The morning air churned with rotor wash as the Chinook sat on the newly marked landing zone, its twin rotors beating a steady thunder over the base. Dust and loose gravel spiraled outward while ground crews helping carrying bags and crates of supplies toward the open rear ramp.
Ammo crates, water, ration boxes, optics kits, batteries, and field radios. Everything was strapped down with cargo webbing inside the helicopter's belly.
Nearby, the sniper teams waited in full kit, rifles slung, helmets clipped, faces calm and focused.
Captain Price and Major Griggs stood just outside the rotor arc, watching the loading operation.
"They'll be reaching Benning within the hour," Griggs said. "They know what to do once they're in the established positions. The resources we'll obtain from Fort Benning will help us a lot."
Price nodded. "We could lure the walkers out. Use the drones. Pull them away from the compound and move in clean."
Griggs shook his head slowly. "That just turns them into a roaming problem."
"Aye," Price agreed. "Kicks the can down the road."
"Better to deal with it now," Griggs said. "Controlled. Contained. Fewer walkers out there, the safer every route becomes."
Price watched as the last crate was secured and the loadmaster gave a thumbs-up.
"Clear Benning properly," Price said to the Ranger sniper teams. "We'll take care of the city in the meantime."
Griggs allowed himself a thin smile. " Good luck out there, and good hunting."
The Rangers gave a quick salute before boarding the helicopter.
The Chinook's ramp began to rise.
Price stepped back as the engines spooled higher.
The helicopter lifted off, banking south toward Fort Benning, carrying the men who will retake the base from the dead.
The Chinook vanished over the horizon, the thunder of its rotors fading into the distance.
Price watched it go, then exhaled through his nose and adjusted the strap of his vest.
"Alright," he said. "That's them on their way. Now it's time for us to be on ours."
Griggs nodded and turned with him, both men heading across the base toward the motor pool where their own vehicles were already being prepped.
They passed the construction site on the way.
The new vehicle complex was rising fast, a proper hardened structure built from steel bars, poured concrete walls, and prefabricated armored panels. Crews were setting rebar into place while others poured fresh cement into massive foundation molds. The skeletal frame of the maintenance hangar already loomed over the lot, with welding arcs flashing as engineers secured support beams.
Price glanced over at it as they walked.
"At this pace," he said, "we'll have it operational before winter sets in."
Griggs followed his gaze. "That's the goal. Enclosed bays, maintenance pits, proper lifts. No working in the open when the weather turns bad."
Price gave a faint smirk. "Quite the luxury."
Griggs allowed himself a small breath of a chuckle. "By post-apocalypse standards."
They reached the edge of the motor pool, where engines were already rumbling to life and crews were loading gear.
"Let's get moving," Price said. "We've got our own work to do."
Griggs nodded. "Wouldn't have it any other way."
Together, they headed for their vehicles.
The engines growled to life as the two Humvees rolled out of the motor pool, tires crunching over the gravel road. One vehicle took point, the second following close behind, maintaining tight spacing as they moved toward the main gate.
Dust kicked up behind them in pale clouds as they passed onto the internal road that looped around the hotel complex.
A minute later, both Humvees slowed and came to a stop near the front entrance of the hotel.
Price leaned forward slightly in his seat, glancing through the windshield.
"We're making a pickup," he said dryly. "Three more passengers."
Outside, standing near the entrance, Reacher, Finley, and Roscoe were already waiting.
The two humvees came to stop in front of the hotel, both positioned towards the main gate.
Captain Price gestured the three to get in, as he opened the door to the rear compartment.
The Humvee rocked slightly as Reacher climbed in first, ducking his head under the frame and stepping into the rear compartment. Finley followed, a little more carefully, then Roscoe, who shut the door behind them with a solid metallic thud.
Inside, Price was in the driver seat with Griggs next to him. The cabin smelled of oil, dust, and warm metal.
Price glanced back. "Make yourselves comfortable. It's not exactly first class."
Reacher took a seat, bracing a hand on the frame. "I've ridden worse."
Ahead, the gate guards seeing the the two humvees, began moving immediately. One raised a fist, then waved the signal.
The heavy steel gate began to slide open.
Gravel crunched as both vehicles rolled forward. Sunlight spilled through the widening gap.
Once they cleared the perimeter and merged onto the open road, Major Griggs turned slightly in his seat to look at Reacher.
"You sure about this?" Griggs asked. "I understand wanting answers about your brother. But the odds of finding anything useful are slim. And the walkers don't make travel any safer."
Reacher met his gaze evenly. "Don't worry about me, Major. I know what I'm doing. And I can take care of myself."
Finley cleared his throat. "Ahmm. Yeah. We can take care of ourselves," he added, glancing sideways at Reacher.
Roscoe smirked faintly but said nothing.
Price leaned forward, checking the road ahead. "Good. Because we're heading to the meetup point first. Your friend should be waiting."
Reacher nodded once. "She will be."
