The scorching midday sun was relentless. Along the dirty roads of Georgia, a group of young people made their way toward the College of Computing, not far from the base led by Shane.
The area where the base was expanding from the university was quite favorable, with useful structures. Not only were there universities, but also many other institutes with complete departnts and facilities.
Most basic needs were already covered, and they could continue expanding the territory, as long as the population was large enough. They also didn't lack arable land—if they moved outward, they would soon reach Tech Green, an area well-suited for farming.
The area around Tech Green was ideal, surrounded by trees. If fenced off with wire, it could imdiately be used for cultivation.
There were also facilities like the MRDC, close to the Georgia Institute of Technology, where they could work with advanced technology. There were nurous labs and installations capable of producing all sorts of equipnt.
This area was more than suitable for a safe expansion. Not only were they surrounded by sturdy buildings, but these weren't useless skyscrapers like those in downtown Atlanta—they were practical and could et all the needs of the S.C.T. community.
The group walking through the zone now occupied by Shane's base moved forward with hesitant eyes, avoiding many walkers still wandering the wide streets.
They seed sowhat frightened and rushed toward a few cars, hiding from view. Their expressions filled with horror at the tall figures that suddenly appeared.
"Where are we now?" one of the group mbers asked, holding a map, while soone with long blonde hair tucked it behind her ear, gesturing nervously and questioning the man beside her.
"We're still far from our institute. Will it take longer now with those figures out there?" she asked. Seeing the woman studying the map for so long, the man wiped his forehead, speechless, and replied helplessly:
"This is all because we listened to Licey's damn speculation. How could we abandon the shelter we were in?"
"Don't talk nonsense. We were out of food in that place. We all knew it was only a matter of ti before we had to leave. Don't bla soone else in the group," the man firmly scolded the growing argunt.
Everyone knew this wasn't the ti or place for fighting. Any accidental noise could alert the walkers and turn things into chaos.
After saying that, the man picked up a long nail-covered bat and said, "Either way, the only thing we can do now is keep moving. Stay focused."
The blonde woman glanced at him, pursed her lips indifferently, grabbed her weapon, and quickly followed, nodding to the others. Everyone began to move between the vehicles, ignoring the walkers beside them.
Looking at the endless road ahead, the blonde sighed. "We've been out here so long, and we still don't know if there are soldiers where we're heading or if it's a real safe zone."
The sun shone on the face of a man staring at the injured bodies of several soldiers and so survivors kneeling on the ground. Shane stood there, holding a golf club, observing the survivors. The location was sowhat distant from the base, but Shane had ordered them not to be moved.
"The world really has changed. I thought that when Jason gave you that speech about the future, you'd understand what needed to be done."
Everyone listened to Shane's cold words as they stared at the group of survivors who had attacked them just hours earlier.
"Sir, we were ambushed by the enemy! I apologize for failing to scout the area properly," exclaid the captain of the squad behind him.
Hearing that, Shane closed his eyes and then said, "What bothers isn't that you were ambushed. What bothers is that these idiots are still alive! Why do we need so many of them when one would be enough to tell us where the hell they ca from?"
"I'm sorry, sir! It won't happen again!"
Shane went silent for a mont. Originally, he hadn't thought any civilians would be bold enough to attack soldiers, but he had been wrong. From now on, no group leaving the base would treat survivors kindly until it was clear whether they were civilians or enemies.
First, it was about the safety of the soldiers, and second, it was about being ready to eliminate any threat. This ti there had been twelve survivors—five were killed, and the rest surrendered.
Shane knew exactly what Jason would do in this situation. Making a decision, he raised the golf club and swung it, striking the head of one of the captives.
Clack!
The powerful blow to the neck knocked the man unconscious. Blood splattered, and the others kneeling trembled in fear. None of them had ever imagined the military would do sothing like this. No one, even in these tis, could do it with such ease.
"I want you to tell how many of you there are in total!"
After saying that, Shane raised the golf club again and struck another captive in the neck without a hint of rcy. Blood splashed on his boots and the club. The surrounding soldiers remained silent—no one dared say a word.
"How dare you attack the military when our only purpose is to save you? Today, you pieces of shit, you hard our soldiers—n who fight every day to preserve a decaying society!"
Shane turned to the captain of Squad A-1 and asked, "Did I hear right that Jason said the world has changed and that walkers aren't our only enemies anymore?"
"We heard it, sir!" all the soldiers shouted in unison, their voices firm and loud.
"I believe I also heard that we must protect the people in our shelter before we think about saving anyone else. Am I wrong?"
"No, sir!"
After hearing those words, Shane pulled out a pistol and executed the surviving attackers with shots to the head. There was no rcy on Shane's face. He knew it was ti to teach his soldiers just how much the world had changed.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The gunshots echoed through the desolate street as all the soldiers watched in horror. These people were killed by their leader, and they realized that, if they hadn't been properly equipped, they could've been the ones lying dead.
"Squad leader, can you handle it from here?" Shane said, pointing to the one remaining survivor.
With a military salute, the captain of Squad A-1 replied, "I'll get every last bit of info out of him, sir—even the year his neighbors were born."
"Good. That's what I like to hear."
Once it was over, Shane walked back to the vehicle, just in ti to hear a shout of warning: "Survivors up ahead!"
The captain looked at his n and shouted, "You know the drill! They're enemies until proven otherwise!"
"Yes, sir!"
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