TWD - Chapter 486: No Middle Ground (Patreon)

After the prison's northbound team set out for Virginia with Noah, the atmosphere at Rock Fortress didn't relax. Instead, everyone's attention shifted to another plan.

Calista finally turned her sights toward the massive prize that had both tempted and threatened her for so long.

Downtown Knoxville.

A week later, a core strategic meeting was held at the command center.

"Three hundred members of the Defense Force," Calista said, her gaze sweeping over Leah, Rick, Maya, and Lieutenant Welles. "They have to defend Rock Fortress, the prison, Blackberry Ranch, and the industrial park, coordinate waterway operations, maintain routine patrols and search-and-reconnaissance missions, and keep watch over the geothermal project currently under construction. We're already close to our limit.

"My plan is to gradually clear and take control of downtown Knoxville, turning it into a forward base and resource hub. The manpower required for that is far beyond what we currently have."

She didn't need to elaborate.

Everyone understood what that meant.

Trying to attack a city with their current strength was practically impossible.

If all they wanted was to eliminate the walkers, fighter jets could simply bomb the city.

But they wanted to reclaim it.

That meant they couldn't indiscriminately use aircraft, tanks, and other heavy weapons. Otherwise, all they would gain was a pile of ruins.

Calista wasted no time and pointed her laser directly at the enormous new map of Knoxville and the surrounding area hanging on the wall.

Different zones had been clearly marked in different colors.

Green represented territory currently controlled by Rock Fortress.

Yellow marked areas that had already been cleared and incorporated into regular patrol routes.

Orange represented zones with moderate walker density.

And deep red, which covered most of the city, marked the most intimidating areas of all.

Zones with extremely high walker density.

The red dot from Calista's laser settled at the edge of one of those deep-red zones, near a neighborhood extending toward Rock Fortress's industrial district.

"Here. Southeastern Knoxville. The former Seventh District and the edge of the old industrial area. It's less than eight kilometers in a straight line from the outer defensive perimeter of our industrial park, with a river and railway tracks providing partial natural barriers between the two.

"According to our preliminary reconnaissance, walker density here places it in a transition zone spreading outward from the city center. Numbers are high, but they haven't yet formed an impenetrable wall of walkers."

The red dot moved, tracing out a clear route.

"Our Phase One objective is to clear and occupy the forward edge of this transition zone.

"We'll use this sturdy motel and the convenience store beside it as the core of a new outpost. It needs to support a permanent garrison of at least fifty people, with basic fortifications and supply storage."

She paused and looked around the room.

"First, it'll serve as a forward staging point and reconnaissance post for clearing the city, giving us firsthand intelligence on walker movements inside Knoxville.

"Second, it can draw and divert some of the walkers on the outskirts, reducing long-term pressure on the industrial park.

"Most importantly, it'll serve as a bridgehead for recovering resources, rescuing survivors, and eventually reclaiming downtown Knoxville piece by piece.

"Once we have it, we'll have a fist reaching into the city."

Leah studied the distances and terrain on the map.

She nodded at first, then frowned.

"Calista, the strategy makes sense.

"But our manpower doesn't. Clearing and holding a position eight kilometers from the industrial park, deep inside the walker transition zone, will require a substantial force.

"The Defense Force has fewer than three hundred people even at full strength. We're already stretched thin covering the daily defense of four separate areas while maintaining patrols and rapid-response units. Pulling people away for an offensive operation like this will leave gaps in our defenses."

"That's exactly the problem."

Calista moved to the map table, planted both hands on its edge, and leaned forward, ambition burning in her eyes.

"We can't keep settling for passive defense and slow, natural growth.

"Eastern Tennessee, especially the area around Knoxville, cannot possibly contain only the handful of small survivor groups that have already joined us.

"Those tiny camps hiding in forgotten corners and barely hanging on. Those insignificant raider gangs surviving by stealing from others.

"They're all potential manpower. Potential soldiers and laborers."

"Rock Fortress is now pursuing active expansion," Calista said decisively. "We're going on the offensive and sweeping the surrounding region.

"The strategy has three steps.

"Step one. Armed sweeps and deterrence.

"We'll pull elite personnel from the Defense Force and form two mobile eradication squads. Their targets will be every known or suspected small raider base within a one-hundred-kilometer radius of Knoxville, along with any survivor groups that are openly hostile toward outsiders and show clear aggression."

Calista looked at Leah.

"For people like that, there is no room for negotiation.

