RTS System in the Apocalypse: New World

At Site Three, Falcon One’s marker continued north across the Radar map.

Hans did not follow it for long.

Two Guardian APCs were already returning from the nearest survivor locations.

Another remained beside the Commercial Center while its squad cleared the last marked building.

Falcon Two had crossed farther south, its smaller detection circle moving around an isolated group outside the Physical Radar Facility’s coverage.

The eastern concentrations continued advancing.

Several had passed through the roads leading toward Highcross. Those remaining inside Westgate had begun spreading around the Commercial Center, slowed by gunfire from the garrison and the abandoned vehicles blocking the wider streets.

Matilda kept the southern channels open.

”Recovery Four, status.”

”Six civilians aboard. Withdrawing through the western road.”

”Commercial Center?”

”Eastern patrols are inside the perimeter. No units remain ahead of the center.”

Flight Operations entered the channel afterward.

”Falcon Two has completed extraction. Returning to Route One with five civilians. Striker Three remains with the recovery corridor until the aircraft clears the southern blocks.”

”South One?” Matilda asked.

”Striker One has established relay. South One has suspended recovery operations and consolidated around the western sectors.”

”South Two?”

”Striker Two confirms the same. South Two is holding the eastern sectors. No units are advancing toward Kingswell.”

Matilda checked the western road leading into Highcross.

”The contact vehicles?”

”Both Guardian APCs have reached the western approach. The route remains open.”

Hans watched the neutral markers inside Westgate.

Several had already entered the vehicles moving north. Others had reached the Commercial Center, while Falcon Two carried the last isolated group beyond the southeastern roads.

One marker remained around Recovery Two’s building.

It moved west several seconds later and joined the Guardian APC withdrawing from the block.

Nothing remained inside either approach selected for the lure.

Matilda changed to Site Three’s defensive channel.

”All sectors remain at defensive positions. Hold fire until the concentrations enter the prepared zones.”

Acknowledgements followed from the eastern and southeastern sectors.

The Hellhammers remained inside their approved firing areas. The Pillboxes and Garrison Post held their weapons while the armored reserve waited behind the Wall.

Matilda returned to Flight Operations.

”Begin the northbound lure.”

”Flight Operations receives.”

Flight Operations changed to the aircraft channel.

”Striker One, eastern concentration. Striker Two, southeastern concentration. Striker Three, remain with the recovery elements.”

”Striker One copies.”

”Striker Two copies.”

”Striker Three receives.”

Striker One turned first.

Its marker crossed the eastern side of Westgate and moved directly toward the largest concentration still inside the Radar coverage. Striker Two approached from farther south, using the wider roads between the southeastern blocks.

Neither aircraft attacked immediately.

They passed across the front of the infected, low enough for the rotor noise to roll between the buildings and pull movement from the surrounding streets. Red markers shifted beneath them. Those closest to the roads changed direction first, followed by groups leaving storefronts, alleys, and damaged structures along the route.

Striker One opened fire near the eastern intersection.

The chain gun sounded several seconds later. A line of markers disappeared along the front of the concentration while those behind them turned toward the aircraft.

Striker One continued north.

The infected followed.

Striker Two made its first pass across the southeastern group. Rockets struck farther behind the leading contacts, breaking open a section that had become trapped between abandoned vehicles. The survivors were already gone from the area; nothing remained there that the aircraft needed to preserve.

The Apache climbed above the road and turned toward Site Three.

More markers followed it.

Hans watched the two concentrations change direction across the Radar map. The movement remained uneven at first. Smaller groups continued south, while others stopped around the buildings or followed distant Screamer calls coming from Highcross.

The Strikers returned for them.

Another chain-gun burst crossed the eastern road. Striker Two fired deeper into the southeastern concentration, then pulled north again.

The remaining groups began moving.

”Eastern lure established,” Flight Operations reported.

”Southeastern lure established. Both aircraft proceeding toward the prepared approaches.”

Matilda changed to Site Three’s defensive channel.

