Seating at the table on the chair opposite of Major Griggs, Andrew grabbed the nearest report from the table.
As he read through its contents, a small smile slowly formed on his face.
"Looks like everything is improving at the farms," Andrew said with a quiet hum of approval.
Looking up at Griggs, he continued.
"Didn't expect to hear from Reacher for a while. Especially about cattle and tons of feed for them."
Griggs chuckled lightly at that.
"Yeah," he said. "He mentioned something about the feed having been used for money laundering or something like that."
Then he shrugged.
Andrew hummed softly and turned his attention back to the report.
We've got the materials, the equipment, and with the volunteers we can ensure a stable food source… maybe even expand by securing other farms.
The thought lingered for a moment as his eyes moved across the page.
Hershel will probably appreciate the extra help at the farm.
His thoughts were cut short when Griggs spoke up, reaching for another piece of paper from the desk.
"By the way," he said, glancing over the report briefly, "we got an update on the initiative you suggested. Training civilians on how to handle themselves against walkers."
Andrew perked up slightly at that.
Griggs gave a small nod as he continued.
"Yeah. After the speech you gave about everyone already being infected, how the virus works, and what we intend to do…" he paused briefly, "a lot of civilians started signing up."
Andrew remained quiet, listening.
After a short moment, Griggs leaned back slightly in his chair.
"To tell you the truth," he admitted, "I had my reservations about revealing what we knew about the virus."
His expression shifted faintly before he continued.
"But in the end, you were right. You handled the situation well, and we didn't have to worry about panic or riots."
Andrew looked toward him for a moment before answering.
"Keeping that information from people would've worked against us in the long run," he said calmly. "Better to reveal it in a controlled way than let rumors and fear do the work for us."
Griggs nodded slowly in agreement.
Andrew remained silent for a moment before placing the report back onto the desk.
Leaning slightly back into the chair, he looked toward the papers spread across the table.
"Still," he said after a brief pause, "things are starting to stabilize."
Griggs listened without interrupting.
"We've got stable sources of food coming in now, electricity is secured, and the new safe zone is already being worked on." Andrew gestured slightly toward the reports on the table. "That should help with the overcrowding at the estate once people start getting moved there."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"And from the last inventory check, we've still got enough medical supplies and fuel that we won't have to worry for a long while. At least if we manage them properly."
Griggs gave a small nod at that, though neither of them looked particularly relaxed.
Andrew's expression shifted slightly, becoming more thoughtful.
"Problem is," he continued, "those aren't things we can just replace anymore."
His gaze drifted briefly toward the table before returning to Griggs.
"A lot of the medicine we use regularly was imported before all this happened. Antibiotics, specialized treatments, manufacturing components…" he shook his head faintly. "Eventually, we're going to have to start thinking about alternatives."
For a few moments, the only sound in the room was the faint hum coming from somewhere deeper in the building.
Then Andrew continued.
"And fuel's the same story."
He folded his arms loosely.
"We managed to gather and store a decent amount, but it's not going to last forever. The gasoline will starts going bad after a while. But with our vehicles using mostly diesel, if we store it properly we won't have to worry about it degrading any time soon."
Griggs exhaled quietly through his nose, already knowing where the conversation was heading.
"Even so, sooner or later," Andrew said, "we'll need a long-term solution for both."
Griggs remained quiet for a few moments, clearly thinking over the implications.
Finally, he gave a small nod.
"I'll discuss it with the logistics officers and the other commanders," he said. "See what options we've got for long-term storage."
His gaze briefly shifted toward the reports spread across the table.
"If we handle it right, we should be able to slow the degradation down enough to buy ourselves more time."
Andrew nodded faintly in agreement.
Griggs leaned forward slightly in his chair before continuing.
"And we'll have to start restricting diesel for civilian usage."
There was no hesitation in his tone.
"Will be used by military vehicles, engineering equipment… emergency responders too. Firefighters especially." He paused briefly. "Anything essential."
Andrew nodded, understanding what Griggs is suggesting.
"With the police and civilians having access to gasoline instead," he added. "Though we'll have to work that out carefully."
Griggs tapped a finger lightly against the desk.
"Last thing we need is people wasting fuel because they still think like the world's normal."
Andrew gave a small nod at that.
"Once people realize fuel's finite," he said calmly, "it'll become one of the most valuable resources we have."
Griggs' expression hardened slightly.
"Exactly why we need to stay ahead of the problem."
Andrew gave a small nod in agreement.
"We definitely need to stay ahead of it," he said. "Once supplies start running low, people will notice fast."
For a brief moment, silence settled over the room again before Andrew shifted the subject.
"What about the walker remains?" he asked. "Any progress on clearing them?"
