They departed at sunrise, and didn't arrive at Reardon's camp until dark. The enormity of the camp was far more impressive than Jason had envisioned, and the camp's amenities were equally impressive. They had running water, electricity, and an ample amount of food. There must have been more than three hundred people living in that camp, Jason figured, including men, women, and even children.
"How on earth has this camp survived without harassment from the State?" Jason asked in bewilderment.
"When the Second Revolution began," Reardon explained, "many of our most intelligent and most successful people fled the country. That is why the State built those walls. Your mother and father were smart enough to flee the country before restrictions were imposed. Others, like the people in this camp, went into hiding outside of the city. We have some of the best technological minds in the world living here: former military intelligence, hackers, information specialists, and former spies. The State has the firepower; we have the brains."
Jason was led to a small guest cottage, where he was able to wash off all of the blood, filth and dirt from the day before. He spent the day touring the various facilities of the camp, and meeting with one impressive person after another. What struck him most was the positive energy of the people at the camp, and their pride in the work they were doing. They were unlike any other people he had ever encountered.
It took a great deal of campaigning on his part, but in the end, he was able to convince Reardon and Elena to allow Kat to join them on their journey to the camp. Despite her betrayal, Jason couldn't help but feel a connection to her, and believed she deserved a second chance. Aside from a quiet "thank you," she didn't say a word throughout their long journey.
On their second night at the camp, Kat made her first appearance at dinner. She sat alone at a table and ate quietly while Jason, Elena and Reardon spoke with several members of the community.
"Penetrating the State's communications network is impossible without Nathan Locke," said an abnormally tall and beefy man the others called "Dozer."
"Why is it so important to hack into that network?" Jason asked. "I don't understand."
"Knowledge is power," Reardon explained. "The people living in that city are ignorant of everything that is happening outside of those walls. If we show them the truth, they will join our revolution, and the State will crumble from within."
"I think you overestimate the citizens," Jason said. "Many of them are content to live under State rule. They have everything they need: food, clothing, shelter, employment, health and safety. They don't particularly care if their lives are controlled in every way, and that millions of people are suffering in order to enable their lifestyles."
"You're right," Reardon said. "Many of them would not change their opinions of the State even if they knew the ugly truth. But I am willing to bet that many of them would. Did you know that during the First Revolution, roughly two out of every ten citizens were loyal and sympathetic to the British crown? Less than half of the citizens considered themselves to be patriots. The rest...well, they just didn't care either way, and preferred to remain neutral."
"If even half of the citizens in New Boston are patriots, that would be more than enough to capture the city," Dozer added.
"Why can't you just hack into the communications network? I've seen you do it before. The message that appeared during our Pledge of Allegiance came from you, didn't it?"
Dozer nodded. "That was me. And that was as far as I've been able to get. Just a few seconds and a brief text message. Without your father's expertise, there is no way to hack into the system from the outside."
Jason contemplated for a moment. "What about from the inside?"
"What do you mean?" Reardon asked.
"In the Communications building, there is a control room on the top floor," Jason explained. "If we had access to that room—"
"We'd have access to the entire communications grid," Dozer said.
"Yeah, but how would we get into that room?" Reardon asked.
