One day later.
A modified RV was parked near a factory. Dozens of walker corpses lay scattered around the vehicle. Several guards surrounded the RV while others kept watch from the roof.
This group was Jason's chosen team. This time, both the RV's exterior and interior had undergone significant changes. The outside had been painted in camouflage colors—something that hadn't been done before—and the letters "S.C.T." were boldly displayed on the front.
With that, Jason's intentions were clear: to use the image of his community as an elite organization to approach different survivor settlements, implementing a military model that drew attention.
Of course, many might covet what the truck carried inside, but Jason wasn't too concerned about that. First, he had spent a long time reinforcing the vehicle both inside and out. Second, even though some had begun to see his group as an attractive target for looting, the RV's imposing appearance made most think twice about attacking. Major forces would weigh the risk carefully, and Jason didn't fear the smaller ones.
Still, the most important thing was to stay cautious. These days, everyone took their own precautions. Jason understood that no matter how prepared he was, he would eventually come into contact with powerful communities. There would even be times when conflict with some of them would be unavoidable. But that was one of his strengths: he wasn't afraid.
With all that in mind, Jason wanted to make some modifications to the RV to make it more versatile and cover certain weak points. First, it was necessary to improve the exterior firing ports and add defenses to the armored windows. The interior space was already used to its fullest, but there were still changes that could be made to free up even more room.
That's why they had come to this factory: to remodel a rear trailer to serve as a supply container, making theft much more difficult. This time, Jason chose a small trailer—easy to attach and useful for external storage.
The RV's performance could cover all the group's needs, so after leaving the base, George drove to the factory to begin the necessary remodeling.
Yesterday, the group found a suitable location to work undisturbed by walkers, and they had been stationed there since.
Now, Jason needed to gather some supplies for the main base. He didn't want to delegate the task to survivors from other bases since everyone was busy reinforcing shelters and training. He didn't plan to slow down their progress when he could handle the task himself.
The base had ample reserves of fuel, food, resources, and everything needed to survive for years. But Jason didn't want to deplete those reserves for side tasks.
That's why he planned to stay here for a while so the team could get used to living inside the modified RV. Its capacity shouldn't be underestimated: in addition to its size, the massive vehicle was surprisingly fast, even when fully loaded.
While George, Jon, and Jason were busy with preparations, the rest of the team began to grow bored. They had been waiting for hours. Aside from George and Jon, who could assist, the others were simply watching. Merle, restless, climbed down from the RV roof and approached Jason.
"Jason! I'm thinking of going out to find some supplies. We should make the most of our time here."
Jason, who was helping George, paused when he heard him. He looked up, thought for a moment, and nodded. "Alright. But remember, we're not in territory where we can expect immediate support. Be careful. If things get complicated, fall back."
Seeing Jason's approval, the others nearby showed excitement. Merle gathered Daryl, Carlos, Glenn, Michonne, and Tyreese.
The group of six quickly departed from the factory. They were in an urban area far from the base, on the outskirts of Atlanta, where many places remained unexplored. Soon, they disappeared at an intersection.
Jason wasn't worried about them. He trusted their strength and survival skills. His task now was to reinforce the trailer to store more provisions and free up space inside the RV.
While Jason and the others kept working, Merle and his group had already traveled a good distance. Since Merle's last visit to the city, the number of walkers had decreased, though there were still some around.
There were at least a dozen walkers per block, but for a team this experienced, they posed little threat.
To make collection and return easier, they decided to clear the area to avoid trouble later.
Carlos, wielding a compound bow, loosed arrows with deadly precision. Each shot brought down a walker from afar.
Merle chuckled and said, "Damn, Carlos, looks like Daryl trained you well with that bow, hell."
"Old man, since you didn't want to teach me, your brother did! My master!" Carlos replied, throwing a glance at Daryl walking ahead.
"Damn…" Daryl muttered with a sigh. "I've told you a thousand times, stop calling me master."
Michonne, katana in hand, silently observed the surrounding buildings. She was searching for any stores worth checking out. Hearing the conversation, she couldn't help but intervene: "Quit messing around and focus. We're out here for supplies, not playtime."
Glenn, holding an M4A1, also scanned the area, trying to recall the shops in this zone. He remembered several supermarkets and malls nearby.
Finally, as they reached a corner, Glenn recognized the street and said, "This is it! I remember a bunch of stores right down that road."
Before he could finish speaking, Merle peeked around the corner, then immediately turned back and covered Glenn's mouth, signaling silence with a raised hand. Glenn nodded. Tyreese and Michonne crouched beside them.
They all looked across the street: there were food stores, but also seventy to eighty walkers milling around. It was clear that there were people trapped behind those doors.
"Can we help them?" Glenn asked uncertainly.
If the walkers had been scattered, it wouldn't be an issue. But this group was sizeable and could attract even more, becoming a horde.
Though such gatherings sometimes happened by accident, Jason's reports were clear: eliminate groups before they become a bigger threat.
This group was still manageable, so after a brief discussion, they decided to act. According to Merle, if the people inside didn't know where to go, they'd bring them to Jason.
Merle trusted Jason's ability to judge people. He could always sort them easily into useful or dangerous. While no single person could threaten the base's safety, Merle admired Jason's keen observation skills.
In fact, several of those present had been personally selected by Jason.
Merle devised a simple attack plan. Carlos and Daryl would move in first.
Crossbow bolts and arrows began slicing through the air, silently dropping walkers one by one. But it also drew attention. The group began to stir and shift in their direction.
"Carlos, Daryl, take out the ones farther off! The rest of you, deal with the ones coming this way!"
Merle licked his lips with a grin, raised his machete, and confidently stepped toward the first walker. He lifted his weapon and…
Clack!