CHAPTER 83: Searching for Solutions
“It’s Abbey’s and Brandon’s dads,” said Ron, his face scrunched up unpleasantly.
“Then I guess killing them is out. Unless…” said Tom as he looked hopefully towards Brandon. A head shake from Brandon made Tom click his tongue.
“Ignore them for now,” ordered Adam. “If they cause trouble then I approve any amount of force necessary to protect our people and supplies. With that addressed, the main issues that I’m hearing are water, power, territory, and entertainment. What possible solutions do we have for them and how big a concern are they?”
“For the people’s health, water is the most urgent need,” said the city planner. “By drawing water from the other Rifts in the network, we’ve been able to provide for those living and working within our territory, but we don’t have enough to distribute outside.”
“The city used to have enough water for everyone. What happened to it?” asked Joseph.
“The water is still there, but we don’t have power to circulate it and we don’t have the ability to clean and filter that much water. It works within the Rift because we can clean it directly upon entering the Rift territory,” explain the planner. “We do have rain catchers set up in as many places in the city as we could manage, but we haven’t had much rain so far this winter, and snow will take time to melt. We’ve also tried redirecting water lines to the base to filter it, but it isn’t possible since we’ve had to prioritize vehicle fuel for the fighters.”
“It’s unfortunate but true,” said Adam’s dad. “If we run out of fuel to transport our fighters, then it’ll seriously halt out ability to help people and to get more resources from other locations.”
“Maybe at some point the physical fighters will have enough Strength, Agility, and Vitality to pull carts of people, but it seems like we’re still far off from that,” pined Brittney.
“Then the solution is to either merge one of our other Rifts with the planetary reality or to conquer an invader base that has a water source,” spoke Adam.
“Without a lot of construction and resources, those seem the most straight forward way,” said the planner.
“Merging one of the rifts would also solve some of the available space issues as well. The downside is we’d have to split our defensive efforts, and I don’t believe any secondary base would be left alone. If I had to guess, it’s only because I’ve left them as Dimensional Convergence Rifts with intact barriers that they haven’t been attacked so far,” speculated Adam.
“Of the two options it would probably be better to find invaders with connection to water and take that base,” said Lucas. “We’ve paid too much for the ones we’ve already taken to give them up now.”
Lucas looked over at Colonel Davian, who nodded in agreement. Davian didn’t have any official position, but he was the most experienced military leader they had. Adam didn’t have an issue relying on him, while the remaining soldiers seemed comforted that he was a part of the leadership. Davian’s name even showed up on Adam’s loyalty tab, though it hadn’t gone above the high 50s.
“For now, we don’t really have a solution to getting more land if you don’t want to open up another Rift,” said Jordan. “Though it’s probably the lowest priority at the moment. Worst case, we can start stuffing civilians inside the other Rifts just to keep them out of the way. That would make supplying all of them difficult, due to transportation costs. Having to drive people and materials between the Rifts would be unnecessarily dangerous.”
“You can’t just teleport them?” asked Carlos.
“The energy consumption and management wouldn’t be worth it,” said Jordan. “At some point we’re going to figure out the Rift Store, and we want as much currency as possible for it when we do.”
“It would also create more weak points,” said the Colonel. “We wouldn’t be able to spare defenders or people to take them on hunts, essentially killing any leveling they might do.”
“Then the land issue is on hold for now. We’ll think about options and discuss it later,” said Adam’s mom. “We’ll just do our best converting the city buildings into living and working areas. Right now, we have schools designated as temporary places while we acclimate newly brought in people. Then we find some buildings that can be altered to move people into, even if it doesn’t give the people much space or privacy.”
“Why aren’t we using more houses? Aren’t those more comfortable?” Alissa asked.
“The issue with them is that few people fit in each one while also spreading the people out too much,” said the planner. “Without power or running water, the houses become difficult to defend with no available communications. We’ve set up sirens in case of an attack while providing evacuation directions, and plenty of people are still insisting on staying in their houses. For now, it’s just easier to pack people together, even if we don’t know how long that will last for. There needs to be some stability before we try to live as we used to.”
“Who knew saving so many people would be this difficult,” moaned Randall.
“If we could focus on just living then there’s probably a lot we could do,” said Davian. “Unfortunately, we went from comfortable lives to being in a warzone with too many unknowns. We’re trying to mix defending an area not meant to be defended with capturing other territories while setting up living areas where we don’t have the necessary utilities. Most likely it’ll get much worse if we can’t find some long-term solutions. Plus, it’ll all go to crap if the invaders do decide to attack.”