At that, Griggs let out a tired sigh.
"Slow," he admitted. "A lot slower than we'd like."
He rubbed a hand briefly along the side of his jaw before continuing.
"There were hundreds of thousands of them. Burning them all in one go isn't an option."
Andrew understood what he meant.
"The smoke and the smell," Griggs continued with a grim expression. "If we tried mass-burning everything near the city, the smoke column alone would spread for miles. Not to mention what the air would smell like for days."
He shook his head faintly.
"Last thing we need is ash and the smell of burnt corpses drifting over the safe zones."
Andrew remained quiet, listening.
"We've started transporting the remains out instead," Griggs continued. "There's a remote quarry site further north of the city we've decided using. Deep pit, isolated terrain, not much around it except woodland and abandoned service roads."
He glanced briefly toward one of the maps on the table.
"Far enough that we shouldn't worry that someone could get sick. There are few teams along firefighters and volunteers who are dealing with them."
Andrew gave a slow nod.
A quarry made sense.
Contained space, naturally isolated, and away from surviving civilian population centers.
Griggs exhaled quietly.
"It's ugly work," he said. "But it needs to be done."
Griggs remained silent for a few seconds before speaking again.
"Then there's the airport. We began working through the walkers in that area," he said. "It's a slow process. Many roads are clogged with abandoned vehicles, but nothing that can be considered a major problem."
Andrew nodded faintly.
The airport had been one of the larger concentrations of walkers outside the city center. Clearing it alone would open up a massive amount of space and infrastructure that could eventually be put back into use.
"The subway tunnels are still an issue," Griggs continued, his expression tightening slightly.
Andrew leaned back slightly in his chair, thinking it over.
"Not surprising," he said after a moment. "Dark, enclosed spaces. Limited access points. The noise echoes through the tunnels and keeps drawing them in."
Griggs gave a small nod.
"We've sealed some entrances already, but fully clearing the tunnels…" He let out a quiet breath through his nose. "That's going to take time."
"And ammunition," Andrew added.
For a brief moment, both men remained quiet before the conversation naturally shifted again.
"What about Fort Benning?" Andrew asked. "What's the current situation?"
Griggs reached toward another report near the edge of the table.
"Last transmission was positive," he answered. "Most of the walkers have been taken care of, with only a few stragglers left to deal with. After that, the ammunition and equipment there should replenish a good portion of what we burned through dealing with the horde."
That alone was significant.
The operation in Atlanta had been successful, but costly in terms of ordnance. Mortar rounds, helicopter munitions, demolition charges, fuel—it had all added up quickly.
Griggs stood and stepped toward the large map positioned nearby, his eyes moving south of Atlanta.
After a moment, he spoke again.
"There's another thing. Robins Air Force Base in Macon can become a strategic point."
Andrew stood as well and moved closer to the map.
Griggs pointed toward the area as he continued.
"If we secure it properly, we'll gain access to a good amount of resources, and slowly it'll become the starting point for establishing a foothold in the region."
His finger shifted slightly northward afterward.
"And thanks to you, Terminus is being very cooperative, making the settlement an asset for our supply lines. With this, we'll have the ability to operate more aggressively outside the immediate safe zones."
Andrew studied the map quietly for a moment.
The idea made sense.
Layered positions. Secured routes. Expanding outward instead of simply defending isolated pockets.
Griggs folded his arms loosely.
"But we need to get it done before winter arrives," he said firmly.
"The cold weather will slow transport, complicate supply lines, increase fuel usage, and put additional strain on both civilians and military personnel alike."
Andrew gave a slow nod.
"We have to start preparing. There isn't much time until winter."
Both Griggs and Andrew sat back down, leaning into their chairs.
The command room had grown quieter compared to earlier, the distant sounds of movement outside the room barely noticeable beneath the low hum of the equipment around them.
Griggs lifting a hand and rubbing at his temples slowly.
"There's still a lot to do," he muttered with a tired sigh.
Andrew didn't disagree.
Even after the success in Atlanta, it felt less like the end of something and more like the beginning of a much larger effort.
Griggs lowered his hand and glanced back toward the reports spread across the table.
"For now, we'll have to wait until the upgrades to the communications equipment are finished," he said. "Once that's done, I'll send scouting teams toward Macon and Robins Air Force Base to see what the situation actually looks like."
He paused briefly before adding,
"No point committing resources blindly."
Andrew gave a small nod in agreement.
"Reliable communication will make a massive difference once we start expanding further from Atlanta. Without it, we'll have difficulties coordinating patrols, supply convoys, and any military operations across the region would become a nightmare."
Griggs exhaled quietly, giving a nod.
