Surviving the Apocalypse

Disputes

Everyone on the team to secure the supplies rushed to catalogue and distribute the supplies each team would be getting, the 5 piles growing rapidly as all 5 leaders quickly agreed on weights and did the calculations that would make it even for everyone. The difficulty arose when they found a stockpile of weapons, the three Camps Hanna had just met strongly arguing they should be allowed to take them as their security was a joke compared to Camp Hope and Epsilon. Hanna didn't care one iota about the weapons, as she realized it was an emergency military supply. When she got to the back of the crates of guns and ammunition however, she found several crates with missiles in them meant for the 3 drones that were disassembled and stored there.

"We need weapons as well." Crystal said loudly as there were 4 crates of guns as well as 4 crates of ammunition to go with them.

Hanna walked up as the 4 angrily looked at each other. "What seems to be the issue?" she asked looking between them.

"There aren't enough weapons or ammunition to split evenly between us. Someone will be left out." William said evenly as each of the others agreed with them as the rest of the teams worked trying to ignore it.

"I don't see an issue at all. Camp Hope has no need for these guns or the ammunition. That leaves 4 crates to be split between 4 Camps. One crate of weapons and one of ammunition each." Hanna said as Crystal looked at her.

"What would make it equal for you though? Surely you cannot say you don't need the guns and ammo?" she asked as Hanna pointed at 6 other crates that were where she had left them.

"Do any of you have use for drones?" she asked them as each of them slowly shook their heads. "Than it will be even, as Camp Hope does. You each have a crate of weapons and ammo each, Camp Hope will also provide 100 tons of these supplies to each of you to correct the imbalance of what the drones creates in our favor. If we are to each find this successful enough to repeat in the future as allies, we must find a compromise that works for everyone. Is it?" she asked them.

Crystal was the first to nod, knowing that an additional 100 tons of food for equipment they couldn't even utilize was more than fair. "Camp Epsilon has no issue with it."

Zachary however glared at her as he saw the drones were actually military grade and weaponized. "Why should we allow you to take military hardware like that? Especially when it could be used against us?" he demanded.

Hanna actually laughed at his insinuation. "Zachary, Camp Hope has one enemy only. The zombies. We have no desire or need to attack anyone willing to fight the zombies with us, or anyone just attempting to survive. The only time our arsenal will be turned against the living, is if they attempt to attack us or prevent us from eradicating the zombies." Hanna declared firmly. "We don't need the guns or ammunition because we have more than we can utilize at the moment. If you have use for them to defend your Camps, take them with our blessing. Those drones represent a capability that WE can utilize in our near and long term objectives to eliminate what threatens us all." she said as the others finished distributing the supplies before Lucas began separating the supplies Hanna had promised them.

"Again, why should we allow it and not destroy them?" he asked as Hanna smiled.

"Team one to base," she said activating her encrypted radio. "Land one in the building." she said as the others looked confused before they heard the buzzing sound get closer to the ground before a reconnaissance drone entered the warehouse and landed in the middle of the pathway without shutting down. "Because they do not represent an ability we do not already possess. They are merely an upgrade that we can deploy that will increase our capability to strike at the zombies more effectively." she said before motioning to it to takeoff which it did before it disappeared out the door and into the sky.

"You actually have people that can pilot them?" Crystal asked.

Hanna shrugged as she looked at them. "Just as we have people utilizing the research data we collected from the lab. Armor, weapons systems, effective bombs to kill zombies. Everything Camp Hope does is to achieve a safe place for ALL survivors to flourish. You can join us and share in the wealth we hope to achieve. You can oppose us and be destroyed, or leave us the f**k alone and we will return the favor to you. The living are not our enemy, nor should they be yours."

"You are making bombs?" William asked making Hanna smile as Lucas approached.

"Yes, we are. Anti personnel ones designed to kill zombies using plasma bolts that rain down from the sky and cover hundreds of square feet at once. As I said, those don't represent something we do not already possess, they are merely upgrades to equipment and capability that will benefit us all." Hanna told them.

