Dead Cities and Deader Men (Operative Title) Day 28 of 30 12/18/2020

Dead Cities and Deader Men (Operative Title)

Day 28 of 30

12/18/2020

Nothing much happens overnight. It does tend to the quieter time when on Reconnaissance. Few times has anything happened, monster wise, in the darkness. Once the Sun is up, then it is a different situation.

The kid shows back up shortly after the shift in the rest of the Gunners and Suits switch out. Looks like he had enough sleep to make it well enough. He brings me a few more stim drinks, water, and an unopened ration. Never seem to get ones that were not already opened and partially eaten.

I can tell we are getting a lot closer. The landscape is a lot flatter and there are signs that there are not many monsters around at all. Likely due to how many tracks go in and out at this point. Not sure just how far to go still. My calculations seem to be off, or we are making much better time than anticipated.

A few more hours of driving and I see the tread marks of other Tracks. Signs that we are very close. No other messages have arrived, I cannot tell how many days it has been since the first one came in. The water is keeping me from going blind and the blood from the wires is totally washed away. The panels are all clear and then it happens.

Finally, see the walls of The City ahead. Only about thirty more kilometers to go now. Almost able to relax, once down the ramps and able to turn the engines off, then I can relax finally. Until it is parked, cannot rest a moment. Another couple of mouthfuls of stim drink to wash down the stim ration bar to make it. Will be there in just about twenty minutes of so, maybe a little less. At this point we are almost in range of the defensive works, almost able to not worry about anything hopping out and ripping the track into shreds.

Almost able to calm down, relax a little, and not have to worry every moment. Even if something happened, could walk in a Suit the rest of the way there. Getting close enough to make it within the time limit. Could make it back actually to pull the Track in even in an emergency.

The closer we get. The higher and higher the outer wall reaches. Eventually it stretches so far up that I cannot see the top of it. That is when I know we are home. Nearly there, nearly.

The kid is amazed. Naturally he has seen it as we pull away on runs. Never with it rising above us. That sight is for us Drivers. This is what it is all about. Bringing a Track back home after a mission.

Turn and head towards the inbound road. Takes us right into the tunnels and down to the garages. Once parked it is all done and can find out what the message really meant.