Alan's convoy drove up a hill and headed toward the entrance of the Carisbad Dam, a place with fully equipped facilities, large but not too tall buildings, and a secure zone that essentially functioned as a base.
Access to the area was via a hill road that led to some buildings, presumably where the dam workers had once lived.
Surrounded by a vast forest, the dam and large rivers made this place ideal for settlement and fortification.
A few infected sprinted toward them at full speed, but they couldn't reach the convoy after a few minutes. However, due to the long journey, the fuel they had added to the vehicles' tanks was running low.
When they neared the Carisbad Dam camp, Alan gradually brought the truck to a stop. The entire group was to establish themselves at this location.
The cabins were spacious enough to accommodate hundreds of people. Though it looked like a camp, Alan assumed it once housed the families of dam workers.
Without a doubt, if they could defend this place, they wouldn't need much more to keep pushing forward. It's true they could reclaim territory slowly, but this location would serve as the base for all future plans.
According to Joel, this dam was similar to one in California, designed by the same architect, and its operation system was one of the most up-to-date.
Alan stepped out of the truck, and the soldiers behind him set up a perimeter and headed toward the cabins.
Abandoned suitcases could be seen on the sides of the road, along with deserted vehicles and traces of blood on the ground. Clearly, the infection had reached this place too.
Alan looked at the dam in the distance, nestled between two hills, and below, the buildings where the work had been managed.
His mind was already spinning with numerous plans to hold off infected coming from the hills, different defense strategies, and of course, what they could achieve.
"This is without a doubt a good place. Since there's still fuel at the bases, we could bring all our military equipment and fortify this location." Kaplan was thinking the same as Alan, though he wasn't as desperate.
"First, let's find out why there aren't any infected in front of us."
When they reached the camp, Tommy looked around the empty site seriously. There were many places where people could take shelter—this was an ideal location and would be the first choice for anyone familiar with it.
Of course, maybe someone had already cleared out the infected, in which case that person would be an anomaly they needed to consider.
"Be careful. Let's go in and take a look." Alan lowered his helmet visor and crossed the fence.
They walked for five or six minutes and approached a small lake not far from the river. Alan assumed it was artificial, likely created for recreational fishing.
It wasn't common, but workers needed to eat, and things like this made their days more varied.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Where's that coming from?" A series of gunshots rang out not far from the camp, seemingly from the buildings below the dam. Alan had been a bit disoriented from recent battles where he hadn't been careful with his hearing, so he quickly sought confirmation.
"There's movement below the hill, right by the buildings," Tommy said as he adjusted the scope on his rifle. He could see infected on the move.
Kaplan pulled back his assault rifle that had been aimed in that direction and said confidently, "Those are assault rifle shots. That's not good."
"Of course not…" Alan agreed with Kaplan. Being military no longer meant being safe. "Clear the area. Eliminate all infected without taking unnecessary risks. We need to save those people."
"Understood."
"We've got it, Captain." Corporal Kaplan led his men and quickly opened a path down the hill where some infected were visible.
Joel, seeing the soldiers move forward, approached Alan and asked, "What will you do when you lose control of this whole place?"
Alan didn't look at Joel as he walked toward the sound of the gunfire. "You worry too much about the future, Joel."
"If more soldiers come, this incredible place we found will be taken over by them, and we might be pushed aside. Tell me—do you have a good reason to let that happen?" Joel's cold tone was razor-sharp.
"They're Rangers. They came for me to be taken to a nearby military base. I know the general. I know his secrets. He was more than a father—he was a friend. So, I'll make things clear." Alan stopped, stared straight at Joel, and said, "This place is way too big."
"We can protect it."
"Don't be arrogant, Joel. Your rage blinds you." For the first time, Alan spoke bluntly to Joel and then continued, "It's a big place, but do you know why they want me? The general expects me to lead all these men for him. And if that doesn't happen, my men—the ones I trained and prepared—are in those military bases waiting for me."
"How many?"
"Entire special forces teams. They'll undoubtedly support me. But if they don't, we have a trump card—and that card is the dam." Alan pointed at the dam, that massive wall holding back the water.
Joel looked down and asked, "You wouldn't…"
"Oh, I would. Just a few bombs on that wall, and I'd have total control of the base like it's some damn dictatorship…" Alan's mind was far more vicious, cruel, and cold than Joel's anger over his daughter's death—he didn't want to be underestimated.
"Sorry… I just needed to be sure…"
"There'll come a time for us to mourn our losses, Joel… I miss my brother too."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
In the distance, Alan watched as the spectacle began.