232 The Closed Door Meeting, A Supposed Planning to Deal with the Aftermath (1/2)
Day 36 – 5:20 AM – Meeting Room, Port of Real Settlement Headquarters, Barangay Ungos, Real Quezon
It was early in the morning and the sun had not even peeked on the eastern sea yet, but the settlement was already busy. Most of the activities involved the military while some were the private groups going to start their day early. As for the refugees, many of them woke up early to work on the tasks given by the military within the settlement. It was to ensure that they would have better food for the day.
The Port of Real Settlement was divided into two sectors. The first was the residential area sector which was the majority of the settlement and the second was the military sector which occupied to entirety of the commercial port area at the northeast of the settlement.
Since the roads inside the settlement were narrow, the vehicles owned by private groups could not be driven inside unless they were leaving the settlement or going back to their dwellings after returning. It was to prevent road blockage during emergencies where the soldiers needed to use the roads to respond to the area location of the emergency.
As for the higher-ups of the settlement, they had their own duties to fulfill and most of them should have been resting this early but this time, everyone was informed to report at the Headquarters for a sudden meeting. It was to address several issues that rose because of the incident that involved the daughter of a Major.
There were ten people currently in the room sitting around a rectangular table. Five people were from the military, one from the US forces and four from the local politicians. Among these people was Major Alfonso and the US Mercenary, Jones Galley.
”Sorry for gathering everyone even if all of you were supposed to be still resting or was about to rest for the day.”
The man past his fifty's wearing his formal military uniform and was seated at the innermost end of the table. He was Major General Zackaria Faustino, the leading person of this settlement.
As for his apology for calling a meeting at this hour, none of the people voiced any dissatisfaction. It was not because everyone here had a good relation with one another but they had already been used to this routine since the apocalypse came. They needed to address issues that came up as soon as possible or else, them, the management, was the ones to suffer the backlash.
Major General Faustino panned his sight on everyone and continued.
”This time, our preparations on the incoming entrapment operations had been cancelled. As you all know, we've been preparing to capture the ones behind the hunting of survivors and enslaving them which happened mostly at the Marikina-Infanta Highway. Yesterday however, Major Bautista's daughter had been involved with those outlaws by accident and the operation had been moved unreasonably early in order to rescue her.”
The general turned his eyes at Major Alfonso Bautista which made the latter lower his head.
”Unfortunately, not only that our resources and manpower were moved but we received nothing in return. Not to mention that we also did not manage to get our hands on the leading person of the slave traders alive. This time, the ones at fault are Major Bautista and our hired mercenary here Jones Galley.”
”But General, I can't be at fault right?”
Jones could not help but protest.
”And why is that?”
General Faustino turned to Jones with a stern eye.
”General, I'm not the one who killed or caught Drake right? I already filed my report.”
”I already saw the report. But why did you not do something to stop that person called Mark?”
”General, don't be unreasonable. Do you think I'll risk my life that way? You already received the report from Major Bautista right? That group of outlaws were decimated and slaughtered into pieces. I don't want to end up like them.”
The general's eyes were still skeptical towards Jones' statement but at least, he accepted the statement a bit. He then turned to Major Bautista.
”And you Major, what do you have to say in defense?”
”Nothing General. I'll accept any punishment.”
”I won't punish you but please learn your lesson since it is better for you to work for the settlement than to be detained. Just please, rein in your daughter so that you won't have to move our resources and manpower for personal reasons again.”
”But my daughter is also precious to the settlement, right?”
Major Alfonso tried to reason.
”I know that she's a valuable subject to the lab but if you ask me, she's causing more damage than good. This is the third time this week already and every time, there would be people injured. This time, it was already lucky that the ones injured were only her teammates. Actually, there are people already voting against letting your daughter remain in this settlement.”
”But General!”
Major Bautista could not help but raise his voice and stand up hearing the general's previous statement.
”Major Bautista, you are also a precious asset to this settlement and that is why we let your troublemaker daughter stay but the damage that was accumulating because of her was about to exceed your contributions. If more and more people vote to evict her out, even I have no choice but to acquiescence to the desires of the majority. That is why I'm asking you to rein her if you want her to stay.”
”Yes, General.”
Major Bautista slumped on his chair obviously depressed.
The general sighed as he looked at the expression of his subordinate. He was also a father and of course, there was no father who would want to get his only living family to get evicted from the settlement. If that happened, for sure, he would also lose a loyal subordinate.
”General, is that all what you want us to see? To let us watch as you punish your subordinates?”
The seventy-eight year old politician at the right side of the table said which made the other three politicians nod in agreement. He was the incumbent governor of Quezon, Daniel Suero.
Even in this settlement, the military side and the political side had frictions.