TWD - Chapter 484: The Escort Mission (Patreon)

Static filled the communications room again before the radio fell completely silent.

Joe slowly set down the microphone and turned toward Rick.

"She's sharper than you made her sound."

Rick stared at him coldly.

"You planned all of this from the beginning, didn't you? Ever since you got here."

Joe didn't deny it.

"I saw an opportunity. The kind of opportunity that's there for people who are capable enough to take it."

He started toward the door, then paused.

"Nothing personal, Rick. You're a good man. I actually like you.

"But in a world like this, good people usually work the hardest and get the least in return. The commander understands that. That's why she was able to build Rock Fortress."

"And you think you could do better?" Rick asked sarcastically.

Joe answered calmly.

"Not necessarily. But my outpost would be stronger."

At the same time, in the communications room at Rock Fortress, Calista leaned back in her chair without saying a word.

Danny shut off the radio, looking puzzled.

"Calista, are you really going to give him an outpost? He's ambitious."

"Every capable person has ambition," Calista replied calmly. "The important part is directing that ambition so it aligns with our goals."

"But what if he becomes too powerful?" Danny asked worriedly.

Calista turned and spread her hands.

"That's why there are background checks, regular reports, and dependence on our supplies. Our people will be stationed there too. He won't become too powerful because part of what makes him powerful will always remain in our hands."

She stood and paced a few steps.

"People like Joe are useful. They're driven, willing to take risks, and the early work of scouting a location and clearing an outpost falls entirely on him. We get the benefits without having to make the initial investment."

Danny nodded.

"If he succeeds, we gain another outpost under our control. If he dies, we lose nothing."

A faint smile appeared on Calista's lips.

She knew Joe could eventually become a problem.

But until then, he would be a useful tool.

And tools that became too dangerous could always be replaced.

For now, Calista's development efforts were focused on Tennessee and Knoxville. She simply didn't have enough manpower to spread into other states and establish outposts everywhere.

Nor were there many ambitious people among the survivor camps they'd recently absorbed. Almost all of them had chosen to abandon their old settlements and relocate their entire families to Rock Fortress for a safer, more stable life.

Of course, that was a good thing too.

It made the home front more secure.

And despite Joe's opinion, Rick's gentleness wasn't a weakness.

It was simply a different kind of strength.

Calista accepted people like Joe because Rock Fortress needed pioneers when her own people were too busy to handle every new expansion.

But she also needed people like Rick because they could keep the territory behind those expansions stable.

Ultimately, expansion and stability served the same purpose.

To build an order capable of resisting threats from both inside and outside, an order where civilization could begin to grow again.

...

Since the mission to Virginia was still going ahead, Tyreese and the others would depart once they received the relay unit.

The team consisted of six people: Noah, Boone, Sasha, Tyreese, Kango, and Zach. The last two had been selected from the Reserves. Kango was an excellent shot, while Zach was young and physically fit.

Rick gathered them around a map.

"The primary objective is to escort Noah safely back to his home in northern Virginia and determine the condition of his community.

"The secondary objective is to scout as much of Virginia as possible along the way, especially the area south of Washington, D.C., and north of Richmond. We need to know whether there are any sizable survivor communities, camps, or settlements.

"Record their approximate locations, population, defenses, the condition of their people, anything that might be useful."

Tyreese and Sasha exchanged a glance.

Both understood immediately.

This wasn't merely an escort mission.

It was strategic reconnaissance.

"Virginia was densely populated before the apocalypse, and the area should still have relatively abundant resources. The mountainous terrain also offers some natural defensive advantages."

Rick traced a finger across the map.

"If we want to keep growing and find more reliable people and resources, Virginia could be one direction worth exploring.

"Calista also believes that, sooner or later, we may need to establish contact with survivor groups farther away. Maybe even... integrate them."

"Integrate?" Sasha immediately picked up on the word.

