RTS System in the Apocalypse: New World

Trailblazer Four entered the War Factory’s queue before Hans left the warehouse.

------

[ Pioneer Construction Vehicle queued. ]

[ Gold: 133,685 (-15,000) => 118,685 ]

[ ETA: 2 hours and 30 minutes ]

------

”That becomes Trailblazer Four,” Hans said.

Matilda nodded.

Trailblazer Three remained parked behind one of Site Three’s warehouses. It had stayed in vehicle form since arriving with the reinforcements because Hans still had nowhere worth deploying it.

By morning, both PCVs would be available.

Hans returned to the Primary Structures interface.

The Airfield and Garrison Post would consume almost everything left in the current Energy pool. Even if the survey found suitable ground immediately, deploying both structures without expanding the grid would leave only seventeen Energy Units.

He selected another Power Plant.

------

[ Power Plant ]

[ Construction Cost: 8,000 Gold ]

[ Construction Time: 13 hours and 20 minutes ]

[ Confirm construction? ]

------

”Queue it.”

------

[ Power Plant queued. ]

[ Gold: 118,685 (-8,000) => 110,685 ]

[ Construction Time: 13 hours and 20 minutes ]

------

The Primary queue began moving.

Once the Power Plant was deployed, the total capacity would rise from one thousand six hundred to two thousand Energy Units. That would leave enough for the Garrison Post, Airfield, Sensor Tower, and Field Hospital.

Hans closed the construction interface.

”Prepare Trailblazer Three for departure at first light,” he said. ”Send Engineers and Scouts with it.”

Hans reopened the exterior section west of Grefort.

”Keep the survey inside Radar coverage. I want this Airfield accessible and easily defended.”

Matilda studied the marked tract.

Hans looked toward Trailblazer Four’s production timer.

”Keep it on standby once it finishes. I’ll wait for the Engineers’ reports.”

...

The next day’s refinery income arrived shortly after midnight.

------

[ Gold: 110,685 (+400) => 111,085 ]

------

By morning, Site Three’s roads were busy again.

Trailblazer Three left through the western lane with its Engineer team and Scout escort. The PCV remained in vehicle form while the group headed toward the open ground outside Grefort.

Trailblazer Four stayed behind as ordered.

The two mobile platoons moved out later that morning.

Their Guardian APCs formed along the southern lanes, with the Vanguards following behind them. Both forces returned toward the roads cleared during the previous operation before separating at the first marked intersection.

They would continue south in stages.

The Garrison Post finished not long after the mobile platoons left.

------

[ Secondary Structure construction complete: Garrison Post. ]

[ Please select deployment zone. ]

------

Hans opened the construction interface.

The position sat along the Wall line, close enough to support both sectors without blocking the lanes used by the Guardian APCs and recovery vehicles.

Hans selected the marked section. The deployment outline settled against the Wall.

”Deploy it.”

The Wall opened around the selected position.

A reinforced structure rose from the ground and locked into both sides of the defensive line. Firing ports formed across its front and flanks, followed by an elevated cannon platform above the main chamber.

The weapon turned toward the roads outside Site Three.

Then, it stopped.

------

[ Garrison Post deployment complete. ]

[ Energy: 1,223 (+60) => 1,283 / 1,600 ]

------

[ Structure Name: Garrison Post ]

[ Structure Category: Secondary Structure — Defensive ]

[ Structural Systems ]

[ Reinforced Garrison Chamber ]

Armored internal chamber capable of housing six infantry units while reducing their exposure to direct fire and infected attacks.

[ Adaptive Fireport Network ]

Firing ports automatically adjust according to the weapons carried by the occupying infantry. Rifles, machine guns, grenade launchers, and other infantry weapons may be fired from protected positions.

[ Support Cannon Platform ]

Elevated support weapon designed for long-range area denial, anti-horde bombardment, and chokepoint suppression.

Minimum Firing Range: 200 meters

Maximum Firing Range: 5 kilometers

[ Wall Integration Frame ]

The structure may operate independently or integrate directly into an existing Wall line.

[ Garrison Capacity: 6 Infantry Units ]

[ Durability ]

Reinforced against direct attacks. Heavy explosives, artillery, and structural breaches may still harm the occupants inside.

[ Operational Rules ]

[ Infantry firepower scales according to the units stationed inside. ]

[ The Support Cannon remains indefinitely functional. ]

[ Upgrade Available ]

[ Enhanced Fireport Support (5000 Gold) ]

Expands the Garrison Post’s occupancy from six infantry units to one complete twelve-unit squad.

