Existing (under editing)

Chapter 22*

We made our way to the main hall, what seemed to be the place of power and trial. People were gathered around in groups, congregating through the numerous doors as we walked the hall ways. On the way, everyone was silent. The faces of men and women were grave and unchanging, no children in sight. The air unmoving, musty and hot in the windowless building. I didn't know what exactly we were all going together too. Some gently whispered in others ears but no one informed us of anything. Alma pulled at here backpack straps, making it sit more controlled on her back, minimising the amount of sound the contents made. When we did eventually reach the candle lit room we had first arrived in, this time it was fully lit from the open skylight above and no one sat at the thrown. Many had decided to sit, while the others that stood rimmed the walls. Alma and I found a spot in one of the further corners of the room. No familiar faces greeted us but Mitsugi. He stood tall and strong in the centre of the room. His one eye squinted as he watched everyone enter. His parrot positioned on his shoulder, swaying side to side with his movements. Eventually the waves of people filled up the room and less and less groups dripped in. it wasn't until a man at the door closed it before Ember and her men entered holding bags of things and folded paper.

"Welcome everyone." She yelled. Her face covered in dirt except the lower half and she had been stripped of most of her weapons. She stood, he head held high and hands on her hips as she addressed the crowds. "Thankyou all again for being here today as we let you know what has been going on with our operations in raids and claiming back the city that is rightfully ours."

Two men unrolled a large sheet, a map, it was divided into four sectors. North, south, east and west. Within those were certain landmarks. The sky scraper towers that still stood. Main stations. Some suburbs were marked within these sectors, five to ten in each. This is how they had stationed us all. But now the north and south sectors where shaded, referencing unclaimed land. In this the suburbs were either marked or crossed out. The large paper made the detail easier for the eye to see.

"So is that what the map of the city looks like?" Alma whispered.

I nodded and we both turned back as Ember was about to speak. "As many of you know we know claim all of the west sector. We now have access to resources and facilities inside our walls without threat of enemy interference. Scouting for the forgotten and raids to the north and south sectors has been done with reluctance after we finally settled her due to our in experience but now we are able to confidently speak that we have created systems and guides to safely travel to the remote sector for information and consumables in order to prolong our survival here. Many of you have not seen many of your friends and family since the great fall of the skyscraper we had thought was the base of our enemy and we had proceeded to collapse it with false knowledge." She sighed looking down for a moment. "I know many of you are asking the same question that I have pondered on for weeks. Where are they? For an army as big as theirs where would they all disappeared to while the rest of our people are trapped in the east sector? So I have to confirm with you all here today, our next move will be... to attack the east."

The hum of the room exploded in whispers. They all looked back and forth with each other while Ember stood, waiting for silence to fall yet again.

A man rose in the third row, his head held high to ask a question. Ember nodded for him to speak. "Why do we abandon our search for the enemy? Why not just attack the guard we can see circulating what is left of the city and then follow them to their base?"

Ember gave a sad smile. "We ran an operation last night to everyone's knowledge it was just a raid of the abandon buildings as per usual but what we were really in search for was this."

Two black men dragged out one of the heavy bags and let the contents fall out.

"These." She picked up a pair of goggles. "Is what we call night vision lenses. They allow you to see at night. Without failure to find their base there is one thing that we absolutely sure about in our observation of how they are running the camp in the east. They hide behind a junk wall, build by the people they slave. All personal that report to the higher ups of their guard come in and out of the eat sector. It is the only place left to find them. They have surrounded themselves and the people of our city, their second wall between us and them. If we are simply to attack them we would be risking the lives of the people trapped there. That is why we must take their wall first, the people, then that will leave them exposed with only their own people. These with be used to utilised the ability to take them by surprise. Minimising the amount of time between the attacks for them to regroup. Getting the people out without causing any alarm will let us lead them to safety then reclaim the east."

Men started to pack the bag back up and take it away. Ember stood, watching the crowd with the pair she still had slung over her shoulder. "So what I ask of you, the people, will you fight with us in the attack that will come?"

The crowd erupted in whistles and clapping. A couple beside me talked in excitement.

"We might actually stand a chance."

"I may finally be able to see my brother again."

I peered back at Alma as she finished up the meeting. "So if you are up for it. Anyone is open to join us in the coming raids as we restock ammunition and training can be provided to those who are not confident in their abilities. Meeting augured."

People started to poor out and we caught up with Ember.

"Wow, you really can lead a crowd," I said. "Where did you find that equipment anyway?"

She smiled at Alma and me. "We managed to source out an old special unit's police building, disguised as a warehouse, stocked with all we need. It must have been from before the colonisation. Come, it's time for dinner and I'll get someone to take you to your room after."