Chapter 107 Date Part 3
The waiter returned promptly, balancing two plates with practiced ease as he approached Richard and Sara's table. He set the dishes down before them, introducing each with a flair that belied their humble origins.
"For sir," he began, gesturing to the plate in front of Richard, "we have a sumptuous sauté of corned beef, masterfully browned to perfection and nestled atop a bed of delicate, herbed rice. The beef, sourced from our premium canned reserves, has been slow-cooked and tenderized to achieve its rich flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture. It's garnished with a medley of sautéed vegetables, adding a vibrant touch of freshness to the dish." nove(lB/In
Richard couldn't help but be impressed by the presentation and the waiter's description. The corned beef, despite its canned origins, looked appetizing, and the herbed rice added an elegant touch.
"And for the lady," the waiter continued, turning to Sara with a smile, "we have our classic pasta al Pomodoro, crafted from our finest pack of spaghetti and dressed in a savory tomato sauce, enriched with a blend of herbs and spices. The dish is finished with a sprinkle of grated cheese, ensuring a delightful contrast of flavors in every bite."
Sara looked at her plate, pleasantly surprised. The pasta looked inviting, and the rich aroma of the tomato sauce was tantalizing. It was clear that the chef had gone to great lengths to elevate the simple pack of noodles into something special.
The waiter bowed slightly, "Please, enjoy your meal."
As he left them for their dinner, Richard and Sara exchanged impressed glances and laughed.
"I must say, that waiter got some skills in describing our dinner," Richard commented with a chuckle, picking up his fork and diving into his dish.
"Yeah, I didn't expect canned corned beef and a pack of noodles to sound so gourmet," Sara agreed, smiling as she twirled some spaghetti onto her fork.
They both took a bite of their respective dishes, curious to see if the taste lived up to the description. To their surprise, it did. The corned beef was tender and flavorful, and the herbed rice added a nice touch. The vegetables were fresh, providing a good contrast to the rich meat.
Sara's pasta was also a hit. The tomato sauce was rich and savory, and the noodles were cooked to perfection. The grated cheese on top added an extra layer of flavor that tied the whole dish together.
"This is actually really good," Richard commented, genuinely impressed.
"I know, right? I didn't expect much from canned goods and a pack of noodles, but this is delicious," Sara replied, her initial skepticism replaced by delight.
"Now this is also a serious issue," Richard said, his tone turning slightly serious. "Our foods in the camp are mostly non-perishable foods. But even if it's non-perishable, its supplies are limited, and eating canned goods or packs of noodles every day, every year could lead to nutritional deficiencies. We need to think about long-term sustainability."
Sara nodded in agreement, setting down her fork momentarily. "You're right. It's something that the Joint Chief of Staff has been discussing extensively. We're exploring options for cultivating our own food and finding reliable sources of fresh produce. But our camp is in the urban center. Agricultural regions in the Philippines are located in the rural areas."
"Well, I have been thinking," Richard paused as he took another bite. He continued. "We build an outpost in agricultural areas, closer to the sources of fresh produce. This way, we can establish a direct line for food supplies and maybe even start our own agricultural projects."
Sara considered this, "That's a good idea, but it would require a significant amount of resources to set up and secure an outpost. We'd need to make sure it's defendable, especially since it's outside the urban center where our main defenses are."
"Setting up defense is easy," Richard said. "I have a lot of gold coins, I can militarize any region as easily as snapping my fingers. The challenge lies in making sure that the outpost is sustainable and can operate independently if needed."
"So for transportation of those goods?" Sara asked, prompting Richard to elaborate.
"Our aircraft will be the main mode of transportation. It's easy and it doesn't have to go through all the roads that we all know are clogged with abandoned vehicles and debris. We can set up a helipad or a runway at the outpost, and use it to shuttle supplies back and forth. Of course, we'll need to ensure that we have enough fuel reserves...which leads me to the next issue. Oil. I can buy fuel in my system but seeing the future where there'd be more zombie waves, there'd be more military hardware and many military hardware equates to more fuel consumption, more fuel consumption means more expenses."
"I have a solution for that," Sara said as she picked up her fork and twirled some more pasta onto it. She took a bite, chewed thoughtfully for a moment, and then continued, "What if we reclaim the Manila International Airport?"
Richard looked at her, intrigued. "Go on," he encouraged, intrigued by the idea.
"Well, think about it. The airport is relatively close, and it's a massive facility. There's bound to be a considerable amount of jet fuel stored there. If we can secure the airport, we could potentially have access to enough fuel to support our operations for a long time. Plus, having control of an airport would provide us with a strategic advantage, allowing for quicker and more efficient transportation of goods and people."
Richard nodded, seeing the potential in her plan. "That's a solid idea. The airport would indeed have a lot of fuel like aviation gasoline and jet fuel, which could be repurposed for our military vehicles and aircraft. And the airport, we can use it for ourselves."
"Should I convene a meeting with the Joint Chief of Staff and begin discussing the feasibility of taking over the Manila International Airport?" Sara asked.
"Yes, we should do that as soon as possible. We need to assess the current state of the airport, figure out what kind of resistance we might face, and understand how much fuel is actually available there," Richard responded, showing his agreement with the plan.
Sara nodded and a chord struck within Richard. Wait, this is a date, why are they talking about work? Shouldn't this be a moment for them to relax and enjoy each other's company? Realizing this, Richard decided to change the subject.
"Let's put work aside for a moment. We're here to enjoy our dinner and have a good time," he suggested, offering Sara a warm smile.
Sara seemed to appreciate the change in conversation and her face lit up. "You're right."
