Upon returning to the center, Alan went straight to the doctor to be treated with better equipment.
"Do you have any other injuries?" Dr. Talia Perez personally tended to Alan's wound after he requested her help directly.
"No, but there are other things I want to talk to you about—something I've been thinking about a lot lately..." Alan glanced around, stood up, and walked toward a garden where no one was around.
Talia, besides being the head of the military medical department, was an exceptionally kind woman who had made the decision to come to the frontlines herself.
She genuinely wanted to help people, so when she saw how serious the army's current commander looked, she asked, "Are we facing a problem?"
"I can't deny we've done everything possible to keep this place safe, but we're expecting another attack soon." Alan took out a protein bar, began eating it, and explained: "That's why I need you to classify the patients—those who can stand and fight. As for the ones who can't... place them all in a single medical ward."
"I'm not sure I understand, Colonel." Talia's expression grew increasingly tense—she already had an idea where this was heading.
"It's impossible to save everyone. Medical stations must be kept clear and ready for military use. We can't afford to waste medical supplies on men with cancer, tumors, or illnesses that will eventually become untreatable."
Alan, now in command, understood that severely ill refugees would have to be left behind.
Time was too valuable, so he preferred to transfer children, strong young adults, and healthy men to the new base. They would become the foundation of humanity.
"You're talking about killing them?"
"In simple terms, yes. I believe they would think the same." As a soldier, Alan's last desire was to become a burden to others. There was no chance of saving those people, so the least he could do was offer them a peaceful end.
"You're not giving them a choice!"
"Because I don't have a choice!" Alan shouted, his voice cold.
This woman was special—her skills were essential—and Alan didn't want her lost in the chaos of what he feared was coming.
Talia Perez knew Alan's reputation as a soldier, but seeing him truly unhinged for the first time... it scared her.
"We have only eight hundred soldiers in this refugee base, and fifteen thousand civilians—not counting high-priority personnel. I regret I can't protect them all. But to preserve humanity, sacrifices must be made."
After saying this, Alan relaxed a bit and added in a calmer tone: "I'm not asking for your help. I'm giving you an order, soldier."
"Yes, I understand..." With reddened eyes, Talia stood up, gave him a military salute, and left.
Alan remained there, lost in thought.
Did this make them the same as FEDRA?
It was clear they would abandon the sick, but those who were still strong would be transferred to other refugee camps. If they could hold out, those people would form part of the new settlements being established near the dam.
If that worked, everything would get easier. But for now, this was the only option to survive and win.
Everything is fine—until control is lost. Alan would make sure to keep everything under control until this zone became useless to his plans. But in the meantime, while a weapons factory was being dismantled, they had to hold on for as long as they could.
And while that was happening, Alan would protect this place and keep these people safe.
However, there were two things he couldn't tolerate in life: lies—and someone stealing what he had fought so hard to bring to light.
If anyone tried to disrupt the chain of command, he would kill them.
"Zz... Colonel, we need your presence at the control base."
Alan, staring up at the calm sky, stood up and replied through his radio as he walked toward the command center: "On my way."