"Guns?!" Kosi and Willow asked enthusiastically. "Um wait a second we're just digging why do we need guns?" Katie asked in a confused tone. "Yeah seems like an omission don't you think, surely we should have known about using firearms before we signed up for this" Lucas added.
"Now now there's no need to be concerned. I'll be upfront I misspoke, these aren't for whoever pleases they're for people who for one, want them and two are qualified to handle them. That does not need to be any of you but you are on the front line so I need he team captains to step up on this one" Thomas said looking at Lucas, Eric and Hori.
"Time out they were all cops on the surface that why they're captains?" Belal asked in a bitter tone. "No that was democracy not my fault you were the only person in the old regime that didn't have a job" Thomas retorted. Stepping down Belal chose to bite his tongue. "Understood captain, my apologies" he said in a low tone.
"Understood Belal, but you do bring up a good point all three of them were either officers or military on the surface so can I trust you all to shake off the cobwebs and brush up on your marksmanship?" Thomas asked.
"I'm in" Lucas said. "Fuck it why not" Eric added with a shrug. "Oh if they're doing it I gotta show them up on a gun range one more time" Hori said with a smirk.
"Alright well these aren't your standard guns" Thomas said brandishing a metallic short single barreled shotgun. "They aren't the finished product yet due to how limited the metal we have access to is. The bullets initially weren't able to be pressed properly due to not having enough heat to melt them down meaning they would break off into little pieces when they get shot out. But that imperfection is what makes them so devastating..."
"So one shot would go and it would potentially hit more than one target" Hori said with a look of amazement in her eyes as she lifted one of the shotguns. "Wait a sec that sounds super unsafe how can we be sure it won't hit any of us" Sam asked.
"That's part of the protocol, it won't be easy because war is pure chaos but if we use these we're going to need everyone to be on their A game. I do wish we didn't have to resort to desperate measures but we have a year at most of living down here before things get really hard really quickly. So I need the rest of you all to go and really think about how much you're willing to do for everyone down here. You're already heroes in all our eyes so it's okay if guns are a step too far for you. The rest of you are dismissed until the demonstration, team captains select your teams amongst yourselves and be ready to show out for everyone down here" Thomas said solemnly as he nodded to everyone and left the room.
Minutes later Eric, Lucas and Hori were sat in a circle with a page and pen each. "Damn why do I have to third wheel this?" Hori asked sarcastically. "Hey trust me we'd really rather be on the same team. I didn't even think anchors could be captains" Lucas said with a bemused look on his face.
"Speaking of which, I'm happy to let you have Sam so you guys can work together" Eric said looking at Hori with a smile. "Actually him and I talked about it and we don't want to be on the same team. Easier to focus without constantly checking up on each other you know" she replied.
"Oh that's fair so I'll take Sam, you can take Brodie. Any other easy choices?" Eric asked. "I mean Lucas needs someone who can lead the line so I think he should get first pick for that then we figure it out from there" Hori replied.
"So then who do you want hubby" Eric asked "Belal?" Hori suggested with a slight grimace. "I mean sure he does have the most experience but I was thinking Willow" Lucas replied nervously. "Aww bless I love her but isn't she a little young babe" Eric asked tentatively.
"Well yeah she's sixteen but she did also come first of all the recruits and she does give off a big sister vibe whenever she's with Katie" Lucas said proudly. "I mean yeah but Katie's also a kid"Eric replied skeptically. "I mean to be fair she's already great at just about everything we do here who's to say she can't be a great captain too" Hori added.
"I'm just going with my gut on this" Lucas said. "Ugh fine you can have her" Eric replied pouting. "You're just mad you don't get her" Lucas replied grinning. "Well duh she's great" Eric said rolling his eyes.
"Hey what if I wanted her" Hori asked sarcastically. "Oh sweetie you ain't out politicking me" Eric replied. "True I don't care that much" Hori said in a deadpan tone. "Alright you two let's just hash these names out and pick...I'm getting hungry" Lucas said pouting. As Hori and Eric chuckled to themselves all three of them set about picking their teams.