Two weeks passed as almost everyone prepared themselves for the Migration. Some people still stubbornly refused to go, but they were no longer in any position to stop everyone else. As it turned out, Wakane's person items box offer ended up being vital in convincing most of the middle class citizens still on the fence, creating an undeniable majority and forcing the planning of the Migration to go from conceptual to actual.
Every last ration of food was prepared and either distributed or packed for transport. Every set of rations was packed with a pill. Belongings were sorted and stored. Tools were prepared, route refined, and strategies decided and spread. Many citizens also took to their own preparation, working on protective clothing and even more importantly shoes for the journey, the crafting of waterproof tarps and clothes, as well as mess kits.
The city would be sending its people in forty groups of three hundred. Each group would include two guides from Sanroku, and eight additional trained officers to keep the population safe and organised. Each group would be kept within 3 miles of each other as they travel, to allow people to assure the next group is almost always within sight, no one could get lost and communication between groups was always possible.
Yuko's party would be spearheading the first group to assure the path is safe. Once the first group reached Sanroku, Yuko offered to take the ship back to Shini to join the middle group in taking the journey and keeping the Migration route on track. Shizumi and Satoru agreed, though the siblings thought it was better for them to stay behind and manage Sanroku.
Throughout those two weeks, Yuko saw very little of her party. Kosuke and Wakane were easy enough to find when they were in the city, as guests staying at the operative headquarters, though they spent a lot of time in the tunnels to try and find a faster way to the surface. As it turned out, there was a route that only took about a day, rather than multiple, and the tunnel would be quite traveled by all the moving resources before the first group would even set foot in it. Yuko enjoyed showing them Shini, and the comparisons to Sanroku and even Niku were surprising. How people could grow so similarly in isolation over the course of three hundred years was staggering to Yuko. When she showed them the encampments to introduce them to her father, the three were regarded as heroes, even if the siblings got plenty of confused looks.
Satoru and Shizumi on the other hand were nowhere to be found. Then again, Yuko didn't know where they lived or what their lives were like outside of the small window she would interact with them in. It was kind of hard to imagine them doing anything but being explorers and the volunteer nurse and teacher. They had to have their own families, though. People they missed and were happy to see again.
Yuko was happy to spend some time with her dad again, that was for sure. She could tell he wasn't necessarily better, but being dragged out of their apartment had forced him to move and that, in combination with being happy to have not lost his only family, had been better for him than being cooped up ever was. The rest of her time she spent answering questions of random passersby and trying to get as much of the knowledge she'd gathered about the surface world with the people. She wanted to make sure people would not be as blindsided as they were, seeing the surface world for the first time.
The day of departure arrived surprisingly quickly. Not even because Yuko had missed Shini, but she had never been so busy before, days just flew by. Palettes upon palettes of boxes with food, water, medicine, bedroll, a small shovel and a pamphlet with a map and general information. The bare minimum per person. Then tents and hatchets were distributed per group, where needed. The encampments of the East refugees made for a great resource for additional tents to assure most groups would be able to spend the night comfortably.
Officers were given an additional set of materials, mostly existing out of navigational tools and weapons. Even if their pistols could not meaningfully put down a thirioid, there was utility in distracting it while the Sanroku guides put it down. With any hope, any thirioid that decides to be in the way would be encountered by the first group with the most equipment, and everyone else would have a pleasantly uneventful walk.
Yuko was bubbling with excitement. Or was it nerves? She didn't get why she was feeling rattled either way. This wasn't her first time. Maybe she was nervous for all other people's sakes. They were told they were going to a new world they couldn't even imagine, knowing they'd be feeling somewhat sick for at least a few days, all while being guided by alien people they didn't even have the time to get to know and just trust them. Yuko started to feel that they were a lot braver than she was.
Either which way, the nerves definitely settled in when she received her own box of rations and equipment. As part of the exploration party, even if she was only begrudgingly recognized, she'd already been given additional equipment. A new suit that matched that of her companions, as well as some other more basic survival tools and communication equipment. Shizumi had even returned the ammunition for Fukui's pistol. Wakane and Kosuke were also offered supplies, though they accepted only the minimum.
As Yuko suited up, she looked at her companions, the nurse was once again slinging the large rifle over her shoulder.
“I never knew you were such a good shot,” she decided to comment.
Shizumi chuckled as she took the firearm in hand. “I've always had a good aim. Used to shoot competitively when I was young,” she explained.
Yuko smiled. She already always thought Shizumi was admirable, yet she continued to be more incredible. “A trained medic and a skilled shooter. No wonder you wanted to go.”
“That explains a lot,” Satoru responded with a chuckle of his own, “You can add a good eye to that list as well, Akai. I felt lucky to have been picked.”
“There's value in being an open mind, an eager learner and a quick study, Satoru,” Shizumi offered in kind, “but please call me Shizumi already. We might be working but we're in a personal environment.”
“But it's so improper,” the man argued, a little exasperated.
Shizumi chuckled again as she shook her head. “I’ve had my clients call me that for years. You're hardly the first, if that would make you more comfortable.”
“... Very well, Shizumi…”
Yuko chuckled at the exchange as she adjusted her gloves. She paused. She couldn't help but feel like she didn't belong. “I guess that even if I had a chance to participate, I wouldn't have made it. Not with my lack of credentials,” she says with a sheepish chuckle.
“It's a good thing you didn't let that stop you, then,” Satoru responded without missing a beat, “You've been really valuable, you know? We wouldn't have been here, more than once over.”
“He’s right. Additionally, your presence has been grounding. I wouldn't want to make this trip once again without you,” Shizumi added.
Kosuke and Wakane nodded as well, sharing the sentiment.
Their words caught her off guard, but she couldn't help but glow under them. “Then let's get this ball rolling again, shall we?”
Roughly two hours later, the entire first group had been readied, with Yuko, her companions, and another handful of officers from the first expedition at the front. Armed and ready, well, as ready as can be. Yuko had never felt completely ready for any of these decisions.
Yuko looked at the huge group of people standing behind her. Many of them she recognized from the encampments, the group existing out of some of the most eager supporters of the event. She saw her father, but he kept himself to the back. He'd told her he didn't want to be in her way, but still there to support her. The others looked specifically at her for support and for assurance. She offered them a thumbs up and a confident smile, but deep down she was shaking. A lot of people were counting on her now. She could only pray she could live up to the task.
After exchanging some looks and nods with the rest of the support team, she reached for the small megaphone dangling from her backpack. She took a deep breath as she pressed the button.
“Group one of the Shini-Sanroku Migration, depart!”