The next few days were spent actually pulling concrete from the river. Huge slabs were stacked along the bank making wall for the clans to use as cover. Once a path was was opened, the radiation level spiked. The water flowing from the Great Lakes was heavily irradiated and couldn't support life. Fish and game began dying off at an alarming rate as more and more water poured into the Illinois River. Many clansmen became ill having been in the water exposed to the radiation. After a few days of hard, back-breaking labor, the final slabs were removed for the river.
As there irradiated water rushed past the area, the Silica Slavers found out just how badly the lock system was damaged. Water rushed into their mining operation, and poured over dozens of the slavers. Multiple lowlands became flooded quickly with the sudden influx of water, then came the sickness. ARP, or Acute radiation poisoning. It set in quickly among the exposed slavers, forcing them to hold back their attack.
The Two-Rivers Alliance decided, with their combined numbers and the element of surprise, they should attack.
After a day or two the Two-River Alliance made their move.
It didn't take long for the Two-Rivers army to reach Silica Sand. There they fought, pushing the slavers deeper and deeper into the mine. The Spirit lead the escaping slaves and white feathers away from the battle, back to the city center. As the armies clashes, the Slaver Overboss tried to make his escape, taking a boat he'd stashed away from the battle. He laughed as he made his escape, drooling at the thoughts of a new life away from here. However, there was something living in that water, something big. A 28-foot Alligator Gar leapt out of water, into the air, clasping the Overboss in its jaws, and disappearing into the murky flood waters.
Back at Silica Sand, the Two-Rivers army left no survivors, just bloodied corpses slowing becoming engulfed in water, food for the Gar. The low-lying lands of the mine had been covered in irradiated water, making the perfect home for the mutated predator fish to make its nest.
As the warriors returned to the D.T.A, they were greeted by chanting and smiling members of their clans. Music played over the D.T.A's town speakers, installed years ago as a way to improve the quality of life in Ottawa. As The Spirit made his return the construction tribesmen hoisted a sign onto the gates to the center. It read, "The Remnant City of ODTA". The Spirit nodded as he passed under the sign.
As night fell over ODTA, the sound of instruments filled the air, and the smell of cooked meats brought people out of their homes. The citizens of ODTA had every reason to celebrate. Not only did they successfully win a war, they now had allies and trade to come into the city on a regular basis. They had the Spirit of Ottawa to protect them as they went about their new city, reclaiming everything burnt down by nuclear fire.
The Spirit walked up and down the old Washington Park, stopping and looking at the old statue of the Lincoln and Douglas debate. He sat on a bench as his old town came back to life. He smiled as a single tear rolls down his cheek.
As the night carries on, they ate, drank and were merry as their new life began...