"For now, observe," Rick replied without elaborating further, though his meaning was obvious. "See whether those places are worth contacting and whether there's any potential for cooperation or even integration.

"You represent Rock Fortress. Act carefully, but keep your eyes open."

It was practically an open secret.

They were looking for communities that Rock Fortress might eventually absorb as it expanded.

"Weapons, ammunition, medical kits, food, water, and fuel will all be issued at the highest standard," Rick continued. "You'll be able to maintain routine contact with both the prison and Rock Fortress through the vehicle radio. Use encrypted Channel Three.

"Any questions?"

Tyreese thought for a moment.

"If we run into individual survivors, should we approach them or avoid them?"

"Evaluate the situation carefully," Rick answered. "If they're obviously hostile, avoid contact, record what you can, and leave.

"If they seem organized, you can make limited contact. Tell them we're from a large survivor community and we're conducting friendly reconnaissance and outreach.

"Show goodwill, but stay alert. Never reveal the exact location of Rock Fortress or the prison, and don't disclose our true strength. Understood?"

"Understood."

Boone, Tyreese, and Sasha nodded together.

Rick turned toward Noah.

"Noah?"

"I... I'll make sure we get there. There are still quite a few people in our community. I think they'd be willing to come here."

Noah was confident he could convince them.

At the very least, he was certain his younger brother would come with him.

Just then, Calista called.

"Rick, have you briefed the team?"

"I have."

"Good."

Calista paused for a moment.

"Before they leave, I want to speak with Sasha privately. I have a few additional instructions."

Rick glanced at Sasha.

She nodded.

He slid the headset and microphone toward her.

"Calista wants to talk to you."

Sasha took them and moved to a window a short distance away from the others.

"Commander, this is Sasha."

"Sasha, this mission isn't only about reconnaissance," Calista said, her tone carrying a deeper meaning. "What I want you to evaluate is the possibility of bringing people into our system.

"Rock Fortress needs to grow. We need more people, a broader range of skills, wider buffer zones, and more resource points.

"Virginia, especially the area influenced by Washington, D.C., was one of the political and economic centers of the country before the apocalypse. In theory, it should have a larger surviving population and a better chance of retaining infrastructure and technical resources than many other regions."

Sasha listened quietly.

"But more people isn't automatically a good thing," Calista continued. "I want people who can integrate into Rock Fortress, follow the rules, and contribute.

"Not mouths we have to feed while getting nothing in return, and certainly not people with hidden agendas who could become a cancer inside the community.

"So your assessments need to be thorough."

Calista paused, giving Sasha a moment to process that.

"If you encounter a community you consider valuable, try to establish contact. You can tell them we're a large, stable community.

"We have reliable food production, energy, medical care, and industrial capabilities, and we're looking for like-minded partners who want to build a more sustainable survival network.

"But don't make any specific promises."

"What if they're hostile?" Sasha asked. "Or rotten from the inside?"

"If they're a minor nuisance, ignore them. If they're a medium-sized faction that could become a threat, mark their location.

"If they're confirmed to be an irredeemable, anti-human cancer like Terminus..."

Calista's voice didn't change at all.

"Record as much detail as possible and stay away.

"Eventually, we'll need to eliminate groups like that. But not now, and certainly not with only the few of you."

"I understand."

Sasha took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the mission grow heavier.

"Remember, Sasha," Calista said at last, her tone softening slightly. "Your safety comes first. No assessment is worth risking your lives.

"There should be major factions around Washington, and the crazed raiders Joe's group encountered are operating somewhere in that region too. Avoid them whenever possible.

"We can gather more intelligence another time.

"But all of you need to come back alive and in one piece."

"Yes, Commander," Sasha replied firmly.

The transmission ended.

Sasha returned the headset to Rick and walked back to the table.

Rick could roughly guess what Calista had told her, so he didn't ask.

He simply patted Sasha on the shoulder.

"Get ready. You leave tomorrow."