The Humvees rolled on, engines steady, leaving Fort Ironwood behind.
The two Humvees rolled steadily down the cracked asphalt, engines humming low as they pushed deeper into rural Georgia. The cleared perimeter of Fort Ironwood fallen away behind them, replaced by stretches of forest where tall pines crowded the roadside and filtered the morning sun into pale green bands. Between the trees, open fields spread out in wide, rolling patches of grass, untouched and quiet.
Price kept his hands relaxed on the wheel, eyes scanning the road and the tree line beyond it. The lead Humvee maintained a steady distance ahead, its dust trail hanging in the air behind it.
As they rounded a gentle bend, a small neighborhood came into view on their left.
Two military Humvees were parked at the entrance, angled outward like guard dogs. Two soldiers stood watch beside them, rifles slung but ready. Farther down the street, eight more moved in pairs, sweeping house to house. Doors hung open. Some of the windows were shattered.
Several walkers lay scattered across the pavement and lawns, head's bloodied, unmoving.
Price slowed just enough to take it in.
"Looks like someone's been busy," Finley muttered from the back.
"Good," Griggs replied quietly. "Means we won't have to worry of any surprise's."
Price eased back on the throttle and followed the lead vehicle past the neighborhood, leaving the patrol behind them.
The road opened again into farmland and tree lines. A few minutes later, a familiar landmark came into view.
A small gas station sat at the crossroads, its pumps rusted but intact. Next to it, a sign hung above a brick storefront.
Holey Sweet Donuts
A dark SUV was parked near the building, angled toward the road.
Price eased off the accelerator. "I presume that'll be your ride," he said.
Reacher leaned forward slightly, eyes locked on the SUV. "That's Neagley."
The two Humvees rolled in, slowing as they approached the meeting point. The engines idled low, dust settling around the tires as the convoy came to a controlled stop.
Price eased his Humvee to a stop near the edge of the lot. The Holey Sweet Donuts sign creaked softly in the breeze.
"Alright," Price said quietly. "This is your stop."
The left-side rear door opened first.
Roscoe stepped out, shoes hitting the pavement, followed immediately by Foley.
On the opposite side, Reacher pushed open the right-side door and unfolded himself out of the Humvee, standing tall beside it. He adjusted his jacket and looked toward the donut shop.
A moment later, the shop's door opened.
A woman stepped out, tall, lean, moving with the calm confidence of someone who knew exactly where every exit was. She paused just outside the doorway, eyes already on them.
Reacher nodded. "That's Neagley."
He turned back toward the Humvee. "Appreciate the ride."
Finley leaned toward the window. "Yeah. Thanks for the lift."
Roscoe added, "Stay safe out there."
Griggs gave them a short nod. "You too."
Price lifted two fingers from the steering wheel. "Careful out there."
Reacher smirked. "We will."
He turned and started toward the SUV, Finley and Roscoe falling in beside him. Neagley stepped off the curb to meet them halfway.
Once they were clear, Griggs reached for the radio handset.
"Lead vehicle, this is Ironwood Two," he said. "Passengers dismounted. We're breaking off to handle our own business. Proceed on original route."
A short burst of static answered, then: "Copy that, Ironwood Two. Adjusting route, Ironwood One out."
Griggs clipped the radio back into place.
Price shifted the Humvee into gear. "Alright then," he said. "Dobbins Air Base it is."
The lead Humvee pulled forward.
Price followed, and the two Humvees pulled back onto the road, engines humming steadily as the donut shop and gas station faded behind them. Price kept a measured speed, far enough behind the lead vehicle to maintain spacing, close enough to react if something went wrong.
Rural Georgia rolled past on both sides — long stretches of pine forest broken by open pastureland, old barns leaning under the sun, and the occasional farmhouse standing quiet and empty. The sky was clear, the morning heat already beginning to rise off the asphalt.
"Feels almost normal," Price muttered.
Griggs glanced out the window. "That's what makes it dangerous."
A few miles down the road, the convoy approached a small crossroads where sandbags and concrete barriers narrowed traffic into a single lane. A pair of Hesco walls flanked the intersection, with a watchtower made from stacked containers rising above them. A .50-caliber mount sat on the platform, its barrel tracking their approach.
Two soldiers stepped into view, rifles slung but ready. One of them raised a hand in recognition as the Humvees slowed.
Price brought the vehicle to a controlled stop just short of the barrier.
The guard approached the driver's side, already aware of who they were. The checkpoint had been informed ahead of time, and the soldier gave a brief nod of acknowledgment.
Griggs leaned toward the open window. "Major Griggs. What is the route status?"
As the guardsmen stopped next to the driver's window, he answered , "You'll want to avoid the southern approach. The area around Hartsfield-Jackson is still crawling, and most of the access roads are choked with wrecks. Best route is north, then cut west before Riverdale."
Price nodded once and eased the Humvee back into motion as he signaled the lead humvee to move forward.
