Beta team had had enough of the bad weather. They'd had a few clear days before the hurricane landed, and since then, they’d had nothing but wind, rain and fallen trees to contend with. When it wasn't raining or windy, the temperature made the humidity they experience at home look like a baby with a wet nappy compared to a swimming pool. None of them enjoyed it, at all.

The first day had been a success though. They had landed near a large town near Cape York and we able to get them to agree to a trade agreement. They had an abundance of fruits and fish, but lacked in tools and clothing, so the trade arrangement was an easy one too.

They'd found another town of Aboriginal people that afternoon along the coast who had little interest in the outsiders and were ushered along before they could set camp in their forest, which they called a 'bush'. Francis, the team leader, did not find the name amusing in the slightest when one of their two vehicles lost traction on the dirt road and ended up in a bush larger than the off road buggy.

The next day had been fine, but frustrating, encountering more small pockets of humanity that had no interest in joining a larger group over on the other side of the world. Even the few Talented they encountered were living fine with the small communities, accepted as part of the Aboriginal deity Wandjina's creations, thought of as people only waking from the Dreamtime to help guide them forward.

Respecting their beliefs and not pushing for something they were not going to agree to was something that had been drilled into everyone from the Community. After paying their respects, Beta team moved on, making their way to Cairns, where they started encountering the bad weather.

The small city was, just like all coastal towns, primarily sustained by fishing, though had plenty of fruit farms in their area. They even had an intact airport, large enough for their cargo plane to land. Thankfully for Beta team and Francis's mood, Cairns were pro-Talented and were willing to set up a man power exchange, rather than moving their entire city. The Community agreed easily and the first alliance with an Australian city was formed. A small base was set up and a communications hub was linked into the small network in the city. The city had plenty of solar and wind power, so most of the longer lived tech was still in use. A few electric cars hauled makeshift trailers around, piled with hunted animals, sacks of food or lumber. It had been many years since the cars had been for luxury rather than work purposes and it showed.

Tomas, Beta groups mechanic, quickly found himself in a car garage, repairing and fixing the cars for Cairns, much to their delight. The young man was Talented when it came to motors and vehicles and with the knowledge gained from Zoe's Talent, the young man was deemed a mechanical prodigy. Even other systems were barely a hassle for him to repair, as long as it didn't involve computers. He'd been taught basic diagnostics on car computers, but anything beyond that was a nightmare to him.

The end of the second day the bad weather started and Cairns hunkered down. Beta team, for lack of any better plan, joined them. They had experienced worse weather, but the residents warned strongly against venturing out.

As the weather got progressively worse over the next few days, Francis came to agree with the assessment, thanking their lucky stars that Cairns existed and were used to the weather. A couple of days later a message was received from Zoe stating a hurricane was about to land, just south of them.

The town huddled together in a few larger communal buildings built to withstand such weather, sharing their space with their new allies.

~

Henrietta grunted as she lifted the palm tree that lay across a bunker entrance, freeing the few trapped families. The broad woman swung the door open, offering a hand to those inside. Thankfully for the families, the door seal hadn't been damaged as the storm had dumped a lot of rain on the city and the last thing they needed was a flooded shelter.

Moving to where she was called next, Henrietta did what she did best, moving things. Her Talent was just pure strength and she could do what a team of five or more would struggle with. Applying her Talent to helping others and rebuilding the city made her very happy as she was rarely needed back home. Sure, bad weather happened everywhere, but rarely near her. She helped with construction all the time, but that grew boring for the teen. As far as she was concerned, she wasn't really useful on Beta team and questioned her inclusion, but for now, she mattered and was relied on.

Hefting a boat back into the water, Henrietta smiled at the warm morning sun.

~

"The ship Jumino seems to have made landfall near where the town of Mackay should be," Francis said, looking at the data that he'd received from the network.

"There's a city still there, similar to ours," Viv, Cairns designated comms manager and council member stated. "We trade with them regularly by boat. They would likely be willing to form an alliance too. They also have an airport, though I have no idea how serviceable it is. The small towns along the way might be agreeable to relocating, depending on how they've weathered the last storm, though I doubt it. Like us, they're used to just dealing with the weather and that is part of our home."

Francis nodded. "We expect that. A group of strangers coming out of nowhere, offering a sanctuary if you leave the home you've known your entire life? We know we're fighting an uphill battle, but we believe in a brighter future."

"Which is why you've managed to get us on board," Viv replied warmly. "Your actions speak louder than words. Helping us with the cars, tech, healing and repairs after the storm with no request for compensation other than requesting us to think about joining you? That there is a spirit of generosity and cooperation and we would be drongo's to not accept."

"Your willingness to host us and acceptance of Talented people also aided us in the decision to offer an alliance, so it goes both ways." Francis shook Viv's hand. "To a long and prosperous relationship.”

