I'd wander around for about a year with friends scavenging. Then would make my way to a settlement that has been set up and become a trader there, making allies and eventually becoming mayor. Later I would pay people to go out and scavenge goods for me. After I have enough gear and currency, I will change the settlement to a trade town, attracting wander's to come and trade their goods. But I would get a lot of attention from slavers and the such, so I will trade Mercs free ammo, weapons and shelter in exchange for protection. After I have the perfect setup, I will start sending out people on trade routes. They will go to other settlements and provide my goods. After I have became allies with some other settlements, I will try and unite us to gather in one area. So this way we will armies of survivors to scare off all the bad things that want to attack our new haven. I will regularly send out hunters and scavengers to find supplies for the city, and in exchange for risking their own lives I will give them a cut of what they find. Our empire will eventually expand and we shall rebuild. But only Australia, everywhere else can do what they want.