Conference
By the time Tom had cleaned himself up from the goblin fight and made his way to the conference room all of the other heads of departments had gathered in the conference room with Brian and Derek. A seat at the head of the table had been left open for Tom and Brian indicated he should sit there facing everyone else. Moving to take his seat, he leaned back in the office chair and let out a groan as he sat down.
"Alright, we need to talk about everything that's going on. I meant to have more of these meetings with you all and I apologize for not taking the initiative to carve out more time for that. I promise to make this more of a priority so that we can ensure everything is progressing in the best way possible." Tom began, scanning the room to make eye contact with everyone present from his laid-back position.
"Thank you, Tom," Brian spoke from his left. "I'm very pleased that you feel this way. I've been doing everything I can, but I would really like that we all make decisions together as that leaves me with less to have to figure out on my own."
"So, first order of business for this meeting is going to be what just happened. This is most important because it's a matter of guild safety. None of you, save Derek, have met Jeffery yet. He was the mayor of Decatur when we first came through and he was running the town like some sort of Smallville bullshit trying to keep the people in a state of ignorance and allowing his own son to keep the town safe by fighting off the monsters while the citizens just went about their daily lives." Tom began recounting how they had first encountered Jeffery.
"That's fucked up," Harold said at Tom's pause.
"It is. We helped the best we could and to make a long story short, we convinced Seth, his son, to come with us and help fight off the creature messing with the vending machines. He was replaced and put in prison for his unwillingness to see what was happening and for putting the citizens in danger. We found a replacement and went on our way. The biggest issue was that the people of Decatur weren't willing to kill him, and I can't exactly blame them, but this isn't the same world we once lived in. So, they had to let him go and made him leave town." Tom continued, swiveling back and forth in his chair as he spoke.
"I think I can see where this is going," Rebecca spoke up from the other end of the table.
"Yup. He was pissed. But not nearly as pissed as when we returned from the Grand Canyon with Seth's ashes to give to the people of Decatur to honor the man who had defended them. That's where the Specters came in. Apparently, when someone is overcome with hatred and grief, they can gain the power to summon evil spirits. He blames us for both deposing him as well as the death of Seth. And I can't say I exactly blame him, but he was in the wrong." Tom concluded his story.
"And now he's tracked you down, because you likely didn't keep it a secret where you were from and he's here to take revenge, right?" Rebecca piped up again.
"Indeed. So, in addition to needing to ensure that we are prepared for a continued existence here and building a sustainable way of life, we have to prepare for an invasion that is slightly ahead of schedule and worry about a psychopath Colonel Sanders looking to kill me for everything he has been through." Tom said letting out an exhaustive sigh. "And that brings us to this meeting. So buckle up and prepare for a long one. I hope you cleared most of your schedules for today."
"I can't be here all day. I'm sorry, I just can't. But my business does not need much tending to at the moment, so if I could go first, I need to get back to the infirmary to handle injuries from this most recent encounter." Rebecca spoke up.
"That sounds good. If you would be so kind as to update us on what all is happening and let us know what you need, we will make note and let you know what we can do." Tom motioned with his hand that she should begin.
"Because of the new methods of healing, most of the previous medical practices are no longer necessary. That being said, we have a new issue. To learn more about healing and become better at it, those who specialize in it need to level up. Which is difficult when we need to be in the infirmary all the time. Using healing magic repeatedly does strengthen that particular skill or spell, but we can't get more advanced versions for healing without leveling up. I am asking that you begin to include members of the medical staff in your dungeon runs with the caveat that they may not be much help in a fight." Rebecca requested.
"That sounds perfectly reasonable to me. Chris, can you make that happen?" Tom asked looking to Chris for help.
"I can shuffle things around. Maybe make another team out of additional members to include one medical staff per team. They have to act as the team's healer though while in the dungeon." Chris added.
"That would be the idea. They can provide backup support and help with fights where possible, but primarily they are there for....what's the word I'm looking for?" Rebecca paused as she tried to think of the term.
"Power leveling," Tom offered.
"That's it. I want this to be an exercise in power leveling for them." Rebecca pointed at Tom, indicating that was what she meant.
"Sure thing. We've done some of that for new fighters already, so the teams are familiar with the strategies." Chris replied.
"Excellent. Is there anything else you need, Rebecca?" Tom asked.
"Not at the moment. We already have the Clerics doing shifts in the Infirmary, with the exception of Derek, of course." Rebecca commented, staring at him.
