The Civic Republic has arrived in Whisperers led by Alpha. AMC's The Walking Dead TV series broadly follows the same path, but began hinting at a large, more secretive organization lurking in the shadows. After some subtle early hints, the mystery was blown open by the appearance of a strange helicopter ferrying prisoners away from Jadis' junkyard. In The Walking Dead season 9, the same chopper carried Rick himself away to parts unknown.
Further clues were sprinkled throughout The Walking Dead's recent seasons and the Civic Republic are evidently a massive and powerful community and are aligned with two other settlements in the U.S., creating the Alliance of the Three.
The Walking Dead: World Beyond demonstrates the Civic Republic's methods and their capabilities, but it's difficult to discern what their endgame might be based on the evidence collated throughout all three Walking Dead shows so far. Could the Civic Republic be trying to establish a dictatorship from the ashes of the zombie apocalypse?
The Civic Republic ARE Searching For A Zombie Vaccine
The Civic Republic has woven a web of lies and secrecy since their Walking Dead debut, but one claim that does seem to hold true is their quest for a cure. In Fear The Walking Dead, Isabella described how her people were trying to rebuild civilization on a grand scale, although she wouldn't share any specifics. In The Walking Dead: World Beyond, however, it's revealed that the Civic Republic are focused heavily on science. The shadowy organization has hired Iris and Hope's father, a world-renowned biochemist, in their hunt for a vaccine, a cure, or some other long-term scientific solution to the outbreak. The Civic Republic's Elizabeth even compliments Iris and Hope on their own scientific interest... even if the latter is more interested in brewing bootleg alcohol. Elsewhere, there are references to studying zombie movements and migration, and the CRM has developed a method of disrupting herds using sound. The Civic Republic may not be honest about their location or purpose, but their hunt for an answer to the apocalypse seems genuine.
Under normal circumstances, anyone researching a vaccine during a zombie outbreak would be hailed a hero, but that certainly isn't the case with the Civic Republic. The Walking Dead and Fear The Walking Dead have already highlighted how far the Republic go to keep their existence a secret, and these moral compromises could perhaps be justified as serving the "greater good." But when Elizabeth rolls into the Campus Colony and wipes out the entire settlement, the Civic Republic's morality meter immediately jumps from "ambiguous" to "evil". Even if they do have scientists working on a cure, the Civic Republic's intentions cannot be wholesome after such large-scale slaughter.
The Civic Republic Will Reshape The World As They See Fit
If a true protagonist was responsible for a zombie cure (Alexandria's Eugene Porter, for example), then the vaccine would be distributed far and wide in an attempt to stop the apocalypse and save as many lives as possible. The Civic Republic's actions at Campus Colony strongly suggest that their distribution method will be more... selective. When evil TV villains have a monopoly on a valuable cure, they invariably exploit the formula to their own ends, whether for money or power. Since the dollar isn't exactly soaring in The Walking Dead, the Civic Republic's endgame must be using a zombie vaccine to consolidate their power in a rebuilt world.
After obtaining a working antidote, the Civic Republic would be ideally placed to assume control of the entire United States, if not the world. They could also decide who receives this coveted treatment and under what conditions, effectively handing the organization dictator-like control of the population. With a cure in its pocket, the Civic Republic could dictate , seize leadership and hand-pick vaccine recipients based on how "worthy" they might be. Had a criminal record in the "old world?" No cure for you. Rebellious actions towards the Republic? Head straight to the back of the queue. The Civic Republic might be seeking to rebuild civilization, but it'll also plant itself directly at the top of the food chain, using their cure for leverage. In their warped minds, the Civic Republic leaders likely see themselves as gatekeepers to a better society - a smaller population stripped of any "bad apples."
This would certainly explain Rick Grimes' movements in The Walking Dead. After being taken by the Alliance of the Three, Rick eventually found his way closer to Alexandria, but never dropped in on his own family. Something significant must've happened to keep Rick away from his loved ones - perhaps he uncovered the true goal of the Civic Republic during his time there. Rick could be travelling around the U.S. forming a rebellion to stop the Republic and seize their research so that any potential vaccine can be distributed fairly to everyone.
One interesting wrinkle to consider would be if the CRM are operating independently of the Civic Republic's central leadership. Every horrific act committed by these villains so far has been at the hands of the CRM specifically, whereas the Republic's government has only been referenced briefly in dialogue. Given how large they must be, it's possible that the Civic Republic are a relatively harmless group dedicated to rebuilding the world, but the CRM are planning to seize control in a military coup and force through their own agenda for the zombie cure.
Iris & Hope Are Vaccine Test Subjects
If the Civic Republic are planning to use their vaccine to create a dictatorship, what was Elizabeth's purpose for sending Iris and Hope towards New York? In the premiere episode of The Walking Dead: World Beyond, Elizabeth gives the two sisters a map, supposedly leading to a research facility housing their father. Iris and Hope then receive a panicked message from their father, encouraging them to venture into the wild and head for the city. When informed about their disappearance, Elizabeth is pleased, revealing their departure was part of her plan all along. If Elizabeth wanted to recruit the Bennett sisters, she would've offered to take them to New York herself. Likewise, if the CRM sought to use the girls as hostages in blackmailing their father, Elizabeth could've easily captured them. There must be something about the journey from Campus Colony to New York City that is vital in Elizabeth's plans.
Potentially, Iris and/or Hope are being used as test subjects for the "first draft" of the Civic Republic's zombie vaccine, and Elizabeth sent the duo to get killed and see what happens. The Civic Republic came to Campus Colony solely with the purpose of slipping Leo Bennett's daughters his vaccine, then gave them the map, set them free, and killed the rest of the community to cover the evidence. There's also evidence to suggest that Leo's SOS message was a forgery by the Civic Republic. It's odd that a father would write to his two young daughters telling them he was in trouble, but offering no words of warning or advice. Most parents would spare their kids the worry. Instead, the message might've been designed to push Iris and Hope into leaving. Elizabeth couldn't have predicted Silas and Elton would leave too, but what's two more corpses to the Civic Republic?
But why did Elizabeth choose Iris and Hope Bennett out of all the Campus Colony residents? The answer could be simple - to ensure the vaccine worked. Wherever he is being held, the real Leo Bennett is almost certainly working under duress from his captors, and the only way the Civic Republic could guarantee his cooperation in making a genuine vaccine would've been to use it on his own daughters. Leo would have no choice but to create a vaccine that protected his girls, even if he was handing the Civic Republic total power in the process.
The Civic Republic's Plan Explains The Walking Dead's "A" Or "B" Mystery
One of the first unique features The Walking Dead revealed about the Civic Republic was their classification of "A" and "B" prisoners. When Jadis was rounding folks up for the helicopter to whisk away, she would assign them a letter, but the exact meaning was never revealed. The Civic Republic apparently places more value on "A" subjects, and it's implied that the categories somehow relate to physical and mental strength. After Gabriel stands up to Jadis, she remarks "all this time, I thought you were a B," suggesting the priest is tougher than she gave him credit for, and the former Scavenger later describes a near-death Rick as a B who's strong and needs help.
It's possible that Jadis was unknowingly (or even knowingly) collecting test subjects for the Civic Republic's early vaccine trials. Presumably, a guinea pig's physical and mental condition would be important in this research, with stronger candidates more likely to hold up to examination and, consequently, prove more valuable. Assuming the Civic Republic went through years of failed cures before Dr. Bennett came up with a viable solution, they would've needed a ready, constant supply of test subjects, explaining the entire operation with Jadis, and the "A" and "B" mystery that has long been an enigma to viewers of The Walking Dead.