------

Six soldiers entered through the rear entrance once the structure stabilized.

Hans watched them disappear inside before reopening the Secondary Structures interface.

The Field Hospital remained next.

”Queue it.”

------

[ Field Hospital queued. ]

[ Construction Time: 8 hours and 20 minutes ]

[ Gold: 111,085 (-5000) => 106,085 ]

------

Priya’s group went in the opposite direction.

She sat near the rear ramp of another Guardian APC while two supply vehicles followed behind them. Food occupied most of the first vehicle. The second carried medicine, hygiene supplies, clothing, and several containers the Medics had already checked.

Priya rested one hand over the MP7 across her lap.

The Guardian APC moved steadily along the cleared road. Its suspension shifted whenever the wheels passed over broken pavement, though the soldiers inside barely reacted to it.

No one spoke much.

This was not another sweep. The ammunition remained ready, but the boxes behind them mattered more today.

Priya checked the Radar display near the rear compartment. No red markers remained around the area.

The route had changed considerably over the past few days.

Barricades that once forced the Guardian APCs to slow had been pushed aside. Wrecked vehicles were marked with painted arrows, warning drivers where the road narrowed or where broken glass covered the pavement.

Army Soldiers stood at several intersections.

Most belonged to the garrisons left behind by the mobile platoons. They watched the surrounding buildings while the convoy passed, then returned their attention toward the roads leading deeper into Westgate.

The first survivor building appeared before the convoy reached Route One.

It stood along one of the cleared streets behind the mobile platoons’ earlier advance. Furniture still blocked the ground-floor entrance, while sheets of metal covered several lower windows.

The curtains above remained closed.

The platoon leader sat near the front of the compartment with the delivery folder open across one knee.

”First delivery goes to the apartment group that refused evacuation,” he said. ”Same building Sweeper Two contacted.”

Priya remembered the report.

Several people inside.

Some injured.

Three announcements given.

Nobody came down.

”They know we are returning?” one Scout asked.

”No.”

The platoon leader closed the folder.

”We are not forcing entry. We establish contact and hand over the supplies if they accept them.”

”And if they refuse again?”

”We keep everything inside the vehicles.”

The answer came without hesitation.

Nobody would leave boxes on the street where someone other than the intended group could take them.

The Guardian APC slowed.

Priya checked the Radar once more.

No red markers appeared around the surrounding buildings or streets. Only the neutral markers inside the apartment block remained.

The supply vehicles stopped behind them.

”Ramp opening,” the driver announced.

The rear hatch lowered.

Priya stepped onto the road with the other soldiers.

The Scouts secured both sides of the street while an infantry team moved toward the rear alley. The Guardian APC remained at the intersection, its autocannon turned away from the apartment block.

Nobody approached the barricaded entrance yet.

The platoon leader raised his hand.

”People inside the apartment block. This is Sweeper Two under Commander Golden Eagle.”

The covered windows remained still.

”We are not here to evacuate you. We brought food, medicine, clothing, and hygiene supplies.”

A curtain shifted on the second floor.

Priya looked up.

The same young man mentioned in the earlier report appeared behind the glass. Only part of his face could be seen between the curtain and the window frame.

His attention moved past the soldiers.

Then toward the supply vehicles waiting behind them.

The window opened several centimeters.

”What do you want?” he called down.

”Nothing,” the platoon leader answered. ”Send one representative outside if your group wants the supplies.”

The young man remained by the window.

He looked back into the room as several voices spoke behind him.

Priya waited beside the APC.

This time, the soldiers had brought more than an evacuation offer.

The young man came down several minutes later.

The barricade behind the entrance opened only far enough to let him through. Two other people watched from the gap while he crossed the street with both hands visible.

He accepted the supplies, but gave no indication that the group intended to leave. The medicine remained sealed and marked.

Priya watched the young man carry the final box toward the building.

He stopped before entering.

”Will you come back?”

”If more supplies become available,” the platoon leader answered.

The man nodded and disappeared behind the barricade.

The convoy continued.

The following deliveries went faster.

Some survivor groups sent one representative outside before the soldiers finished announcing themselves. Others opened their doors only enough to drag the containers inside.

None of the other groups asked to leave. Nobody fired at the soldiers either.

One building never answered them at all. The neutral markers remained inside, but the curtains did not move and nobody approached the entrance. Their assigned supplies stayed aboard the second vehicle.