In a wide open space, around a thousand people had gathered. They all wore military-green pants, boots, and T-shirts, with identification tags hanging around their necks.
As they couldn't leave key areas unprotected, most of the people remained on watch duties, while the rest gathered in that place. It's important to note that many of those on watch had accompanied Jason on his adventures before settling in the Atlanta refuge, so they didn't need to hear his words again.
In front of the new group of people gathered before Jason stood ten individuals: the squad leaders of one hundred soldiers. Shane, with a serious expression, was by his side. They all silently observed the commander, waiting for what he had to say.
No one knew how much time had passed until Jason, still motionless, touched his right shoulder where he had tied an identification bandana. Then he exclaimed, "Rest!"
At the command, everyone slightly spread their legs to the right and placed their hands behind their backs, assuming the resting position. Jason continued, "Since society fell to the hands of that deadly virus, we all learned something very important: the value of life!"
As he stared at those before him, his eyes hardened. "My squad and I were on a covert mission to protect the CDC, but it was all in vain. The chain of command collapsed."
"I worked hard to make this possible in a world where opportunities were shut off! Perhaps I crossed paths with some of you on the way, maybe I taught you to survive and face reality. Some of you don't know me, and that doesn't matter. The only thing you need to know is that I'm your superior, and my orders should not be questioned."
"I don't know how the hell a virus managed to wipe out humanity, nor do I understand how we couldn't contain its spread. But I do know one thing: we're here, and from this moment on, we're no longer fighting just to survive against walkers or the virus."
Jason didn't know how, but the words flowed from his mouth, expressing all the thoughts he had inside, sharing the message he wanted to convey to everyone. Then, he touched the bandana on his shoulder again and exclaimed, "Today we stop fighting for survival!"
"Today, you stop fighting for survival!"
"Today, we begin a fight against all odds to pave a safe path for humanity! I know many of you won't understand our vision for the future, but you must remember one thing: we don't need two orders leading the world! We will not cede the fate of the people to a group of powerful individuals who only seek their own benefit and leave us to fate."
"Today, everyone in the S.C.T. community is equal! If you want to take back the world and slowly rebuild what we've lost, don't hesitate to follow me. I'm sure that, amidst this darkness, we'll see flashes of songs lighting our future once again."
After those words, Jason saluted and shouted, "We protect the future, we pave the way, and we destroy our enemies! We strengthen ourselves under the blood of the walkers, and when they touch one of ours, they will suffer the harshest of revenge!"
Many of the soldiers had teary eyes. Even those just beginning their military training trembled—not from fear, but from emotion. All, without exception, felt the blood boiling in their veins. The impact of Jason's words was engraved in their hearts.
Returning the military salute to their commander, they shouted in unison, "We protect the future, we pave the way, and we destroy our enemies! We strengthen ourselves under the blood of the walkers, and when they touch one of ours, they will suffer the harshest of revenge!"
Hearing those words from everyone present, Jason smiled coldly. Nothing else mattered. Now that he had total command of the soldiers in his community, the rest would be easy. Even if the CRM knocked on their door, their community couldn't be ignored. The most important thing: no one suspected that three major communities were being led by the same person.
However, Jason knew that if an organization like the CRM appeared in his territory, he would have no choice but to listen. If their proposals were fair to both sides, he'd have no problem considering them.
Still, he understood that trust could be good, but mistrust was better. That's why he worked hard on plans to ensure that, in the future, he wouldn't fear a community like the CRM, whose true motives remained a mystery.
With a satisfied expression, Jason said, "Alright, break ranks and get back to work!"
"Yes, sir!"
As Jason turned with Shane, he asked, "How's the training of the new soldiers going?"
"Hmm... They're good. In the future, they'll be the strongest weapon of this community. They've all lost something, and they fight for the little they have left. At first, no one believed they had what it took to be soldiers, but the instructors guided them well. When they're ready, they'll be sent to the Atlanta base for real combat experience."
Jason, who was still speaking, was interrupted by Shane, who turned his head upon hearing the voice of a woman approaching them with a slight smile. It was Anna from Jeffrey's refuge. She approached and said, "I heard you arrived earlier than expected, how did it go inspiring the soldiers?"
Jason, with a slight smile, replied while observing the woman he hadn't initially thought would get so far. "Anna, I must say it was really an easy task. They'll all make good soldiers, according to Shane's words. And you? What do you think about Shane replacing you as the leader of this refuge?"
Hearing Jason's words, Anna smiled faintly and looked at Shane with a mischievous glance. "I don't care who leads us, Shane has a very strong mentality and seems to know well the difficulties of surviving out there."
Jason, with a teasing smile, said, "Mmm, am I the only one who thinks you'd make a good couple?"
Rolling her eyes, she pointed to Shane. "Shane, you should consider having a lot of kids, don't forget we need to repopulate the world."
Hearing this, Shane looked at Anna, then shook his head. "If you're interested in repopulating Earth, you should start looking for a girlfriend."
Jason laughed in amusement. "Hahaha, for now, I have no intentions of settling down, but it seems you're already making progress on that."
Shane, a little uncomfortable, put his arm around Jason jokingly. "If you keep bothering me, I'll have to go supervise the construction work."
Jason smiled, returning to the serious subject. "Alright, fine. Tell me about the facilities being developed here. I haven't been able to review the information lately."
"As you can see, we have large areas where we can plant crops. We also have water filters, and although we can't extract water here, we have nearby sources."
"The best part is that we can generate energy using solar panels and store it in batteries. So, even if the weather fails, we'll have enough energy to maintain communication and keep the mechanical departments running."
"We have all sorts of departments: sewing, mechanics, crops, management, administration, communications, and others where new weapons are modified and created to eliminate walkers," Anna said, joining the important discussion.
Anna fell silent, and it was Shane who continued. "The most important thing is that we're working on special weapons and methods to deal with large numbers of walkers. Some have ideas for creating sophisticated suits that protect us from bites and prevent the virus infection."
Jason nodded thoughtfully, then said, "The suits must be any color, except black or white."
Shane, confused, asked, "Why is the color important?"
Before Jason could answer, Anna said, "Don't worry, the chosen color is gray, but it could also be green."
"That's good..." Jason replied, somewhat relieved, and said, "Well, then I'll go inspect the base and add some advice to the report."
After that, Jason walked alone to inspect the surroundings of the base. The place was good, and for now, the defenses were well-established before the territory expanded.