Chapter 61: Exodus

After looking over the books, as well as her recent interactions with the people of Paradise Falls, Brooke quickly gathered the most important ledgers and documents regarding the plant.

These records represented years of contracts, production schedules, supply chains, and engineering specifications. The backbone of everything they had built here.

She packed them carefully into a leather satchel before summoning her security leaders and engineering staff.

Kelsey stood quietly beside her as the group gathered inside Brooke’s office. Brooke remained seated behind her desk, her posture straight and composed.

Even if she did not feel calm, she needed them to believe she was.

“It has become abundantly clear to me,” she began evenly, “that we do not possess the manpower required to hold this facility much longer.”

No one spoke, but several of them already knew where this was going.

“If we stay here,” she continued, “our fate is already written.”

Her eyes moved across the room, meeting each of theirs.

“So I intend to lead an organized evacuation to a residential community called Paradise Falls. It is a neighborhood our company helped construct years ago.”

Murmurs immediately began to ripple through the room.

Brooke raised one hand, and the room fell silent again.

“We have received information from a… cooperative source,” she said carefully, “that the bandits currently harassing us fear the community at Paradise Falls.”

She leaned forward slightly.

“I cannot verify this information completely. But it is a better option than waiting here until we are overrun.”

Silence followed… no one argued. After all, they were all too aware of the rate of casualties sustained during the facility’s defense.

“So… rather than walk blindly into the snow, or wait until we are all killed or enslaved. I have taken it upon myself to lead our people to Paradise Falls, where we will negotiate with whomever is in charge there to help us reclaim this facility.”

Brook continued

“I need all of you to begin storing what supplies we still have in areas the bandits will not easily find. And to sabotage all of our equipment in a way that they cannot easily identify or repair. While still allowing us to effectively restart production once we have regained control over this area.”

The security and engineers looked at one another and silently nodded in agreement. It was difficult to achieve, but they could pull it off if they worked together. Meanwhile, Brooke took charge of what she was capable of doing herself.

“While you do this, Kelsey and I will take charge of the people in the foundry, organize their immediate evacuation, and pack up whatever supplies we can carry with us to Paradise Falls. The rest is either to be disposed of or hidden. Am I understood?”

Nobody dared to debate with the woman. It was thanks to her insight and leadership that they had survived this long.

And the security staff knew as well as she did they were too short staffed and outgunned to properly hold a large manufacturing plant and warehouse complex like the one they currently operated out of.

Because of this, the matter was settled before it could even be disputed.

—

Dean and the Peltasts cautiously followed the women they had found in the hospital. Gathering all the supplies and equipment that remained salvageable and stored.

They carried it out to their cargo sleds, packing up until they had reached maximum towing capacity.

Dean sat down on his seat, while Kalya tried to latch her arms around him from behind. Dean however immediately put a stop to it, as he gently shoved her away.

“No… I have enough problems with women to deal with. I don’t need another misunderstanding caused by carrying you back to Elysium. Get in one of the sleds, we’ll tow you and Emily together.”

The woman immediately gleaned some understanding as she muttered under her breath while harrumphing in disappointment.

“Katherine… you sneaky bitch.”

Dean simply scoffed and rolled his eyes, a gesture that was concealed beneath his blackout ballistic visor, while muttering silently to himself.

“She doesn’t even know what I look like… Women….”

While Dean had given a “reasonable” reason for denying the woman’s attempt to get close to him. The reality was, he did not yet trust the women and wanted them in a position where Dean and the Peltasts could keep an eye on them.

God forbid one of the women reach into the holster or sheath of him or one of the other young men while latched onto them from behind. That would be a nightmare scenario for them as they tried to return home.

Because of this, the women sat in one of the cargo sleds that still had some capacity left to tow. Away from any potential capability of causing harm to the group.

The peltast who was driving the snowmobile that towed their sled took the center, allowing the others to keep an eye on the women and their movements at all times as they drove off in formation down the slick snow dunes of the wasteland.

Light began to break through the cloud cover while sun began to rise. It was gentle and faint, but still strong enough to warrant the men switching off their nods and using their naked sight as they navigated the world around them.

Under ideal circumstances, the hospital was at most half an hour from Elysium’s borders. Less if in an emergency vehicle, and more if a civilian attempted to get there in congested traffic.

But by snowmobile over the wasteland’s frost tipped dunes, it was about how reckless one wanted to be.

Dean was as ever cautious, making sure they didn’t draw too much attention, and skirted through ruins and crested cliffs of packed snow. Because of this, the journey took them nearly twice as long as it would have.

And when they neared Elysium’s gates, Dean got on the secured frequency he and the hoplites used.

“Lochagos-Alpha, this is Archon-actual. I am returning with the Peltasts to the Agora, gather the hoplites. We are going to need the manpower to help transfer the supplies. We also have some unusual cargo that needs careful looking after.”

Daniel’s voice came through the static not long after.

“Archon-actual, I hear you loud and clear. I’ve got Mark and Josh on their way to secure the unusual cargo. As for everyone else, they’re on their way to help.”

Dean knew he could count on Daniel to understand the meaning behind his words. And because of that, Kayla and Emily would be immediately secured away from the population of Elysium until Katherine could confirm their identities and trustworthiness.

As for the rest of the cargo, the Peltasts and Hoplites would help transfer it to the infirmary beneath Dean’s house and then get some much needed rest.

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