"That should be all for now."
Then his gaze shifted toward Andrew.
"What about you?" he asked. "What are you planning to do in the meantime?"
Andrew thought about it for only a moment.
"I'll head over and check the progress at the new safe zone," he answered. "See how construction and organization are coming along."
Griggs hummed softly in understanding.
"Probably a good idea," he said. "That place is going to become important sooner rather than later."
Then he gave a small wave of dismissal toward the door.
"I won't keep you any longer."
Andrew gave a faint nod before getting up and turning toward the exit, leaving Griggs alone once more with the maps, reports, and the growing list of problems waiting to be solved.
···
Stepping out of the command building, Andrew adjusted the straps of his vest slightly as the morning air met him.
His MP5 hung clipped securely against the front of his gear, the weapon resting comfortably against his chest from long familiarity rather than weight.
Before moving further, he lifted his wrist slightly and checked the time on his watch.
09:43 AM.
The morning had already settled into its usual rhythm.
Soldiers moved between tents, vehicles rolled slowly along the graveled roads, and distant voices blended together with the constant background noise of an active military base of operations.
Andrew lowered his arm and started toward the hotel building.
Before heading to the new safe zone, he wanted to find his squad first.
The walk itself didn't take long.
By the time he reached the main entrance of the hotel, people were constantly moving in and out of the building. Military personnel, civilians, workers carrying equipment or supplies—everyone seemed busy with something.
Rather than entering through the front, Andrew turned and followed the walkway running along the side of the building.
The further he moved from the entrance, the quieter things became.
Eventually he reached the back area of the hotel, where part of the space had been turned into an improvised lounge area for personnel.
It was simple and practical.
A few outdoor tables and chairs had been arranged beneath extended shades and umbrellas, with several couches and armchairs that clearly hadn't originally belonged there. Coolers filled with bottled water and canned drinks sat near one of the walls, while boxes of snacks—chips, protein bars, crackers, and packs of peanuts—had been left open for anyone passing through.
Several soldiers occupied the area.
Some sat around quietly drinking coffee while talking amongst themselves, others leaned back in chairs smoking or scrolling through old magazines and books scavenged from the city. A pair of Marines near the edge of the lounge argued over a deck of cards spread across one of the tables, while farther back two Rangers cleaned their rifles with the relaxed efficiency that came from habit more than necessity.
Compared to the tension and chaos Atlanta had been filled with only days earlier, the atmosphere here almost felt normal.
Looking around the lounge area, Andrew quickly spotted Wyatt and Tucker sitting at one of the picnic tables near the edge of the patio.
Each of them had a book in hand, their attention fully focused on whatever discussion they were having. Two cans of soda sat on the table between them alongside an already opened bag of chips.
Andrew approached quietly from behind.
Only when he stopped beside the table did he speak.
"So," he said casually, "what are you two reading?"
Both Rangers turned almost immediately at the sound of his voice.
"Lieutenant," Tucker greeted before he and Wyatt raised their books slightly so Andrew could properly see the covers.
Tucker held up Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium, while Wyatt showed Horus Rising.
Andrew looked at the covers for a moment before letting out a quiet hum of recognition.
"Warhammer 40k and 30k, huh?"
That got an immediate reaction out of both of them.
Wyatt blinked in surprise. "Wait… you know Warhammer?"
Tucker leaned back slightly in his seat, clearly caught off guard as well.
"You're into it too, sir?"
Andrew thought about it for a second before giving a small shrug.
"It caught my interest a while back," he answered. "I read Hero of the Imperium…" he nodded slightly toward Tucker's book, "…but not much beyond that."
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
"Didn't got the chance to check the tabletop game, though."
That seemed enough to immediately energize the two Rangers.
Tucker looked like he was about to launch into an explanation of something, but before the conversation could properly shift into Warhammer lore, Andrew spoke again.
"Speaking of which," he said, "where are the others?"
Both men looked back toward him.
"We're heading to check on the new safe zone."
Wyatt gestured vaguely toward another section of the resort.
"Training area," he answered. "Most of them headed there not long ago."
Tucker nodded in agreement before grabbing another chip from the bag.
"Probably practicing throwing knifes, again."
Andrew gave the two a small nod.
"Gear up and meet me at the motor pool," he told them. "We're heading out soon."
"Got it, sir," Wyatt answered immediately.
Both Rangers finished what remained of their sodas before standing from the table. The empty cans were tossed into a nearby trash bin with practiced ease.
Tucker grabbed the half-eaten bag of chips and shoved it into one of his cargo pockets while keeping hold of his book in the other hand.
"Don't leave without us," he said lightly.
Andrew simply shook his head faintly before turning away.
