Seeing Rickson and the others gradually being persuaded, Calista raised her voice a little. "Besides, everything Rock Fortress is today was built on victory after victory, whether against raiders or walkers.
The Spearhead Task Force losing contact is already a heavy blow.
If the commander of this base, me, chooses to hide safely in the rear at a time like this, watching time pass while doing nothing, it will devastate everyone's faith.
The soldiers will think, if even the commander has given up, what are we supposed to believe in?
But if I personally lead a team into danger to rescue them, that alone tells everyone one thing. Rock Fortress will never abandon a single member of its family, and its leader is willing to risk her life for her most loyal warriors."
The words of protest stuck in their throats.
Yes. Who understood the danger inside better than Calista?
Who had created more miracles in desperate situations than Calista?
And who else could take Calista's place and shoulder the leader's responsibility of bringing their family home?
Rickson fell silent. After spending so much time with her, he knew Calista well enough. When she used that tone and laid out those reasons, her decision could no longer be changed.
All he could ask was, "Then have you decided who to take? And how are you getting in?"
"I'll lead a rapid response rescue squad. It has to be small, elite, and fast," Calista answered quickly, clearly having already run through it in her mind.
"The main purpose is to reestablish contact with the task force and determine their condition and location. If possible, we provide support and help them complete the mission or evacuate."
Calista paused, then forced out the last sentence with difficulty. "If... if something has already happened to them, we bring them back and continue trying to complete the mission. But I believe in my sister and the others."
Rickson nodded. This was indeed the best option.
Besides, he had worked with Leah and the others for years before the apocalypse. He did not believe that a single Singularity Polymers facility could make top-tier mercenaries like Carver and Mike fall inside.
The two exchanged a look, and Calista began going through the names with Rickson.
"Maya. She just finished commanding the cleanup operation and knows the latest situation around the perimeter of Block D best. Her combat ability is solid. The Defense Force will temporarily be handed over to Lieutenant Welles.
Bossie. He'll bring reconnaissance equipment and the modified core components from that old anti-jamming communications unit. Have him see whether he can establish a short-range communications node inside.
Jenson, Ethan, Leon, Mikey. The six of them will go in with me. Danny stays outside to maintain contact with us and continue trying to reach Leah and the others."
Just then, the command room door was suddenly pushed open, and a figure rushed in, stopping only after a few breathless steps.
He looked around, then locked his eyes directly on Calista. "Let me go. I want to join the rescue team."
Everyone in the command room froze for a moment.
Why was it Honeywell?
Only then did the guard outside chase in after him and hurriedly explain, "Sorry, Commander. He rushed in too fast. I didn't react in time."
Calista looked at him, her brow slightly furrowed. "Honeywell, do you know where we're going?"
"I know. To Singularity Polymers. To find the last team you sent in."
Honeywell straightened his back and spoke quickly. "I survived in there. Only I know what that hell really looks like. Only I can lead you to what you need to find."
Danny said weakly from the side, "But your mental state..."
Right now, his mental state seemed relatively stable, but if he was triggered inside and lost control, wouldn't that drag Calista and the others into danger?
Honeywell said calmly, "I was the former security consultant for Singularity Polymers. I witnessed the beginning of the accident and know the building's original structure.
Hidden passages, maintenance shafts, emergency exits that aren't on the blueprints, you can only check the supplementary drawings for those. I remember them."
"But if you see those things halfway in..." Rickson said, full of concern, afraid he might have an episode.
Honeywell thought for a moment, then said bluntly, "Then restrain me."
Calista looked at him with complicated eyes, somewhat admiring his courage.
In truth, bringing him along while he was clear-headed was indeed the best choice. If he lost control midway, she was not exactly soft-hearted.
But seeing Honeywell standing stiffly in front of her, volunteering himself with such firm resolve, Calista instead felt a little reluctant.
Compared with the others, Honeywell was a complete ordinary person with almost no combat ability, relying entirely on sincerity and raw courage.
Calista softened her voice a little and, rarely, tried to talk him out of it. "Honeywell, I see your courage and your intentions, but this time is different.
The place where the task force lost contact is dangerous enough that even our most elite warriors could be pushed into a desperate situation in an instant. You need more experience and tempering."
"I know it's dangerous!" Honeywell stubbornly interrupted her, his face flushed red, his eyes filled with desperate resolve. "That's exactly why I have to go.
I can't watch you go in while I wait here.
You don't understand.
If... if I hadn't let them go in back then, or if I had sealed that place after the leak and started decontamination, maybe none of this mess would have happened at all.
This is my mistake. Even if I really don't come back, I won't regret it."
Rickson raised an eyebrow beside him. Calista looked at Honeywell thoughtfully.
In the end, she sighed softly, and her tone turned serious again. "Remember what you said, Honeywell. Absolute obedience to orders.
Your position is in the middle of the team. You are responsible for guiding and observing. Without orders, you do not act on your own, and you do not leave the team. Understood?"
Honeywell nodded hard.
Calista stopped looking at him and turned to sweep her gaze across the room. "This squad is for high-risk rescue and reconnaissance.
We won't carry heavy equipment. Mobility and survival are our top priorities.
We will follow through the No. 3 Raw Material Loading Entrance used by the Spearhead Task Force and move along any markers they may have left.
If we can't find markers, we rely on Honeywell's memory."
"As for here," she looked at Rickson and patted his shoulder solemnly, "I'm leaving it to you, Rickson.
You are Rock Fortress's chief administrator. While I'm gone, you have full authority over all base affairs.
If Leah... if Leah doesn't come back, temporary command of the Defense Force will be decided through discussion between you and the person Maya designates.
Maintain perimeter security. Continue trying every possible long-range communication method.
If we... if we go more than forty-eight hours without sending back any news..."
Calista took a deep breath and continued in a voice that allowed no doubt. "Then activate the final contingency plan. Consider a large-scale blanket bombardment of the Block D core, or induce a structural collapse.
It may not eliminate the contamination source completely, but at the very least, it can thoroughly cleanse everything on the surface, along with anything that may still be trapped inside.
This is the last resort."
Rickson's face went pale, but he nodded heavily.
...
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