Leonard pauses, considering Walker’s story and his own recent experiences. He’s not sure what or how much to tell Walker and once again feels caught in the middle of two groups vying for his control. Every side has its story and, to each party, their reasons seem right. He didn’t hear anything that would cause Walker’s group to be targeted, but he may not be telling the whole story either. He lengthens his pause waiting for what Walker’s plan for him is.
He notes Walker watching him, waiting for him to reply. When nothing is forthcoming, Walker shrugs.
“If they know the details about us that they apparently do, then there’s a good chance that they might know about you. I just thought you should know as it could increase your danger as well. How is your expedition faring?” Walker asks.
This isn’t exactly where he thought Walker was heading with this conversation. There isn’t a talk to take sides, or really much mention of ‘sides’. So far, it’s just been imparting information without any leading statements or trying to guide the conversation in a certain direction. Leonard relaxes his stance slightly and tells of their travels down the seaboard.
“We sent a group your way two days ago,” Leonard says, relating to the small group they rescued.
“I hope they made it. I’ll check on them when I return,” Walker responds.
“What are your plans upon leaving here?” Leonard asks.
“We still have a group out. They should be somewhere between Peterson AFB and Luke AFB. We’re going to locate them and bring them home. The plan is to then conduct a flyby of the facility I mentioned to get a closer look. We’ll plan based on what we see. Are you still thinking of Hawaii after San Diego?”
“I’m not sure what we’re planning after that. Like you, we’ll base our decision on what we find,” Leonard answers.
“We won’t have the sat comms, but we’ll make periodic forays out your way if possible and try to stay in touch that way. Is there anything you need?” Walker asks.
“Thanks, but I think we’re good for now,” Leonard replies, still cautious, waiting for Walker’s appeal for the sub to join his side.
“Okay, we’ll come down as much as possible and give you a jingle. That’s until Spring rolls around. Then we’ll be grounded. If there’s anything you need prior to then, let us know and we’ll assist if we can. Good luck to you, Leonard,” Walker says, reaching to shake his hand.
Leonard returns the shake and watches as Walker turns and begins heading back up the beach toward his team.
“Walker…Jack, wait,” Leonard calls out, having reached a decision.
Walker looks over his shoulder. Upon his return, Leonard tells him of the messages they received and the target they were given.
Walker pauses, staring intensely at Leonard. “Well, I can’t say that I like that news much. I’m glad you didn’t turn north.”
“It didn’t seem right. I concur that we’re dealing with a rogue group and it’s apparent they have DoD file access. We’re still heading to our home port and not sure where we’re going from there but, I’ll make the same offer to you. If you need anything, give us a call. If we have to go deep, we’ll make sure and come to periscope depth at dawn, noon, and sundown if possible,” Leonard states; the two groups are now working together.
He knows that there will still need to be a conversation about leadership but sees that Walker seems to understand this as well. Leonard is content with that for the moment.
“Thank you, Captain. That’s very much appreciated. And thanks for not lobbing missiles at us.”
“Jack, keep in mind that we won’t be able to arrive at a moment’s notice, nor do we carry armament capable of taking out a bunker of the magnitude you mentioned,” Leonard states.
“Duly noted. You and your crew are welcome north anytime. I know you mentioned that we need to have further conversations, and I welcome it. To be honest, between you and me, I’m tired and ready to throw a hammock up between two palm trees and call it good.”
“I’ll be fighting you for those palm trees. Good luck with picking up your team,” Leonard says.
“And you with your search,” Walker says.
Walker looks over Leonard’s shoulder in the direction of the chief’s team and nods. He then turns and begins marching through the sand towards his team. Leonard watches for a moment longer and then does the same.
Gav watches the video replay the control room sent to her laptop. She had directed the personnel there to continue watching for the Santa Fe. She read their reply verifying receipt of their first message but nothing upon sending the second one…the one targeting Walker and his group. She knows they received it but chose not to reply. She had focused the satellite surveillance on both the northern coastlines of Oregon and Washington and the southern shores of California. She ordered both to be covered as she needed to know which avenue the Santa Fe would take regarding the target mission.
Looking at the screen, she has her answer. They chose to disregard the instructions sent. There is a small chance they never received the communication, but she doubts it. On the monitor, she watches as a C-130 from the camp A-US-1 flies down the coastline and lands. Fast forwarding to the location of the video given by the control room, she witnesses the Santa Fe surfacing near where the Hercules landed. Watching the events unfold, she is not happy. She knows that her game is up in that arena. She played her hand there and lost again.
A lifetime of successes and now this. This is the worst possible time for things to start going wrong, she thinks, reaching over to stop the video.
She isn’t used to failure and is doubly frustrated by the timing of having to deal with it.
Returning to the sub, Leonard opts to travel inside of the Channel Islands. He is satisfied with his decision regarding Walker and that the two groups help each other. He is nervous over the technological advantage of the rogue group. The anxiety is alleviated to an extent considering the limited force Walker says they have. It doesn’t appear they can strike back quickly without traveling great distances and then all Leonard has to do is put out to sea.
That’s assuming Walker has told him everything. He’ll still operate on the cautious side just in case. He offered help to the northern group, but that doesn’t mean he wants to get caught up in a battle between the groups. It’s funny how quick humankind returns to that form of conduct when dealing with each other — might makes right.
Perhaps there’s only a small remnant of those types that made it through the downfall.
Leonard hopes this isn’t going to be the norm for the last traces of humanity. He doesn’t agree with the use of force as an initial tool, but has no hesitation whatsoever about using it to protect his crew. And, if it really came down to it, humankind. The story Walker told, if true, is a chilling one. Contingencies and theories are one thing, but actually putting something into practice like that… purposely bringing about the downfall of humanity… is downright evil. Leonard briefs his officers on the meeting and the decision he reached.
Oil derricks dot the open water as the Santa Fe makes its way south. Rugged hills hugging the shoreline give way to towns where the hills open up. Strands of pristine beach, miles long, front the large cities with beachfront houses and businesses running right up to the edge. Between the large settlements, bluffs rise abruptly out of the water with rough hills and deep valleys beyond.
Rounding the Malibu point, the metropolis of Los Angeles opens up — twenty miles of beach and waterfront property. The buildings of the past civilization stretching over twice that far inland and farther south past the cliffs of Palos Verdes. Most of that is lost from sight due to the curvature of the earth as Leonard looks through the periscope. He notes the lack of the brown haze that usually sits over the megalopolis.