"I'm sorry, but I can't spare him. He's the general here and has too many duties with keeping our forces trained and ready." Tom apologized and legitimately felt bad.
Rebecca stared at Tom for a moment, studying him.
"I believe you. I know he is a military guy and is helpful in that manner. I just ask if we get any additional Clerics or healers that they be set to the same rotation so we can give people a day off." Rebecca said, crossing her arms and leaning back in her own chair never taking her eyes off Tom.
"Done. Brian, make a note that all Clerics are to be a part of the rotation and receive specific healing training to help with the infirmary." Tom said turning his head to Brian.
"I hope all our other requests are granted as easily," Joe commented off-handedly.
"I doubt it will," Tom replied. "Health and safety of our people take a priority. But no one here is unimportant so I will do everything I can. Who would like to go next?" Tom asked as Rebecca stood up and moved to leave the conference room.
"If you need me, call for me and I will return when I can," She offered as she pulled the glass door open and left.
"I can go next," Joe spoke up raising his hand as well.
"Go for it," Tom motioned to him.
"We've done well with the space we have and have been just barely keeping up with demand for food. But we know this guild will likely get bigger before it gets smaller. We need more farming space. The gardens can grow food at a much faster rate with the magic available, but it's not going to be enough. Also, we have the livestock now, thanks to Jay for driving that truck for us, and we have them in the fields, but they take time to grow and reproduce. So we can't use them still." Joe explained.
"The Goatamus meat has been instrumental in supporting the main source of protein for us in the kitchens, but it would be nice to have options because people will eat the same meals for only so long," Charlene added.
"Exactly. We need to find a way to increase our options." Joe agreed with Charlene.
"Any ideas?" Tom asked, not sure how to handle this himself.
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"The most obvious solution is to go hunting for more game. But we are in fucking downtown Dallas and there aren't exactly a lot of forests to forage or hunt in. Add to that we are now at over a thousand guild members, and we just don't have the manpower to spare to make it a primary source of food." Joe explained.
"Any other alternatives? By this point, stores are really only an option for canned goods, if they haven't been picked over already." Tom asked.
"Making the pastures bigger and finding more livestock is an option, but a costly one. It means more area to guard. I'm asking some of the members of my team to look into animal husbandry skills that might have a similar potential to expedite the process in a similar way to the crops." Joe offered. "We also have to take into account the need for more land at some point for livestock rotation."
"Livestock rotation?" Tom asked.
"When you raise livestock, you can't have them graze the same spots year after year. The grass has to be given a chance to come back. Now, I'm experimenting with the growth powers from the crops on the grass and seeing good results so far, but it still isn't a likely long-term solution. It's just not sustainable. We can deal with this in the gardens by exchanging the soil periodically, but we can't just replace the ground." Joe continued.
"It's common practice in ranching to keep your lands fenced in sections to be able to rotate the livestock. And then we have to watch for things like clover growing in the fields which can kill them from things like bloat. There's just so much to watch out for." Andrea added.
"I don't know much about farming or ranching. But get a list together of things you think you need, and we will see what we can do. You're right about not being able to add additional land. Not only would that extend us beyond what we could secure, but we'd have to knock down buildings to be able to add to it. But we will help find a solution." Tom said pointing to Brian to make another note.
"Can we go next?" Herbert asked.
"Sure, as long as Joe and Andrea are done," Tom looked to the pair.
Both nodded and Tom motioned for Herbert to begin.
"Thank you. We have been working on some new weapons as well as ideas for defense. We have one option that hasn't been explored yet that could be dangerous, but effective." Herbert began.
"And what is that?" Tom asked, leaning forward with sudden interest.
"Well, the Lockheed Martin plant is located in Fort Worth, and that's where they built the new F35 fighter jets. I'm doubting we have anyone that can just fly those machines right away in the guild, but if we found a pilot and managed to get our hands on one of the planes, then we could have a new form of aerial combat to use against the invasion." Herbert offered, looking to Harold for additional comments.
"Wouldn't we need a runway for a fighter jet?" Tom asked.
"No, not with the F35," Harold jumped in to answer. "The F35 was designed with the capability for vertical takeoff. The issue is going to be fueling it. But if we could figure out a way to add a mana converter to the fuel system we just might be able to negate the need for that. We did it with the building, why not a jet?"
"And just how do we get the jet here?" Tom asked.
