Dead America: The Northwest War (#10), Dead Texas / Dead America Universe (#123)
So now we have Tatum and Reed going to meet the new neighbors. After helping to fight a horde of zombies, Tatum asks for the person in charge. What we have right here is some young soldiers and 'prisoners' in orange jumpsuits, nope not the person in charge. After a bit Tatum and Reed meet up with Captain Paige. When the boys give their hellos and nothing else the Captain makes them prisoners and give them orange jumpsuits. They are then sent back out to fight the zombies with sticks while the soldiers watch them. The two plan an escape and take the two prisoners that are there with them.
After getting back to St. Maries, Tatum calls Maxwell to tell him what happened. Maxwell says that it wasn't unexpected. So if this wasn't unexpected why didn't he warn Tatum before? Maxwell wants Tatum in sent spies into the military group. Really, why doesn't Maxwell sent his own men? Maxwell is going to help Tatum by have some of his men come up and scout areas, to the south of course, so Tatum can relocate some of the people that have landed in St. Maries. Yes lets make sure Maxwell's men have a tough job. Don't worry they'll be flying in. Once again, where's all this fuel coming from?
Tatum really should listen to his gut feeling.
Point of contention Prisoners are doing all the work for the military. This is the first I recall of this and I know I didn't hear (read) anything about orange jumpsuits. I do remember in the Lowcountry series the militia catered to the wealthy and had the 'lowly' people doing all the work as if they were slaves. Just saying.
Maxwell to Tatum about sending in people to be spies: "to be clear I don't want you to do that I need you to do that" Minor thought here - It seems like Maxwell is asserting some power and authority here over Tatum.