The rhythmic beeping of Morse code echoed through Jacky's workstation as the group entered. Jacky's pencil danced over the paper, rapidly translating the incoming message:
-.-. --- -. - .-.. . -. --. . / . .- .--. .-.. . / ... ..- ... - . .-. . -. --- ..-. -.-.-- / .-- --- ..-. .-.. . / - .... . / -- .- -.-. --. .. -.-. -.-.-- / .-- --- ..-. .-.. . / ..- ... . -.-.-- / .. -. .. -. --- .-.. - .... . .-. . -. --- ..-. / - .... .- -. -.-.-- / -- --- -- . -. -.-. --- .. -. --. / - .... . / -- --- -- . .-. . / - .... . / .--. .- .-. .. --. -.-.-- / .-. .. .--. ..- ... . .-. / - .... . / ..-. --- --- - / .. -. --. .. -.-.-- / - --- .--. ..- .-. ... . / .-. .. .--. ..- ... . .-. / .-. .. .--. ..- ... . .-. / - .... . / --. ..- -.-. -.-.-- / --- ...- . .-. / ---.. / - .... . / - --- / .--. ..-. .-. --- .-. .-.-.-
She glanced up, signaling for patience as her focus stayed on the paper. When the message ended, she double-checked her translation, then sent a quick response:
-- . ... ... .- --. . -.. / .-. . . ... -.-. . ... . -. -.-. . / .-- .. .-.. .-.. / -.-. --- -. -.-. .. -.-. .- -.-. - .. --- -. - / -.-- --- ..- .-. ... / -... .- -.-. -.- / .. -. / ..--- / .... --- ..- .-. ... / .-.. --- .-.. -.-.--
A swift reply followed:
-.-. --- -. ..-. .-. --- -- . -..
"Confirmed," Jacky sighed, stretching and rubbing her hand which was now cramped from the fast writing. She then looked at the group and began to decode the Morse code.
Jane, having already recognized a few phrases due to her survival training, narrowed her eyes. "A rescue operation?"
Jacky, still working her way through the translation, finally lifted her paper and read the full message: "Calling Encore survivor group. Operation successful, WBZ news crew extracted. Report your status. Personnel count, equipment inventory, food and water supplies. Provide intel on zombie movement. Additional information needed for mission planning and potential rescue operation. Over."
"Macky!" Jane suddenly shouted, causing Kai to jump and cover his ears in surprise. But he couldn't help but look at Jane with a mixture of astonishment and amusement. "Wow! That was incredible! How did you do that?"
The room filled with Jane's boisterous laughter. "You're quite the character, kid. I needed that. You've done well, Anne. He's a bright spark in this mess."
Anne smiled, watching her son who was still reeling from the surprise. "Yeah, he's turned out okay."
At that moment, a flustered Macky burst into the room. "What? What happened?" he panted, clutching his knees. Jane managed to compose herself and replied, "Macky, fetch Charles, Willison, Mitch, and Sally for me, will you?"
"Wait! Jane, you shouted for me like I'm some sort of summonable beast. I heard you from outside the building and sprinted here full tilt, and I find you laughing. Am I a dog now? What the hell's going on?" Macky managed to gasp out between breaths.
"Well.. yes, let's go with 'I summoned you' and voila! Here you are!" Jane laughed again. "We got a message from the guard, Macky. I need you and the others to help with something. Understand?"
"The national guard? A rescue operation? Okay, what is it? What do you need us to do?" Macky was finally catching his breath.
"Macky, I need you to gather the others and scout the surrounding area. See what the Z's are up to. If possible, get a count on them, where they're congregating, and if we could lure them to one place. Meanwhile, ask Sally and Mitch to check our food supply and fill any empty jugs with clean water."
Macky gave a brisk nod and sprinted off. The group was left in silence, each consumed by their own thoughts about the incoming rescue operation. Hope was tangible in the room, mingling with the anxiety of the unknown. The grim reality of their situation had offered them a flicker of light, and now, they had to cling onto it, work towards it, make it a reality. It was their one shot at survival, and they were ready to give it their all.
"Can I assist, too?" Kai asked eagerly. "Absolutely not!" Anne immediately countered, her protective instincts flaring. "But Mom, I'm not a kid anymore. It isn't fair that I can't lend a hand!" Kai protested. Anne, her expression softening, reached out to gently cradle Kai's face. "Kai, you're still young. Trust us, the adults, to do what's best. When the time is right, you'll be able to help, I promise." Turning her gaze to Jane, she asked hopefully, "Jane, could you train him in survival skills?"
Jane chuckled warmly, ruffling Kai's hair affectionately. "Of course, Anne. I'll equip him with the knowledge he needs when the time comes. He'll be in safe hands, I promise." A broad grin spread across Kai's face. "This is going to be so cool!"
