Two weeks had passed since Operation Liberate had been put into action to free the residents from the neighbourhoods. The criminal factions of New York, ousted from their mansions by failing life support, had hit the neighbourhoods hard. The worst attack had happened just after Albert and Kevin had been buried. The next had come during the night.
Casualties were many on both sides, but the barricaded gate and perimeter wall had held firm. The criminals had attempted and failed to scale the walls. Many had fallen to their deaths between the outer and inner wall. The attack waves had dwindled to nothing as the criminals ran out of oxygen and were forced to find refuge outside the neighbourhoods.
After retrieving the fallen, Jenny had ordered the underground movement to occupy the old Deighton Mansion. But members of the Agostini family had returned, and another battle raged for occupation. With the Indigenes’ help, she and the movement had secured the site.
Those Indigenes who’d requested it were given freedom in New York where the criminals no longer ruled, in an area the movement had named the Inclusion Zone. With the Indigenes’ help they would secure more safe zones and free more people.
Jenny sat alone in the Agostini mansion, at the same consoles the Indigenes had been forced to manage under criminal rule. The factions in other neighbourhoods had abandoned their strongholds and the Indigenes they’d imprisoned. She rested her DPad on top of one console and listened again to the message that Hayes had delivered across all communication devices in the last hour.
‘If you are receiving this message, we have added your area to the Inclusion Zone. We have rounded up the criminal factions. They are no longer a threat. The Indigenes in your area helped to orchestrate your rescue, so please allow them the freedom to live as they wish.
‘In exchange for your cooperation, the skilled workers have agreed to train people in your neighbourhoods. In time, we will reopen the factories, build viable businesses and tear down the walls that surround each neighbourhood. You will be granted the same freedom as the Indigenes. There will be no hierarchy. We will set up new democratic societies and get industry up and running. We need your help to liberate this planet once again.’
Greyson appeared at the door, his arms folded.
Jenny grabbed her DPad and went to him. She smiled, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips.
‘I think it’s going to work out, Grey. That’s the eleventh city we’ve been able to add to the zone. We are taking back control.’
Grey gave her a smile that made her go weak at the knees. He kissed her again. ‘It’s a good start, but there’s more to do. We need to liberate more than one city at a time. Hit them quickly before the factions can regroup.’
Jenny stood back and frowned at him. ‘We’ve waited eight years to get to this point. You’re not even a little bit happy?’
Grey grabbed her free hand and kissed the top of it. ‘Of course I am. I’m just finding it difficult to let go of my anxiety. It’s one small battle won, but when will this war be over?’
Jenny had wondered the same thing. She activated the DPad and connected an amplifier to the side. ‘It’s almost midday. Do you want to stay?’
Grey nodded and smiled. They sat down together and Jenny propped the DPad up against the console once more.
The screen flickered to life, showing a grainy image. It was the best they could hope for, given the distance between Earth and Exilon 5. A familiar face appeared on screen. She couldn’t believe it had been six months since she’d last seen him.
‘You’re looking a little greyer than the last time I saw you,’ said Jenny, smiling. ‘A little older, too. Any wiser?’
Bill Taggart smiled back. ‘I can always rely on you to tell it to me straight.’
‘And Laura? Still keeping you on your toes?’
‘Of course.’ His gaze shifted. ‘Good to see you, Grey.’
‘You too, Bill.’
‘That’s Commander Taggart to you.’
Grey smiled. ‘Simon Shaw always said you were a cocky son of a bitch back in the ITF days. I see nothing’s changed.’
The banter between the pair was warm and familiar. They had collaborated following the collapse of the World Government. Now Bill commanded a movement similar to Greyson’s, except he also operated in full view of the world, as Director of the ITF on Exilon 5.
‘How’s everything there?’ said Jenny.
‘I wish I had better news.’
‘I’m sorry we haven’t been in touch before now. We had to stabilise things here first. It’s taken that long for the last of the lower-level criminals to come out of hiding. The ones at the top may have escaped. It’s impossible to say without a formal headcount.’
‘What about the neighbourhoods?’ said Bill.
‘Once we removed the Indigenes’ chips, they could communicate with each other and things moved a lot quicker,’ said Jenny. ‘They gathered up as many communication devices and weapons as possible. They coordinated their movements between the neighbourhoods. Some were killed before they got there, but others picked up the slack. If it wasn’t for their cooperation, the plan may have been delayed by several weeks. And who knows what would have happened? The factions were already making their presence felt on the streets. Many more could have died.’
Greyson cut in. ‘We sent word to the medical facility in Harvard and they switched off the life support to the criminal strongholds. As expected, a procession of land vehicles turned up at the neighbourhoods. Many were prepared and had barricaded their entrances with whatever they could. For some it was too late, but most were ready, thanks to the warning we sent out on the communication devices.’
‘It turns out we had a tech expert in the mansion after all,’ said Jenny. ‘Johan helped us to configure the devices so the neighbourhoods would all operate on the same frequency.’
‘We’re two weeks in,’ said Grey. ‘We took refugees in the tunnels, armed the neighbourhoods with whatever weapons we could find. The Indigenes found the rest in storage facilities at the strongholds. The lack of oxygen forced the factions from their buildings. After, they used up whatever oxygen canisters they had. When the last were weakened enough, we picked them up. Most we found dead on the streets. We can’t account for the higher-level criminals, as we said.’
Bill stroked his chin. ‘Well at least that’s one problem on its way to being sorted. What about the boy?’
Jenny shook her head. ‘He’s withdrawn into himself. Sal has done everything she can, but he won’t listen to anyone. He’s terrified of Marcus returning, making good on his promise. Is there anything you can do?’
Bill shook his head. ‘I can’t agree to Marcus’ demands. He’s a criminal. There’s no way I can let him leave Earth.’
‘I understand that, Bill, but Marcus is unstable. Who knows what he will do?’
‘I’m more interested in why he even wants immunity.’ Bill combed his fingers through his short salt-and-pepper hair. ‘The criminal strongholds have been disbanded.’
‘It’s my guess he’s afraid of Gaetano Agostini,’ said Jenny. ‘His betrayal of Gaetano surely makes him a marked man.’
‘And what about the skilled workers?’
‘They’ve come out of hiding and have agreed to teach the neighbourhoods useful skills to survive this mess for when things die down. They will work on rebuilding industries here. We’re putting a makeshift government in place. Word is being sent out globally of our success here. We hope it can be replicated in other regions.’
‘Is the spacecraft up and running yet?’ said Bill.
‘In a couple of weeks,’ said Greyson.
Bill nodded. ‘Good. I’ve convinced the ITF we left behind good soldiers on Earth. I’m sending a passenger ship. A one-time deal, you understand. Whoever wishes to return to Exilon 5 must be on it. Spread the word throughout the inclusion zones. But make sure Ben Watson is on that ship. Stephen’s orders. He needs our protection, now more than ever. That’s the least I can do for him. I still hate myself for how I used him all those years ago.’
‘Are you sure Exilon 5 is safe to return to?’ said Jenny.
‘Not by a long shot. But it’s better than Earth right now. Ben needs to be far away from Marcus. And even if Marcus is dead, Ben should come home. He should never have been forced to leave Exilon 5. He needs some stability in his life. I owe him that much.’
‘I’ll make sure he’s on the ship,’ said Jenny.