Griggs gave a nod. "Appreciate it. Carry on."
The soldier stepped back and saluted.
Then the guard motioned briefly toward the tower, signaling that everything was clear.
The Humvees rolled past the barricades and back onto open road.
A few minutes later, they passed another position — this one smaller. A burned-out gas station had been converted into an outpost post. Fortifications positioned around it. Antennas bristled from the roof, along a sniper team. Three soldiers stood near a Humvee with its hood up, working on the engine, while other two were patrolling.
Griggs picked up the radio. "Ironwood Two to Outpost Delta. Status check."
"Delta here," came the reply. "Road ahead is clear for five klicks. We swept it an hour ago. You'll hit a vehicle pileup near the overpass — take the gravel bypass on the east side. Don't stop."
"Copy," Griggs said. "Any herd movement?"
"Nothing major. Stragglers only. But the airport mass is shifting again. They're pressing against the barricades."
Price exhaled slowly. "That place is going to prove a headache to clear out."
"One thing at the time," Griggs said.
They followed the bypass, tires crunching over gravel as they skirted around a tangle of wrecked sedans and delivery trucks, their doors hanging open, windows smashed. Several walkers lay sprawled in the road, motionless, skulls caved in from earlier patrols.
Past the obstruction, the road opened again.
To the east, the skyline of Atlanta loomed in the distance — fractured towers, smoke stains on concrete.
The Humvees pushed on, passing another outpost near a water treatment plant.
Every few miles, a radio call.
Every few miles, another confirmation that the main routes were holding, for now.
Finally, the terrain began to change. The road gave way to wide open airfield land, long fences, radar domes, and hangars visible on the horizon.
Griggs checked the the map and nodded. "Ten minutes out."
Price tightened his grip on the wheel. "Let's see if they got what we need."
···
The two Humvees slowed as they approached the main gate. Concrete barriers funneled traffic into a narrow checkpoint lane reinforced with Hesco walls and coils of razor wire. A pair of Marine sentries stepped out from behind cover, rifles slung but ready.
The lead Humvee rolled to a stop first.
One of the Marines approached it, exchanged a few words with the driver, then glanced back toward Price's vehicle. After a short nod, he turned and walked over.
The Marine stopped beside the passenger window and gave a crisp nod. "Captain Price. Major Griggs. Welcome to Dobbins."
Griggs leaned slightly toward the window. "Appreciate it, Marine."
"You're cleared for entry, sir. We were informed of your arrival. Follow the lead vehicle to a prepared parking location."
The Marine stepped back and raised his arm. The heavy gate began to slide open with a low mechanical grind.
Beyond it, the base stretched wide and organized—rows of aircraft hangars, fuel trucks, armored vehicles, and Marines moving with purpose across the tarmac. Helicopters sat on standby near the pads, rotors still, crews working through preflight checks.
Price started the engine again.
"Looks like they're still holding it together" he said quietly.
Griggs nodded. "Glad to see it. Last time i was here, it was quite tense. Things were starting deteriorating since no more orders were coming through. "
The Humvees rolled forward, passing through the gate.
The Humvees followed the painted guide lines deeper into the base, passing hangars marked with unit numbers and fuel depots guarded by Marines with mounted machine guns.
They parked near a logistics building not far from the main apron.
Price and Griggs stepped out, boots hitting the warm concrete. The smell of jet fuel mixed with dust and hot metal hung in the air.
As they walked toward the operations building, Price noticed movement beyond the hangars.
Civilians.
A long stretch of tarmac had been converted into a temporary shelter zone. Large green military tents stood in rows, reinforced with sandbags. Portable floodlights were mounted on poles. Generators rumbled behind barricades, powering field kitchens and medical stations.
Families sat on folding cots. Some ate from MRE trays. Others waited in quiet clusters, wrapped in donated jackets and blankets. Children clutched stuffed animals or leaned against exhausted parents. A few older civilians helped unload supply crates under Marine supervision.
A field hospital tent stood near the edge of the shelter zone, red crosses painted across its canvas roof. Medics moved between patients on stretchers. A National Guard unit ran perimeter patrol along the fence line separating the civilians from the flight line.
Price slowed slightly as they passed.
"Didn't expect to see this many," he muttered.
Griggs nodded. "They started searching the nearby counties for survivors not long after I settled everything here. I've heard some managed to find their families."
Price watched a Marine kneel to talk to a young boy sitting on a crate. The kid nodded solemnly as the Marine handed him a bottle of water.
"They're running a full refugee hub," Price said.
"Temporary," Griggs replied. "Once we stabilize the city and reopen the corridors, most of them move to the safe zones."
Price looked ahead toward the control tower and command buildings.
"And until then?"
"Until then," Griggs said quietly, "this is as safe as it gets."
They continued walking, passing the last row of tents and stepping back into the military-only zone, where armed patrols and armored vehicles stood ready to move at a moment's notice.