”Eastern and southeastern sectors, hold until the concentrations enter the obstacle lanes. Artillery remains on the approved zones.”

Acknowledgments followed from the eastern and southeastern sectors.

Hans looked beyond the warehouse entrance.

The light had faded while the recovery operation continued. Floodlights now covered the eastern side of Site Three, their beams falling across the freight containers, abandoned trucks, fencing, and concrete barriers positioned outside the Wall.

The empty sections between them appeared wide from inside the base.

On the Radar, they were narrow channels.

The Strikers approached from the south and southeast. Their markers passed around the prepared lanes instead of crossing directly above Site Three, keeping the infected aligned with the roads selected by the Engineers.

Striker One climbed away first.

Striker Two followed several seconds later.

The infected continued without them.

The first concentration entered the eastern approach.

Red markers pressed between two rows of freight containers and spread against the fencing on either side. Those behind them kept moving forward, forcing the leading infected deeper into the narrowed road.

Several climbed onto the abandoned trucks, only to fall between the vehicles or into the mass below.

The Garrison Post fired.

Its support cannon struck the road beyond the closest barriers. The explosion tore through the front of the concentration and threw infected against the containers surrounding the lane.

Another round landed farther behind them.

The eastern Pillboxes opened fire.

Machine guns crossed the narrowed road from separate positions, their firing angles meeting inside the obstacle line rather than outside it. Guardian GIs added their weapons from behind the Wall, while the first Vanguard moved into the marked opening between two defensive sections.

Its main gun fired.

The shell struck the concentration where the road widened behind the containers. Infected disappeared from the blast, and those still moving forward were pushed into the space the Pillboxes covered.

The southeastern group entered its own approach several minutes later.

It was faster and larger.

Markers filled three roads before the barriers forced them into two. The fencing bent under the pressure, though the abandoned trucks and concrete sections held them away from the open ground beside the Wall.

Matilda authorized the artillery zone.

Both Hellhammers fired from inside Site Three.

The shells passed above the defensive line and fell among the roads beyond the obstacles. The first detonation spread across the southeastern concentration. The second landed behind it, cutting through the groups still entering from Westgate.

The blast reached the warehouse as a delayed pressure against the open doors.

Hans kept the Radar map centered on the approaches.

The infected had finally reached the battlefield Site Three had prepared for them.

The fighting continued, though its shape no longer changed.

Each concentration entered through one of the approaches prepared by the Engineers.

The Hellhammers broke the larger groups before they reached the obstacles, while the Garrison Post and Pillboxes covered those that continued through the narrowed roads.

Vanguards moved between the marked openings whenever heavier contacts appeared, then withdrew behind the Wall before the next artillery pattern landed.

The infected pressed against the freight containers and fencing for several minutes at a time. Some climbed over the abandoned vehicles. Others forced themselves through the gaps beneath them, only to enter the overlapping fire waiting beyond.

None came close to the Wall.

Recovery continued through the western lanes behind the fighting. Guardian APCs carried the remaining civilians north, while both Falcons transported the isolated rooftop groups toward Route One. The Commercial Center sent those nearest to its perimeter north under escort. No recovery vehicle remained inside either prepared approach.

Striker One and Striker Two returned for the groups that had separated inside the surrounding blocks, drawing them north in smaller concentrations rather than allowing them to continue toward Highcross.

Both contact APCs eventually returned within the Physical Radar Facility’s coverage. Their crews confirmed that the western route remained open and the recovery teams were protected behind South One and South Two. Neither platoon had advanced toward Kingswell.

Highcross remained under their control.

The eastern approach emptied first. The southeastern concentration lasted longer, though the barriers continued holding while the defenders reduced it inside the same lanes.

By the time the final red markers disappeared, damaged fencing and several displaced containers were the only damage to Site Three’s outer defenses.

Matilda kept the garrison in position. The Engineers would inspect the approaches after daylight.

Hans waited through another Radar sweep before closing the map.

The night had been loud, but the Wall had never been reached.