In the prison command center, Rick listened as Zhou and the other three gave their report. T-Dog, Jacqui, Boone, Sasha, Tyreese, and several others were there as well, while Calista listened in from Rock Fortress.
By the time Zhou finished describing what they had seen, Calista was certain.
Terminus had already become a cannibal settlement.
She rubbed her forehead and pressed the transmit button.
"Zhou, Murphy, Leon, Leslie. You did an outstanding job. Rick."
"I'm listening, Calista."
"You have full command of all armed personnel currently at the prison. Destroy Terminus."
Calista's order was firm, leaving no room for discussion.
"Rock Fortress will provide whatever long-range fire support you need. If you require helicopters for aerial reconnaissance or fire suppression, say so immediately.
"The medical team will remain on standby. We can establish a forward aid station, but you'll be responsible for the main assault and cleanup. The prison is closer, and you know the personnel and terrain over there better than we do."
"Understood." Rick nodded.
The arrangement made sense.
They couldn't depend on Rock Fortress's armed forces every single time. The prison Reserves trained by the Defense Force also needed actual combat experience.
"But Rick," Calista continued, deliberately slowing her voice, "there are several rules for this operation that you must follow. There is absolutely no room for negotiation."
Calista rarely spoke to Rick this forcefully.
Zhou and the others glanced at him.
Rick lifted his head and listened closely.
"First, this is not a conquest or an attempt to absorb another community. This is an elimination operation.
"Our target is not an ordinary community. It's worse than most raider settlements. These people are monsters.
"Second, Rock Fortress takes no prisoners. No interrogations either.
"Every living person inside, unless they are clearly being held captive in a cage and are completely incapable of resisting, is on the elimination list.
"Anyone walking around. Anyone holding a weapon. Anyone smiling at you. Anyone crying and begging for mercy.
"Every single one of them. Do you understand? Every single one."
Rick's brow furrowed slightly.
No prisoners?
This...
As if sensing his hesitation, Calista emphasized the point again.
"Think about what Zhou described, Rick.
"What kind of decent people lure survivors inside, subdue them, then walk back out wearing blood-soaked aprons while laughing and joking as they wash themselves off?
"Showing mercy to people like that means being cruel to our own.
"One moment of softness, one hesitation, one flash of sympathy because they put on a pitiful act could cost one of our people..."
She paused.
"...their life.
"We cannot afford that gamble, and there is no reason to take it."
Rick fell silent.
Calista's words were extreme.
But in an equally extreme world, facing a place already confirmed to be both a trap and a slaughterhouse, he genuinely had no argument against her.
"Third," Calista continued sternly, "finish this completely.
"I want Terminus permanently incapable of operating again. It must never lure in or harm another survivor.
"I want that place reduced to a dead site that poses no danger to anyone ever again."
She took a deep breath.
The thought of the inhuman cannibals at Terminus hardened her resolve.
"Rick, I know these orders sound harsh. But sometimes, if we want to protect our community and our future, we have to be decisive.
"Any questions?"
Rick looked around the table at his companions.
T-Dog gave a slight nod, his expression firm.
He exchanged a glance with Jacqui. After hearing Zhou and the others describe Terminus, both of them clearly despised the place.
Tyreese and Sasha pressed their lips together tightly.
Boone was still pale, but his hands had clenched into fists.
"No questions, Calista."
Rick's composure returned, and he sounded even more determined than before.
"Good. Work out your plan and move as soon as possible. Keep communications open.
"Rock Fortress will be waiting for good news.
"And for every one of you... to come back safely."
After Calista finished, a faint sound came over the radio as she signaled that she was switching channels.
Then the line went silent.
Operational command was now entirely in Rick's hands.
The atmosphere inside the command center didn't ease at all.
If anything, it became even heavier, filled with the grim tension of an operation about to begin.
Rick looked toward Zhou and his team.
"Zhou, I know the four of you need rest, but this is urgent. We need the most detailed intelligence possible before we can finalize the plan.
"Your sketch is good, but I need more.
"The approximate layout of the train station buildings, every entrance you could see, any guard positions you observed. Anything you remember."
Leon nodded and immediately picked up a charcoal pencil, beginning to add details to the map.
Zhou, Murphy, and Leslie gathered around him, quietly filling in anything he missed.
Rick turned to the others.
"T-Dog, inventory every weapon we have available. Explosives, Molotov cocktails, firearms, ammunition. Everything.
"Jacqui, prepare enough first-aid kits and tourniquets. We'll issue them to everyone before we move out.
"Tyreese, Sasha, select people from the Reserves for the operation. I want people who follow orders.
"Boone, you and the other four Defense Force members stationed here will stay with the remaining Reserves and secure the prison perimeter while we're gone. Raise the alert level. We're not leaving the prison vulnerable while the main force is away."
Everyone acknowledged their orders and immediately got to work.
Meanwhile, a more detailed operational sketch quickly took shape around Zhou's group.
"There probably aren't many of them," Zhou said, pointing at the map. "Based on the activity we saw afterward and the size of the place, I'd estimate their core armed personnel at somewhere between ten and fifteen.
"Add the woman at the grill and any other noncombatants, and the total should still be under twenty. Probably fewer.
"Their strengths are the terrain and their ability to lure people into traps.
"But when it comes to a direct fight or basic vigilance, they don't look professional. They had the gate wide open in broad daylight while grilling meat, and those two men washing their aprons were completely relaxed."
"I think the weak point is here," Murphy said, pointing to one section of the perimeter wall. "East side, near the old water tower.
"I remember seeing a crack in the wall there.
"With a controlled explosive charge, or maybe a vehicle ramming it, we should be able to open a breach.
"And it's some distance from the main buildings, so the approach is relatively concealed."
"I recommend hitting them before dawn," Leslie said. "That's when it's darkest and people are most tired. They're more likely to be relaxed or exhausted."
Rick listened carefully.
He included Zhou and the other three in the assault force.
"Zhou, your four-man team takes the eastern breach. Blow it open, push through, create confusion, and draw their attention.
"Tyreese, Sasha, take the main force and hit the front gate.
"T-Dog, Jacqui, and I will circle around from the side entrance and block anyone trying to escape that way."
Finally, Rick looked sternly across everyone who would be taking part.
"Remember what Calista said.
"Anyone inside who isn't being held captive is not innocent.
"Our mission is elimination.
"Is that understood?"
"Understood!"
...
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