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🕑 Added 2025-06-18 09:07:40 +0000 UTCStay Alive
Chapter 72 – A Starting Point
All this time, Alan had only done what he could. He was just a simple man with tactical knowledge—nothing fantastical. He made mistakes like anyone else and carried unnecessary guilt, which made him seem more human than people claimed him to be.
Even though the idea of reclaiming Texas seemed impossible, there was still a chance that this idea wouldn't be discarded in the future.
If many agreed, he would be a good leader. No one else could shoulder the kind of responsibility this required.
In a room where the most select individuals had been gathered, among them was Brion, who led all the soldiers that had joined later on.
Also present was John, who had assumed leadership of the military at the base Alan had stayed at over the past few weeks. He was accompanied by Stuart, practically his left hand.
Further back was Tommy, whom Alan had deemed a perfect candidate for managing the masses and keeping people informed with the kind of words they might need to hear. As for the work team, Joel, their leader, was also present.
Claire, who was in charge of the numbers, was also in the room.
All these talented individuals were waiting for one person—the one who had originally brought them together to prepare for this end-of-the-world scenario that had taken most people by surprise.
While they waited, one man in the group began to speak out of boredom and said, "At least we won’t be paying taxes anymore. I was about to go bankrupt with all those expenses."
"Weren’t you an arms dealer?"
"That was out of necessity. My real business was laundering money for certain people who gave me great returns." The man shook his head as if his past crimes no longer mattered.
Tommy, looking at everyone gathered there, realized this would be the structure Alan would use to lead the group of survivors in the future. And being here meant he held an important role in what was to come.
“We’ve got reports that Atlanta has been bombed. Los Angeles is expected to be attacked in the coming days, so we don’t have much time to move all the resources to the massive ships docked on the coast,” Stuart steered the conversation toward critical matters that required expert input.
Joel, ever the sharpest, immediately said, “If we want to move quickly, we need to merge with the Coast Guard. They have real knowledge of the sea and would handle those ships better than the few experts we currently have.”
“The problem is getting them to come with us. Many won’t trust us, and others simply won’t leave their so-called safe zones,” John replied, shaking his head, aware of the downsides and time constraints.
“So, just us fleeing to that giant island? We’ll need the Coast Guard—they have more sea knowledge than any of us. They’d be our strongest support,” Riya cut through the noise and clarified the key point.
Stuart, who had gone quiet, finally said, “In that case, we’ll mobilize the military and pull in the Coast Guard. As far as they know, we’re still the military authority in the country.”
It was a good plan. They were still soldiers, and they had the power to mobilize the nearby bases to grow their numbers.
But there was one problem: loyalty. What guaranteed they wouldn’t be betrayed by the men who so easily agreed to join them?
“That can be solved with a bomb.” At that moment, a voice came from behind the still-closed door. Alan appeared, his hands newly bandaged.
His messy hair, distant eyes, and sharp stare made him look older than he really was. His gaze swept over everyone in the room, and before sitting down, he said: “I’m Alan—the man who brought all of you here and made contact with each of you.”
The only ones who didn’t know him well were Joel’s group, but seeing no one surprised, he admired how everyone respected him.
“We can't fully control Texas… As you’ll see, we’ve been attacked from two major cities, and the Mexican border collapsed long ago. We don’t have time to consider who is or isn’t fit to lead, but before we continue, I want one thing to be clear,” Alan said as he sat in one of the empty chairs.
He was about to make it clear that he would remain the leader—no one else could take on his responsibilities, because no one else understood the future like he did.
“From now on, my orders will go through all of you, and you’ll be the ones responsible for executing them. I’m not asking for your opinions because I don’t need them. I think I’ve shown enough to prove I’m not unfit. You’ll each have the freedom to make decisions during crises. You’ll learn how I think and when to consult me—and when not to.”
Immediately after saying that, Alan added: “We only have one path forward—our own survival. I have data showing that every country in the world has fallen into chaos. In the coming months, the armies we once considered global powers will vanish—along with many opportunities.”
Alan displayed real data through a projector and said, “These are the opportunities we have at sea. We’ll need them if we ever want to reclaim our lands or expand our territory.”
A plan to reclaim Texas.
“To the world, I’ll be the absolute leader of this organization called the Renewal Colony, a name that will represent the future for many,” Alan said as he handed out the ranks everyone would hold within the group—and surprisingly, no one refused.
Stuart looked at Alan, acknowledging him as the most suitable person to issue orders, and asked, “Where do we start?”
“We’ll need to annex all the coastal bases. I’m sure we’ll be able to seize some military ships if we act quickly,” Alan said, pointing to the map and all the opportunities they had.
As for the last secret base, Alan had specific plans for it. It would also be the main source of electricity for all their bases in Texas.
