down silently.
The transport team did not stop, but the atmosphere clearly tightened.
The team members instinctively adjusted their positions so their weapons were easier to reach.
Carver snorted and rolled his shoulders.
Merle raised a crude middle finger toward the woods, even though he knew the other side could not see it.
The three sneaking figures were the Norris Community scouting team, led by David.
They hid at the edge of the woods, peering through gaps in the branches, staring with greed and resentment at the mountain of supplies piled near the tunnel entrance and the busy transport operation.
"You see that? So many boxes! They're moving it like it's their own damn property!" a young man whispered, his voice full of resentment.
"Damn it, some of those boxes could've been ours!" another echoed.
David's face darkened.
He looked at the thick winter clothing, fine weapons, and roaring vehicles of the Rock Fortress members, then compared them to his own group, wrapped in rags, holding crude weapons, and shivering in the wind and snow. A surge of anger shot straight to his head.
"What's the point of just watching?" David spat. "How close do we need to get to see how much they're really moving? Or whether there's anything we can use?"
"David, Knox and Benjamin said to just watch from a distance and not cause trouble..." the young man said hesitantly.
"Those two old bastards aren't here. They're old and too damn scared, and Marcus isn't here either!" David growled.
"He's meat on someone else's chopping block right now. We have to rely on ourselves. Come on, move closer. Find a better spot."
Urged on by David, the group used the woods and terrain for cover, carefully inching forward as they tried to reach a pile of rocks less than a hundred meters from the tunnel entrance.
Their movements were perfectly clear through Bossie's binoculars and Jenson's sniper scope.
They had no idea at all, convinced their little plan was clever.
...
If you'd like to support my work and unlock advanced chapters, you can follow me on p-@-treon.
p-@-treon/GhostParser (70 Chapters Ahead)
You can also follow as a free member to read a few advanced chapters.