“When you put it that way, the obsidian walls sound like an even better idea,” said Nick. “Realistically, how many people could we actually protect inside them?”
Davian groaned. “Not enough. All we can do is what we can.”
“Then water and land are deferred issues,” nodded Adam. “I know we’ve been setting up windmills and scavenging solar panels. Realistically, how much can we expect from this?”
“Very little,” said the planner while shaking his head. “We don’t have control of the power grid, so even if we could generate an adequate amount of energy for our own needs, which we can’t, there isn’t a way to distribute it without creating a new grid which we don’t have the time or resources for. Fuel needs to be saved so no building generators are in use either. We’ve had to set up the only powered hospital within the base for people who can’t just be healed.”
Stolen story; please report.
“How are people staying warm?” Lamar asked.
“We’re mostly burning wood,” said Adam’s mom. “We find or make metal drums to put in all the building that don’t have wood ovens. The hunter parties are required to bring back a set amount of wood when they return and then we distribute it daily. It’s taking a lot of time to keep it going but at the moment we don’t have a better way.”
“Then no solution for that without opening more Rifts as well,” said Carlos. “Which we already said is a no go.”
“Another issue deferred until it is more desperate,” said Jordan mournfully. “I liked this city builder game better when it was only the Rift I had to manage.”
“This isn’t a game!” snapped the planner.
“I know,” wailed Jordan while putting his face into his hands. “I just can’t cope without looking at it that way. It’s all so much to think about.”
“This isn’t different than any city embroiled in war in the past,” stated Elouise. “We just need to keep pushing forward until we either find solutions or break. As Adam says, we either need to make do or we won’t survive.”
“I’m just scared of the time when survival will mean turning our backs on those not in our base,” said Andrea. A lot of people nodded in agreement.
“Then let’s talk about entertainment. How do we try to keep people’s minds off this?” asked Adam.
“Sex, drugs, and rock‘n’roll!” shouted Tom, throwing up the bull horns.
“Excuse me?!” shouted Adam’s mom.
“Not exactly those things, but music, alcohol, and yes, sex, are normal go-tos in times of war,” said Davian with an embarrassed cough. “Soldiers very commonly indulge in sex services when abroad or find temporary hook ups. While drugs are officially looked down on by the military, alcohol is a staple. We should probably also prepare a venue for musicians to practice and play in. Collect non-electrical instruments and find a few professionals to rotate for people looking to keep their minds off things. Theaters and plays would work as well.”
“Hate to break it to you, chief,” said Randall, “but alcohol is also a no go.”
“Why?” Davian asked.
“It’s less effective as we gain more Vitality,” answered Lucas. “My pops and uncles...”
“And you,” added Tom with a mischievous smile, earning a glare from Lucas.
“…and me, have found it much less effective as we’ve leveled. I know we could set up a brewery if we had the materials, and that Mr. Clemens had stored as much as we could get with the supplies, but without it working on our increasing stats it won’t provide the relief that it has in the past.”
“That’s a shame,” said Davian, surprisingly regretful.
“Sex is out since we won’t be having any sex workers,” said Adam’s mom.
“Actually,” started Tom, with all eyes snapping to him.
“You didn’t!” demanded Andrea.
“You couldn’t!” said Alissa.
“You wouldn’t!” confirmed Brittney.
“Of course not,” defended Tom. “I wouldn’t cheat on Angie or Marge. I’m just saying that sex is on the rise. Isn’t that right, boss?”
Adam was staring at Tom with a blank stony face, but everyone could feel the anger behind the stare.
“How would I know that?”
“Adam, what is he talking about,” demanded his mom.
“Nothing mom. He’s just being Tom,” Adam said woodenly.
“Darling,” Andrea said menacingly.
“Mr. Lane!” Elouise noticed that Jordan was cowering as all eyes turned to him, especially Adam’s. Adam’s anger increased and the air around him became wavy. Slinking back further in his chair Jordan said in a squeaky voice, “Tom is too good at blackmail.”
“Is that also how he got his girlfriends into our main building’s condos?” demanded Adam.
“Don’t change the subject, young man!” Adam’s mother said forcefully.