Elsewhere, within the confines of the National Guard base in Chelsea, Colonel Nathaniel Callahan was poring over the drone footage of Encore Casino and its environs. Deserted vehicles littered the landscape, and shambling forms - once human, now grotesque parodies of life - roamed the eerily quiet streets. His gaze shifted to the tactical map spread across the table in front of him, and he began to murmur under his breath.
"Aquatic extraction? Negative. Unknown variables with the infected's aversion to water. Airborne? Not feasible, too many civilians and insufficient airlift capacity. Ground evac is our only go, but the roads are chock-a-block with abandoned vehicles... Damn, all our options are a bust!" Balling his hand into a fist, Callahan felt the familiar frustration rise. They desperately needed a new strategy.
Suddenly, the Morse code machine came alive with beeps. "Colonel," a soldier announced, "We've established contact with the Encore Casino!"
After the rapid exchange, the radio operator glanced up at Colonel Callahan. "Sir, they've requested time to assemble intel for the rescue operation."
Callahan's stern expression softened ever so slightly as he clapped the operator on the shoulder. "Excellent work, soldier. Looks like these civvies have got their heads screwed on right. We need all the sharp minds we can get. Keep the comms live, and update me as soon as you get the intel." His gaze once again returned to the tactical map sprawled before him. They had a glimmer of hope now.
"Tactical Ops Officer!" he barked, his voice echoing in the command room. Instantly, a voice responded, "Sir, standing by for instructions." The Tactical Operations Officer was a young woman, not older than her late twenties. Her piercing eyes, serious and focused, demanded respect. A smirk tugged at the corners of Callahan's mouth - she was someone who believed in memorizing plans, not jotting them down.
"I need a clear path to the casino. Our objective: extraction of civilians in potentially various conditions. We may need to go on foot, or utilize vehicles. What are our options?" he inquired, his gaze unwavering.
She responded promptly, her tone confident and firm. "Sir, we're currently positioned at Mary O' Malley State Park." She pointed out the location on the map, her finger tracing a potential path. "Our most direct route would be via Commandant Way, connecting to Justin Dr, and then through the warehouses on Beacham Street to reach Broadway. The Encore Casino lies just down the road." She paused, seeking his confirmation before proceeding. "My concern, sir, is that Beacham Street and Broadway tend to be heavily populated. The tactical risk is significant. I recommend immediate deployment of drones for a recce. Furthermore, I suggest we establish three separate teams: a transport team with two buses, a guard team for protection, and a rescue team, size contingent on the civilian count."
Callahan considered her plan, his eyes narrowing in thought. "And our available personnel, Officer? Can we muster these numbers? We're stretched thin as it is."
"Since the collapse of the Sumner and the William F. McClellan tunnels, we should have a sufficient headcount, sir. However, that's assuming an ideal situation. I must point out that we're not trained for combat against...zombies."
Col. Callahan turned to face his Tactical Operations Center Officer, Officer Brenda Knox, her eyes as sharp as her mind. "Recall the non-essentials from East Boston but ensure we maintain a decent contingent there. I need an ETA on the personnel recovery." His words were crisp and clear, laying out his orders succinctly.
Brenda responded with a brief nod, "Copy that, sir. I'll provide an ETA as soon as possible." She hesitated a moment before continuing, "As for the airport, it's currently a black zone. No recent updates, but we can deploy a drone for recon."
"Proceed," Callahan ordered, already returning his focus to the sprawling tactical map spread out in front of him. Brenda could tell her dismissal lay in that single word. As she was about to exit, however, the Colonel's voice stopped her.
"Officer Knox," he began, causing her to turn back towards him. "Yes, sir?" she inquired, meeting his gaze steadily.
The Colonel looked at her for a long moment before a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Excellent job, Knox. You may very well have saved lives today."
With these words hanging in the air, Brenda exited the command center, a sense of pride fueling her steps. She had a job to do, and she was damn well going to do it.
The first order of business was to reallocate their personnel. She keyed up her radio, calling for her Executive Officer. "XO, I need you to pull all non-essential personnel from East Boston, but make sure we've got enough bodies there to maintain a defensive line. I want an ETA on the troop recovery ASAP."
"Copy that, Knox. I'll get right on it," came the brisk response. There was a brief pause before the XO asked, "What about the airport, ma'am?"
"No word yet. It's still a black spot. Get a drone over there for recon as soon as you can. And make it snappy."
"Roger that, ma'am. You'll have your answers as soon as I do."
As she ended the call, Brenda allowed herself a small sigh. There was no room for error - they were dealing with lives here, and she was not about to let any of them slip through her fingers. She just hoped that her plan was as sound as Col. Callahan believed it to be.