The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 905

Chapter 905

+5 BONUS

BONUS

Chapter 905

supplies dwindled, survival at sea would only get uglier. Nicole doubted those pirates would choose differently even if they could start over.

Yorwick needed tighter security and more patrols.

That was someone else’s problem, though. She still needed a way to return the missing machinery parts without leading anyone back to her.

Producing the containers was easy. Explaining their appearance was another matter. The military wouldn’t accept a miracle as an answer, and any story she offered would have to hold up under investigation.

For now, she put it aside. Something would occur to her eventually.

The cold made for good sleeping weather. Nicole chilled easily, but Zeph gave off enough heat for both of them. She curled against him and stayed warm all night.

By morning, the storm was gone. Sunlight sparkled on the calm water, though the air was much colder.

After breakfast, Zeph went to work. Poppy took the ferry back to Platform B with Stella and the others.

The way the base handled the attack surprised Nicole, though part of her had expected it.

The pirates came with the storm and disappeared overnight, leaving almost nothing behind.

Dale told Zeph privately that none of it was to be discussed.

The base would show no mercy to pirates who preyed on Yorwynians. Its response was meant to deter anyone else considering a raid.

After ten years of disasters, there were few enough people left that cooperation should have mattered more than ever. But the authorities saw little reason to believe years of robbery and murder would end with a second chance.

In their view, the pirates were beyond reform. The base had no shortage of workers, and feeding prisoners would consume supplies it could barely spare.

Letting them go would expose other survivors to more attacks.

The authorities also wanted to avoid criticism from other countries or settlements over their treatment of prisoners.

They chose secrecy over public reckoning.

Most residents never found out there was an attack at all.

Weasel received ten pounds of grain and six months of free rent. He couldn’t stop grinning. Sticking close to Nicole always paid off.

Marcus got a reward, too. Despite being a recent recruit, he moved up one rank.

Nicole and Zeph were still waiting for theirs.

The delay wasn’t because the higher-ups wanted to shortchange them. Dale was still determined to bring them into the military.

Finding capable recruits was part of his job, after all.

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Chapter 905

+5 BONUS

He was a good judge of people. After several dealings with the couple, he understood that Nicole had the final say

their biggest decisions.

He approached her again and invited her to name her terms.

Nicole didn’t know whether to laugh or sigh.

“Director Bowers, we’re used to making our own decisions. Military life comes with rules we’re not ready live by. If we wanted to enlist, we would’ve done it at the southern base.

“That doesn’t mean we care any less about our country or the people here. If you need our help, we’ll do what we can. You don’t have to put us in uniform for that.”