~

It took Beta team two days travelling along the coast to get to where the Jumino had washed ashore. Along the way they had met small towns, some barely more than a few houses, all of whom had weathered the storm as best they could. All were grateful for the assistance provided, but promised nothing more than open trade when the Community traders came through. As Viv had predicted, no one wanted to leave their homes, regardless of the damage the storm had done.

During their travels, they talked to Epsilon team, planning to meet them at the Jumino to see how the two teams could help.

Coming up to the wreck of the ship, the team saw a sight they had never thought they’d see. The cargo ship had been washed so far up that it’s propellers were rotating slowly in the breeze, a few metres above the water. A small strip of clear beach showed where the ship had ploughed through the beach, leaving a wide channel where the waves filled and emptied it with water.

Activity was evident even from a distance, small cooking fires lazily dusting the sky with smoke as people moved around them. A call of greeting rang out as the two vehicles slowly rolled down the road which ran past the beach. The ship was easily over two hundred meters long and made passing it impossible without backtracking and taking a different road. They spotted Epsilon team's three vehicles, two ATV's and a converted land rover and parked near them.

Francis opened the private comms channel that Zoe had set up, signaling to Jolli, Epsilon's leader, that they had arrived.

The perpetually sunny, twenty something woman approached with her second in charge, Daryl, storm clouds evident over the pair. Everyone in Beta team gripped weapons. If something had made Jolli upset, something was very wrong.

Waving Francis and his second to the side, Jolli removed her earpiece, clearly indicating she didn't want any accidental over hearing. "They're slave traders," she growled at Francis.

The two from Beta swore, Francis kicking a small stone away in frustration. "World goes to shit, so people return to fucked up notions." He stared at the ship, ignoring the questioning looks from his team. "Options?" he asked.

"Leave them," Daryl said. "We all know how distasteful that is, but we don't have provisions for eighty-ish, malnourished, weak people, nor the transport to move them to Atlas. Maybe, after we've all gotten to Atlas, we can move the plane closer, use all the vehicles and people we have and raid them."

"We would be able to take care of them at home," Jolli added. "I don't think it's going to be a short period of time for them to get the boat back into the water. They're working on digging the ship out, but it's enormous weight is trouble."

Francis nodded. "Okay, I'm on board with that plan. Does your team know the options?" Receiving a nod, Francis waved the remainder of his team over, quickly updating them. The reactions were varying, but all basically the same. Loathing towards the traders, wanting to do something and hating not being able to. "Beta and Gamma teams are not to know about this just yet, it may affect them, plus they can't do anything until we all meet up. For now, we forget about the Jumino. If anyone other than your team leader asks, the ship was too wrecked to repair and the crew refused help. Clear?"

"Clear," came back the disheartened reply.

"I know it's shit, but, for now, we move on so we don't tip our hand. The less the Jumino crew know about this, the better."

~

The two groups travelled a little way's south, making sure that the Jumino was well out of their view before they camped for the night. Epsilon team shared the layout of the ship, as much as they had been allowed to explore, while ideas were put forward and discarded.

"We have most of a week and Mackay is not far from here," Francis spoke up, an idea forming. "If they're like Cairns, they'll join us, we can borrow their airport for Atlas and ask for their assistance with dealing with the Jumino." Another idea clicked into place and he quickly made contact with Cairns.

"Cairns receiving, Viv here."

"Viv, Francis. We found the Jumino and we need help."

"What can we do?"

Francis laid out his plan to her, requesting their largest boats to come down the coast to help move people to Mackay or Cairns. Francis heard the anger in Viv's tone as she said she would take the request to the council. From his dealing with them, Francis felt that Cairns would agree.

~

The two teams rolled into Mackay not long after sunrise the following morning and it didn't take them long to get in contact with the town's leadership. After giving their usual spiel and advising of Cairns's position in regard to the Community, the leadership of Mackay advised that, once they'd confirmed with Cairns, they'd be happy to enter the same alliance.

While the meeting happened, the others from both teams set about busying themselves, helping where they could and setting up a comm hub from Epsilon's stores. The visitors to Mackay were initially treated with suspicion, but after a few hours of no demand for payment for just helping, the locals started relaxing and prepared a party on the beach for the evening.

With the comms hub in place, it didn't take long for the council of Mackay to confirm with Cairns about the claims of alliance. Stories started to spread immediately of the help that Beta team had given during the recent hurricane.

Midafternoon, the town's leadership announced a vote that evening in regards to allying with the Community, which, with the actions of the two Community teams, had people happily chatting about their future and potentially travelling.

As everyone ate from the long tables set up on the beach, chatting happily with the visitors, the vote was held. An overwhelming show of support for the alliance was shown, which kicked the evening meal into a celebration. A sense of hope for the future settled over the town, pushing the visitors thoughts about the Jumino away for the evening.