Behind him, Wyatt and Tucker headed back toward the hotel to retrieve their gear.
Meanwhile, Andrew followed one of the paved pathways leading away from the hotel grounds toward the training area located farther into the resort complex.
The further he walked, the more the atmosphere shifted.
The relaxed conversations and quiet downtime near the lounge area gradually gave way to sharper voices, movement, and the distant sounds of work being done.
It didn't take long before the training grounds came into view.
Andrew immediately spotted the remaining members of his squad gathered near one side of the area.
And just like Tucker had said, they were currently throwing knives at a row of human-shaped dummies positioned near the edge of the range.
A few blades were already embedded into the targets, some striking center mass, others in the head while others had missed entirely and ended up scattered in the dirt nearby.
Patel stood off to the side watching with amusement while Novak prepared another throw. Nearby, Hale and Keller argued over whose aim had been worse, while Cole along Quinn and Rayes walked forward to retrieve several knives from the battered training dummies.
Compared to the seriousness of most of their recent operations, the scene almost felt strangely ordinary.
As Andrew approached the training area, it was Cole who noticed him first.
The Ranger had just pulled one of the throwing knives free from a dummy when his attention shifted toward the pathway. Straightening slightly, he immediately recognized Andrew approaching.
"Lieutenant on deck," Cole called out automatically.
The reaction was immediate, though less rigid than it would have been during formal duty.
The others stopped what they were doing and turned toward Andrew almost out of habit. Hale lowered the knife he had been holding, Patel stepped away from the sidelines, and Novak paused midway through reaching for another blade.
After more than two weeks operating together, the squad had settled into a comfortable balance around him. The respect was still there, but it carried the familiarity of soldiers who had already been through enough together to understand one another.
Andrew gave a small nod as he reached them.
"At ease," he said calmly.
The tension eased immediately.
Andrew glanced briefly toward the training dummies, noticing the collection of knives embedded in them before looking back toward the squad.
"Looks like you're keeping yourselves busy."
"Trying to," Hale answered with a faint grin.
"And failing," Patel added from nearby.
That earned a few quiet chuckles.
Andrew shook his head slightly before getting to the point.
"We're heading out," he said. "Go get geared up and meet me at the motor pool."
The relaxed atmosphere shifted almost instantly.
The joking faded as the squad naturally switched back into operational mode.
"Where to?" Rayes asked.
"The new safe zone," Andrew answered.
That was enough explanation for now.
Several of them nodded in understanding before immediately starting to move. Cole, Reyes and Hale headed off first toward the hotel, while Novak and Patel followed shortly after. Keller muttered something under his breath about finally getting out of the resort again as Quinn walked past him with an amused look.
Within moments, the training area had begun clearing out.
Andrew watched them go briefly before turning back toward the pathway leading toward the motor pool himself.
···
By the time his squad reached the motor pool, Andrew was already there, waiting for them.
The two Humvees assigned to them waited near the edge of the lot, parked side by side among several other military vehicles undergoing refueling, maintenance, or inspection.
Andrew's squad stood nearby fully geared up and ready to move.
Plate carriers, rifles, helmets, spare magazines—everything back in place. The brief period of downtime at the resort had already faded behind them, replaced once again by the familiar readiness expected from Rangers preparing to leave the safety of the perimeter.
Cole and Hale stood near the first Humvee talking quietly while Patel checked over his rifle one last time. Nearby, Novak leaned against the second vehicle adjusting the straps on her vest as Reyes, Keller and Quinn loaded additional supplies into the rear compartment.
Wyatt and Tucker arrived shortly after Andrew did, now fully equipped as well, their earlier relaxed attitude replaced by operational focus.
Andrew gave the squad a quick glance before speaking.
"Alright," he said firmly. "Mount up. We're moving."
The response was immediate.
The Rangers split between the two Humvees with practiced efficiency, each man already knowing where to go without needing further instruction.
Andrew climbed into the front passenger seat of the lead Humvee while Cole moved behind the wheel. Hale took position in the rear alongside Patel and Novak.
The second vehicle filled just as quickly.
Rayes climbed into the driver's seat while Keller took the front passenger position. Quinn, Wyatt, Tucker, and another member of the squad settled into the back, weapons resting close at hand.
An even five in each vehicle.
Once everyone was in position, the engines roared to life one after another, diesel rumbling heavily through the motor pool.
A few nearby soldiers glanced toward them as the two Humvees pulled out and began making their way through the resort grounds toward the main gate.
The main gate came into view moments later, reinforced barriers and defensive positions standing firmly between the resort and the world beyond.
The guards stationed there recognized the convoy immediately.
After a brief exchange over the radio, the heavy gate slowly began to open.