Chapter 263: Respite in the Silence

Silverpeak did not become quiet after the MLRS stopped firing.

Gunshots still came from the edges of the defended sectors as MDC and Golden Eagle soldiers dealt with infected that were left behind after the larger groups retreated.

Some wandered through side streets alone.

Others remained trapped between abandoned vehicles, damaged buildings and barricades they could no longer get around.

The soldiers did not chase them deeper into the city. Anything close enough to threaten the evacuation routes was killed, while the rest were left for later.

The Guardian APCs continued moving between the occupied blocks and the MDC lines.

By then, they were doing more than simply carrying civilians out.

Some APCs stopped long enough for their autocannons to clear infected from a road before continuing toward another building. Others returned full, unloaded civilians behind the defensive line, then turned around and went back for another run.

The traffic continued for hours.

Only when the night deepened did the constant gunfire finally begin to disappear.

Silverpeak slowly regained its silence, but not completely.

Engines still moved around the MDC compound. Radios continued passing reports between positions, while soldiers and medics worked through the people brought in from the surrounding blocks.

But compared to the fighting earlier, the city felt almost peaceful.

Hundreds of civilians were gathered inside several evacuation areas around the MDC-controlled district.

Some were given blankets. Others sat on the floor beside whatever bags they managed to bring with them. Food, water and basic medical supplies moved between the groups as MDC personnel tried to sort families, injuries and places where people could sleep.

Brandon walked through one of the larger evacuation areas without anyone paying much attention to him.

That gave him enough time to see the place properly.

People were alive, but comfort was another matter.

Several families shared spaces they could find along the walls. Some children slept against their parents while others remained awake despite the late hour.

A few elderly civilians sat together near one of the heaters while soldiers passed around packed food and bottled water.

Compared to Grefort, the difference was hard to miss.

Even the poorer districts under Golden Eagle had regular food distribution, functioning utilities in most secured areas and somewhere permanent to sleep.

Here, people still looked relieved when a soldier handed them a small packet of food.

Brandon stopped near one of the upper walkways overlooking the shelter. Below him, several civilians were talking among themselves.

"That was one of their vehicles, wasn’t it?"

"The big one?"

"No, that thing that carries people. I heard them calling it a nAPC. The one that came to our building."

"I saw three of them."

"Three? There were more than that."

Another man joined the conversation.

"Someone said the rockets came from the Golden Eagle Army too."

"The rockets? Those loud ones?"

"That’s what the soldiers were saying."

A woman sitting nearby looked toward them.

"Who are these people anyway?"

Nobody gave her a clear answer, or rather, nobody in the survivor area could.

Brandon listened for another moment.

Most of the civilians probably did not even know that the man responsible for those vehicles and artillery was standing above them.

He didn’t particularly mind. For now, it was better that they talked about Golden Eagle than about him.

He rested both hands along the railing and looked over the evacuation area below.

The place was crowded, noisy and far from comfortable, but at least the people inside it were still alive.

Several footsteps came from behind him.

Brandon turned.

Major Federick approached with Captain Polls beside him. Two other MDC officers followed several steps behind.

"Commander Brandon."

Federick reached out his hand. And Brandon took it.

"Major. Captain."

He looked between them.

"To what do I owe the pleasure this time?"

Polls gave him a brief look but said nothing. Federick seemed much less tense than he had been during the fighting.

"The Colonel wants to speak with you again."

Brandon glanced toward the shelter below.

"Already? Does he not have reports to handle?"

Federick gave a small shrug.

"He has a lot on his mind after tonight."

"I can imagine."

Brandon pushed himself away from the railing.

"All right. Lead the way."

Federick led them away from the evacuation area and back toward the main MDC compound.

The place was still active despite the late hour.

Soldiers moved between the buildings carrying reports and ammunition while several vehicles returned from the outer positions. Medics were still receiving wounded personnel near one of the lower structures, although the rush from earlier had already slowed.

Brandon passed another group of civilians on the way inside.

Some recognized Federick and Polls immediately. A few looked toward Brandon as well, although none seemed to know who he was.

They entered the same building where the meeting had taken place earlier.

This time, however, they did not return to the large conference room.

Federick brought Brandon into a smaller office farther inside.

Colonel Voroltz was already there.

Several reports covered the table in front of him, along with a map of the sectors that had been attacked earlier. Genevieve stood near one side of the room while another MDC officer remained beside the radio set.

Voroltz looked up as they entered.

"Ah, Commander. You’ve finally come."

"We didn’t exactly have time for a proper introduction earlier." Voroltz stood and offered his hand. "James Voroltz. Commander of the Mountain Defense Command."

Brandon took it. "Joseph Brandon. Golden Eagle Army, Southern Command."

"Come, take a seat."

Polls and the two officers left afterward. Federick remained while Genevieve stayed near the wall. Voroltz did not waste any more time.

"What your people showed us tonight changes the situation in Silverpeak."

He pushed several reports across the table. "You can read it when you have time."

Brandon glanced over the papers.

"What’s inside?"

"We’ve pushed the Hive back before, but it always cost us more."

"You mean the firepower?’

"The firepower you and your army so generously gave us."

"It still is, colonel."

"Then I’m not going to waste time pretending the MDC is doing you some great favor. We need the Golden Eagle Army more than you need us right now."

There was no embarrassment in the way Voroltz had said it.

"What about the concerns about our legitimacy? The southern delegation will not like your decision, Colonel," Brandon asked.

"Your legitimacy can be argued about later, and I’ll be the first damn man to support you when that happens. Right now, Silverpeak and the MDC need manpower, not another goddamn who-knows-fucking-what legal military designation bullshit."

Federick almost laughed at that.

"I’ve had enough of military bureaucracy all my life. Those Hawford bastards can fuck off."

Federick cleared his throat.

"Correction, Colonel. They already... made their exit during the attack."

"Good to hear. I never liked the way that Captain Hawkes talked to me anyway."

Brandon caught onto the name.

"Excuse me, Colonel. Major. Those people from the south, you said they came from Hawford?"

"That’s how they introduced themselves," Voroltz said. "They said they were under Major Asters and wanted to expand their presence here in Silverpeak. And I can see why."

Federick added what they already knew about the delegation.

"Silverpeak was one of Ashington’s largest industrial hubs. A lot of military supplies were produced here before everything collapsed, although they could’ve found more facilities farther west."

"Whatever their reasons are, I’m not taking their word for everything until I speak with Major Asters myself. Anyway, enough about them."

Voroltz straightened.

"I’ll have provisional cooperation terms ready tomorrow, Commander Brandon. Nothing complicated. We coordinate operations, routes, fires and civilian movement. Whatever both our forces need."

"And my troops?"

"I’ll have Major Federick assign you a secured sector inside the city instead of leaving your people beyond the checkpoint."

Voroltz pointed toward one of the northern approaches on the map.

"There’s an old transport yard here. Large enough for armor, close enough to the defensive roads and far enough from the civilians that you won’t choke the compound with vehicles."

"Then I have to thank you for the generosity, Colonel."

"Spare me the gratitude. I should be thanking you, Commander. On behalf of everyone your people brought back tonight, you have the MDC’s thanks."

Voroltz stood and saluted Brandon.

Federick followed him, while the other MDC officer near the radio did the same.

"That’s the way of the Golden Eagle Army, Colonel."

Brandon returned their salute.