The Last Bastion of the Living (The Last Bastion #1)(95)

“Other than the ammunition on reserve for the Section A evac, we don’t control the ammunition stores. The SWD does,” Dwayne added grimly.

President Cabot directed his stern gaze at Mr. Petersen. “Well?”

“We have sufficient ammunition to clear out those pockets,” Mr. Petersen admitted. “But it will be a significant drain on our resources. That weaponry was set aside for the final elimination of the Inferi Scourge around the wall.”

“We need the Inferi Boon to finish their mission,” Dr. Curran said firmly. “Destroying the Anomalies must be a top priority.”

“But we might risk extending the mission when we’re on the verge of a severe food crisis,” the president said in a cold tone. “We can’t afford to have riots in the streets. If we are forced to begin restrictions, the city will lose faith in us and we will have a mess on our hands. I was promised that this time there wouldn’t be a failure with the Inferi Boon.”

“There won’t be,” Dr. Curran said quickly.

“Let us drop weapons to our people.” Commandant Pierce leaned toward President Cabot. “Let us do our job efficiently and with proper weaponry.”

“We can’t risk drawing the Inferi Scourge away from the wall.” Mr. Petersen gave Dr. Curran a withering look. “Don’t you agree?”

“The Anomalies need to be our concern,” Dr. Curran argued. “They have already breached the subway and sewer systems. They’re a real threat to this city’s security. Arm the Inferi Boon and let them deal with the situation. If the aircraft does draw Inferi Scourge away from the wall, let the Inferi Boon deal with them.”

“If we end up extending the mission, the food crisis will not be avoided,” Vice President April Sims said, daring to finally speak up. “We’re already gambling with the belief that we can start producing crops as soon as the valley is cleared and safe.”

President Cabot gave her a withering look.

Dwayne couldn’t keep his silence on the matter anymore. “Instead of preparing for Section A and potential food riots, we should have warned the citizens long before now. If there is a delay in this mission, there will be serious ramifications because this administration has not been forthcoming with the populace.”

“I will remember your words,” the president said crossly.

Caitlyn shot a worried look at her father and he winked at her reassuringly. Caitlyn had yet to understand how truly messy things could be at the upper levels of government, but she was certainly learning swiftly.

“He’s right,” Commandant Peirce spoke up. “We’re teetering on the edge of extinction, our only hope resting on the people we killed and made into Inferi Boon to do our bidding and we won’t even arm them against the Anomalies?”

“We already had to deal with one delay by pulling Special Constable Jameson out of the field. That tiltrotor pulled an estimated twenty thousand Inferi Scourge away from the city walls. We can’t afford to do that again.” Mr. Petersen’s bland face was becoming eerily calm.

“At the rate the Inferi Boon have been killing, that is not even a half day delay. At one point the squads were killing eight hundred Inferi Scourge a minute.” Dwayne was well-acquainted with all the numbers since the commandant had insisted on his inclusion at the meeting.

“That was when the Inferi Scourge were packed so tightly together that our people had to hardly move to be within killing reach of the next one. Now they’re more scattered and it takes much longer. The kill counts have decreased. Especially since they lost Jameson. He was a blood-thirsty one.” Mr. Petersen’s voice was calm and accommodating, but his smile was shark-like.

“He was a blood thirsty one?” Commandant Pierce’s voice was like knives, sharp and cruel.

“He died unexpectedly yesterday,” Dr. Curran said, averting her eyes.

“A sad loss. A true hero,” the President said. His words sounded well-rehearsed and empty.

“The point is that we cannot afford delays. Our fuel, food, and ammunition stores are nearly depleted. If we do not clear the valley within the next week, we will have to implement Section A,” Mr. Petersen said. “And that is not acceptable.”

“And you’re not on the evacuation list, are you?” Dwayne gave the man a mirthless smile.

Mr. Petersen rewarded him with a bland look and a slight shrug. “I have the city’s interests at heart.”

“If the Inferi Boon don’t have sufficient weaponry to fight off the Anomalies, this conversation will be moot. They will fail. We will fail and the Section A evacuation will commence,” Commandant Pierce said. The sharp beauty of her face only added to the power of her words. “If the Inferi Boon are our only hope, then give them the damn weapons.”

“If there is a delay-” Mr. Petersen started.

“Give them the weapons,” the president said. His glum face was turned toward the hologram of the valley. “One aircraft. Air drop the weapons. But after the Inferi Boon destroy the Anomalies, we will launch our final assault on the Inferi Scourge.”

“The pockets of Inferi Scourge along the eastern edge of the valley-”

“Mr. Petersen, you said that we had the weaponry for one final assault, so plan to eliminate those pockets of Inferi Scourge as well. I do not want any more delays. I’m done with this Inferi Boon, Inferi Anomaly, Inferi-f*cking-Scourge business! Clean it up! Give the city a gawddamn show and keep us from starving to death. You said you could do it. Then f*cking do it.” The president glowered at the silent people gathered around the table then turned his scorching gaze to Mr. Petersen. “Am I clear?”