"What kind of threats are we talking about exactly?" the man asked.
"Oh yes, this is Adam Shaw, my chief of security," Senator Sinclaire said."Thomas Orkan…," I said.
"We're facing threats that would be considered supernatural or paranormal. That's the best way to describe what we are facing. Normal laws of our world may not even apply," I explained.
"What do you suggest we do?" Shaw said.
"Your team has the most experience with this as far as anyone here knows," Shaw added.
"The valley into town is still similar to the landscape of our town. We need to barricade the way into town to ensure the safety of the people. The carter wall provides a natural barrier. We fortify the road with block barriers. I'll then station law enforcement personnel there around the clock to defend our position. That's our best strategy for now. As of now, I don't think we have to worry about threats from the fjord. It looks pretty deep and possibly goes on for hundreds of miles into the dead forest," I explained.
"We can discuss a course of action later, Mr. Shaw. Right now, we need an understanding of what is happening," Mayor Wells replied.She looks back at Sheriff Orkan, and he nods again.
"We have a lot of new land to cover. We are short on manpower. There are still areas we have not searched. There are possibly more people we have yet to discover. I propose we combine all law enforcement, EMS, and other services into one command," Sheriff Orkan explained.
"I agree. We need a clear chain of command. Sheriff Orkan fit that build to command. We should also create a council," Rhonda added.
"What about our shortage of manpower? After you brought back those refugees, I'm concerned. Over ninety-seven percent of the current population is female. If this world treats a woman like slaves, we are definitely in danger," Sinclaire said.
"We find people from this world to help. I'm sure those captives have homes somewhere. People that are looking for them. We find them, then ask them to help us," Kathy said.
"That would require our people to leave the town…," Shaw said.
"It's a risk, but we may have no choice," Grace said.
"I don't like the thought of sending people out into an unknown landscape, but considering this threat, we all face it. I think we have no choice," Mayor Wells said.
"Then you better get started. We must assume time isn't on our side," Windhelm said.
"What other changes have occurred?" Clark questioned.
"The landmass surrounding the mainland area surrounding Pineford Lake has increased in proportion to the lake itself. New islands have appeared on the lake. Each city is three to five times larger, and some areas are duplicates of one another. The changes do not follow logic. We should expect more changes in the coming days," Kurt Orkan explained.
"I would also point out that the days and nights are getting longer. Has anyone noticed the position of the twin pair of binary suns?" Kathy questioned.
"I was just about to ask about that matter. In retirement, I studied astronomy, and I noticed the location in the sky is toward each horizon yet, but I believe there is a change happening right now," Clark explained.
"You are right Mrs. Clark. The way the light casts shadows on objects suggests there is a third set of binary stars yet to reveal themselves. I believe the days and nights will get longer until that anomaly manifests itself," Kathy added.
"So it seems changes are occurring on a grand scale. There may even be other settlements like our Crater Valley in this world," Mayor Wells replied.
"That may be the course of our future. I'll put together a team," Kurt Orkan said.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to be on that team," Shaw said.
Kurt nods in agreement.
With everyone in agreement, our impromptu meeting ends with a course of action. The Senator and Shaw left first, followed by the Governor. Kurt pulls me to the side.
"My people will start a thorough survey of the current town layout. I am going to be blunt and straight as I can with you! We need answers, and we need them ASAP. We need more information if we are to have a clear understanding of what's out there before any of those monsters get inside. Hopefully, by the time you get back, we will settle all this," Sheriff Orkan said.
"I don't know this Shaw guy, but he looks capable. Find one of the refugees and take the woman that can speak to them with you. I'm sending two of my deputies with you two. Deputy Fulton and Officer Kristensen," He added.
"Alight, we'll leave as soon as we can," I said.
