Calista paused, then continued as the three of them grew more and more excited. "We have water systems experts who used mountain streams to build a small hydroelectric system. As for medical care, we also have a professional medical team."
She did not mention Dr. Jenner or the more advanced laboratory. Those were core secrets that required a much higher level of trust.
Calista went on, her voice carrying a convincing certainty. "We're not just surviving, Lieutenant Welles. We're rebuilding order, developing technology, and gathering strength.
We have a clear goal. Not just to stay alive, but to build a solid fortress capable of withstanding any threat and preserving the spark of civilization.
So the base welcomes anyone willing to follow the rules and contribute, whether they used to be soldiers, farmers, doctors, or engineers."
She looked straight at Welles and gave the final invitation. "Lieutenant Welles, I invite you and all the soldiers under your command to join us at Rock Fortress.
You won't have to fight alone anymore, or keep wandering from place to place. You'll have stable logistics, a safe place to live, and a future worth fighting for."
Lieutenant Welles was thoroughly shaken.
Calista's description was specific and confident. It was clear this was truly a large community with a solid foundation, a clear structure, and a definite future.
For the remnants of a military unit that had lost its direction and was exhausted in both body and mind, a strong refuge like that was almost impossible to refuse.
He glanced at Franklin and Sean and saw the same longing and anticipation in their eyes.
They were tired of running aimlessly. They wanted stability.
Lieutenant Welles took a deep breath and looked at Calista. "Ms. Norton, your offer is very tempting. I believe my men would feel the same way."
Just as he was struggling over whether to accept immediately or return to camp and discuss it first, Daryl and Bossie, who were guarding the perimeter, sent out urgent warnings almost at the same time.
"Walkers! Walkers approaching from multiple directions!" Bossie called out. "A lot of them! They're not moving fast, but they're closing in around us!"
"I can hear them now!" Daryl added.
The people who had only just relaxed suddenly stood and grabbed their weapons.
Across the fields, dense, swaying black shapes could already be seen moving through the distant woods.
"Damn it! It must be the helicopter noise. It dragged those things in from even farther away!" Turner cursed, quickly checking his magazine.
Lieutenant Welles's face also turned extremely ugly. He immediately realized that this was largely the fault of their helicopter.
He looked at Calista, guilt filling his eyes. "Ms. Norton, we have to evacuate immediately. We can't stay here!"
Calista reacted even faster than he did.
Evacuation was inevitable, but Rock Fortress was still some distance away.
Then…
Calista's sharp gaze landed on Welles. "Lieutenant, we'll go to your logging camp!"
Welles nodded at once. "Take the eastern road. It's about forty kilometers! There's an abandoned forestry firebreak that covers most of the route. Our trucks have used it before!"
"Good!" Calista made the decision on the spot. "Our ground convoy will lead the way and protect the flanks. Your helicopter will provide aerial reconnaissance and fire support. Any problems?"
It was a bold proposal, and also an excellent opportunity to demonstrate their strength and build coordination.
Lieutenant Welles hesitated for only an instant before nodding firmly. "No ques…"
Before he could finish, Calista had already turned to her team and issued a rapid string of orders.
"Carver, take the lead vehicle. Bossie, navigate. Leah, we'll move according to the coordinates Lieutenant Welles gave us! Jenson, Wells, bring up the rear with the heavy trucks and block the pursuit!
Danny, establish a temporary comms channel and stay in contact with the helicopter. Merle, Daryl, Shane, Michonne, cover the convoy's flanks and clear any scattered targets that get close!
Ethan, Danny, drive the livestock trailer in the middle. Mike, Turner, provide support from the center! All vehicles running within five minutes!"
"Yes!" The response came in perfect unison, and the team members rushed toward their vehicles.
Welles, Franklin, and Sean were stunned by their efficiency.
They did not dare waste any time. Franklin and Sean immediately ran back to the helicopter and began their pre-flight checks.
Lieutenant Welles quickly gave Bossie the exact coordinates of the logging camp and the key points along the route.
Five minutes later, the Rock Fortress convoy had formed an assault formation, and the Black Hawk helicopter's rotors began spinning faster, whipping up stronger wind and louder noise.
"Convoy, move out. Helicopter, lift off and provide visibility!" Calista gave the final order from the back seat of the lead vehicle, with Leah beside her.
The ground convoy started moving at once. Almost at the same time, the Black Hawk helicopter rose from the ground.
Franklin's voice came through the temporary comms channel Danny had just set up. "Road ahead is clear, but there are large numbers of walkers in the woods on both sides moving toward the road! Repeat, hordes on both sides are closing in!"
"Copy. Prioritize targets that pose a direct threat to the convoy," Calista replied.
The moment she finished speaking, the Black Hawk's door gun opened fire.
"Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!"
The machine gun on the side of the helicopter spat blazing tongues of fire.
A dense storm of bullets swept into the walkers surging out of the woods on one side.
Rounds tore into the trees, sending splinters flying, and shredded the walkers' bodies with ease.
"Nice work!" Carver, behind the wheel, could not help praising.
This kind of overwhelming aerial fire support was something they had never experienced since the apocalypse began.
The base's aircraft squad had not seen real combat yet.
The convoy raced along the bumpy firebreak, while the helicopter circled ahead and overhead, constantly reporting the horde's movements.
"Watch out! Five hundred meters ahead, walkers on the left side of the road are trying to cross!"
Carver slammed the gas. The Humvee roared through that stretch of road, and the vehicles following behind fired through their side windows, clearing the few walkers that got close.
"Horde catching up from the rear! Big numbers!" Wells reported from the back.
"Helicopter, cover the rear!" Calista ordered.
The Black Hawk made a nimble turn and flew behind the convoy. It locked onto the pursuers, and the door gun roared again, mowing down the closest wave of walkers like grass and effectively slowing the horde.
Shane's car moved along the convoy's flank, while Merle and Daryl used pistols and crossbow bolts to deal with scattered walkers slipping through the helicopter's blind spots. Their coordination was seamless.
Lieutenant Welles listened to the reports and coordination over the comms channel, deeply shaken.
Calista's team was far more professional and combat-capable than he had expected. They were more like a well-trained private military company.
After a fierce fighting retreat, the convoy finally drove into a remote, abandoned logging camp just as the sky began to darken.