Around five hundred soldiers stood silently before Alan. All of them knew their families had now been relocated to safer areas. Some had lost a father or mother, but others had managed to get their children or even pets to safety—something that was asking a lot in a situation like this.
"Your families are being evacuated to safe places. There's nothing to worry about right now," Alan said, trying to be as direct as possible—he needed to wrap this up quickly.
"Where will the people who aren't going to the central base be sent? That's all we want to know before we follow the plans you've shared. We just want to confirm they'll be safe," asked Cole, speaking on behalf of the others.
"A safe place? Nowhere is truly safe after the military decides to bomb cities with white phosphorus and the most destructive explosives available in order to wipe out massive hordes of infected. If you ask me, the locations I've chosen for the shelters are the best there are. The coasts are vital, but given the situation, even those aren't safe—we'll be the ones to make them safe."
Alan stepped forward, facing the men now under his command, and said, "Today, we declare war on FEDRA. We will take full control of Texas and eliminate anyone who stands in our way."
After saying this, Alan pointed to Daniel beside him and added, "As some of you may have heard, from now on there will be three people authorized to speak on my behalf… One of them is Tommy, who coordinates everything at the central base. The second is Joel, who along with Stuart is taking over the abandoned bases. And finally, John Rambo, who stands by my side."
"I don't get it—why hide the fact that you're the leader?" Cole asked again, voicing the question on everyone's mind.
Alan smiled and replied, "Because I'm irreplaceable. If I die, all of Texas will fall into crisis."
"From now on, I'll be the spokesperson. Everyone must follow my orders," John said. With his experience in guerrilla warfare, he understood how vital a capable commander was—and Alan was far too important to be exposed to FEDRA.
That was one of the reasons Alan had chosen him, just as he had chosen Riya to act as the public liaison. One left hand, one right hand to guide the people, while Stuart and Joel would fill the true leadership roles.
The more confusing parts would become clearer once everything was in place, but for now, with the resources available, this was the best Alan could do.
To build a strong structure, he needed people willing to do anything to protect themselves and their loved ones. It would be foolish to surround himself with just anyone.
"So, what are your orders?"
Alan looked around and said, "Once the high-priority individuals are settled in the strategically established bases, we'll sever all communication with FEDRA. We'll use the uninfected survivors to evacuate supplies, and then we'll take Padre Island as a key refuge."
He had thought about it for a long time, and that island was to become the emergency base Alan envisioned. Once cleared of infected, not only would they be out of reach of the infection, but also the enemy. They only needed to seize control of the coast guard and begin moving soldiers to retake the island as soon as possible.
"That island is practically a city. What will we do if we can't completely clear it?" asked Sergeant Castro, who was familiar with the area.
Alan, already aware of the challenge, replied, "First, we'll take the nearby uninhabited islands. Then we'll move on to the bigger ones."
Everyone fell silent at these statements.
But they all knew an island was their best shot at staying out of the infection's grasp—if they could protect it. If they managed to establish themselves there, it would be a starting point to gradually take over nearby areas without fear of attack.
"Everyone, return to your usual tasks. The operation will begin in a few days," said Alan. After making sure he had everyone's attention, he returned to the place he was staying to finalize the report outlining his plans once they secured the area.
But when he got back, he found Riya holding a bottle of tequila. "You came back earlier than yesterday. Is it about to begin?"
"Are you drunk?" Alan was surprised by Riya's unusually forward demeanor.
Riya shook her head and said, "How about we have a drink?"
"This isn't the time to drink."
"Didn't you used to love this tequila?"
Alan thought about those past moments and replied, "I need to stay alert. Once we declare full independence and cut off all communication with FEDRA, they might even attack us."
"You've got that under control. So what are those anti-aircraft guns being set up for, then?"
Hearing that, Alan smiled at the bold personality of the woman he had once loved. No—he still felt the same way as he did months ago.