"When we make contact, they either immediately agree to submit unconditionally and join the Rock Fortress system, accepting reorganization and screening...

"Or they're eliminated on the spot, and all useful supplies are confiscated.

"I want every discordant voice in this region silenced.

"Either join us or shut up forever.

"During these operations, you're authorized to use whatever level of force is necessary to demonstrate our strength, including special equipment."

"Special equipment?" Maya immediately caught the phrase.

"The Walker Attractant, and..."

Calista picked up the tablet in front of her and brought up a set of data.

"Another interesting little tool recently developed by Dr. Jenner's team. Something similar to the Walker Attractant.

"The Walker Disruptor.

"You already know what the attractant does.

"The disruptor interferes with walkers within a three-meter radius, preventing them from locating people. Its effect remains stable for fifteen minutes.

"Of course, you still need to avoid making too much noise.

"The first batch of thirty standard doses has already been filled, along with fifteen portable release units. Production is limited, so use them carefully."

"Wow! So as long as we don't make much noise, we're basically invisible to walkers?" Lieutenant Welles asked in surprise.

"Exactly."

Calista nodded.

"The eradication squads will receive priority access to several Walker Attractants and a small number of Walker Disruptors.

"Use them for reconnaissance and infiltration, strikes on key positions, or to create an escape window if you're surrounded by walkers.

"I want you to make proper use of the walkers themselves.

"Achieve the greatest possible results and deterrence with the fewest casualties.

"Let the rats hiding in the shadows see the mysterious power of Rock Fortress."

"Step two. Active search and recruitment."

Calista's laser pointer moved to several vaguely marked locations on the map labeled as areas of possible survivor activity.

"For small survivor camps or family groups that haven't shown obvious hostility and may simply be keeping to themselves for protection, send contact teams.

"Show them the strength and order of Rock Fortress.

"Not by showing off our weapons, but by demonstrating that we can provide security, medical care, food, and a future."

Her tone became more emphatic.

"Tell them the era of struggling alone is over.

"Join Rock Fortress, follow our rules, and contribute whatever skills they have. In return, they'll receive a place in the base, adequate food rations, medical protection, and the strength to defend themselves against walkers.

"They resist? They hesitate?

"Fine. We won't force them.

"But make them understand what's changing around them.

"Raiders are being eliminated.

"Walkers will always be waiting outside their walls.

"There is no middle ground.

"Either step inside, or be pushed to the margins by the new order that's coming and left to fend for themselves."

It was an open strategy.

Gentle on the surface, but with no real room for refusal.

The message was perfectly clear.

Joining Rock Fortress was the only reliable path to survival.

"Step three. Cast a wide net and use every resource available to us."

Calista turned toward Leah.

"The Riverbank Guerrillas operate across a huge stretch of waterways, crossing countless states throughout the United States. They encounter far more survivors along the shores than we do.

"Give Captain Jack a list.

"We need craftsmen of every kind, people with medical or nursing experience, educated teachers, and anyone physically capable and willing to train as a fighter.

"If they successfully guide suitable individuals or family groups into Rock Fortress, the Riverbank Guerrillas will receive additional fuel, medicine, weapon parts, or food supplies as compensation, depending on the value of the recruits.

"Make them our eyes and our recruiters."

After laying out all three measures, Calista's intent couldn't have been clearer.

She wanted Rock Fortress's population, especially its pool of combat-capable and productive people, to grow as quickly as possible.

She was no longer satisfied with remaining secure in one corner of Tennessee.

She wanted to consolidate the human resources of the entire region and lay the groundwork for her advance into Knoxville.

"Our manpower shortage is real," Calista said, looking around the room. "But it's temporary.

"Through these sweeps, we'll eliminate threats, seize supplies, and possibly absorb experienced fighters from raider groups after strict screening.

"Through recruitment, we'll gain a steady flow of new people. Some of them will always be suitable for combat training.

"Through the Riverbank Guerrillas, we can reach places far beyond our normal range.

"And the Walker Attractant and Walker Disruptor are the key technological advantages that will let us defeat larger forces with fewer people while reducing the risks of our operations."

She returned to the map and tapped the location marked for the outpost near the industrial park.

"Everything we're doing ultimately serves this location, and the ones that come after it.

"We need at least one hundred reliable combat personnel with basic training to establish and hold that outpost.

"This will only be the first outpost.

"It won't be the last.

"So we need to start building up our fighting force now."