Grace and Rhonda are already making their way out to our staging location at the gas station. Their expressions look focused. I have no doubt the two women are running the numbers in their heads. Kathy looks like she's about to go on some wild adventure. I hope that's all we are doing. As a civilian, she should stay here, but she is the closest thing to a doctor we had going with us. We can't spare any doctor for some dangerous mission. I walk with Deputy Orkan down to an office near the front. 'It looks like this place is being used for a supply depot.' I immediately began packing gear for the mission. The others were doing the same.
A short time later, Shaw arrives with three other women and packs his gear. They wore black BDUs just like Shaw and were running serious combat gear. The first woman I notice is the young blonde. Her presence of mind hints that she has elite combat experience. The blonde woman is the tallest of the three women and appears to be in her mid-twenties. She has a round face with thin, mono-lid hazel eyes. She keeps her hair in a long, braided ponytail. Her check mark-shaped eyes draw attention to a narrow but small nose with puffy down-turned lips. She has low cheekbones and a round jawline. Light brown freckles dot most of her face, giving her a cute complexion. The woman's large, cantaloupe-sized breasts are one of her best features while her genes grant her an athletic cheerleader physique. Her genes bless her with a small waist, wide hips, and thick birthing things. Most of her height is on her slender ballerina legs.
My attention turns to the next woman as I continue to make my assessment of Mr. Shaw's aids. She is quite gorgeous, and her butt catches my attention first. 'Damm, she can give Aphanea and Rhonda a run for their money.' I put her age around Kathy's as she has that innocent look, but looks are not as they seem. The black-haired woman is a little thicker, but maintains that slender, curvaceous figure many Pineford females enjoy. She has an oval face and large, round blue eyes. Her straight black eyebrows direct attention to her small dainty nose and perky, heart-shaped lips. The black-haired woman has medium cheekbones and a U-shaped jawline. Her most noticeable feature is her silky white milky skin with the consistency of whole milk. Robust genes give her perky, watermelon-sized breasts, a ballerina's slim waist, and a bountiful bubble butt. She is the shortest of the three women, but her genes bless her with wide hips, thick thighs, and athletic dancer legs.
I turn my attention to the last woman of the three. She is cute, with a nerdy demeanor. The woman reminds me of a cosplay girl or anime girl because of her facial features and hairstyle. The redhead woman looks more like a civilian than a soldier. She has porcelain pale skin that gives her a ghostly appearance. The woman's hair is in two bow-like pigtails on each side of her oval face. She has thick ginger soft-angled eyebrows arched over deep blue almond-shaped eyes. The woman is wearing black-rimmed glasses and has a perky, heart-shaped nose. Her most noticeable features are her medium cheekbones, angular jawline, and pouty, full lips. She is beautiful beyond words as her most attractive features are her plump apple bottom with the roundness of a basketball. Her breasts are moderate, being larger than a pair of footballs. She possesses a statuesque, curvaceous physique, with long sprinter legs. A thin waist gives her a coke bottle figure, with moderately wide hips, and thick feminine thighs.
My assessment is these three women are capable, and I believe I don't have to hold their hands. If Shaw trusts them, then I will too. I have spent a lot of time around men like him. Shaw and I are men of the same vein. We work in a certain way. I did not have to doubt his judgment. The three women are just as ample and curvy as the rest of the women in town. My best guess is the women are military veterans would be my first guess, or spooks. The redhead woman may have military training of some kind, but her looks are good enough to fool people other than me. Now it seems Shaw is bringing his people too which now make this a team of ten, not counting Aphanea and our guide. I'm almost done with Fulton when Kristensen arrived. The three of us finish loading gear into the two humvees as Sheriff Orkan joins us.
"Just so you know, Thomas Hawthorne is leading this mission," the Sheriff said to Shaw.
The man looks at the sheriff, then at me, and nods his head before getting back to loading his team's gear. Kurt seems satisfied with the man's answers and leaves. I turn my attention to my gear. We weren't going on foot. Not with those things out there. We need gear that could last and a lot of firepower. Shaw looked like he got the idea too. Everything looks ready. I set my gear with the others and head for Aphanea.