“Who is the real power here,” said Carlos with a chuckle, receiving a punch in the shoulder from the nearby Nick. “Ow,” he complained while rubbing the shoulder.
“Listen, boss,” continued Tom shamelessly. “I just want to know where I rank on the list.”
“You’re still the highest on the Loyalty list, though you might drop after this,” said Adam.
“Not that list. The other one,” insisted Tom.
“What list, Adam?” asked Brittney, both curious and confused.
“The list the boss doesn’t talk about,” said Tom.
“What list might that be, darling?” asked Andrea in a voice that was dripping sarcasm.
“C’mon, boss. Can’t you just tell me where I rank?”
“Yeah, Adam. Where does he rank?” Carlos egged them on, this time getting a punch in his other shoulder from Lamar.
“If you can’t tell me where I rank, then tell me who tops the list,” Tom whined.
“Mr. Lane. If you don’t tell us what they’re talking about in the next minute, you might find yourself unable to continue managing the Rift,” said Elouise.
“Fine. Fine!” shouted Jordan, hiding his eyes from everyone. “When Adam got all those searches and statistics about the base from the Rift Menu when he merged the base with the planet, you know lists like people’s levels and hostility towards the leaders, he also got a list of the number of times people procreate within our territory.”
“WHAT?!” shouted over half the room before they turned to Adam.
“I didn’t tell anyone because I thought it would be better for people not to know it existed,” explained Adam with a disappointed breath. “I accidentally asked Jordan about it, which I’m very much regretting.”
“Tom blackmailed me! It isn’t my fault!” Jordan whined.
“Then you know?” Adam’s dad started.
“Yes, dad,” Adam answered while becoming rigid.
“That your mom and I?” Adam’s dad continued.
“YES, DAD!” Adam shouted.
“That we…” Adam’s dad plowed on in a daze.
“Yet one more reason I DIDN’T TALK ABOUT IT!” Adam practically roared, snapping his dad out of it.
“Why would a military base track that?” asked Lucas.
“I wondered that myself,” answered Jordan sheepishly.
“Now that everyone knows,” interjected Tom as if this mess wasn’t his fault. “Who’s done it the most?”
Adam glared at Tom. The look from Adam was quite a contrast to Tom’s excited, almost delighted, expectant look.
“You really want to know?” Adam asked.
“Yeah, boss.”
“Are you really sure you want to know?” At Adam’s words most of the people around the table were sitting up straighter, waiting to hear the answer.
“Yes, boss.”
“Are you sure you are ready for that answer?”
“For the love of you, please tell me!” Tom gasped.
“The one at the topmost of this list is…” Adam dragged it out. Everyone was now waiting for the answer. “Rooster #87.”
“WHAT?!” Most people shouted.
“No fair, boss. I know you can filter it just for humans.”
“It isn’t a sex list, it’s a mating list. As in creating offspring,” explained Adam.
“Then it doesn’t count when Angie and Marge…” Tom began.
“No! That doesn’t produce offspring. Do I need to kick you out of this meeting?” Adam spat at him angrily.
“Probably,” Tom conceded honestly.
One of the community leaders who had been sitting in the meeting hesitantly raised his hand.
“You have something to add, Mr. Flannigan?” Ron called on him.
“Yes, er, I don’t mean to interrupt, uh, whatever is going on here, but that list actually sounds really useful. I visited my cousin’s farm often in the past, and he brought his livestock to Jackson when he evacuated. A list like that would make it much easier for him to manage the animals. He could know who is the most fertile and who is past their prime or has some issues. He kind of figures it out throughout the season, but that list would make it much easier.”
“Then the list is for farming?” asked Davian.
“It sounds like it,” answered Mr. Flannigan.
“Why is a military base tracking things for farming?” Lucas asked again.
“There’re a lot of lists we couldn’t make sense of,” admitted Jordan. “Though if we are looking at them in a more science context than invasion one, they make a lot more sense. It reminds me of the Star Trek: TNG movie where they were watching an emerging civilization from a hidden base. Could the Dimensional Convergence Rifts have been created more for observation that actual military use?”
“Only if the mission is the opposite of the Prime Directive,” scoffed Brittney. “To seek out new life and new civilizations…then destroy it all.”
“Regardless, Darling,” said Andrea seriously, getting Adam’s attention. “I think The General’s Wives will need to have a little talk with you tonight about why you felt it necessary to hide these lists from us.”
Adam just groaned and put his face in his hands.