"That's the part we need help with. A team would need to go to the plant, and we would have to find a way to get it onto a truck or make adjustments to it there to be able to fly it back. It's not an easy task, but it is a faster option than trying to build something ourselves. They spent over a decade building that jet and we have a few months. I don't see a lot of other options for us to get something flying unless someone finds a way to do it Aladdin style with carpets." Harold replied.
Tom sat quietly as he thought about the idea.
"I love the idea of getting a fighter jet for the invasion. But the logistics sound like a nightmare. Not to mention, I'm guessing my team would need to be the one to retrieve it." Tom replied rubbing his hands over his face as he tried to think of alternatives.
"Probably. And remember it could all be for nothing if we can't get someone able to fly it. These aren't commercial airplanes or crop dusters. These are sophisticated pieces of technology that are not only delicate but dangerous." Harold added.
"Fucking hell. Alright, let's try it. It seems like the worst-case scenario we are no better off than we are now which might be the case anyway, and if we do pull it off we up our chances of surviving." Tom said finally. "But the both of you are to continue researching other weapon ideas and how we can use them for when this fails. Not if, when. Expect the worst but hope for the best."
"If you expect it to fail, then why do it?" Chris asked.
"Because of the possible gains if we pull this shit off. I don't know if we can do it, but we should at least try." Tom replied. "That brings me back to Jeffery. We have to deal with him before we can go off gallivanting after a possible pipe dream fighter jet."
"What are we doing about him?" Brian asked.
"We have to smoke him out and fuck him up. He's using goblins right now, so we know we can beat them back. If he finds other creatures though we will have a tougher time." Tom replied.
"And smoking him out means...." Brian asked, pausing at the end indicating Tom needed to explain more.
"I act as bait. He wants me dead. So, I draw him out and we ambush him." Tom said plainly.
"The key is going to be Paladins. Lots of Paladins." Derek added.
"Why Paladins?" Andrea asked.
"Holy magic. It's the bane of undead. We keep them ready, and we can keep the specters off us. Jeffery isn't likely too big of a threat, but we have to pin him down, so he doesn't run off again." Derek replied looking directly at Andrea. "We will come up with a plan to trap him, then we will work on getting to Fort Worth. It's not far. Well, not compared to the Grand Canyon anyway."
"I want to hear from Paul next. We don't get a lot of updates from you, but you are crucial in keeping this building running." Brian offered as he looked at Paul.
"I don't have much to add. I'm here to help make sure no one makes any architectural faux pas and brings this place down on our heads. I helped with the design of the guns on the upper floors, and they are secure, I have overseen the additions to the building, and all seems to be going well so far. All I ask is that I be consulted before we make any changes to the building." Paul said as he motioned back to Brian.
"I love it when it's simple. Thank you, Paul, for all you do, it really does make you an integral part of this team." Tom added. "Who else would like to go?"
"I still don't exactly know what I'm doing here," Jim spoke up from the other end of the table.
"I'm sorry, Jim. We didn't expect the other guilds nearby to be such asshats. The war really fucked up our plans for you and expanding trade. I think your best role will be as an appraiser at this point. Everything has a value and that is based on the vending machine prices. We will get to a point where trade becomes not only a part of being in this world but being in this guild. People are getting their own monster cores from fights and will begin internal trading at some point. Can you focus on the Inspect skill and look at becoming a pricing expert?" Brian asked him.
"I can do that. I do love getting to see all the toys that come through the doors. Can you give me a space to work in? A shop of sorts to house items to appraise as well as keep items that people want to sell or trade would be a must if I do this." Jim asked.
"Absolutely. I will have you a space by the end of the week." Brian replied jotting down a note as he agreed to the terms. "Steve, Mark? Anything to add?"
"Tailoring is going well. We are able to keep everyone in clothes easily. Most of the work we do now is repair as people have been buying most of their clothing from the machines. I'm good with where I'm at currently." Steve answered, looking embarrassed at not having more to add.
"I've been working on adding to the fleet of vehicles we have for travel as well as combat. I'd love to get my hands on something more dangerous though. If you see any tanks, I'm very interested. Used to repair them when I was in Iraq." Mark replied when Steve had finished.
"Tanks would be great. Not a lot of those just lying around though. But I promise we will at least keep an eye out." Derek replied. "I'll see if we can't find any other vehicles as well."
"Excellent. Now that the easy part is out of the way, it's time for the future plans piece. Sorry to keep you all here, but we need to discuss what we do to expand. Brian, I want Bohdan here for this part. We need all the magical experts we can get." Tom continued.
There was an audible groan from the room as they all hunkered down for a long conversation.