Our story pt2

Chapter 19: Family first

"Strike" he echoed hoping the man understood he wanted to know what kind of strike was coming "I don't know orders were to load the helis with tear gas and explosives i don't know what they're planning" Garrison replied truthfully Caesar exchanged a look with Erica Maurice and Rocket before Koba came charging toward them "humans on foot approaching from road" Caesar and Erica looked at him at a loss before Erica took the radio "Garrison is there any ground units near our location" Erica asked guessing at Koba's information Garrison was silent for a few moments before he answered "there shouldn't be any yet three ground units just left with orders to seal the north of the woods" Garrison responded

Caesar looked at Koba confused before understanding that the humans he had spotted were not mercenaries Caesar was about to ask if they were armed when Maurice got his attention before drawing a circle in mid air with his finger Erica understood before Caesar did "they're planning to box us in get us all in one place so it's easier to get us all at once" Maurice nodded before Garrison also confirmed it Caesar went back to pacing before kneeling and examining the ground "suggestions" he asked aloud silence followed as the others thought of what to do "maintain radio silence unless absolutely essential Marks going back to the city so it's up to us to keep them alive" Garrison said to Erica only Erica nodded and was about to respond when Rocket started signing

"He can't leave now theres too much to lose" Caesar agreed but felt he knew why Mark had to go back to the city "he'll be back in time what do you know about Philips" he asked turning hopefully to Erica Erica frowned and shrugged her shoulders "nothing never heard of the man before" Caesar growled getting frustrated "Garrison out" the radio chirped before a few seconds of static before silence Caesar was on the verge of losing his temper again it had been six weeks since he had freed his people from the city and so far it had been nothing but a shit show he had been shot they had been starving barely sleeping and the threat of humans catching them had reached a breaking point his human family had been secretly stuck on his mind for hours and the news of Franklyn's murder had only served to distract him more he looked at the sky prepared to voice his defeat when finally Erica offered a helpful solution to their predicament

"let's look at this situation another way we evened the odds during the last attack we out number them now but they have better weapons and we know they're coming with explosives the compound is south of where we are now Garrison said ground units are being sent to seal the north which is behind us that leaves us the east and west to escape from downside of the west is the road along the coast the ground units will use it to get to the north but if we slip past them that gives us the beach now unless you can swim we'll be blocked by the sea and exposed to anything they throw at us the other option is the east which is mostly urban what we need is a place to wait out the strike" Caesar nodded and ran a hand over the ground imagining the lay out of the woods and surrounding area

"How long will the ground units take to reach the north" Caesar signed Erica shrugged not knowing enough sign to comprehend his question agitated by her silence Caesar looked up at her "ground units how fast" he asked his illsuited vocal chords tightening as he spoke Erica huffed and thought "thirty minutes maybe less" Caesar nodded relieved that was more than enough time for his troop to outrun them even with their wounded "prepare to move out if we start going now we may be able to out run them then that just leaves the helicopters to deal with" Caesar spoke as he signed the other apes nodded and began gathering their meagre food supplies and spreading the word amongst the others Erica watched the apes moving and waited for her orders

"You realise that the route to head north is all uphill there's mountains and all sorts of dangers in the woods" Erica said quietly when Caesar and Maurice approached her the two apes nodded "you will help the wounded many cannot move fast it'll be difficult but not impossible thank you for choosing to help us" Caesar said aloud as he placed his bandaged hand on her shoulder Erica's eyes filled with hopeful tears as she nodded to him "You know Trish and Mark were right Gensys went too far when they tried to kill you they're prepared to stop at nothing" Erica whispered