Calista quickly pushed those irrelevant thoughts aside.
What mattered now was reality.
Lori's honesty had brought the issue into the open, making Rick's request feel even heavier.
They were not unaware of the risks. They knew exactly what was at stake, yet in their desperation, they were still reaching for a more professional chance at hope.
Calista did not promise anything right away. She was exceptionally cautious. "Lori, thank you for being honest."
She decided to spell out Rock Fortress's actual medical situation. "I have to tell you the truth about the current medical conditions at Rock Fortress.
We have a retired military doctor, who is also my family doctor. He has extensive experience treating trauma and common illnesses.
We also have a dentist and several nurses. One of them has experience in pediatric care and is more familiar with caring for newborns.
Recently, we also took in a basic medical researcher and several medical students."
Calista's tone shifted slightly as she frankly admitted their limitations. "However, our doctors are not professional obstetricians.
They truly do not have specific experience with cesarean sections.
I cannot give you a one-hundred-percent guarantee that a cesarean section will succeed or that both mother and child will be absolutely safe."
That completely honest statement made even the breathing on the other end of the line go still.
Calista did not back down from the difficulties she had just laid out. Instead, her words carried a sense of responsibility grounded in fact. "What I can offer is what may be the best preparatory medical support currently available in this area.
If a cesarean section does become necessary, the medical team will use every resource we have and do everything in their power to perform the surgery.
If conditions allow for a natural birth, our midwifery care is more established."
She gave them a brief moment to absorb the information before summing it up. "So, Rock Fortress can take you in and provide whatever medical support we are capable of.
But I can't make any guarantees. You need to think this through carefully and decide whether you're willing to accept this plan."
Silence spread once again.
Calista's honesty was harsh, but it made her seem more trustworthy.
At least she would not trade false hope for favors or resources.
After about half a minute, Rick made his decision. "We understand. Thank you, Calista. We know what things are like at the prison. Staying here... may be even riskier.
You have better foundations and more professionals. That is hope.
We're willing to accept this plan and take on the risks that come with it. Lori?"
He seemed to be asking for his wife's final opinion.
"I agree." Lori's voice carried a calmness that sounded almost resigned, along with a trace of resolve.
"Instead of staying here and worrying about the unknown, I'd rather face it somewhere better prepared. I believe you'll do everything you can."
Hershel followed at once. "Then it's settled. We'll get the livestock and supplies ready. Glenn and Maggie will escort her. They'll stay with Lori."
"All right." Calista did not waste any more words. "We need to plan the exact handover time and a safe route carefully. Have Glenn and Maggie make their preparations too."
"We'll settle the details as soon as possible and get back to you in about a week."
They would make contact again in a week, and with the time Lori and the others would spend on the road, Calista would have enough time to strengthen the industrial park's foundation further.
At the very least, the industrial park's buildings and factories were still intact. As long as they built defenses around the perimeter, made use of the original factory buildings, and repaired the dormitories and functional areas on this side, it would work.
Block B was nearly ready. It was time to clear out Blocks A and C as well.
...
Block B Command Center.
A huge map lay spread across the long table. The building layouts, roads, and walker gathering points in Blocks A and C, including those that had slipped through the net during the last attractant operation, were densely marked with pushpins and marker lines in different colors.
Most of the walkers had already been lured into Block D and sealed off. The ones left in the two blocks were only scattered, stubborn "holdouts," either trapped deep inside buildings or wandering in remote corners.
Their numbers were limited, but because they were scattered and unpredictable, clearing them out required even more precision.
Cole hunched over and pointed at several inconspicuous spots on the map with a wooden ruler worn shiny from use.
"Here, and here. Under Workshop No. 3 in Block A, there's a maintenance passage left from when they built the large pipelines years ago. It leads straight under the loading platform in the central warehouse area.
The exit grate is rusted shut, but it can be pried open from the inside. Only us scrap collectors know about it. The Red Scarf Gang and the Throat-Slasher Gang don't know those details at all."
Jason and Eddie, standing nearby, both glared at him at the same time.
Cole went on, "And in Block C, between the main building and the auxiliary lab building of Pioneer Pharmaceuticals, there's a sealed sky bridge.
There are fire isolation doors inside. If they haven't been blown apart, it can be used as a shortcut. But be careful. The glass in that corridor is specially made. You can't see inside from the outside..."
The high-definition reconnaissance images and data gathered by Night Hawk One, Two, and Three over the past seventy-two hours were also projected onto the whiteboard nearby.
Bossie pointed at several thermal imaging screenshots. "The remaining walkers confirmed in Block A are mainly concentrated in the main assembly workshop, the raw material warehouse, and the lower floors of several office buildings. They're all nearly sealed structures, so the walkers can't get out. But here."
He pointed to a relatively open storage area. "There are almost no walkers here. The threat level is low, so it's suitable as an exit point for the infiltration route."
"Block C is a little more complicated." The image switched. "The main hospital building has the highest walker density. They may have been hidden too deep inside and weren't lured away.
But our primary target is the nearby Pioneer Pharmaceuticals R&D center and its annex facilities. There aren't many walkers here, and they're spread out."
Calista stood in front of the map, calmly taking in every detail.
Her finger tapped Blocks A and C. "Both blocks will be cleared at the same time. The spearhead squad will move fast, finish quickly, and keep the noise down. Here is the deployment.
Line A Commander Leah, you'll take Mike, Turner, Wells, Merle, and Daryl. Jason will guide you.
I'll lead Line C with Carver, Bossie, Jenson, Shane, and Michonne. Eddie will guide us.
Night Hawk One and Night Hawk Two will be remotely controlled by Allen Miller and Ancheta, respectively. Their priority is to provide high-altitude aerial coverage for both lines.
Night Hawk Three will continue routine patrols.
Danny will hold the command post and make sure communications stay open between all teams.
Operation time is nine o'clock sharp tomorrow morning.
Expected enemy contact is limited, and the main areas should be cleared within four hours. But no one is to let their guard down.
Any questions?"
"No!" came the neat, forceful reply.
Cole weakly raised his hand. "...I do."
Calista was a little surprised. "What's your question?"
Cole looked at Eddie, then at Jason, and protested, "One of them is from the Throat-Slasher Gang, and the other is from the Red Scarf Gang. Neither of them knows those underground passages as well as I do. Why won't you let me go?"
After seeing Rock Fortress's combat strength, and with so few walkers remaining, Cole was not worried about the operation's safety at all.
The thing was, taking part in an operation like this would definitely earn a lot of points. He could go too!
Jason curled his lip and was just about to retort when Eddie spoke even faster. "Old man, do you even know what a spearhead operation is?! How old are we, and how old are you? Don't drag the commander down and end up getting your ass bitten by a walker!"
Cole had nothing to say.
"All right. Everyone, prepare today. We move tomorrow!"
...
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