Claire Chapman wouldn’t speak in front of Paige Summers, but he knew he couldn’t hide the truth from Marcus Monroe.
Marcus hadn’t summoned him back merely to explain things to Paige Summers.
"You already know, don’t you? The Southern Front is about to fall!"
Marcus Monroe gave a slight nod.
He’d received word a few days ago. The number of mutated Zombies on the Southern Front had suddenly spiked, and The Power Corps was struggling to hold them back. That was why he had intensified his team’s training, pushing them to their absolute limits.
Claire Chapman let out a heavy sigh. "Just as I thought... What’s your plan?"
Marcus Monroe tilted his head in thought. "How many more people is Maisie Joyce planning to send as reinforcements?"
"Around a thousand. That’s the most she can muster."
If the Southern Front falls, those Zombies will have a straight shot into Southreach’s territory. A thousand people... it’s far too few! Marcus Monroe frowned. "Does this have to do with the people stirring up trouble near Southreach?"
Claire Chapman gave a wry smile. "Can’t hide anything from you, can I? That’s right, the situation has been tense. We’ve finally sorted things out inside the city, more or less, but now the areas outside are becoming unstable again. Those people are elusive as ghosts. We’ve sent out several Southern Army detachments, but they failed to catch them and even suffered casualties. Maisie Joyce can only hold back for now. The Southern Front needs reinforcing, but Southreach needs defending too."
Marcus Monroe nodded. "I’ve already contacted Stoneridge and a few other bases. Bloodfall will send a hundred people, and the others can contribute a combined two hundred. In total, three hundred of our people will set out with the Southern Army."
Claire Chapman was stunned. "You’ve already made preparations?!"
"What else?" Marcus Monroe glanced up. "Wiping out the Zombies is a matter of life and death for everyone, not just Southreach’s responsibility. That’s the public line, anyway. The truth is, I have no faith in the Southern Army’s strength. If they can’t hold the line, Southreach will likely fall with it. Losing that shield would be too great a risk for Bloodfall."
The corner of Claire Chapman’s mouth twitched.
’Brutally honest!’
’If The Power Corps was routed and Southreach fell, there was no telling how many more Zombies would pour in. That would be a disaster for every base.’
Marcus Monroe paused, then added, "I’m going this time, too."
Claire Chapman froze.
"You’re going too? But Bloodfall..."
Marcus Monroe waved it away. "I know. Plenty of people have their eyes on our base. But the Southern Front is more urgent. You of all people should understand that. I originally planned to hide this from Paige Summers. Your visit today, however, tells me the situation is dire. So, I’ll have to tell her. She’s the only one who can defend the base now."
Claire Chapman lowered his gaze, hiding the worry in his eyes.
’He didn’t want to admit it, but Marcus Monroe was right.
Maisie Joyce was in a tough spot when it came to sending reinforcements.
For one, she was short on people. For another, she lacked a suitable commander.
She had originally hoped Keith Preston would lead the troops himself, but, unsurprisingly, he refused.
Her relationship with Keith Preston wasn’t as close as outsiders thought. They were just using each other.
Of course, Keith Preston did admire her to an extent and felt a certain loyalty from their past, but none of that was more important than his own power. Southreach had only just stabilized. He was surely worried that if he left, he would return to a completely different situation.
That was precisely why Maisie Joyce had proposed marriage to him—it was simply a way to use him to keep Keith Preston in check. Of course, he had his own selfish reasons for agreeing, that was a given, but thankfully it didn’t interfere with the greater good.
He had considered going on the Zombie-clearing mission himself, but then people had started snooping around outside the city again.
It looked like they were after the defensive perimeter...
This forced both him and Maisie Joyce to be extra vigilant.
The defensive perimeter was arguably one of the most critical parts of Southreach’s defense. If it was breached, the losses would be immense!
Frankly, he had indeed hoped Marcus Monroe would take charge of this expedition, but he kept going back and forth on it, unable to decide.
Paige Summers was pregnant. Leaving her with the responsibility of protecting the entire base... he couldn’t rest easy about it.’
And yet, today, Marcus Monroe had proposed it himself...
"Don’t worry. I know Paige Summers better than you do. She can handle it," Marcus Monroe said.
Claire Chapman forced a smile. "In that case, take your people and go as soon as you can. I’ll talk to Maisie Joyce. Entrusting those thousand soldiers to you is the best choice."
"We’ll arrive outside Southreach in four days!"
After they reached an agreement, Claire Chapman didn’t see Paige Summers again, heading straight back to Southreach instead.
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