RTS System in the Apocalypse: New World

The second Highcross conversion reached the Main Base before the day ended.

Reinforced trucks entered the Industrial Storage Yards under Guardian APC escort.

Their secured containers carried what remained from the second international bank and the smaller local branch, together with private-vault contents, investment metals, jewelry, office safes, and the high-value stock recovered from the larger shopping properties.

Anything intended for the survivors had already been moved toward Route One.

The first shipment had been assembled from the western recovery sectors before the deeper vaults and remaining commercial properties were opened. This one carried most of the concentrated wealth still recoverable from Highcross.

Hans reviewed the final inventory before approving the conversion.

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[ Industrial Storage Yards conversion bonus applied: +40% ]

[ Gold: 53,598 (+812,119) => 865,717 ]

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The contents of the secured containers disappeared.

Hans remained beside the interface.

Matilda had returned from Site Three with the latest Highcross convoy after Hans asked her to review the next expansion.

She placed the current southern roster beside him.

”The third platoon?”

”Ready once the final assignments are settled.”

”Then we finish a full company, Commander.”

Matilda looked through the first three formations.

”Two more platoons. South One and South Two also need replacements before the next major operation.”

Most of the squads that had fought throughout Highcross had gained one or more promotions. Several had already reached their maximum.

”Move the veterans into the permanent garrisons,” Hans said.

”Their Guardian APCs remain with the platoons.”

”Yes.”

Hans looked at the empty positions in the company roster.

”How many Standard Squads?”

”Twenty-four. Ten for the fourth and fifth platoons. Ten to rotate through South One and South Two. The remaining four stay outside the active formations until the first transfers are complete.”

Hans opened the Barracks interface and selected the quantity.

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[ 24 Standard Infantry Squads queued. ]

[ Gold: 865,717 (-228,000) => 637,717 ]

[ ETA: 38 hours. ]

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The training queue appeared beside the interface.

The veteran squads would leave their assigned Guardian APCs behind. They were moving into garrison positions, not taking the platoons’ transports with them.

Hans returned to the squad templates.

Matilda checked the third platoon’s composition.

”It still has six Standard Squads.”

”It needs the same mechanized element as South One and South Two,” Hans said.

”One for the third platoon. One each for the fourth and fifth.”

One of the third platoon’s Standard Squads would enter the rotation pool once the Mechanized APC Squad replaced it.

Hans selected three Mechanized APC Squads.

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[ Mechanized APC Squad ]

[ Unit Composition: 12 Personnel ]

[ 6 Army Soldiers ]

[ 2 Conscripts ]

[ 2 Machine Gunners ]

[ 1 Missile Infantry ]

[ 1 Engineer ]

[ Cost: 9,100 Gold ]

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Hans confirmed the selection.

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[ 3 Mechanized APC Squads queued. ]

[ Gold: 637,717 (-27,300) => 610,417 ]

[ ETA: 42 hours, 33 minutes. ]

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The three squads entered behind the standard formations.

Hans continued through the Barracks interface.

Highcross had required multiple Sniper Teams on both approaches.

They had watched rooftops, parking structures, windows, and the exposed roads between them.

Spreading the existing teams between five platoons would leave most operations with fewer than the last one.

”Two Sniper Teams for each platoon?” Hans asked.

”Yes. Keep the Recon Teams separate. They already have enough work outside the platoon formations.”

Hans selected ten Sniper Overwatch Teams.

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[ Sniper Overwatch Team ]

[ Unit Composition: 4 Personnel ]

[ 2 Snipers ]

[ 1 Scout ]

[ 1 Army Soldier ]

[ Cost: 5,400 Gold ]

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”Confirm.”

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[ 10 Sniper Overwatch Teams queued. ]

[ Gold: 610,417 (-54,000) => 556,417 ]

[ ETA: 51 hours, 33 minutes. ]

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Hans moved to the Medic entry.

”Medical support?”

”Male Medic pairs for the mobile formations, recovery elements, and forward positions,” Matilda answered. ”The female Medics remain with the medical facilities unless an operation requires them elsewhere.”

Hans entered both quantities.

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[ Selected Medic Training ]

[ 8 Female Medics ]

[ 16 Male Medic Pairs ]

[ Total Personnel: 40 ]

[ Total Cost: 20,000 Gold ]

[ Confirm training? ]

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”Confirm.”

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[ Medic training queued. ]

[ Gold: 556,417 (-20,000) => 536,417 ]

[ ETA: 54 hours, 53 minutes. ]

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The Barracks queue extended beyond two days.

Hans had no problem with it.

The fourth and fifth platoons did not need to enter the field tomorrow. Their officers would receive the completed squads in stages while Matilda reorganized the veterans already serving in the south.

Hans closed the Barracks interface and opened the War Factory.

”The replacement squads will use the vehicles already assigned to South One and South Two,” Matilda said. ”Only the fourth and fifth platoons need complete transport groups.”

”Six Guardian APCs and four Vanguards each.”

”Yes.”

Hans entered twelve Guardian APCs and eight Vanguards.

”Artillery?”

”Two more Hellhammers. Eight will give us four complete sections.”

Hans added them to the selection.

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[ Selected War Factory Production ]

[ 12 Guardian APCs ]

[ Cost: 86,400 Gold ]

[ 8 Vanguard Main Battle Tanks ]

[ Cost: 72,000 Gold ]

[ 2 HMT-90 Hellhammer Artillery Tanks ]

[ Cost: 32,400 Gold ]

[ Total Cost: 190,800 Gold ]

[ Confirm production? ]

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”Confirm.”

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[ War Factory production queue confirmed. ]

[ Gold: 536,417 (-190,800) => 345,617 ]

[ ETA: 9 hours, 15 minutes. ]

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The new vehicles entered the production queue.

Guardian APCs occupied the first positions. The Vanguards followed them, while the two Hellhammers remained at the end.

Hans looked between the two timers.

The infantry would take longer than the vehicles.

That was unusual only because he had trained far more soldiers than the two new platoons required. By the time the final squads left the Barracks, the transports and armor would already be waiting for them.

Hans returned to the roster.

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[ Hans Flemmens — Current Unit Roster ]

[ Infantry ]

Conscripts: 271 (+78)

Army Soldiers: 248 (+124)

Attack Dogs: 47 (+24)

Scouts: 76 (+34)

Snipers: 20 (+20)

Engineers: 21 (+3)

Medic Units: 18 (8 females, 10 male pairs) (+8 females, +16 male pairs)

Machine Gunners: 50 (+30)

Guardian GIs: 53 (+24)

Missile Infantry: 54 (+27)

DASF Units: 20

[ Armored / Vehicles ]

Guardian APCs: 23 (+12)

Vanguard MBTs: 12 (+8)

HMT-90 Hellhammer Artillery Tanks: 6 (+2)

PCVs: 4 (4 deployed)

[ Air Units ]

Falcon Utility Helicopters: 3

Raptor Air Superiority Fighters: 2

Apache Heavy Attack Helicopters: 6

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Matilda reviewed the completed queues.

”Once production finishes, the first mobile company can be organized without removing vehicles from South One or South Two.”

”Begin the assignments as the squads arrive.”

”Understood, Commander.”

Matilda took the updated roster and left the conversion area. The ground forces were already moving in the right direction.

The Airfield was different.