"What other capabilities do we not know about?" Zachary asked remembering the drone flying into the building itself.

"Why should we share our secrets with you?" Lucas asked him bluntly.

Hanna held up a hand to prevent the argument. "The capabilities of Camp Hope are not up for discussion." She said as they heard the trucks rumble into the warehouse parking area. All of them surprised when her cargo trucks were military grade vehicles that would be more than enough to carry their share of supplies in one load. "What is up for discussion, is if any of you wish to become allies. Sharing information and trading for supplies and equipment, as we fully intend to liberate the ammunition production capabilities of that warehouse there." She said pointing to the factory that was right behind this warehouse.

Crystal smiled as she looked at Hanna. "Camp Epsilon would be more than happy to join an alliance with your Camp. We also have no issue with you utilizing the drones if you have the ability."

"Camp Dawn will join your alliance as well." William said looking at her. "It is more than apparent that you are far more prepared for this than any of us seem to be."

Zachary mumbled something under his breath as he looked at the crate full of drone missiles. "We will not oppose you in taking the drones in exchange for the food, but we will not be joining an alliance at this time. We would however be open to trade, if you have anything worth while." he said quickly.

"Brookhaven Camp will join your alliance. It is clear that you have more to trade than just supplies and equipment. Those walls you constructed saved us a lot of time and headache reaching here in the first place." Norman Vance said as the first of their trucks pulled in and each team began loading the supplies that they had gathered.

Hanna looked around and saw there were a bunch of crates full of equipment that wasn't weapons or ammunition, all of it left by the teams that needed food more than they needed radios, boots or the other equipment that filled half the warehouse. "We can teach you to make those walls yourselves, as it is the result of an earth manipulation ability. They really aren't difficult, once you have people that reach level 3." she told them as Zachary looked at her surprised.

"Level 3 abilities?" he asked her.

"Yes, level 3. Comes after level 2 and represents a massive power boost for the individual. That however pales in comparison to level 4 or even level 5." she told him as his eyes went wide in surprise.

"Level 5 is impossible." he replied making Hanna laugh.

"No, it isn't. Especially when you perfect the creation of the Evojuice and have the ability to take a dose each day. It is only a matter of time before you level up." Lucas told him. "Would you like a demonstration of a level 4 ability?" he asked with a smile that showed he dared the man to challenge him.

"How about a level 3?" Zachary said looking at the others on the Camp Hope team.

Lucas laughed as he looked at Hammond. "You still a 3 Greg?" he asked.

"No sir, level 4 as of this morning." Hammond replied.

"Sorry, we would have to go back to our Camp to accommodate that." Lucas said as the 4 leaders looked at them shocked.

"Seriously?" Crystal asked surprised.

Hanna shrugged. "Most in our Camp are now reaching level 3. Those who have focused and trained are either level 5 already or are approaching it swiftly. For those in the alliance, we will even give you a discount on the Evojuice. 5 Heart Crystals per dose, each one at the same purity as what is here." she said making 8 boxes of 50 appear. Each group a stack of 2 for them to take back to their Camps. "This will allow those of you who haven't determined it's worth already to do so. The frequency we use for communication is located on the lid of each box. I suggest each of you finds a way to secure a route to the research lab for now, as it will be made into a secured meeting place."

Crystal grabbed one of the small stacks, placing them into the storage space her ability gave her. "How long do you need to produce the doses we requested?" she asked.

"It will take 2 days for us to prepare 1,000 doses based on the new price structure. If you have other allies, inform them the cost per dose is 10 until our Camp has had an opportunity to decide if we will be allies with them as well." Hanna told them as all of the teams finished loading their supplies.

"If there is nothing else, we will be taking our leave. We will consider your offer of an alliance carefully." Zachary said before his team began loading into their three trucks and left.

The others quickly followed, leaving Hanna and her team staring at the warehouse full of equipment that wasn't immediately useful. Hanna however took it all anyway before they too got in their trucks and went to the factory, intent on clearing it as well as taking the equipment they vitally needed.